Page 4 of The Boss’s Obsession
My phone suddenly rang on the table. It was Ronan’s ringtone.
Tanya smirked at me. “Sure, it’s really funny. Everyone gets called at eleven on a Friday night by their enigmatic, gift-giving boss. It’s such a funny joke. Sienna, if you’re really this blind, you need to be careful jumping into the dating world. You’ll get eaten alive.”
I blew out a breath and grabbed my phone. “Whatever, think whatever you want. Ronan Turner will never see me that way. I’d bet my life on it.”
CHAPTER4
Ronan
Ipaced my penthouse, the phone clamped to my ear, listening to it ring. After the third time, my dangerous mood blackened further. Why wasn’t she answering? Was she hurt? Incapacitated? Had she been mugged?
“Hello? Mr. Turner?”
Relief billowed through me at the sound of her voice.
“Sienna, where are you?” The words left me in a command. I felt strangely breathless, my chest tight and heavy.
“I’m out with friends. Did you need me for something?”
“Yes, I do. I’ll come to you, text me your location,” I said and hung up.
Staring at my phone, that strange heartbeat echoed in my ears. I was coming down with something, clearly, as in addition to the racing pulse, my hands felt clammy and my head was pounding. I usually only got stress headaches, but this felt even worse than usual.
I headed downstairs to the parking garage, and got in the Maserati I used when I drove personally. Pulling out of my spot, I headed to the street downtown that I happened to know was just around the corner from Sienna’s apartment.
The city streets were busy with that bright hum of late-night traffic. New York really was the city that never slept and the energy usually comforted me. Tonight, it was only adding to my anxiety.
I pulled up outside the bar Sienna had mentioned, bagging a space at the curb, and disregarding the reserved for the club sign. As I got out, the bouncer of the bar strolled over, eying the car.
“You can’t leave it there, buddy,” he said, tilting his head to enjoy the sight of the expensive car.
Over his meaty shoulder, I spied Sienna, sitting in the window of the bar. She was with two others, and the table was groaning with cocktail glasses.
“Here, look after it for me,” I said to the man, and grabbed a fistful of notes from my wallet. I carried cash solely for the purposes of tipping, and the bouncer’s eyes widened as he unfolded the hundred-dollar bills I’d tossed him.
“No worries, man. I’m on it,” he said, his face splitting into a grin. I headed inside the bar, the overpowering music immediately suffocating me, as well as the crowds. I hated loud music and too many people in confined spaces. Even the smell of clashing perfumes and body sprays made me irritated. Apparently, I was in the minority, as everyone else looked like they were having a great time. For Sienna’s sake, I put my head down and pushed through the crowd toward the corner I’d seen her sitting in.
As I cleared the edge of the crowd, I spied her.
She was talking to the man beside her and found something he’d said funny, judging by the way she threw her head back and laughed. Her whole body moved with it, the long elegant column of her neck exposed to my eyes, as I came to a stop, like a stone in the river of the crowd. People flowed around me, as I watched her. That feeling in my chest pulsed, like a string was tied around my heart, and it was gradually tightening.
Her other friend caught me standing there and leaned down to speak to Sienna. The moment when she looked up, and her eyes connected with mine felt like a bolt of electricity ran through my body. I could practically smell my insides singeing as she stood up and rushed toward me.
“Mr. Turner? You were so quick.” She looked up at me, the crowd jostling her into my chest. I gripped her shoulders until she steadied herself. I didn’t let go right away.
“Let’s go outside, it’s too noisy in here,” I finally said, prizing my hands off her, and turning toward the door. I started through the crowd and turned back to check on her, registering that without my superior height, she was having trouble plowing through the crowd. I reached back and took her hand before I could consider the propriety of such familiarity.
Outside, the bouncer was posing for selfies with the car at the curb. I walked a little from the bar and its pounding music, before releasing Sienna’s hand.
She was staring at me strangely like I’d grown a second head. I supposed I wasn’t really acting like myself, and I had no excuses for it. I wasn’t feeling like myself either and it was unsettling.
“Mr. Turner, what’s going on? Is there a problem at work?”
“Yes, there’s a problem at work. A big problem.” My voice was harsh and I made an effort to soften it. Blowing out a calming breath, I tried to get my racing heart under control.
“What is it?” Sienna wondered, her dark eyes widening.
“It’s you, Sienna. Why are you threatening to resign? Have you been ill-treated somehow?” She jerked at the question as if she was shocked.
