Page 6 of The Boss’s Obsession
Inside, he wasn’t bent over his computer, as he usually was. This time, he was sitting in his chair, staring out at the city beyond the window. I approached and sat in the chair on the opposite side of the desk, setting down the piece of paper I’d drafted and prepared at HR’s request.
He turned after a moment and stared at me. “What’s that?”
“HR asked me to make notes about any qualities that my replacement should have. I wanted to see if you had anything to add.”
His nostrils flared slightly, and his strong eyebrows drew down. If I ever had to put a face to a thundercloud, it would be Ronan Turner at this exact moment.
He cast an eye over the list I’d made and snorted. I nearly gaped at the sound. I’d never heard anything remotely unprofessional from this man, and suddenly, in the space of forty-eight hours, he was revealing sides of himself that I’d never expected to see.
“Is there something wrong?”
He read out loud from my list. “The ability to anticipate the boss’s needs and solve problems before he’s even aware of them. Strike this off, as clearly it isn’t something you do.”
“Excuse me?” I asked, unable to believe my ears.
“Why are you doing this, really? To date? That’s seriously the reason why you’re walking away from this relationship?” He pushed the paper I’d handed him aside, rested his elbows on the table, and stared me down. It was hard to look at him when he was facing me down so intensely. He was hot as hell, with a strong jaw, full lips, dark eyes, and hair with a wave that wouldn’t quite quit.
Hot circles of embarrassment burned in my cheeks. “What relationship? We have a purely professional relationship,” I pointed out.
“And that’s not enough for you anymore?”
His question threw me completely. “Is that enough for anyone?” I wondered, caught off guard.
Ronan shrugged his strong shoulders, thankfully covered in a well-fitted bespoke suit. The white t-shirt stretched tightly over his strong biceps had been distracting as hell.
“It’s enough for me. You know, I don’t have time to date. So, you, Sienna, are the woman in my life.”
This time, my mouth really did fall open.
“We match each other perfectly, and we get on effortlessly, I respect you and admire your work ethic, and abilities. What more do you look for in a relationship?”
“Intimacy!” The word left my lips thoughtlessly, and my face turned the shade of a hot-house tomato as it seemed to echo between us. “I’m sorry, but you’re describing co-workers and I’m talking about an intimate relationship, with everything that entails. That’s what I want time for.” Clarifying that I desperately needed to be touched by a man was embarrassing as hell, but I’d come this far, I had to brazen it out now. I shrugged as carelessly as I could. “I’m sure you date in your personal life,” I started.
“I don’t. After work, I work some more at home. My work life and personal life are one and the same, which still makes you the most important woman in my life.”
I stared at him, aghast. He wasn’t embarrassed by what he was telling me. He had that same direct arrogance that had first worked under my skin. He was gorgeous, charismatic, clever as hell, and rich as Croesus, and he was basically telling me he didn’t use any of that to his advantage to find female company.
“That’s kind of awful,” I blurted out. His eyes narrowed. “I mean, that I’m the most important person to you, and I’m just an employee, that’s awful – for you.”
“It doesn’t bother me, well, it never has until last week,” he said slowly, his eyebrows drawing together in a look I recognized well. It was when there was a puzzle he couldn’t solve, and he was setting his impressive brain to figure it out.
“Your father wanted me to look after you,” he said faintly.
I nodded, already knowing that detail. It was the only reason a man like Ronan Turner had even looked at me in the first place for his assistant.
“I know, and I’m grateful, but it’s been a year. I’m all grown up. He didn’t expect you to look after me forever, you know,” I teased.
My words sent Ronan’s eyes over my face, studying, observing, trying to puzzle out his confusion. I knew him, he just hated change. Once he was settled with a new assistant, he’d forget all about me.
“Anyway, what did you need me for?” I asked, after the silence between us stretched out too long. I waved my notebook.
He swallowed hard, and tore his eyes from my face, turning back toward the window.
“I forget,” he muttered, staring at the dawn creeping past the skyscraper skyline. “I’ll call you if I remember.”
“Erm, ok. I’ll be outside,” I said, flustered and confused, as I made for the door.
“For now,” he called to me, his eyes fixed on me again.
