Taming My Boss

GOT TO BE

t came and pulled to a stop in front of the most extravagant luxury hotel in Manhattan. There were socialites and

d back further into my seat

turned out to be Frank-reassured me, "

moment, before, "So he had you bring m

bring you directly home. Or rather, to his home."

ve of t

remind you that he's the boss, an

tell him that this i

you told him your

athered up my purse. "

you said that, not

fe." I got out of the car and st

I'd stuck with my more professional attire-and

shoulder, and I had a small heart attack. They weren't goi

ring into the face of a mid

Elena

ded even fast

parkling champagne appear

ts of Mr.B

, but then stared at it in bew

ted me to remind you that he takes his work very seriously and that this

stared at the alcohol, t

"But I'm not in the

ack the glass and walked

e more the elevator emptied out. There were finally just two people left-me and man in a suit. I watched him carefully out of the corner of my eye, hopin

into. Any expectations I might have had were based off something I'd seen on televisio

Ashrine to leisure living with an ext

or black-were scattered strategically around the room to give it a 'lived in'feel while simultaneously looking both extremely untouchable and making the most of the space. There was

e staircase when a woman in a

all in the same motion. She had been completely unfazed by my presence, traili

he said co

hat sort of male fantasy I'd accidently wandered into.

of orange juice. "It's no problem. Markis upstairs wai

t second, I panicked. What were the two of t

s. She yelled back something in Russian and flashed me a quick

before I realized what was happening and shook it

g to collect myself. "Oh,

you as

nother rather mischievous smile as she stepped into the eleva

closed before she co

the stairs. I could hear the sound of water spl

on a coffee table and began spreading out my paper

e a show

ed him yet again, organizing

n invit

down the stairs. I continued to ignore him, until eventually, the water turne

to be surprised to see me.

chest. "Mark, I really need to you pull it together today.

olut

henan

d. "No sh

was a

f-dressed woman

led suggestively. "I hop

serious r

"She's my yoga instructor. My lovel

cally, fixing my eyes on

make assumpt

t happen

, and I lifted my eyes to the wa

the couch next to me. "I

ted, as I absorbed this. "So you stay

quite practical when you

e this place." I laughed as I

l the heat still rising off his body, and I edged an i

eginning..." he said inte

r help-the compan

-factly. "Like I s

Markof all people? Yeah, the guy had a brain, but he refused to use it. He preferred to use...other parts. And now h

no idea how we're going

grinned, "I'm

rious! Can yo

eared my whole schedule and rushed through my morning

art of his mo

"I'd like you to p

et, heading to a room across the hall.

und that was half

ht. And here I thought you were

wear, if y

ll together and begin with a rundown

saw the flash of genius in the plan. It would appease the more conservative board members on both sides while kicking o

S

ed at him in amazement. T

do you

ar

ittle pervert! Aver

I was storming upstairs, leaving

re you going?"

personal space, pushed past the boundaries to make m

eard him coming up the stairs which meant I didn't have much time. After slamming the door, I became a breathless

the adjoining bathroom. I only saw a split second glanc

and stunned. "What the hell

up the bath. Asecond later, there

, Jenna-get

I called sarcastically

lash and the poundin

are you

er sp

at are yo

your shoes in the tub. I h

ination, "they look

sil

u kiddi

er sp

top. Let

oblem invading other people's personal space, messi

h and the pou

You are being so childi

his? Armany? Armanii? O

la

wed by a muted thud as he leaned his head against the d

down any more Russian st

ipper. She happens to

la

e conceded. "No

your

about

usly over the tub. "You'r

If that's wh

t

I have to say, we wou

LA

laughed. "I promise,

n it. Wit

The whole room seemed to pause. We stared at each other for a long time

aising his eyebrows as he gazed inside.

in the center of the pile. "The ones that you w

wly fishing them out. "T

wnstairs. "So I'm going to start

," he called. "I'm just g

think he was just naturally built that way-but there was nothing behind it. In fact, it was a fun way to pass the time-t

had an absolutely brilliant mind. Whenever we ran into an impasse or some sort of problem neither side could agree upon, he would get up and pace, and

lf with this. Shoes in the

d tea or something?" he

way through the first draft a

away as fast as my fingers would let me. "Hey, what do yo

k on the couch beside me. "I think Zhang's being gre

odded, typing

he started texting, wa

eased. "Your othe

, and he slipped it back in his pocket. "Hey, so let me ask

, cautious with his new,

ring. So that doesn't leave much

straighte

ands. "I'm just

answer was simple: No. No, it didn't leave any time for them. But that was to be expected,

ly throughout college and in business school... But since I started my inte

ut I could tell he was listening carefully. "

the right guy, I could manage to keep it together-but m

"And what would be th

een. "Are you signing me up for

standoffish, but ten minutes later, there are you dumpin

le less trying and a l

actually say that we're abou

mputer back on the table. "That only leav

t work," he chided. "That leaves absolut

ainst the cushions. "You know, I could really get used to this setup. Y

the clock and saved the document. "The building ac

otally afford that. I'll jus

looked almost...nervous. I was about to ask what was going

up," he

und to look. "Wh

ey

ddenly close. Very close. Too close. Just an inch or so away. I star

e me for t

e kiss