Page 41 of Bossman

Chase got up and grabbed two more beers. This time, he opened both and handed me one.

“I get my own?”

“Story sounds like you might need it.”

I smiled gratefully. “Thank you. You’re right. I do.” Taking a deep breath, I continued. “Anyway, I loved my old job. It was pretty much my life for the last seven years. I worked my way up from intern to director. I dated, but hadn’t had a serious relationship for the last five years. Make a long story short, I accidentally slept with a co-worker.”

“Accidentally?”

“Peppermint Schnapps martinis at the office Christmas party. Don’t judge.”

Chase looked entertained, his eyes sparkling. He held up his hands. “No judgment here. Tough night and you let loose. Been there.”

“The guy turned out to be a total dirtbag. Two days later he announced he’d gotten engaged over Christmas to his long-time girlfriend. He’d told me he was single.”

“Sounds like an asshole.”

“He was. And that’s not the worst part. I told him what I thought of him and went out of my way to be an asshole to the jerk. A few months later, he was promoted to being my boss.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah. And to make it even worse, he knows nothing about marketing.”

“How did he get the job?”

“He’s the owner’s son.”

Chase’s face was glum, but he nodded. “I get it. I’m not gonna lie and say I’m not disappointed, but I get it.”

“You do?”

“Of course. You don’t want to screw up your career for a night of physical gratification.”

“Exactly.”

“Even though that physical gratification would begin with me starting at your toes and working my way up. Slowly. Over hours.”

“Hours?” My low voice came out with a high pitch.

Chase nodded with a sexy grin. “I’m up for the challenge.”

“What challenge?”

“Waiting it out. Or breaking you down. One or the other.”

“You’re going to wait until I don’t work here any more? What if I stay for years?”

“It won’t be years.”

I furrowed my brow.

“You’ll break before then.”

***

Bryant: How was work today?

I’d just gotten off the train at my stop when the text came in. I took a deep breath, dreading what I was about to do, but knowing in my heart it was right.