“I’m always careful,” I replied defiantly. She laughed.
“It’s just funny how someone like him has never been married,” she continued. “Surely some lucky girl should have snapped him up by now. You know, I’ve been working here for ten years, and he’s never once brought a girl to the Christmas party.”
“Maybe he just keeps his private life to himself,” I retorted. “Or maybe he’s gay.”
We chatted through two more glasses of wine. When it was time to leave, I grabbed Gloria’s hand. “Gloria, thank you for being so nice.”
She hugged me as I stood up to put my coat on. “Honey, it’s been a fantastic evening,” she beamed. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
And she was right - I was. Until I checked my phone on the subway ride home, and saw a message from Adam.
‘Hey. We need to talk.’
No, we don’t, I thought to myself. At least, not about that.
‘Whatever it is can wait until Monday,’ I wrote back.
Thirty seconds later, my phone buzzed again. ‘I mean it. I need to see you.’
My heart ached. All I wanted to do was tell him yes, come over right now, so that I could hold him again, kiss him, feel him - but I knew that I shouldn’t. I couldn’t.
With a long, deep sigh, I turned my phone off.
Chapter Thirteen: Adam
I was getting desperate. It had been three days, and nothing. I just couldn’t get through to her.
To make matters worse, it was Saturday, and if she kept ignoring my messages, I wouldn’t be able to talk to her until Monday. I didn’t know if I could make it until then.
I thought back to my chat with Joe on Thursday night. He’d seemed pretty supportive of me doing whatever it was I needed to do if it meant being with Amy. For all his flaws, he sure had a soft spot for love.
But what could I do?
There was no way Amy was going to leave. She’d only just started, and she’d mentioned over our pizza date on Wednesday that she was relieved to have started work when she did, because her savings were starting to run low.
But there was no way we could be together if she stayed. She’d made it clear that she didn’t want to be the subject of an office scandal. I wasn’t proud to admit it, and I certainly hadn’t told her, but after she’d mentioned the real reason behind her sudden departure from Tolstoy and Brown, I’d done a bit of internet sleuthing. For the seven years that she’d worked there, five of them she’d spent as the personal assistant to Jackson Brown, a middle-aged millionaire who I’d heard of in passing from people who’d met him at networking events and conferences. Apparently, he was a complete sleaze, but had a charm about him that for some reason made him irresistible to young, vulnerable women.
I had no doubt that he had everything to do with Amy’s abrupt move, and consequently her sudden arrival into my life. I hated him for whatever it was he’d done to hurt her, but in a weird, twisted way, I felt like I should be thanking him.
Suddenly, I had an idea.
I picked up my phone and dialed Joe.
“Hello?” he grumbled from the other end of the line.
“It’s me,” I replied. “Hey - did you say you were dating a headhunter?”
Chapter Fourteen: Amy
At five past six on Sunday evening, there was a knock on my door.
“Amy? Amy, it’s me. It’s Adam.”
I froze. What the hell did he think he was doing? I’d made it clear that I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t get involved in another affair with my boss.
“Why are you here?” I demanded through the door.
“I need to talk to you. Please,” he begged. “Trust me.”
Despite my better judgment, I unlatched the door and opened it an inch. “You know we can’t do this,” I said as I peered out at him. He was dressed in a casual blue checked shirt, with dark denim jeans, and for a second all I could think about was ripping that shirt off and wrapping my legs around his waist.
“Amy, I’m not your boss anymore.”
I was stunned. “What are you talking about?” I asked nervously. “Did someone find out?”
He laughed. “No, no one found out. Amy, I quit. I got offered a new job this morning, and I just got off the phone with Carla. She’s taking my place.”
For a moment, I didn’t believe him. “You’re joking, right?”
“I’m dead serious,” he responded. “Amy, you don’t work for me. I’m just a guy, standing in front of a girl, asking her if she’d like to go for a drink. As her boyfriend - and not her boss.”
I was floored. My heart pounded, and I opened the door. Adam pulled out a bunch of long-stemmed roses, bright red and beautiful, with petals like velvet.
“Amy, I love you. I don’t care that we haven’t even known each other a week. I feel things for you that I’ve never felt before. And there’s nothing I won’t do to show you that I want to protect you, and care for you, and most of all, hold your hand in front of the world and let them know you’re mine.”
I grabbed Adam and planted my lips on his, then felt his arms wind around me, still holding the roses in one hand.
As I pulled away, I took a deep breath.
“Adam, I can’t believe I’m about to say this,” I started. “But I love you too. And I am so glad that you’re no longer my boss. Because now, no one can fire me for doing this…”
I took his hand, pulled him into the apartment, and locked the door.
The End
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[1] Faux pas : A French word for a miss step
Risky Business: A Steamy Alpha wealthy Boss, Passionate At First Sight (Fiery Edition Book 1) Page 4