Page 24 of The Boss

Vivian finally speaks up. "I'm not going anywhere unless you fire me."

"I will never fire you, Vivian," Levi says darkly. "But he's probably already planning to transfer you to his company. Better salary, better benefits⁠—"

"I haven't offered her anything," I say.

"Yet. Because you're waiting for the right moment to make it irresistible. Oh, I know you, and I know the games you play."

He's not entirely wrong, but I'm not about to admit that right now.

Angela reaches over and touches Levi's arm. "Honey, maybe we should focus on why we're home early."

Something in her tone makes everyone stop talking.

Levi looks at her, and his expression immediately softens. "Right. We, uh…" He runs a hand through his hair. "We came back early because Angela took a test and⁠—"

"I'm pregnant," Angela says, beaming.

I round the table and pull Angela into a hug. "Jesus. Really?"

"Really." Angela nods and loops her arm around Levi's. "Found out yesterday morning. We couldn't wait to tell everyone."

Levi grins like an idiot. "We're having a baby."

Levi's going to be a father, and he's going to be good at it.

"Congratulations," I say, and mean it completely.

Vivian sets down her coffee mug and walks over to hug Angela. "This is amazing news."

"Thank you." Angela squeezes her back. "And for what it's worth, I think you two make sense together."

Levi sighs. "I suppose I can't complain about my EA situation when I'm about to become a father."

Angela kisses his cheek. "You really can't."

"But I'm still going to worry about it."

"Of course you are," I say. "It's what you do."

He grins at that, the last of his panic finally fading. "So, breakfast?"

Vivian glances at the pan. "I can make more eggs."

"I'll help," Angela offers. "I want to hear everything about how this happened."

As they move toward the stove, Levi drops into one of the counter stools and looks at me.

"You know," he says quietly, "I always wondered what it would take to make you stop working eighteen-hour days."

"Apparently your executive assistant."

"Apparently." He pauses and wipes a hand across his face. "Jesus, I hate you so much."

6

VIVIAN

Two days. Matthew leaves in two days, and we haven't talked about it once.