Bossman (Dirty Office Romance 1)

Chase’s eyebrows jumped. “It’s after hours now, so I’m not the boss anymore. Isn’t that how you told me it worked this morning?”

I leaned back in my chair. “It’s after six. So say what’s on your mind.”

He moved to sit across from me and gave me his best dirty grin. “I was just going to say I do my best work at night, also.”

“I’m sure you do. Although I was referring to brainstorming advertising ideas. I find I’m more creative in the evening. Sometimes after I’ve climbed into bed and shut off the lights, an idea will come to me for something I was trying all day to focus on.”

“I’m very creative when I shut off the lights and slip into bed, too. Maybe we should try that together sometime? Probably produce some amazing results—twice as creative and all.”

I shook my head but smiled, amused. “You’re an HR nightmare, aren’t you? I bet you make Samantha work hard for her salary.”

“Actually, I’m usually not. You just keep hitting on me, and I can’t help but react. It’s kind of inappropriate, considering I’m your boss and all.”

My eyes bulged. “I’m not hitting on you! You’re the one—”

“Relax. I’m joking. I don’t find it inappropriate at all. Keep doing it.”

“Have you been sniffing wax chemicals all day?”

Chase’s grin was contagious. “So how late you staying?” he asked.

“I have an appointment at eight. I figured I’d stick around until then since it’s on my way home.”

“Dinner with Braxton?”

“Bryant. And no. I have a wax appointment.” I held up the small jar of Divine. “Figured I’d do a little product research.”

“I should come.”

“To get waxed?”

“To watch you get waxed.” His eyes gleamed. “Research.”

When Samantha suddenly appeared at my door, she gave us an odd smile. “I’ve been waiting in your office for ten minutes. Are we still grabbing a bite?”

Chase looked at me. “We’re going over to Azuri’s for falafel. Want to join us?”

“Thanks, I’d love to. But I have that appointment.”

***

Later that night, after hanging up with Bryant, I was lying in the dark, replaying my day, when my phone buzzed. It wasn’t a number I recognized, and the message seemed cryptic. It read, Are you and Tallulah twins?

It took me a minute to figure it out. For a moment I’d forgotten I gave Chase my number to pass to Samantha that day when we met at the gym. I closed my eyes and smiled to myself, suddenly not feeling sleepy at all.

Chapter 7

Reese

It was only day two, but I already loved my new job. It had rekindled something inside of me that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I hadn’t even realized it was missing until now. Passion. I couldn’t wait to go to work when I woke up this morning. I’d been there at one point with my previous job, but where had that feeling gone? Parker Industries made me feel alive again.

I’d spent all morning in a marketing think tank session listening to the group come up with ideas. These people fed off of each other—building off each other’s thoughts to come up with the best single idea, rather than competing with one another. Since I was new, I listened more than I spoke.

We’d returned from lunch, and Josh was standing at the whiteboard, scribbling random words that people called out, when Chase slipped into the back of the room. He stood quietly, observing. Feeling his eyes on me, I glanced back a few times, and his gaze was always waiting for mine.

There were two empty seats in the room. One was next to me. After a few minutes, Chase silently walked up the side of the room and slipped into the seat to my right. We exchanged a sidelong glance, and then Josh stepped away from what he’d been writing and cleared his throat.

What do women want? he’d written on the whiteboard in big, black letters.

“Before we get started again this afternoon, let’s talk about the things we know.” He counted off facts with his fingers, beginning with his pointer: “One, our customers are ninety-six percent women. Two, women’s buying habits are different than men’s. Three, ninety-one percent of women in the survey we did last year said advertisers don’t understand them.” He ticked up his pinky as he started his fourth point. “Four, men shop for their needs. Women shop for their wants.” Then he tapped on the board. “What do women want? If we’re going to sell them a product, let’s start at the very beginning.”

He pointed to easels set up on both sides of the room. “We’re going to split up into two teams. There are two whiteboards. Let’s make this interesting, shall we? All the women work together on the right side of the room, and all the men work together on the left. I want a minimum of five wants on each of your lists. More is fine. I’ll be the scrivener for the men.” He looked to Chase, who offered a single nod. “Chase will be the scrivener for the women.”