Bad Boss

by Brooke Page

  Chapter Nine

  “There you are!” Mindy yelled across the small bar. I offered a wave, hating that everyone turned to look at my entrance. Big windows let the light shine through the lightly painted walls with modern dangling lights. It wasn’t your typical dark bar. I liked how clean and fresh it was. It made me not feel like I was in college again the few times Mindy and I stumbled out after one too many vodka tonics.

  Mindy was sitting with a few coordinators, and to my horror, Timothy was plopped across from her an empty beer mug in front of him. He never came out with us. I’m sure Mindy was thrilled, but I was mortified. He wasn’t a moron and knew what was happening in Craft’s office.

  His face reddened when he saw me, then he called over the waiter to order another drink.

  Yeah, I might need a few of those, too.

  “I’ve got your favorite waiting for you!” Mindy said with enthusiasm, patting the empty seat next to her.

  Trying to hold in my apprehension toward sitting so close to Timothy, I joined her, taking a huge swig from the full tumbler.

  “Thirsty? I guess I can’t blame you,” she giggled, taking a drink from her own glass.

  I glared at her. We weren’t going to talk about this in front of our co-workers.

  Eventually people from our office began to thin out, and by the time I had two drinks, it was only Mindy, Timothy, and a few interns left.

  “I can’t believe he came out,” Mindy whispered into my ear. “He never comes out with us!” She was giddy from the alcohol. Tonight might be the night she hits on him. I’m not sure I could hang if she invited him to another bar with us. It was hard enough sitting across from him.

  “Maybe he had a rough week, too,” I mumbled, finishing the rest of my glass. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

  She giggled and scrunched her face. “I have no regrets. It’s not like I’m going to sleep with him.” She winked at me then stood from her chair. “Tim, what made you decide to come out tonight?”

  He shrugged his shoulders, watching Mindy move around the table and approach him.

  I smiled. By the way Mindy was batting her eyelashes, he had no idea what he was in for.

  I shook my head, trying to contain my laughter. I needed another drink, and the waiter wasn’t moving fast enough. Finding my way to the bar, I slide on the end where a man was sitting by himself, waving one of the bartenders down. “Can I get another vodka tonic with a cucumber slice please?”

  He nodded, then began making the drink.

  “How many of those are you going to have?” A deep timbre came from the man sitting next to me.

  A shiver went down my spine. I knew that voice. It had given me two orgasms today.

  My head whipped in his direction. There he was, wearing an Indian’s baseball t-shirt and baseball cap with faded jeans. I almost didn’t recognize Mr. Craft so dressed down. He was always in a button up with fancy dress slacks and shiny shoes. I’d never seen him sporting a pair of Nikes.

  “Ms. Neely,” he greeted, resituating his baseball cap.

  “Mr. Craft,” I mimicked, still a bit dumbfounded why he was here, standing next to me in a bar. He never came out with us, and by how he was sitting at the end of the bar, I assumed he didn’t want anything to do with the rest of his employees.

  The bartender set a drink in front of me, and Craft gave him a nod. He left before I could get a wad of cash from my pocket. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, taking a sip from his glass.

  “I don’t have a tab opened,” I said, setting a ten on the table. Craft grabbed the ten and held it out for me to take. “It’s on me.”

  I scowled at him. “You don’t get to buy me a drink.”

  He ignored me, then slipped the money in my front pocket. I slapped his hand, then pointed my finger at him. “Don’t fucking touch me,” I hissed.

  His forehead lifted under his cap. “Then take the money when I give it to you.”

  “Why are you even here?” I muttered, checking over my shoulder. Mindy and Timothy were focused on each other while the few interns laughed obnoxiously and flirted with the waiter. Explains why he didn’t come to refill my glass fast enough.

  “I don’t think they’re missing you,” he said flatly, taking another drink. “Sit down.”

  “So you’re a demanding asshole outside of work, too?”

  He glared at me. “Don’t you get enough of those people during your lunch break?”

  I crossed my arms. “Normally I would, but someone else took up my time today during lunch.”

  He smirked into his glass. “I think your lunch break was well spent.”

  “Going over a Power Point presentation? Please.”

  His eyes gleamed. “Is that what we’re going to call it?”

  “It was.”

  “So is that what happened later in the day, too? We were going over a Power Point presentation?”

  I shook my head in frustration. “Why are you here?”

  He nodded toward the bartender. “I’m having a drink at my buddy’s bar.”

  I scowled at him. “Are you in cognito?”

  He met my scowl. “Why would you say that?”

  “Because you’re hiding like a creep from your employees at the end of the bar, drinking by yourself.”

  He stood from the barstool, turning to face me. He had more of that woodsy cologne on, and I had to fight myself to not lean in closer. “I’m not by myself.”

  I looked around, wondering who he’d come with. Was he here with one of those stupid interns? Probably the girl he met with before me this morning. My mood soured at the thought. “Well, I won’t keep you,” I muttered, swapping the ten he’d put in my pocket for my drink.

  Craft grabbed my arm to stop me from leaving. “Are you always this stubborn?” His jaw was tense. He didn’t like that I was being so cold to him.

  “I don’t like it when people pay for my drinks.”

  “I was referring to you being with me. Now let me buy you a drink.”

  I laughed. “I didn’t come with you.”

  His stare met mine. “Okay, then leave with me.”

  “Why on earth would I do that?” I said in bewilderment.

  The cocky grin he sported when he thought he was God’s gift to women spread across his face. “Because we have some unfinished business.”

  I pulled my arm from his grasp. “You would think that. We have nothing more to do.”

  He bit his lip. “This side of you would be killer in a sales meeting.”

  “Odd of you to say that, considering you keep me around to be your paper pusher. Clearly you’ve got other intentions for me now.”

  He scowled in confusion. “Paper pusher?”

  My eyes rolled to the ceiling. “Yeah, Craft. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go back to my friends.”

  He didn’t grab my arm this time, and I was thankful. I’d left him standing at the bar in confusion, one upping him again. But this time I didn’t feel as good about it. It was supposed to be thrilling and give me confidence, instead I just felt like a complete bitch.

  “Where did you go?” Mindy asked. She was practically sitting on Timothy’s lap, her body being held upright by his thigh. He didn’t look like he was complaining, or that he had a worry in the world.

  “Another drink, since our server is enthralled with the interns,” I said, holding up my glass then taking a big gulp.

  Mindy and Timothy laughed.

  “Hey, come here,” Mindy yelled to the server. He popped his head from the small group of blondes, then made his way toward us.

  “Sorry, can I get you another round?” He offered.

  Mindy nodded. “Please. Don’t bother flirting with them, they don’t get paid shit and I hear they all have crabs.”

  I covered my mouth and laughed. Did she really just say that?

  The server squinted and glanced down at the interns. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

  The second he lef
t, the three of us had burst into laughter.

  Chapter Ten

  I was a fucking idiot sitting at Cody’s bar. Planting my ass on the stool wasn’t mixed into my typical Friday night events, but there had been nothing normal about my day.

  Ms. Neely had always been a distraction. Every ounce of willpower I had in my body died when she leaned over the conference table in that blasted dress. It hugged her hips perfectly, the curve of her back begging for me to touch it. I’d fantasized about fucking her on my conference table at least twice a day, but I always resisted. She was too much of an asset to our company, and although her work ethic turned me on, I avoided touching her at all costs.

  Finding an assistant with as much brain capacity as Ms. Neely would have been impossible. So putting a sexual advancement on her would be a big no-no.

  I did my best to stay away from dabbling in bed with any female in my office. The few aggressive interns would slip in on a weak moment, but for the most part, my work and sex life remained apart. My job was all I had, and I wasn’t going to let a woman fuck with that.

  Then Ms. Neely confidently walked in with a fresh batch of interns. She stood out, mainly because she was so damn short amongst the leggy blondes and their immature male counter parts. Neely was focused and driven, and didn’t shut down my ideas or cower when I gave her a direction. Pair that quality with the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen, she was a dangerous weapon that screamed sexual harassment lawsuit.

  Like the moron I was, keeping my filthy hands off of her didn’t happen. I gave into the desire that had been prodding at me since I hired her two years ago. Those luscious hips made my cock hard every day. I had been extra frustrated, anxious over the show campaign. I needed a fresh set of eyes to help go over my presentation, and Ms. Neely listened perfectly as I critiqued my work. I picked up on her subtle mannerisms when she didn’t agree or thought what I was saying was bullshit or insincere.

  She’d done her thing in that fucking blue dress, and the faintness of lines on her hip stirred my cock alive in my pants. I needed to know what was underneath that dress, and the two years of being an asshole to avoid any type of contact beyond a working relationship went out the window.

  The moment I touched her, I thought for sure she’d slap me, but she stayed put, her chest rising at a rapid rate. Her always “so sure of herself” demeanor disappeared with the stroke of my hand, and like the manipulative asshole I was, I took advantage, divulging in the forbidden fruit that was at my fingertips.

  And here I sat like a pathetic fool, watching her from a distance while she drank gin and tonics with her friends. I should have gone over there instead of hiding at the edge of the bar feigning interest. The, I didn’t give a shit act she played when she came to my side of the bar almost had me fooled into thinking she’d regretted our interactions. How she didn’t feed me bullshit and didn’t back down had me debating throwing her over my shoulder and having my way with her in the bar’s bathroom. Getting a rise out of Ms. Neely turned me on, and I craved being in her presence.

  “Are you really going to sit her all night?” Cody, my best friend and the co-owner of the bar asked. He filled another mug of beer for me, sliding it my way. I’d invested in this dive because it was his dream to own a bar, now it was thriving.

  “Might as well. I have to wait for your ass to close up shop.”

  Cody smirked. “The guys are all at the house.”

  I raised a brow and returned his smile. Cody looked forward to tonight throughout the entire year. It was fun for me too, but I was more interested in getting Ms. Neely naked. I had yet to see her in full form without clothes. My imagination was driving me wild, and I knew the real deal would be twenty times better.

  “What’s with the girl?” He asked following my gaze.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “She’s my assistant.”

  “She’s kind of hot, in the little spinner way,” he said with a raised brow. “Seems a bit young.”

  “It’s her clothing. She dresses more mature when she comes into work.”

  Cody nodded, then busied himself with another customer.

  Ms. Neely looked my way, and I resisted smiling at her. She was avoiding being noticed as well. Her head craned back to her friends, her long flowy hair whipped with her quick movement. I wanted to grab a hold of it again. My knees bounced and I scowled. Why was I letting a woman control my thoughts like this? I was an asshole for a reason. It wasn’t easy for me to be nice, my first instinct had always been to be cold and not let people inside my head. I’d been like that ever since my father had vanished from my life in my early teens.

  I glanced back in her direction, then frowned. Anger brewed inside of me. The waiter who I’d bugged Cody to fire a few weeks ago was flirting with her. I couldn’t stand him, and he had been making a move on Ms. Neely all night.

  I shuffled in my seat to get comfortable. No way was she going anywhere without me tonight. Especially with that creep flirting with her.

  Chapter Eleven

  It was last call, and I was feeling really good. The gin and tonics were mixed perfectly. The interns had left once the server started to focus more on us, and we were the last few people still in his bar. Mindy was between Timothy’s legs now, her arm wrapped around his shoulders. I’d caught her whispering in his ear a few times. He’d blushed each time, but the more he drank, the more his hands wandered. She’d been crushing on him for a long time. Regret might sting come Monday morning.

  The alcohol helped me to forget about Craft some. It didn’t keep me from glancing toward where he had been sitting. He had sat there for a few hours, talking to the bartender, watching the television. Something about the casualness of his outfit was attracting me even more than the sexy suits. A few times we’d make eye contact. He was watching me, too. Sometimes he’d smirk, other times he’d continue looking at the screen. Who knew what would happen if I got the courage to approach him. I’d probably spit obscenities at him, or worse, I’d coax him to the bathroom and open my legs for him.

  “Closing time is in ten minutes,” the server announced, giving me a wink. I smiled back at him, grabbing the cucumber from my empty glass and popping it into my mouth. He was cute at this point of the night, and we had been flirting ever since the interns left.

  “And what do you do after closing?” Mindy asked him.

  He looked down at me with a smile. “Depends on what my options are.”

  I held in a giggle. Was he offering to come out with us?

  “Your options are to restock the bar or mop the floors,” a deep voice said from behind me. Both Mindy and Timothy’s eyes widened, while mine closed.

  That voice… it made me wet instantly.

  The waiter straightened. “Of course,” he said to Mr. Craft. “I’ll go get your tabs.”

  “Put theirs on mine.”

  Mindy’s jaw gaped open. She squinted. “Craft? Is that you?”

  “Yes, it is.” He said with a clenched jaw.

  “Wow, it’s like you’re a real person,” Mindy slurred.

  Craft glared at her.

  Timothy fidgeted, his drunken state becoming more sober at the sight of his boss. I couldn’t blame him. No one else noticed him stalking in the dark corner of the bar with his baseball hat tucked down low, the scruff on his jaw longer than usual.

  “I should head home,” Timothy said, carefully slipping out from under Mindy. It didn’t stop her from clinging her arm with his.

  “Kelsey and I can walk with you,” she batted her lashes. Timothy looked toward Craft.

  Only Craft wasn’t looking at Timothy and Mindy, he was glued to me.

  “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea,” Timothy said under his breath. “I’m tired and have a grad class tomorrow morning.”

  “Should probably get some rest then.” Craft said smoothly.

  Mindy turned her nose up at him. “You’re not his boss outside of work.” She faced Timothy, planting her lips on his ear. “Come home
with me. I’ll make sure you get up in time for your class.”

  Timothy swallowed, then nodded, turning with Mindy on his arm. “I’ll see you later,” he waved to Craft.

  Mindy giggled and stumbled alongside Timothy toward the door. I followed them without saying goodbye.

  When we got outside, I waved down a cab and helped Mindy inside. “Come on,” She offered, tugging on my arm.

  “I think I’m going to walk,” I said, needing the fresh air. I’d had too much to drink, and a car ride didn’t sound appealing. Even more so when I knew Mindy would be all over Timothy. Nothing is worse than being the third wheel.

  “Okay, just don’t fuck anyone I wouldn’t,” she giggled.

  I shook my head and closed the cab door. When I stepped in the direction of my apartment, I slammed into a warm body. “I’m so sorry-- Oh, it’s just you.”

  Craft’s brow lifted. His arms crossed over his chest. “Wow, you went from sweet and sincere to crabby in two seconds.”

  I tucked my hair behind my ear. “I’m not crabby.”

  “You were apologetic, then venomous.”

  I smacked my lips and side stepped him. “We aren’t on the friendship level.”

  His footsteps followed behind me. “I’d say we’re past the friend zone, wouldn’t you?”

  “I don’t think that’s accurate,” I huffed. “We’d have to be friends in the first place.” My Chucks skipped along the sidewalk, needing to get space from him.

  “Hey Mack, you coming or what?” The bartender yelled from just outside the bar.

  Craft grabbed my arm, holding it securely so I wouldn’t walk away. “Give me two minutes.”

  He turned back toward me, keeping his hand on my arm. His touch softened, his thumb stroking just above my elbow. The contact gave me goose bumps. “What are you doing right now?”

  “It’s midnight, I’m going to go pass out.”