Boss's Orders (Curvy Girls Club Book 2)

by Alexa Blue

  “You can ask me anything,” I grin.

  Usually, Brody has a massive grin and deepened dimples on his face when he looks at me. But, right now, Brody’s serious. “Would you still like me if I quit my job at Reputation?”

  "I would love you no matter what path you decide to take," I say without hesitation. Fuck, I didn't think the man could get any sexier until he told me about his passion last night. I love the fact that he is willing to give up his comforts to rescue dogs in need, to pursue his purpose.

  I’ve spent more time at Brody’s house over this last week than at my own. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, hell, this is so unlike me. I also know I have never smiled this much. If it continues at this rate, I’ll have wrinkles before the age of twenty-five.

  “Do we have to go to work today?” Brody asks, tracing his finger against my skin. “Can’t I just stay in bed with you all day?”

  “You might get away with it, boss-man, but I cannot be pulling such stunts. Hey, speaking of work, can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.” He sits up, his interest perked.

  “Why is it everything so secretive?”

  “Huh?”

  I search for the right words to form my question. “Like, why are all the departments at the company kept separate. And why can’t we discuss our work with the other departments?”

  Brody takes a few moments to contemplate his response. “That is something I have asked since I started at Reputation. According to Andrew, he believes it's best to keep each department separate because it will minimize the opportunity for fraud." He takes in a sharp breath as if he's worried about what he will say next. "I did some digging, and I'm not sure Andrew is completely honest about everything he does. I mean, I don't know for sure, but I suspect he may be stealing from the company."

  I know Brody doesn’t have the best relationship with Andrew, but he wouldn’t speak badly about someone else just because he doesn’t like him. If he says Andrew might be up to shit, I believe him.

  Brody’s phone beeps. “Shit, babe. I’m going to be a little late for work today.”

  “Everything okay?”

  "Yeah, a senior blind Pitbull was knocked by a van. The poor dog has been bleeding and it won’t stop, so he needs urgent medical attention. Don't stress. I'll still take you to work."

  My eyes begin watering. Just hearing the hurt in his voice kills me. “No, babe! I’ll grab an Uber. Go! Help him.”

  “You sure?”

  "Of course." I lift my head to his ear. "P.S. When you get back to the office, just know, I won't be wearing any panties."

  Brody

  The older dog lays near a bus stop, bleeding out. His eyes are cloudy, and he cannot see me. He’s too weak to resist us helping him. From what I can tell, he's paralyzed from the waist down. I just hope we can help him. It's painful when we can't help a dog and have to put him down.

  Most guys are obsessed with sport, getting wasted, or sleeping with as many girls as possible. While most guys sit at sports bars during their free time, I spend my time with dogs.

  My love for dogs didn't just happen overnight. Dante and I never had a dad growing up, and our mom died when I was eight years old, probably from the exhaustion of overworking. She was our rock, looking after two boys all on her own.

  Dante was eighteen when my mom passed away. He then worked his ass off to provide for us, attending college, looking after me and working two jobs. Dante worked his ass off to look after me, and I will always be grateful to him, but that also meant he was never at home. It was Rover, our adopted Pitbull that helped me through the loneliness I felt growing up. While most kids would rush off to play with their friends or even start kissing girls, I would rush home every day after school to play with Rover. When I walked through that door, Rover would hyperventilate with excitement for the next two hours. He would crawl up on my bed at night time and get excited whenever I took him out for a walk. He was the sweetest, kindest dog in the world.

  I felt the lumps on his chest, but we never had the money to take him to the vet, so I ignored it, hoping it would go away. It killed me when I found out Rover died of cancer. For the longest time, I blamed myself, thinking I could have done something to save him.

  Since then, I have dedicated my life to saving dogs, vowing that I will never allow another dog to miss out on the chance of a second life.

  I'm especially fond of Pitbulls because I find they are the most misunderstood of all dog breeds. People see them as vicious, ferocious animals. What most people fail to see is that the dogs aren't vicious. People turn them into vicious fighters. I’m not a violent person, but when I see a man abuse a woman or a helpless animal, I lose my shit. I could fucking kill a man that hurts women or animals. In my eyes, that is not a real man, that's a fucking coward.

  We carry the bleeding dog into the van, where my partner will drive him off to vet. This is also a big rescue for me because this is the first rescue my NGO, PawLife, will be funding. I've started an NGO for abused and abandoned Pitbulls a few months back. PawLife gained traction last month where some of our YouTube videos went viral, and donations from all around the world started pouring in.

  I get dressed in formal clothes in the basement, before dashing upstairs for work. Thankfully, I'm only twenty minutes late this morning.

  I walk into my office, and my face lights up at the sight of her golden hair that flows delicately down her back. After an emotion-filled morning, nothing makes me happier than seeing my sexy girl.

  "Morning, beautiful. I'm happy to report we made it on time. The poor dog's being treated as we speak.”

  Charlotte doesn’t lift her head to look up at me. I stand beside her and run my hand down her back. “Charlotte, you okay?”

  She pushes a bunch of papers to the side. On top of the pile is her job application.

  She speaks. “Brody, how did I get this job?”

  "I told you I wouldn't let you get away," I tease, but she shrugs my hand away.

  “Do not touch me, Brody.” She stands to her feet. “Everything was a fucking lie. You set me up. Fuck, I’m such an idiot to think I got this job because I worked hard or because I deserved it. No, I got this job because all you wanted was to get in my pants? Oh, my God, I’m such an idiot!”

  “No, Charlot—”

  She stands to her feet. “I’m getting a cup of coffee. When I come back, I suggest we treat this relationship as strictly professional.”

  Chapter Nine

  Charlotte

  I felt sick since I stepped into the office.

  I guess, a part of me knew my day would turn to shit. I should have known something was up the moment I discovered Brody would be my boss. Everything about this set up was too good to be true. From being headhunted to working under Brody. But, no, I was too infatuated by my sexy boss to wake up and smell the damn coffee. I don't even know if I was behind the Milestone Productions Success or if that was planned by him as well. Hell, I don’t even know if I can believe anything he told me.

  It's been three days since I discovered how I got my job. I told Brody I need space to clear my head and have since moved to a cubicle outside his office. I only step into his office when necessary. As much as I try telling myself he lied when he said he loved me, I know that's not the case. I know he will move mountains to see me smile, I hate being lied to. Would he have told me had I not asked?

  I stop over at a pharmacy after work. I’ve felt sick for the last three days now. I can’t stomach my food for longer than a couple of minutes.

  "Excuse me, are you guys in the queue?" I ask a couple entirely oblivious for the pharmacist shouting ‘next.’

  They are so fucking in love that nothing else matters in the world. I was so close to having that.

  “Next,” the pharmacist calls out. My turn.

  “Hi, I need you to suggest something, please.”

  “What’s the problem?”

  "I've been nauseous for the last three days. I can
't seem to stomach anything. Also, I skipped my…”

  My phone beeps on the counter, and I see a message from Emily.

  Can you talk? I need help. It’s urgent. Please.

  “Shit.”

  A frown forms on the pharmacist’s face. “Excuse me?”

  “Um, you can help the couple behind me. I have to make an urgent call,” I tell him and walk off. It’s not often that Emily messages me, let alone asks for my help. So, when she does, I know it must be critical.

  “Emily, what wrong, my angel?” I can hear through her trembling voice that she’s been crying. “Okay, babe, calm down. Take a deep breath in and out, okay?”

  After a few moments of heavy panting, her cries down.

  “Charlotte, I’m so fucking scared. I… I think I’m pregnant.”

  Her words hit me like a ton of bricks.

  I need to take a few deep breaths myself. “Emily, are you sure?”

  “Am I sure? No, Charlotte, it’s all in my fucking head.”

  “Okay, but, you know you need to have sex for that to happen, right?”

  “Fuck off, Charlotte. Yes, I’m sure.”

  I’m surprised to hear she’s even having sex. Emily is the most secretive out of the four girls. “Okay. Do you know who the father is?”

  “Yes, and he wants nothing to do with me or the baby. I’m so fucking scared. What am I going to do?”

  "Relax, babe. Everything will work out. I'm at the pharmacy. I'm coming through to your place straight after, okay?"

  “No!” She says sharply. “I mean, no thanks, I'm going to sleep instead. I just need some sleep, let's meet up some other time, okay?"

  “Okay. Message me if you need anything.” I tell her and hang up.

  I walk back to the pharmacist. My eyes are large as if I'm high on meth or something.

  “Hey! I was here first, lady,” the person standing in line shouts. I don’t even hear her speaking. I turn to the pharmacist. “I think I’ve figured out what’s wrong.”

  “Yes, how can I help?”

  “I need a pregnancy test.”

  Brody

  I screwed up this time. Just a few days ago, I had everything I had always dreamed about. My NGO started taking off, and I woke up next to the most beautiful girl every morning. Honestly, that is all I need — nothing else. I don't need this fancy apartment, the Mercedes Benz, the watches, the expensive suits—I don't need any of it.

  I found happiness when I first gathered the courage to start PawLife, and my picture of happiness was finally complete the moment I laid my eyes on Charlotte.

  Now, I screwed that up. I screwed it all up over one stupid little lie.

  I knew I couldn't let go of Charlotte, and it took all the convincing in the world to get Dante to ask Sarah for Charlotte's email address. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first sent her that mail saying Reputation had headhunted her. But days later, I had the love of my life sitting across from me every day.

  I hate that she feels like this was all a lie. Her winning Milestone Productions over with her charm and wit, that was all her. I had no part to play in that, if anything, I’ve been too obsessed with the sexy woman working on the proposal; the woman I knew I would one day call my own.

  One thing that is most definitely not a lie is the way I feel about her.

  I know Charlotte is the girl for me because she has me feeling things I have never felt before. I'm not talking about the way my cock throbs whenever I think about her. I'm talking about the fluttering sensations inside my stomach whenever I see her, about how my heart skips a few beats whenever she flicks her beautiful hair or how her rosy cheeks brighten when she smiles.

  I walk into my apartment, and Jack and Daniel greet me. “Hello, monkeys.” They jump up for attention, begging me to grab them in my arms and let them lick me hello. In my lounge, there's a huge poster I got back in college. I've kept it with me since, using it as a constant reminder of where I want to be one day. The poster has a backdrop of the Toronto skyline, with the words, ‘No one gets what they deserve; only what they fight for.'

  I stare at the poster for a good couple of minutes and know there is only one thing left to do.

  I run out my apartment, car keys in hand, and drive back to the office. It’s half past six, but Andrew should still be in the office. The man practically lives there. There has even been office gossip that he doesn’t have his own place and sleeps in his office every night.

  I run into the building and swing Andrew’s door open.

  “What the—” Andrew jumps. “Brody, what are you… Everything okay?”

  “Sir, we need to talk.”

  Chapter Ten

  Charlotte

  I should feel nervous, anxious about the future, but I can’t help but beam as I walk into the office.

  This morning is not like most mornings. Since I bagged Milestones, I’m used to seeing friendly faces smiling at me as I walk down the aisle to Brody’s office. But this morning is different. All eyes remain on me, but the look they give me is different. I could be imagining things, but it’s almost a look of respect.

  I’ve moved back into Brody's office since yesterday but still refuse to speak to him. I’m not mad at him anymore. I'm dying to talk to him, but I like the idea of a man groveling for my attention. So, I’ve decided to let him work to get me back.

  As always, I’m in the office before Brody. I wonder if he’s out helping a dog. God, I miss how his face lights up whenever he talks about his dogs. I’ll need a big update as soon as we speak again.

  A big bunch of flowers on my desk catches my attention, and I lean in to get a closer look. Brody left a bouquet of Protea flowers on my desk. The man did his research, although I wonder how he knew these were my favorite because I don't recall telling him. I lean in to take a whiff of the flowers when I see a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates and a big note that says, ‘I’m sorry!’

  Wow, the man has pulled out all the stops with this one. Imported flowers, a cute note, and chocolates? Hmmm, perhaps I could give him a little surprise in the basement when he gets to the office later. Hell, it has been far too long since he filled me.

  Gabriella barges into the office. She has a look of victory planted on her stupid little face.

  I fake a smile. “Yes? Can I help you?”

  Andrew walks up behind her. She shoots me an evil glare, before turning to Andrew. “You see, this is exactly what I told you about, sir?”

  I give Gabriella a confused look.

  “She’s sleeping with her boss. I mean, he’s even bringing her chocolates and flowers to work. If you read the note, you’ll see his name signed.” Gabriella turns to me, her shoulders upright. “I’m sorry Charlotte. You know I’m only looking out for you, and I know you’re new, but company policy states such inappropriate behavior towards other staff warrants an immediate suspension." She places her hand on my arm, fake-caressing me like anyone buys her stupid act.

  Andrew bursts into laughter and shuts the door. “You ladies are a treat. Actually, I’m glad to have you two in the same room. There’s something I need to discuss with the both of you.”

  Gabriella holds that annoying smirk on her face, as she finds a seat in my chair.

  Andrew clears his throat. “Gabriella, I don’t think the flowers are because Charlotte’s sleeping with her boss.”

  “But—”

  “The note says he’s sorry. Brody came to my office last night and has resigned with immediate effect. Of course, that means that we had to make structural changes.”

  Gabriella sits up in her chair.

  “Charlotte,” Andrew continues, “Brody and I both agreed that you would be the best candidate to take over from him. I think it’s safe to say that you more than deserve this position. So, with immediate effect, Charlotte, congrats, you are now PR client manager.”

  Andrew turns to walk out the door but pauses halfway. "Oh, Gabriella, that also means that you will now be reporting directly through to Char
lotte."

  The look on Gabriella’s face is priceless. She is my new intern? This is beautiful.

  "I see you found your seat," I tell Gabriella who remains planted in my chair. Her face is flushed with redness as if she's moments away from breaking down. The truth is, I couldn't care less about her little breakdown, or that she will be reporting to me. Right now, the only thing that matters is that I find Brody.

  I hand Gabriella my notebook with all the tasks I had to complete for the day.

  She rolls her eyes at me. “If I must do all your work, what will you be doing?”

  “Sweetie, you’ll be doing my job. In case you forgot, you now have my previous job. Do we understand each other?”

  I cannot be in the office right now. I leave Gabriella with my work and grab hold of my handbag. While walking out of the office, I dial Brody’s number. What the hell possessed him to quit his job? Over a silly fight? I wanted to see him grovel a bit, but hell, I never wanted him to resign.

  “Hello?” He answers.

  “Brody, what the hell?”

  “Charlotte, I’m so sorry. I understand you’re mad at me and that I betrayed you by not telling you about the job, but I honestly didn’t mean any harm. You have to believe I meant every word I’ve ever said—”

  “You quit your job? Brody, we had a disagreement, but I never wanted you to quit.”

  He chuckles playfully. "I take it you found out? Congrats, I cannot think of anyone that deserves the position more than you do."

  “Brody, I’m leaving the office now. Where are you? We need to talk.”

  "I'm closer than you think."

  Brody

  That was my way of showing Charlotte that the job means nothing to me. Sure, this job helped me get back in contact with her, but even without the job, I would have found a way to get to her.