Page 14 of #Bossholes

Ten minutes in this girl’s orbit and I’m already a walking HR violation.

She stands up straighter but doesn’t let go of me, not right away. Her gaze meets mine, the ocean blue of her eyes pinning me in place, and for a moment it feels like it’s just the two of us. I could get lost in those eyes, and damn if I almost don’t fall into her trap, but then she turns away from me, studying my brother.

“You guys aren’t entirely the same.”

I’m not sure what she means by that, but before I can ask for clarification, a throat clears behind me.

My hands drop from her and I jump back, running them through my hair and trying really hard to look like I wasn’t interrupted while groping my new secretary in front of my brother and best friend. The two of them also take a large step back, and if that doesn’t scream guilt, I don’t know what does. Guilty of what, who knows, but perception is everything.

“Mr. Ellis.” James, the receptionist for this floor, eyes the four of us, his voice full of disappointment. Well, I have news for him—I’m disappointed in me too. “Mr. Holden is waiting for you in conference room one. And Mr. Ellis, Mrs. Wright is in room three.”

“Thank you.” Brantley’s response is clipped, and the look he gives Maverick and me promises a conversation about this later.Great. He doesn’t spare another glance at our new secretary as he barrels past her and practically flees to the other side of the building. He can pretend all he wants, but I know my brother, and he wasn’t completely unaffected by whatever the fuck just happened here.

Maverick shrugs, slips his hands in his pockets, and heads back into his office, leaving me alone with Sleeping Beauty.

“Are you okay?” My voice is thick, gravely, and I really need to pull myself together. Not only is this an employee, but by the looks of her, she can’t be more than twenty-five. And by the swan dive she took in the hallway, obviously she has some shit going on. Maybe she’s pregnant. Or maybe I’ve crossed enough lines and don’t need to be speculating on my secretary’s womb.

She blinks a few times and nods. “I’m sorry; that was very unprofessional of me.”

“It was.” It’s right there on the tip of my tongue…I’m so close to asking her what’s going on, but it’s none of my business. If she has panic attacks, low blood sugar, or you know, the other thing—that’s on her to manage on her own time. “If you can no longer perform your duties, I can contact Mrs. Monroe for a replacement.”

The flash of panic crossing her face makes me feel like a dick, but it’s better this way. For the both of us.

“No, I’m good.” She runs into her office, presumably grabbing her laptop, and I take off down the hall. She’ll either catch up or give me a reason to send her back to the nineteenth floor.

She can be their problem, not mine.

NINE

Kinsley

I cannot believeI passed out in front of my new bosses. It hasn’t happened in years, but of course, it would happen on my first day up here.

This is so freaking embarrassing. I don’t know what came over me. The guys came out of their offices, and it’s like the weight of this week crashed down right on top of me, and the next thing I knew, I was leaning against someone's chest.

So, not only did I pass out in front of my new bosses, but on one of them. And now he’s pissed.

It was completely unprofessional, I get it, but it’s not like I planned it. I didn’t get up and think,you know, this would be a good day to pass out in front of three of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen.Bonus if they own the firm I work for.They probably think I’m a complete flake. Totally inept at my job. I bet Maverick has already told HR they’ll need to find a replacement.

It’s only Tuesday, and this week has already been the worst.

But I don’t have time to lament on the shit show that is my life, not when this particular Ellis is stomping off toward the other side of the building and leaving me in the dust. I snatch my laptop, legal pad, and a pen from my desk and take offafter him, only slightly disappointed I’m not going to meet an Olympic athlete. I’m not sure I know who Mrs. Wright is, but if she’s being personally represented by one of the owners, she’s a VIP client.

I manage to catch up with Ellis number two around the reception desk, earning me another glare from their receptionist. I doubt he’ll be sharing any of the office gossip with me or helping me with, well, anything.

Just as well; he’s probably a jerk too.

Ellis glances down at me, his green eyes cold—a green that’s a shade lighter than his brother’s. I really shouldn’t be surprised at his prickly behavior since the gals downstairs directly compared him to a soul-sucking Dementor. I’m lucky he didn’t step aside and let me fall to the floor when I passed out earlier.

“You sure you’re okay? You don’t need to see a doctor?” His words are ground out, no doubt painful to act like he cares about another human being.

I give him a wide smile and lie through my teeth. “Yep. Good as new.” And when his eyes narrow on me, I quickly add, “I skipped breakfast this morning, something I won’t be repeating, but I appreciate your concern.”

His answering scoff has the smile falling right off my face, and I replace it with a scowl that rivals his. What I’d love to do is point out that his clear lack of compassion is likely one of the main reasons everyone is afraid of him, but I bite my tongue. He’s probably one of those guys who gets a hard-on when people are afraid of him, and I have no desire to fuel that fire.

Not that I’m thinking about his dick, hard or not. Nope, not going to do it. Even if, judging by his stature and hands, it’s impressive in both length and girth.

Dammit.

---