Boss Next Door

I might even be falling for her. In fact, I’m definitely falling for her, which is wild, especially when she hasn’t shown me any sign that she feels the same way. That doesn’t mean I can stop my feelings though.

“Here is the living room,” I say as we walk through the house. “Feel free to use whatever you want in here. The TV remotes are all there, and they are easy to get the hang of, so whatever you want to watch, you can. Then this is the kitchen… oh, and the takeout food is here, I’m sure that you guys must be hungry so we can eat that whenever we are done here.” Serena’s eyes almost pop out of her head as we go through all of the other rooms downstairs, especially when she sees the size of my office and library. I don’t think she knew how wealthy I truly was. I hope that this doesn’t change the way that she sees me. “Now, let’s go up the stairs so I can show you the bedrooms.”

Maria waits in her room for a while as she unpacks some of her things and settles in. I would love to be taking Serena to my bedroom, to know that me and her will have the chance to share a bed once more, but instead I have her in the room next to me. It might be torture, but I’m used to living next door. So close but yet so far.

“Okay, so I will wait downstairs for you.” I point backwards and edge away from her, but I keep my eyes fixed on Serena’s the whole time. I can’t seem to stop myself. “I will get the food sorted out, come and join me when you’re ready. And if you need anything, please let me know. I will do whatever I can for you…”

“Thank you, this is all so lovely.” Her eyes well up. “Me and Mom couldn’t be happier.”

There is a giant smile on my face as I walk down the stairs, the happiest expression that I have managed in a very long time. I like being close with Serena once more, I prefer it when those barriers of hers are down, it gives me hope all over again. Hope that me and her could maybe get things back on track.

As I plate up the food, I get some messages from the office, asking for my advice on certain things. I haven’t been in to work for a while, and to be honest I really do need to get back there. I trust all of my staff and everything, but I haven’t left things to run on their own accord for such a long period of time and I would feel much better if I could just check in on everything to make sure that all is good. I think that it might be a good idea to give Maria and Serena some time to get adjusted to this anyway. It might be a bit weird with me hanging over them.

But I wait until after lunch because I’m utterly ravenous after the last few days and the long drive that I’ve just had and also because I don’t want to seem like I’m just driving them in and ditching. I’m enjoying spending time with Serena and her mother anyway, they are such sweet and lovely people.

“I need to pop in to office for a little bit,” I say discretely to Serena once we are all done. “But please, I want you and your mom to make yourselves at home here. After everything that Maria has been through…”

“Do you need me to come to work as well? It’s been a long time. I know that you said about me having time off, but I don’t want to neglect the job even more. I shouldn’t when I have only just started.”

“Actually, I was thinking that I would get you a laptop and you could work from here. If that works for you?” I know that she needs the work experience and the money as well. Plus, I want to keep her working for me because she is such a great employee, but she needs to be around for her mother. Also, if she doesn’t have to work in the office then maybe she will calm down when it comes to me and her… maybe. “Then you can be around for your mom?”

“You would do that for me? Seriously?” she gasps in surprise at me. “That would be amazing, because I don’t want to leave my mother alone right now. I don’t know if she will be able to handle it. She seems like she’s doing okay, but I can tell that she’s panicked as well. I’m worried that this will all be too much for her if I go…”