The Billionaires: The Bosses (Lover's Triangle 2)

Bayli panned the phone over the tabletop so the camera caught every tiny bit of her breakfast service.

Then she turned the phone toward herself and said, “Look at this spread! I am in culinary heaven right this very moment!”

“What the hell, Bay?” Scarlet asked with a laugh. “I’ve never seen that much food in front of you. Like, ever.”

“I know, right?” She beamed. “Christian and Rory had it sent over from their restaurant. Sent over. With my own personal waiter, by the way. Whom I had to kick out, because that’s just plain creepy to have someone hovering when you’re still in your jammies. I’m just sayin’.”

“I’ll let Jewel field that one. She’s used to house staff seeing her in her pj’s.”

“Whatever,” Jewel chimed in. “How’d this all happen, Bay? A couple of days ago angsty chef guy was tossing you out on your ear. Scarlet and I were just calling to see if you’d turned things around with Davila last night.”

“Things were definitely turned around.” Literally. Bayli was sure her face flushed as she thought of how Christian had fucked her, with her back to him, straddling his lap, gripping the headboard and holding it tight as he took her on the ride of her life.

“So, you clearly got his attention,” Jewel said.

“I did more than that.” Bayli paused to shovel in another bite of eggs Benedict and chewed vigorously. Then added, “Apparently, Christian and Rory had an idea for a cooking show that went nowhere, and they want to launch version 2.0—starring me. Can you fucking believe that? Christian took one look at me and suddenly the new concept hit him like a ton of a bricks. I’m going to be famous. Famous, you guys!”

“Well, we already knew that,” Scarlet said with a sisterly scoff. “But wow … this all came out of left field. I thought you were just trying to land a hostess job at the restaurant. What on earth did you do to get that amazing-looking breakfast and a TV—oh.” Her eyes widened. “I see.”

Bayli groaned. Set aside her fork. “Yes, I slept with Christian Davila. I’m not going to lie. But that’s not exactly what happened between us.… That’s not what this is all about.”

“What is it all about?” Scarlet asked with a glint in her eyes.

Bayli briefly told them about the party and how she and Christian had instantly hit it off. Then the missing-cab debacle—she didn’t bother tempering the panic she’d felt over being stranded in the country, since both Jewel and Scarlet were well aware of her depressing financial state—and the limo ride to her apartment.

“All well and good,” Scarlet mused, “but then what happened?”

Bayli laughed. “Let me just say that the man knows what he’s doing in and out of the bedroom. There are tremors still randomly running through my body. And what’s continuing to happen between my legs … good Lord.” She let out a long breath. “Downright scandalous. He’s incredible.”

“Rave reviews for the restaurateur,” Jewel said with a soft laugh. “So glad to hear you finally got laid, Bay.”

“Yeah,” Scarlet added in a mockingly churlish tone. “So glad. At least the two of you are seeing some action.”

Bayli gave a sympathetic smile. “Sorry, dear friend. I couldn’t help myself even when I tried. I mean, I really did try to resist him. But what can I say? The man is steel and I am but a magnet.”

“And what about the surly chef?” Jewel inquired.

“Oh, well … jury’s still out on him. Christian seems to think I made a better impression than I believe I did. He’s convinced Rory’s going to be as taken by me as Christian claims to be. We shall see about that, and whether this idea of theirs ever gets off the ground. He seemed fairly nonplussed over the first iteration falling apart.”

“What makes him think this next edition will be successful?”

Bayli couldn’t help but beam. “Because of me. That’s his opinion, at any rate.”

“Ah, then I’d concur,” Scarlet said. “You’d be fantastic in front of TV cameras. Extremely charismatic.”

“Apparently, Rory scared the bejesus out of the test audiences,” Bayli admitted. “So chances are we’ll have a more positive encounter with me as a shield.”

“Provided you can put up with him,” Jewel reasoned.

“Yes, there is that,” Bayli said. “Though … really, I just think he’s a bit misunderstood. Like he doesn’t quite know how to channel his passion for cooking when he’s not in front of the stove. Seems like all this creativity builds inside him and then he erupts. I don’t know. I’m totally taking a stab in the dark here. But it makes me more and more curious to dissect him.”

“See how many licks it takes to get to the chewy center?” Scarlet teased.

“Ha-ha.” Bayli smirked at her. “But then again…” Her inner muscles squeezed tight at the naughty suggestion. “Yes.”

Jewel squealed. “Now we’re getting somewhere!”

“No, we’re not,” Bayli was quick to say. “I slept with one boss. Sleeping with the other one would just be … so not right. Right?”