My Naughty Boss

“Did I tell you Nicole was pregnant?” he asked.

“You did. How’s she doing?”

“So far, so good. I want her to slow down workwise, and she won't. She keeps telling me it's not like she has a physically demanding job,” Seth said with a roll of his eyes.

“At least you work together.”

Seth grinned. “Can’t imagine working without her anymore.”

“When’s the baby due?”

“Next May. After January, I told her we’re putting a hold on any travel. If you try to drag me into any negotiations, just know that I'll be handling them via videoconference.”

I chuckled. “No problem. I don't see any other ideas floating around we might want right now.”

Seth and I had designed many of the current, cutting-edge technologies for sustainable energy. There were a few other companies that competed at our level, but not many. After a brief interruption from one of my assistants, Seth stood and glanced my way.

“Nicole was hoping you might grab dinner with us. You up for it?” he asked.

At my nod, we agreed on a time and location.

***

That evening at dinner, I looked across the table at Seth and Nicole. Nicole was brilliant and beautiful with her dark brown hair and eyes to match. To be honest, she was probably smarter than Seth and me. He’d fallen for her brains, and damn if she didn’t have him at her beck and call. I couldn’t imagine a better match for him.

We discussed a few projects with Nicole getting animated about one she was working on. The conversation got rather technical with her explaining in detail her plans.

She glanced over at me. “So what do you think?”

I inclined my head and nodded. “As always, you’re brilliant Nicole. It sounds promising already. I'd love to steal it from you, but I won't.”

She flashed a grin. Seth slid his arm across her shoulders, idly sitting his fingers through her hair and leaning back into his chair as he relaxed.

“You can buy up anyone's patents but ours. We might share though,” he said with a chuckle.

“How much longer will you to be in the city?” I asked.

“Just until tomorrow,” Nicole replied. “I have another meeting with one of the developers who's helping me with our design, and then we’ll head home. Do you plan to visit again anytime soon?”

“It's always on my radar. Probably in the winter. It's so beautiful then.”

“As much as you love the outdoors, it amazes me you spend so much time in cities,” she commented.

I shrugged. “It's my life. I'd have to downsize Chandler International at this point to make a change like that.”

She nodded, glancing to Seth. “I'm so glad Seth moved Energy Synergy to the Sierras,” she commented.

I arched a brow. “You don’t say?”

“If he hadn't, I’d never have met him.”

Nicole leaned over and dropped a kiss on his cheek, her gesture casual, but the affection so clear.

Sophia sauntered into my thoughts. She was almost always dancing along the edges of them the last few days, an unusual experience for me. I'd been disgruntled when I'd woken with her beside me to find that text from Seth, saying we needed to meet again to finalize these negotiations. I hadn't wanted to leave. I had almost canceled and told Seth he could handle it for us. Yet, that would've been entirely out of character for me. Sophia tugged at places inside of me I hadn't known were susceptible.

In the not-so-distant past, I would've left on a trip like this, leaving Kayla behind, and thought nothing of it. I was oddly relieved after Sophia's press release regarding my apology for storming out of the interview. It had the intended effect of tamping down the incessant questions. My next interview was scheduled the same day I flew back from here to New York City. In the two days since I’d left, I’d resisted the urge to call or text her. I certainly could have under the guise of work. But the feelings she elicited inside me made me restless. Yet, I wanted what I wanted.

Watching Seth with Nicole made me wonder in a distant corner of my mind if I could have something similar with Sophia. We finished dinner and walked outside. We’d met in downtown San Francisco for dinner. I watched as Seth and Nicole walked away, his hand hooked in the back pocket of her jeans as they strolled down the street. Their comfort and easy affection again made me rethink what I’d thought I once had with Kayla. Even though I’d fancied myself in love with Kayla, I couldn’t say I’d had that kind of connection with her.