Page 13 of Boss's Red Glare

I return to my office, shutting the door behind me with a sigh of relief, only to nearly jump out of my skin when Glenda, our oldest employee and office matriarch, knocks softly and steps inside, eyebrows raised knowingly.

“Glenda,” I greet cautiously. “Can I help you?”

She closes the door behind her, approaching my desk with a motherly smile. “I just wanted to say I think this is a wonderful idea, Connor. Maisie is lovely.”

I shift awkwardly, suddenly feeling like a scolded child. “Thank you, Glenda. She is.”

Glenda’s eyes twinkle mischievously. “And you two certainly look good together.”

I clear my throat, feeling heat rise again. “It’s purely professional, Glenda.”

“Hmm.” She nods thoughtfully. “You know, there’s no rule against asking her out for real.”

I stare at her, surprised by her bluntness. “Glenda, Maisie works for me.”

“Yes, she does.” She smiles serenely. “And she’s wonderful at her job. But this fake-dating thing—it doesn’t have to be pretend forever, does it?”

“Funny,” I mutter, echoing Darren’s earlier words. “Everyone keeps saying that.”

“Perhaps you should listen,” she says gently. “Life’s short, Connor. You’ve worked so hard—too hard, sometimes. Maybe Maisie is exactly the warmth and happiness you need.”

I exhale slowly, rubbing my forehead tiredly. “I appreciate your thoughts, Glenda, but I have to stay professional.”

“Of course,” she says lightly, patting my shoulder gently. “But sometimes, life has other plans.”

She leaves quietly, the door clicking shut behind her. I sink back into my chair, frustrated by the complicated emotions swirling in my chest. Maisie is exactly the kind of distraction I can’t afford right now—warm, bright, sweetly disarming. And yet, she’s also exactly what I crave, what I’ve subconsciously needed for so long.

I glance through the blinds, watching Maisie across the office. She’s chatting animatedly with Charlene, laughing at something Charlene said. Her eyes sparkle, smile wide and genuine, and for a second, it’s impossible not to imagine what it would feel like to make her smile like that myself.

But I quickly shove the thought away, refocusing stubbornly on my computer. I have work to do. Investors to impress. A business to run. I can’t let Maisie distract me any further than this barbecue.

Still, Glenda’s words ring stubbornly in my mind. It doesn’t have to be pretend forever.

It’s unsettling how much I suddenly want that to be true.

7

Maisie

The day of the Fourth of July barbecue dawns bright, sunny, and nerve-rackingly beautiful. The sky above Starlight Bay is a pristine, cloudless blue, and the air hums with anticipation of festivities. My heart is beating double-time. Maybe triple-time. Definitely more than is healthy, I think, as I smooth down my bright red sundress for the millionth time and nervously check my hair in the reflection of my car’s window.

Charlene shoots me an amused look from the passenger seat. “Relax, Maisie. You look adorable. Connor is going to lose his mind.”

“It’s fake,” I remind her sternly, though my heart betrays me with an excited flutter at the mere mention of his name. “He’s just my boss.”

She snorts, flipping down the visor mirror to adjust her sunglasses. “Right. And I’m the Queen of England.”

“Stop it,” I laugh, shaking my head at her ridiculousness. “I just don’t want to mess this up. It’s important to Connor.”

Charlene smiles softly. “I know. But you couldn’t mess this up even if you tried. Just be yourself. He likes you exactly as you are.”

My stomach flips nervously at her words. Could she be right?

I park near the entrance of Seabreeze Park, where the barbecue is already bustling with life. Patriotic banners and balloons flutter gently in the breeze. Delicious smells waft through the air—burgers sizzling, smoky barbecue sauce, buttery corn on the cob. My mouth waters even as my nerves kick into high gear.

“Here we go,” I mutter under my breath as Charlene gives my shoulder an encouraging squeeze.

“You’ve got this,” she says cheerfully, waving me off toward the party.

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