Page 42 of Boss

The bickering amongst the senior executives died to a murmur. Kassidy had been in tough meetings before, but this one was rife with tension. She looked up from her laptop and locked eyes with the man they all served, Tarek Marshall. He met her stare and then cut his gaze over to the person speaking.

After the horror show in Deadhorse they flew to Anchorage for him to recover. Tarek never said it to her, but she knew he couldn’t return home looking like a train wreck victim. It took two weeks before the bruising and swelling healed. He slept for many of those days, and the others they watched television or talked over his ideas for Deadhorse. In the short spans of the four months that followed she’d completely forgotten her vendetta against him. Kassidy worked days in the office at his side and spent nights in his bed exploring every pleasure imaginable between a man and woman. It was always her place, never his. She said she understood. Part of her did. Tarek was exciting, he made his own rules. He didn’t explain himself. The mystery is what she liked most about him.

Kassidy became even more domestic. She’d cook for him. They’d watch football, basketball, any sport on ESPN between making love and talking about anything under the sun. Anything but their pasts. Tarek never questioned her about her childhood and she never offered any truths. A few times she had wanted too, but something always held her back. No matter how close they became the trust was never there.

And then one night he woke, got up from her bed and began to dress. She asked him why he was leaving so early. He announced that their relationship was over. He said he was leaving for South America and didn’t know when he’d return.

She feared he’d learned her secret schemes with Daniel. Or even worse her connection to his past. She actually humbled herself low enough to plead for him to reconsider smashing her heart. But he was cold and dismissive. Tarek told her she still had her job with his company. He expected her to do it well. But she would be transferred out from under him. When she confessed that she loved him he became angry. And when she refused to let him leave he said the one thing that changed everything. He looked her in the eye and said he was done.

And then he was gone.

The fucking bastard made her cry. And soon she understood how broken and desperate Clarissa must have felt when he dumped her. She’d been a fool. An idiot. She’d fallen for the man that destroyed her life and let him destroy her heart all over again.

But not anymore. Kassidy was focused. And she had been a bad girl since he was gone.

Tarek Marshall’s return had set the office into a tailspin. Everyone wanted to impress and over compensate for their failures in their departments. Kassidy chewed on the back of her pen and watched Tarek as he watched the show.

Bill Havarti, the senior corporate attorney, voice silenced the room. Hell, Kassidy didn’t think anyone breathed... The entire room was riveted by Bill’s assessment of their program. After all its Bill’s approval with the boards that kept them all employed.

“I’ve heard enough. We’re done,” Tarek Marshall said.

“Tarek, there are things we need to discuss,” Havarti interjected.

“We’ll discuss when I’m ready. Ms. Brown. You stay behind.”

“Good luck, Angela,” Velva whispered to her as she pushed back in her chair and left with the others. Tarek never requested a closed door meeting with her. However, he hadn’t been in the office after he broke things off with her. This was the first time they were alone together. And being alone with him was the last thing she wanted or needed.

“Do you know why I asked you to stay?” he asked while he scanning the contracts Bill Havarti put before him.

“No,” she said softly.

Tarek Marshall removed his glasses and eventually his gaze lifted to her. He hadn't so much as sent her a text message in months, and now he stared at her as if they were in the afterglow. Kassidy hated him for the rejection. She hated herself too.

“I wanted to call you. To explain.”

“There’s nothing to explain,” she said.

“There were things I had to attend too. I couldn’t let you get involved. It was best we end it so...”

“I’m over it.” Kassidy said. Tarek’s soft stare hardened. He looked at her as if confused. She made sure to maintain her glare at him. “I’m glad you ended it. I was never really interested in being your girlfriend. I wanted a job. And I got it.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Is there anything else you need? I have to work to do.”

“Have dinner with me.”

“No thanks.”

“I read your report. The South American drilling project plan will be implemented, and the financials. I'm impressed. Let’s discuss it.”

“I can’t. I have plans.”

Tarek frowned. “Cancel them.”

“I said I can’t.”

“I’m your boss,” he said.

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