Page 16 of Bossing My Holiday
“I’m almost afraid she will. Is this stupid?”
“No,” I tell him. “Not even a little. We need Waverly.”
“We?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“That you didn’t talk me into having her become my fake girlfriend so you could try to fuck her.”
I chuckle lightly. “I didn’t. But it’s more than that for me with her. I’m in love with her.”
He’s silent. “You never mentioned that.”
“What was I going to say? You’ve always made it clear she’s off-limits to us. You never mentioned it to me either.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Right. Sure. That’s why you can’t take your eyes off her, are completely insufferable when we’re at the office and she’s there, and you haven’t slept with anyone in… how long has it been now?”
He grunts. “This was a bad idea. I’ll tell her to forget it.”
“And the money?”
“I’ll give it to her anyway as a bonus,” he says, and I smile.
“She won’t accept it that way, and you know it.”
He growls. “What the fuck am I supposed to do then? Why did I let you talk me into this?”
“I talked to you about it on Monday. You asked her on Wednesday. You had time to think about it. Would it really be the worst thing in the world?”
“I can’t lose her, Brax.”
His vulnerable honesty momentarily throws me. “Why would you lose her?”
“She doesn’t like me. In fact, she said she hates me. I know you. I know how your mind works. I’ve seen the way you look at her too, though I thought it was just desire. This isn’t going to be what you think it is. Not with her. And if you try…”
“You want me to hold back?”
“No. I want you to be happy. But what if things start between the two of you and turn bad? Not to mention, you’re going to be her boss.”
I sigh. I don’t want to hold back. I really don’t. I’ve fuckedaround for a long time, and none of the women I’ve met are a tenth of what Waverly is. I want her. I want to see what can happen between us. But I want Tristan as part of that. I may not want him physically, but it doesn’t change the dynamic of what I have in mind. Even if he doesn’t want that and she truly doesn’t want him, I’m still in this with her.
But maybe they just need time together. Time with the three of us. Time away from the office, enjoying each other in Paris.
“I’ll hold back.” For now, I don’t add. “But for whatever it’s worth, she doesn’t hate you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I disconnect the call, toss my phone onto the other nightstand, and go back to sleep. I’m going to have my work cut out for me with those two.
The executive flooris quiet as I get off the elevator, and after I drop off my bag and coat at my desk, I head straight for the kitchen. I don’t have to check Tristan’s office to know he’s already in there. I know Tristan Ouest better than he does. He’s always the first to arrive and the last to leave, setting a tone and work ethic few can match. He wakes up at four a.m. every day and works out for an hour, showers, and does whatever else it is he does before he’s in the office by six.
I typically arrive by seven so I can ensure everything is in order for the day. While Tris does the business, I typically go over to the lab and meet with the team there. We’ve been working on a new product, which is where the Paris company comes in. I want what they have because I know I can make it not only better but also medically viable and successful. It’s what I do. It’s what I’m a fucking genius at.
Then there’s Waverly. The woman who keeps this company on its feet, smiling, and productive.
The one day she came in at nine—standard time—the place was falling apart around us because Tristan had made two assistants cry. Now she gets here around the same time I do. I get to the edge of the kitchen and watch her as she moves around with familiarity and ease. She’s humming to herself. A holiday song, I think, and she’s wearing a red skirt, the new shoes Jasmine picked out for her on Monday, and a green blouse. The outfit would look ridiculous on anyone, but on her it’s adorable and sweet, especially with her long hair in bouncy waves.
She starts Tristan’s coffee and the electric kettle for her tea. The kitchen here is always stocked with coffee, tea, soda, water—both sparkling and still—and snacks. Everything from trail mix to pretzels to chips to granola bars to yogurt and meat and cheese things. On Mondays there are pastries. On Wednesdays, I have bagels and cream cheese brought in. On Fridays, it’s sandwiches or pizza.
