Page 2 of Baby Daddy Boss

I felt like a groupie at a concert. I was a fan of his work, who wouldn't be, he is brilliant. He was a field leader in biochemistry, a field I was eager to get my foot in the door. Somehow what was currently out of reach for me was where he played well among the big names. I felt so small next to him at this stage of my education.

But one day, I hoped to be not someone who could stand among him and the others but also contribute to Bio-Chem in a significant manner as he has.

As I reminded myself of my goals, I began to take furious notes during Dr. Haile’s speech. The time flew by as quickly as my pen glided across the paper.

All the attendees and panelists gathered together after the conference for a party. The tickle of champagne brushed my tongue as I sipped it from one of the flutes offered by the servers. The taste of canapes and bubbly alcohol lingered on my palate.

I was right in the middle of a sip when I saw him again. This time with his suit jacket unbuttoned and a bright smile lighting up his face. Oh my god, he took my breath away.

I watched him in silence for a while as he conversed with an older woman. It took me several minutes before I felt confident enough from the warmth spreading through my veins to approach him. He was an imposing man. Standing quite a few inches taller than me, even his aura off-stage threatens to crush my lungs.

He turned to me with a curious tilt and offered his hand.

“Aldric Haile. Such a pleasure to meet someone so beautiful at this conference,” he said with a crooked smirk.

I slipped my hand in his, rolling my eyes at his cheesy compliment. Even though my stomach fluttered, “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Haile.”

I didn’t offer my name. It was unnecessary, and he was far beyond my league.

Still, when he didn’t release my hand, he turned it to press a light kiss at the top of my knuckles. I couldn’t help the way I squealed inside. I mentally berated myself for losing my head, but who could blame me?

He was brilliant, beyond smart, to be honest, and he had eyes I could drown in quite happily. And he knew it if the way he was keeping eye contact meant anything. He pulled back with that grin, still pulling at his full lips, brushing a thumb right over where my skin tingled from his kiss.

“So why are you here? Surely not to hear me drone on and on about new research?” he asked, and there was a mischievous glimmer in his eyes.

I wasn’t sure if I should be insulted or not. Did he not think I was smart? I pursed my lips, considering my answer for a bit. I took the high road and did my best to try to impress upon him that I knew of his work.

“I didn’t find your speech to be boring; in fact, it was quite enlightening. You’re researching and testing new methods for advanced heat transfer in your Bio-Chem lab is amazing. I can see that your therapeutic applications and new biomaterials can help create a whole new generation of medical devices. You’re trying things others have only dreamed of! Especially me,”

I lit up like a star and likely babbled like an idiot. I wanted to impress him.

Yet, he still looked at me like I was the most fascinating thing standing in the room. I knew was a lie because the lobster puffs were far more interesting than me; they were to die for.

I clutched my near-empty champagne flute like it was a life raft. Even though I was hesitant to drain the last half, it was the perfect way to stall for time when thinking up something to say.

He motioned to the dance floor. Not that the music was anything special, but it was the only thing happening other than the schmoozing currently. With a sweep of his hand, Aldric silently asked if I wanted to dance. But to be honest, with his stare on me, he might as well have been screaming it.

Breath, I told myself, stunned and fighting the urge to bolt for the door.

My spine tingled as I set my champagne down with a longing look and let him tug me gently onto the dance floor.

The dance was slow, with classical instruments leading the way from a live band. Aldric was a good dancer, he led me with ease, making our natural styles mesh comfortably. It was easy to fall within the false bubble of privacy he created with gentle whispers and soft touches.

His hands never touched below my waist, but they didn’t need to. Every time they trailed down my back or across my shoulder, I was a near-quivering mess. He never looked away from me, making me feel like I was the only one at the party with him.

We kept close to each other, practically sharing the same air. It was warm, unbearably so, but I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else that night.

“Aren’t you supposed to be talking up the rest of the crowd too?” I asked as we eased into our second song.

He scoffed, “I’ve seen all the important people before at least two or three times, maybe even more. And I’m all out of business cards, he joked. You, however, I’ve never met, and you are most definitely important. I must make a good impression on you. So, you’ll remember my name, of course.”

How could I forget him? He was a flirt, but also there was this piece of him, a large piece he kept hidden. He didn’t even seem to be letting me guess what that piece was. Though he was interacting with me of his own accord, he seemed to be using me for his means. Perhaps to stop himself from getting bored. At the moment, I was so taken with him, I didn’t care.

He breathed against my neck as his gaze focused on a spot behind us. A smile pressed against my skin as he dipped and met my eyes.

“How about we blow this joint for somewhere a little more fun?” he asked with that crooked smirk, and I should have said no, but I didn’t.

I didn’t because I got swept up in the playfulness of his fingers against my hip and shoulders. I couldn’t stop thinking about how his breath rolled across my cleavage.

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