Page 28 of My Off Limits Billionaire Boss

“Don’t worry Miss Banner, I won’t have to. She is standing right behind you.”

I panic and turn around to find Jessica standing there, arms folded shaking her head. She is slightly embarrassed but not truly angry.

“Oh my god Jessica! Sorry I did not mean to…”

“No big deal, Brooke, sorry, I forgot my magazine here I think,” she bends down to pull the pouch on the seat In Front of me, “Ah there it is!”

She then pushes the magazine into her armpit, “I’ll find time to kill you later Brooke!” She is laughing so I know she probably heard everything including the part where I said I love her.

I clench my teeth. “So sorry Jessica!”

I am turning red.

“No big thing,” she says, as she returns to her seat. I think they are just impressed that I am kicking it with the C.E.O.

“Oh God, I am so embarrassed, she is going to murder me?”

He smiles with mischief in his eyes. “With an axe?”

And with just one word he has brought back the memory of our crazy night in Hawaii. How bluntly Edith had asked him if he was an axe murderer! Is he referencing that night? I don’t care, this is probably my last chance to ask him.

“What happened in Hawaii? In the whirlpool, what was that call you got?”

He breathes in and then exhales, as if trying to relax his body. He then looks at me, searching for some kind of assurance.

“You will find out.” He says, his eyes suppress an anger I don’t fully understand.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, I understand,” I say regretting that I have pushed him too far.

“I am just going to go through some files…”

Is he avoiding the topic?

I don’t want to push him. We have talked like human beings for the first time. I will take my win. I pull out the eye cover mask. “I am going to get some sleep before we land in Lisbon.”

I cover my eyes, though I feel the warmth emanating from his muscular frame. It tingles and excites me to have him beside me. I fall asleep in his scent.

LISBON TO ALENTEJO

BROOKE

“Brooke you are such a trooper!” gushes Jake, his excitement rises above the hypnotic sound of the water fountain, echoing in the checkered floored lobby of the five-star plush paradise. The windows reveal the vibrant scenes of Lisbon, domed pearl-colored buildings, cobbled streets, beautiful flower filled streets that host the most stylish people I have ever seen. I could just stare out of the lobby window for hours. The flight attendant had woken me up, and Ethan Knight had already gone. I had the good sense to use the plane restroom to freshen up and slip into a pink top and dark blue jeans. The trip from Lisbon airport to the hotel was a combination of waking up in a new exotic country, excited chatter, and sights of exotic streets. The Elysian team is staying in two different hotels. Our hotel, I can say, is super fancy and in the center of Lisbon. We are in the lobby, waiting for our rooms. Ethan Knight, I learn had a meeting.

When does that man stop working?

Jessica and I interrogate Jake about Pam.

“He’s been working on Pam for months now,” says Jessica. “They met at the coffee machine.”

I am amused by how much Jessica knows about Jake.

“Do you two know everything about each other?”

“Yup,” says Jake, “Jessica and I have achieved blackmail equilibrium. We can pretty much destroy each other.”

“It’s true,” says Jessica. “Though this thing you have going on with Pam, gives me some new ammo.”

Jake laughs and points at me. “But you sat with that iceberg for 7 hours Brooke! I owe you big time.”

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