The Boss (Managing the Bosses 1)

She nearly scoffed out l

oud, just catching herself in time. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t,” she said, turning back to her work. “Have a good afternoon, Mr. Reid.”

“Thank you, Ms. Connors. I hope the same for you.” He gave her an icy stare and then stormed out of the office.

Jamie went back to work. It has nothing to do with you. He just broke up with his girlfriend. He’s been working late and in the gym early. She knew because she’d been trying to get in a couple of times a week before he showed up and it always felt like he had just been there, like she could still smell his cologne in the gym at the house.

She sighed. She felt horrible, nonetheless, and incredibly humiliated. She could just imagine how Gina and the others would talk now. Mr. Reid broke up with Annette because of Jamie—sorry, Ms. Connors. It looks like that affair is over now. Another heart broken by the wonderful Mr. Reid. Poor Ms. Connors didn’t stand a chance. She should have known better with looks like hers. “Shit, shit, motherfreakin’ shit,” she muttered.

“Glad to know you’re so happy to see me.”

Jamie stiffened and looked up as Stephen stood in her door from the main office smirking down at her.

“Mr. Reid’s not in right now,” she said. “Didn’t Gina tell you at the front desk?”

He shook his head.

Jamie sighed and grabbed the tablet with Alex’s planner now synced to it. “Would you like to schedule an appointment or leave a message for him?”

“I saw Mr. Reid in the elevator,” Stephen said. “I didn’t come to see Alex.”

She had no desire to see her ex-boyfriend, soon-to-be brother-in-law. “What do you want Stephen?”

“Now, is that how you should treat your future brother-in-law?” He smiled, clearly mocking her. He closed the door behind him and stepped into her office. “Nice pad.”

“No,” Jamie said. Great, more gossip for Gina to start spreading. “But it’s how I should treat my ex-boyfriend who broke up with me by sleeping with my sister.”

He glared at her. “You’re such a bitch. I have no idea how we ever liked each other.”

“What do you want, Stephen? I’ve got work to do.”

“Your father had a heart attack. He’s in the hospital right now.”

Jamie stared at him, shock running through her body. She stood up and grabbed her purse. “Why couldn’t you have led with that?” She pushed past him and opened the door. “How is he?”

“He’s stable. But they’re keeping him overnight for observation anyway and to do some blood work.”

“What hospital?”

“The Scott Thompson Hospital.”

“I have to go see him right now,” she said, walking past Stephen to the elevators. She called out quickly to Gina to tell her that she was leaving and she would be back later. She headed for the stairs.

“What’re you doing?” Stephen asked as he pushed the elevator button. “I’m not going down that way.”

“It’s quicker.”

He shrugged. “I’m taking the elevator. I’ll tell you what happened on the way down.”

“Fine.” She marched over to him and stepped through as soon as the door slid open. She could smell Alex’s cologne inside the small compartment box. “What happened?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said, checking his phone. “You can find your own way there, right? I’ve got to get back to work.”

“You’re such a bastard,” Jamie said. “Everything’s a game to you, isn’t it?”

“Hey, he’s not my dad,” Stephen said. “He’s been nothing but rude to me since he’s met me. Why should I care?”

“He hasn’t been rude to you. He’s been a father! You slept with one of his daughters and then hopped to the next.” Jamie couldn’t believe she was even having this conversation. “You were rude to all of my family when you were dating me. You didn’t even try and get in their good graces until you started dating my sister.”