“Latoya!” Kerri complains while I giggle.
“Is that all you got out of the whole story?”
Latoya shakes her now honey blonde head. “Yeah. He shut those assholes down. It would have been fun to hear about you two teaming up to whoop both of their asses, but I love all the boss moves. That should be arousing which gets us back to my previous question.”
“No. I was shocked. It’s still surreal. Who walks around buying companies for people?”
“Axel’s fine ass. Did you know he sent us money?”
“That’s true,” Kerri confirms, her dark brown ringlets bounce with her head.
“For what?”
“We sold you to him,” Latoya jokes. “He sent me about five-thousand and put ‘airfare reimbursement’ as the memo. Had I known he was going to do that, I would have gotten you a better seat.”
“You get on my nerves. And you Kerri?”
She holds up her fingers. “Three thousand with the note 'rideshare.’”
“Wow, why didn’t y’all tell me earlier.”
“Well, I’d waited a bit in case it was an accident.”
“Me, too!” Kerri squealed in amusement. “But last night he confirmed the amounts were correct.”
I shake my head because Axel is amazing. He’s too damned good to be true. All of this must be some elaborate dream. Part of me fears I’ll wake up in my apartment only to find that everything that’s happened, and Axel, are all part of my mental breakdown. Latoya’s doorbell chime brings me back to reality.
Axel and Beau enter, and I feel the gratitude that eluded me earlier. Beau is attractive and yet a completely different aesthetic than Axel. He’s a couple of inches shorter, rich, brown wavy hair, cut low and neat, dazzling green eyes, an easy smile, a neatly trimmed beard, and an aura of kindness that radiates off him. He’s another rarity—a kind rich lawyer. Yup. I’m fucking hallucinating. Rising, I cross to him and pull him into a hug. He had to leave his wife and work to help me. He’s solid yet yielding and all warm-blooded male. I love the rumble of his chuckle as he returns the hug.
“Thank you for representing me.”
“No problem.” His voice is deep and soothing. “They won’t be bothering you again.”
“I take my gratitude in a different currency than hugging by the way,” Axel adds from the other side of the room.
Although he successfully killed my moment with Beau, my body heats up at the thought of showing him gratitude with my body. Turning to look at Axel as I separate from Beau is a mistake. The look he gives me tells me he’s willing to fuck right here, and he doesn’t give a damn about our mixed company. I don’t know what I’m going to do with him.
Once we were alone again, he was very vocal about what I could do for him at my house, then again on the plane as we headed back to California. I’m proud to say I’m officially part of the mile-high club, and I may never wear pants again.
Axel
The closer I get to selling the business the more my office feels like a cage. I want out. Also, I have to deal with my unstable assistant. Allie is supposed to return today, so I came in early in case she’s on her bullshit again. I’d want to have her on her way, and her position posted before my other employees have to witness any extra drama. I’m tired of it all. Although she’s been a model employee until about nine days ago, I’m willing to let her move on.
Allie shuffles in looking almost like her regular self except her smile isn’t genuine. Her light brown hair is back in its signature ponytail, and her clothes are her original boring office wear. I am kind of disappointed. Not for me but for the collapse of her being her bolder self.
“I’m back, and I’m ready to work.” Her cheerfulness is forced.
“Are you ready to tell me what’s bothering you?” The smile drops for a moment, then she pastes it back in place.
“I’m fine. I think you were right, just burnt out.” It’s a lie, but I can’t force her to speak to me.
“So, you’re ready to go back to business without any additional outbursts and tantrums?”
Her brows knit like she has a rebuttal, but she drops her eyes to her laced fingers. “Sure thing, boss.”
This entire conversation feels wrong. It’s artificial. She’s not being her usual self.
“Then why am I still worried about you? You don’t seem fine.”
