Page 16 of Bred By the Boss

“I mean, what even happens at a benefit? Is there a meal? What if they have like five forks for each of us? I’m not even sure why you’d need so many forks, but I for sure won’t know which one to use for the salad versus dessert. And what if they expect me to make a donation? There’s no way I’ll be able to—”

“Kitten, listen—”

“I don’t want to make you look bad, that’d totally ruin your evening. I don’t even have a college degree, I’m basically just the maid—”

“You’re far more than just the maid to me, Noelle,” I growl, cutting her off. “I’m asking you because I want you by my side.”

“Really?” She sounds shocked, as if the very thought of a woman like her accompanying a man of my station is absurd.

“Really,” I assure her. “You don’t need a college degree. You don’t need to donate money. Hell, you definitely don’t need to know which fork to use because hell, I don’t know what fucking fork to use at these things.”

She laughs, and my heart warms.

“As for a dress, I’ve picked one out for you. I think you’ll like it.”

I listen to her suck in a breath and let it out in a sigh. “Okay. Okay good.”

“And you’ll be with me the whole evening. Honestly? I kind of hate these things. Having you along will make it way more enjoyable. So, what do you say? Have I convinced you to be my date?”

She’s silent for so long that I almost wonder if the line cut out. But just as I’m about to check, she blows a raspberry into the line. “Sure, what the hell—I’d love to use the wrong fork with you for the evening, Connor.”

The smile in her tone is infectious, and I can’t help laughing with her. When was the last time a woman made me feel like this? Never.

“Glad to hear it, kitten. Enjoy your time at the spa, okay?”

“I will. Thank you, Connor.”

When she hangs up, I find my eyes wandering back to the dress I picked out for her.

Of all the bumps and hitches I anticipated on the road I traveled to revenge against Robert, falling for his secret daughter wasn’t one of them. But this is why I’ve got the reputation I’ve got in this business. I’m always on my toes, ready to pivot when necessary.

There has to be a way to spare Noelle even as I destroy her father. I can’t bear the thought of hurting her, even if it means I finally get what I’ve craved for a decade. There’s more to her relationship with Robert than I know right now, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it, even if it’s the last thing I do.

I’ll stop at nothing to keep her unscathed.

Chapter Eight

Noelle

My hands haven’t stopped shaking since I woke up this morning.

First, I woke up to a text from Splinter.

“Thanks for the final payment, darling. Nice of you to include extra for your tardiness. Pleasure doing business ;)”

I was so shocked, I could barely process it. His texts to me up until that point had been far less pleasant, laced with thinly veiled threats and innuendos that I’ve always tried so hard not to think about.

And now … it’s just done? Just like that?

How?

But I don’t give it much further thought, not with the gala tonight. I’m not sure I’ve ever been this nervous for something before. I’ve got hours to get ready, but it still doesn’t feel like it’ll be enough. Even though I’m still glow-y and refreshed from my visit to the spa, I feel like I’m going to start breaking out in stress pimples any minute. I’ve consumed so much water to compensate for my hypothetical break out that I’ve been in and out of the bathroom to pee constantly.

It feels unreal to be this tense, but I can’t help it.

I know Connor said he wanted me with him, that he’d be with me every step of the way, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to be any less out of my element. For so long, I’ve had to live under the judgmental gazes of people better off than me. The Cinderella treatment Connor’s giving me doesn’t just erase that.

I run a hand through my hair in frustration and let out a deep groan, only to freeze when I hear a chuckle from behind me. I turn around to find Connor standing behind me, his tall, strong body filling the doorway to my bedroom. He looks like he just got home from work—his tie is loosened but that’s the suit he was wearing when he left this morning. He leans against the doorframe, looking like he just walked out of a magazine spread.

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