Dear Boss: A Single Dad Office Romance (Forbidden First Times Book 3)

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Dear Boss: A Single Dad Office Romance (Forbidden First Times Book 3) Page 21

by Sofia T Summers


  I could only nod. A thick lump was forming in my throat as emotion overwhelmed me.

  That night, I slept at Quentin’s again. We didn’t make love, however. Instead, the two of us cuddled close and gazed into each others eyes happily as the moonlight streamed through the curtains. With our whole future ahead of us, we fell asleep feeling safe and loved.

  Work was easier now that Quentin and I had talked things out. The day passed quickly and I’d managed to sneak into his office for a few quick make out sessions in between meetings. Overall, I was in a fantastic mood. I didn’t think anything could rain on my parade, but alas, I was wrong. Just before lunch, I realized I’d left my purse in the car. I hurried down to grab it so I could get a drink with Tracy in the lounge. However, as I was crossing the gravel, I was met by a surprise.

  “Well, it certainly looks like Quentin’s lowered his standards a lot these days,” an unfamiliar voice said from my right as I crossed the parking lot.

  I turned, wrinkling my brow in confusion as I looked at the stranger. It wasn’t difficult to guess who she was. She fit the description of Quentin’s ex-wife exactly and her belly was big and round. It was clearly Carmen. What she was doing here, however, I had no idea.

  “Look, whatever business you have with Quentin is between the two of you. I don’t want to get involved,” I said quickly as I tried to hurry past her toward my car.

  “Oh, but clearly you do,” Carmen continued as she followed me. “You don’t think I know you’ve been playing Mommy to my son?”

  That stopped me in my tracks. Anger bubbled up inside me and I turned, glaring at her. “Well, someone had to,” I hissed. “Quentin told me all about what you did to him, what you did to both of them. Don’t come crying to me because you fucked up.”

  Carmen laughed and she looked a little crazy. “Do you really think I give a crap about either of them?” she spat. “No, I don’t care at all. I just want what I’m owed. I was his wife. I gave him a child. I deserve everything he can give me.”

  I scoffed. “You’re delusional. Quentin doesn’t owe you a thing.”

  “You might think that, but I’m sure he doesn’t. In fact, I bet he’d take me back in a heartbeat if I wanted him too,” she sneered.

  I couldn’t believe her. “That’s a lie.”

  “Well, you can either give me the money yourself or I can seduce him and you can find out that way,” she threatened, taking a step closer to me.

  It was an empty threat and I knew it. Quentin had told me that he wanted to be with me and not her, but it didn’t stop my nerves from shaking. I hated how she was determined to come between us. Why couldn’t she just leave us alone?

  “Even if I had enough money, I wouldn’t give it to you,” I told her.

  “Oh wow, broke and fat, huh? Quentin ended up with a real winner,” she said with malice. “Seducing him should be a piece of ca--”

  “That’s enough!” a familiar voice roared from somewhere behind us. I turned just in time to spot Quentin marching toward us with a murderous look on his face. As soon as he arrived, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and glared at Carmen.

  “Oh, please, Quentin, you can’t be serious,” Carmen groaned, rolling her eyes. “You’d really choose her over me?”

  “A thousand times over,” Quentin answered straight away, tightening his grip on me. “I love her more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my whole life. I plan to marry this woman and seeing you disrespect her like this is winning you no favors.”

  My jaw dropped. “M-marry…?” I managed to utter.

  Carmen rolled her eyes. “Your loss, Quentin. I’ll find another way to get money out of you.”

  “No, you won’t,” Quentin growled. “I can smell the alcohol on you, Carmen. You’re really still drinking when you’re this pregnant? You disgust me.”

  I hadn’t noticed it before, but now that Quentin mentioned it, I did smell vodka coming from Carmen’s direction. I was horrified at her behavior. Wasn’t she thinking about her poor child?

  “I… I can’t help it,” Carmen stuttered. “My boyfriend left me. Drink is all I have.”

  “No, it’s not, Carmen,” Quentin argued. “You have a child now, a new child. You have a chance to start afresh and I suggest you take it. If you don’t stop harassing me and Billie, I will file a restraining order. You lost all rights to my money and property the day you left me. Go now before I call the police and for God’s sake, stop drinking for the sake of your unborn child, whoever’s it is.”

  Quentin steered me away from her and back to the building. I hadn’t picked up my purse from the car, but it didn’t matter right now. I was just glad to be away from that awful woman. I hugged Quentin close as we walked and buried my head in his shoulder.

  “Are you all right?” he asked. “She said some awful things…”

  “I’m great,” I told him with a big smile. “With you by my side, I’ve never felt better.”

  Epilogue - A Few Months Later

  “Is this the last one?” I called out from the door of Billie’s Range Rover as I held a heavy carboard box in my arms.

  “Um… Yeah, I think so!” my girlfriend replied. She was stood to one side, sipping her latte from a paper cup as she regained her breath from all the running around she’d been doing.

  “Okay, great.” With a big grunt of effort, I began to walk into the apartment building toward the elevator and up to the apartment. Once I reached my door, I slid the box inside where my parents were waiting to help with the move and watch Lincoln and Lucky.

  Billie was still waiting outside, no doubt enjoying the warm weather we were having, and it worked perfectly with my plan. As I emerged once more onto the street, I looked upward and noticed that the sun was shining brightly, making Billie’s deep brown hair shine beautifully. I tapped the hidden box in my pocket and headed toward her.

  “You’re a liar,” I began with a secretive smile.

  “Wh- what?” she stammered in response, turning her big brown eyes to me. She was wearing a baggy, old t-shirt and a pair of well-loved jeans since we were lugging boxes for most of the day. It wasn’t a flattering outfit by any means, but I thought Billie looked gorgeous in anything.

  “There’s another box we forgot about,” I told her, still smiling at her. Her eyes were wide and her lips were parted. She looked so adorable when she was confused and it only solidified my desire to make her mine forever.

  “Where?” she replied before turning away from me and peering back inside her car. “I can’t see anything.” She pressed her face close up to the window and looked from side to side, trying to find the box I was talking about. Watching her struggle to find it only made my smile wider.

  Taking the opportunity to surprise her, I dropped down onto one knee on the pavement and took the little blue Tiffany’s ring box out of my jeans pocket. I waited for a second to see if she would turn back on her own, but of course, Billie was still preoccupied looking inside her car. I couldn’t help laugh a little at her obliviousness.

  “Billie, baby, turn around,” I told her.

  “But… the box…” she began before turning around and gasping. She dropped the cup of coffee she was holding on the floor and caramel colored liquid flowed across the dull, gray street.

  I cleared my throat. This was my big moment. “Billie, ever since you came into my life, you’ve been a force to be reckoned with. Like a hurricane, you came without warning and caused chaos in my world, but this time, it was for the better. Knowing you has made me want to become a better person, to see the world as a brighter place, and enjoy my time instead of drown myself in work. Wilhemina Nichols, will you make me the happiest man on the planet and become my wife?”

  I would never forget the look on Billie’s face. Simultaneously, she looked like she wanted to leap for joy and sob her heart out. Tears framed her beautiful chocolate eyes and her cheeks pinkened from excitement. When she realized it was her time to answer, she rushed toward me and wrapped her
arms tight around my shoulders.

  “Oh, Quentin… Yes! Of course, it’s yes!” she practically screamed in excitement before bursting into giggly laughter.

  As soon as she drew back from our embrace, I kissed her with all the love I had inside me and held her close to me, listening to the beat of her heart and the soft sound of her breath. She was everything I’d ever wanted and now, finally, I had made her mine.

  When we pulled apart, I took hold of her left hand and grinned at her as I slid the expensive solitaire diamond ring into place on her finger. It fit perfectly and looked gorgeous just as I knew it would. We both stared at it for a long time before our eyes met once more, tears stinging in both of them.

  “You… You surprised me,” Billie stated with a tearful smile. “I… I had no idea you were planning something like this. I mean, a few months ago you said you wanted to marry me, but… Aren’t you worried it’s too soon?”

  Nervously, she bit down on her bottom lip and I could see the fear in her eyes. It wasn’t unwarranted, sadly. When Billie and I had finally made our relationship official, we’d told everyone in our lives - including everyone at work. Most people were happy, including my parents, Peter, and all of Billie’s friends. Tracy had even baked us a cake with the word ‘FINALLY’ iced on top in big, bold letters. But there was one person who hadn’t managed to get onboard yet.

  Billie’s mom.

  I could understand her hesitation, but I knew that what Billie and I had was real. It wasn’t some fling and I was never going to abandon her. With time, I knew Billie’s mom would come around, but a lifetime of being told horror stories about dating your boss had done a number on Billie. She needed my reassurance now more than ever and I was more than happy to give it to her.

  “Darling,” I began as I stepped forward and took her hands in mine. “I want you forever and ever. Time is relative in this world and everyone moves at their own pace. It isn’t too soon as long as you feel ready and happy to go through with it. So, tell me, how do you feel about being engaged to me?”

  As soon as I asked the question, all traces of doubt vanished from Billie’s face and her smile grew wide. “I’m so happy, Quentin. Happier than I think I’ve ever been,” she gushed.

  “Then there’s your answer,” I told her with a smile before pulling her in for a hug.

  For a moment, Billie was silent. Then, she nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”

  With that decided, the two of us walked back into the building, into our home, for the very first time together. As we walked through the door of the apartment, my parents and Lincoln turned to look at us.

  “Are you all done now then, son? I bet you’re sick to death of seeing--”

  “Oh my God!” my mother interrupted with a screech. “Is that what I think it is?”

  Her eyes were fixated on Billie’s hand and she pointed to where the ring laid delicately on her finger. Billie was grinning like the Cheshire cat and I couldn’t help winking over at my mother.

  “What can I say? I’m not one to wait around,” I remarked with a laugh.

  My father had quickly cottoned on and both my parents came over to congratulate us. My dad patted me on the shoulder while my mother hugged Billie close.

  “I’m so happy for you both, Billie. You’re going to make a wonderful daughter-in-law,” my mom whispered to Billie.

  It was all too much for her it seemed. Billie burst into tears and clung close to my mother while my father and I looked on sympathetically.

  “You’ve done well, my son,” Dad said, squeezing my shoulder. “She’s definitely a keeper.”

  “I know, I know,” I agreed with a nod. “And if it wasn’t for the two of you, I never would have met her. Billie told me that you hired her thinking something like this might happen.”

  My parents laughed while Billie finally drew back from my mother and dabbed at her damp eyes.

  “Well, we had an inkling,” my father admitted. “But it was all the two of you, really.”

  “I’m not so sure I believe that,” I argued with a smile. “And because of that, I have a present for you both.”

  “Oh?” my mother said, arching one eyebrow curiously.

  “Yes, in order to thank you both, I got you this.” I reached into the drawer of the sideboard in the hallway and pulled out a thick envelope. I handed it over to them with a smile while my parents looked down at it confused. It only took a moment for them to open it up and when they did, they started smiling too.

  “A round-the-world cruise for two?” my mother cried incredulously. “Oh, Quentin, you shouldn’t have!”

  “How could I not?” I replied before reaching over to hug them both. “Thank you for Billie, for looking after Lincoln, for raising me, for everything.”

  We hugged for a long time after that, all four of us getting misty-eyed while Lincoln napped in the background. Eventually, it was time for my parents to get home and I was ready for some alone time with just Billie, Lincoln, and Lucky.

  “How about we order take-out tonight?” I said to Billie as the sun set outside.

  “That sounds perfect.”

  After stuffing our faces with delicious Chinese food, Lincoln, Billie, Lucky, and I all climbed into bed together. I put on a nature documentary in the background for Lincoln to fall asleep to while I hugged Billie tight. As I looked around the room, I couldn’t believe how drastically my life had changed in such a short time, but I was grateful for it.

  My family was finally complete and I was going to hold onto them tightly. Nothing would ever take them away from me and I was finally at peace.

  Fake Bride ( Sample)

  Description

  Find a new town.

  Pick up my bags.

  Disappear.

  That’s what I did to get away from my abusive ex.

  Chicago’s been great so far.

  And what’s been even better?

  The billionaire who owns the building.

  So, what did I do when he asked me to play his fake wife?

  I looked into his gorgeous eyes and nodded my head.

  Let’s face it.

  I could use that money.

  And I could use his company.

  Laird is nothing like my ex.

  Giving him my heart means that I’ve left my past behind.

  But what will happen in the future once that past comes knocking at my door?

  Prologue: Trudie

  Finally, I was starting to feel settled.

  I had been in Chicago for about two weeks, and I was starting to actually feel comfortable where I was. Sure, my apartment was… not the best, we could put it that way. But it was definitely affordable, and I had to be careful to keep money saved up just in case I had to run again.

  Maybe some people would find me too paranoid, but I had found that it was better to be too paranoid where Pete was concerned than be too relaxed. That was when he got you. That was how he’d always caught me off-guard.

  Pete had been my boyfriend, unfortunately. Up until six months ago, when I’d fled New Mexico with nothing but the clothes on my back and the money I had saved up from working in Pete’s father’s car garage. Pete had never allowed me any kind of independence. While being with him, my freedom had been whittled away at. I never saw my old friends. I never went out alone. Even just going to the grocery store became an adventure of what I could do that wouldn’t make Pete angry. God help me if a man spoke to me. Pete would be furious at the man, and at me. He’d embarrass me in front of everyone, no matter where we were, and somehow make it my fault.

  But he had given me that job at the garage. It was owned by his father and I worked in the office, away from the other mechanics, so Pete probably figured that his father and everyone else would keep an eye on me. Pete was a big guy, who could throw a mean punch—I knew that firsthand—and all the other mechanics were scared of him. None of them would’ve tried to flirt with me.

  The salary hadn’t been much. But I had been in the off
ice doing the payroll, so I’d been able to give myself a little bit more. Not much, but more than Pete thought that I was getting, and I was able to hide that money away. All in cash. If I’d opened a bank account, Pete might have noticed, especially if I had to go into the bank. But cash I could hide in an envelope underneath the instruction manual in the glove box of my car. I figured that Pete would have no reason to go in there, and that way if I had to make a break for it, the money was already in the car and I didn’t have to worry about grabbing it.

  That had turned out to be a smart idea.

  Someone shouted on the street outside the window and I jumped, my coffee cup rattling on its little plate. I still got startled when people raised their voices around me. Or when people reached out to touch me—often I’d flinch. I didn’t mean to. I certainly didn’t want to. But I couldn’t help it.

  Pete hadn’t started out violent. I didn’t tell a lot of people about what had happened, for my own protection. The less people knew, the less they could divulge to Pete if he found me. But the few people who I had told bits and bobs to would ask me, how could you stay with him? How could you date someone like that?

  He hadn’t started out like that, though. He had been kind, charming, facetious. He had told me that I was special, that he had never met anyone like me, that I made his day brighter. He had been supportive of my dreams, and when things had happened in my life like getting into a fight with a friend, he would tell me, you don’t need her, you deserve better friends than her.

  I hadn’t realized what he was doing until it was too late. Until I was dependent on him, until I had cut myself off from everyone, until I was stuck. And the first time he’d hit me—he’d cried afterwards, begged me to forgive him, and had promised that he wouldn’t do it again. He’d looked horrified with himself and I’d loved him, so of course I had said it was all right, that I forgave him.

 

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