Page 44 of The Boss Situation

“Don’t you ever threaten me like that again,” I say, ready to break his fingers.

“Hey, man, it was a joke,” he says.

“I didn’t laugh. I’ll be in touch,” I state just as my car arrives.

As I speed away, I lean my head against the seat, and then I text my brother.

Asher

I’m going to help Josh. End of discussion.

Nick

I hope you don’t regret this.

9

BILLIE

TWO DAYS LATER

After I grab my coffee, I make my way to my office. It’s impossible for me not to notice the brand-new sign taped across Banks’s window.

It’s two banners, one stacked on top of the other.

Disrespectfully …

You lost.

“What the fuck?” I whisper, staring at it with creased brows, wondering how long it took him to write that and then hang it.

My door swings open, and Harper balances her laptop on her arm as she moves toward me. She sets it on my desk and points at the headline. I don’t like the expression on her face.

I read it.

Banks Advertising and Marketing Firm signs a multibillion-dollar contract with Lustre.

One billion dollars a monthfor the next quarter.

There’s a picture of Banks and Josh together, smiling, both looking handsome as hell.

“This is a nightmare, right?” I sink into my chair with my hands clasped tightly into fists. “He’s actually working with him,” I whisper with an exhale.

“Which one are you shocked about? Josh knows how much you hate Asher so I don’t know which one is worse. Asher and you have always hated each other, but you’d think Josh would respect you enough not to work with him.”

“He cheated on me, Harper. That man wouldn’t know respect if it was tattooed on his forehead. Fuck! This is unbelievable.”

Rage soars through me because I didn’t think Banks would do this. Since he’s friends with my brothers, I thought he’d show me a dash of compassion. Yes, we hate each other, but did we not have a mutual understanding? Assuming that is on me.

Bastard.

“We’re screwed,” Harper says, shaking her head. Then she sees the sign and screams as she reads it. “We are so fucked! I wish you had a thirteen-year-old vendetta against anyone other than him.” Her voice is elevated as she moves around to the front of my desk. “I went to art school. Sometimes, I don’t know if I’m cut out for this. I want to draw pretty clothes and play dress-up while making a ton of money. Is that too much to ask?”

“Proof that men ruin everything.” I close my eyes, massaging my temples, searching for a solution. Our hole is deep, and I don’t know how we’ll dig ourselves out, but we will with time. “What are our immediate options?”

She shuts her laptop. “Other than finding you a husband, I’m out of ideas. Maybe we could pitch a new TV series to Hollywood. We’ll call itDating a Calloway. By the end of three months, we’ll have you a husband and enough money for us to open a second location of Bellamore.”

“Finding a husband will be harder than beating Banks and Joshat this. No one wants me, Harper. I scare men away because they’re too intimidated.”

---