Page 161 of The Boss Situation

His eyes haven’t left me since I entered.

“Thanks for inviting us to dinner,” I say to him with a smile, though I don’t fully trust his intentions, considering our last exchange at Calloway headquarters.

Carlee moves into the kitchen and pinches Weston’s ass when she passes him.

“Woman,” he says, squirming away from her.

She laughs. “Get out of my way.”

He pulls her into his arms, bringing her back to him. “Never.”

Billie’s eyes meet mine, and I can’t wait to be alone with her.

It’s barely past eight, and I feel like I’ve lived one of the longest days of my life.

“I watched Louis’s press conference,” Weston offers from the kitchen.

“Really?” I ask. “I was in nonstop meetings today. It was awful.”

Billie nods. “I watched it in double speed. He told everyone we broke it off days prior, but hadn’t had a chance to make an announcement yet. He said we were much better as friends. Palace is pushing that there was no cheating involved and is trying to keep his crown polished.”

“After the Prince Louie scandal, I can understand why,” I say, meeting Billie’s eyes, knowing that she bought one of those toys.

A sly grin slides across her face. “Exactly. I think it will all be okay though. Everyone is buying it.”

“That’s great news,” I tell her, knowing that if Louis hadn’t dated Billie that summer, we probably would have become friends. Once they got together, he was immediately added to my shit list.

“What?” Billie asks, noticing I’m smiling at her, admiring her.

I think back to Eden’s letter, knowing she’s kept it safe all these years.

“Nothing,” I tell her, utterly taken aback by how damn pretty she is.

I feel like I’m walking on the fucking moon when she’s near, like nothing in the world matters. All it ever takes is one glance.

Carlee clears her throat. “I have to tell you something.”

I glance at her, and she’s staring directly at me. “Me?”

“You have to sign this first,” she says, sliding an NDA toward me with a pen.

Billie and Weston say nothing.

“Is this where I get initiated into your cult?” I ask.

Weston bursts into laughter. “Fucking hilarious. But yes.”

“He’s lying,” Billie says. “We’re not in a cult.”

“You’re not being convincing,” I say as I quickly scan the contract, knowing it’s a standard NDA, nothing outrageous or out of the ordinary.

I’ve been presented with thousands of them in my lifetime, and I could probably write one verbatim at this point. I sign my name at the bottom, and it feels like minutes of silence pass. It stretches on.

“If you don’t spit it out, I mightdiefrom anticipation,” I say dryly.

Carlee glares at me. “I will help you take down Josh.”

“You?” I ask, shocked.

---