The Boss (Managing the Bosses 1)

“James! Jamie! Jamie-James!”

You have got to be joking! She turned at the sound of Stephen’s voice and then pressed her body against her car. He reeked of booze and his shirt was wrinkled and unbuttoned.

Stephen stumbled toward her. “I’ve made a horrible mistake, Shamie-Shames,” he slurred.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed. “Why aren’t you at work?”

“Sick day,” he mumbled, stumbling closer. Jamie took a step back to the side, and then another.

“I should marry you, Jamie, not Christine.” He reached to stroke her hair and missed it entirely. “You’re the sexy, smart one. Way too nice for your own good.” He grinned crookedly. “Not to mention the shit you do in bed.” His eyes slid down her. “You had that extra roll thing going, but I gotta feeling if I uncover you, it’s gone missin’, ain’t it?”

Jamie forced herself to remain calm. She could outrun the drunk bastard if she needed to, even in heels and a long skirt. “Are you having second thoughts about the wedding?”

He tossed his hands up and took another step closer to her.

Jamie realized she had backed herself up against the wall of the building.

“Don’t know. She’s hot. Lousy lay and doesn’t shut up.” He shook his head. “She bitches and whines a lot.” He rubbed his eyebrow with his thumb, swaying as he stood.

“Do you even love Christine?” Jamie checked her watch. She didn’t have time for this conversation. She also felt sorry for her sister. She could get on her nerves a lot, but that didn’t mean she deserved a loveless marriage. “Stephen, you’re drunk. You need to go home, sleep it off. I’ll pretend we never had this conversation.”

“Shut up,” he said, grabbing her arms. “Just shut up.” Before she could protest, he started kissing her. Hard. Jamie struggled and gagged but he just held her tighter, pinning her against the wall and pressing his body up against hers. He forced her lips open and rammed his tongue into her mouth. Jamie gagged even harder. She tried to turn her head away from him but he grabbed her hair to hold it in place. But in doing so he let go of her arms.

She reached behind her to grab her phone and he shoved her harder into the wall, pinning her arms in place. She stopped struggling against him and focused on opening the phone. She didn’t care who she called or redialed. As long as she got a number and someone could hear her struggling against him.

He reached behind her and jerked her hand, the phone fell to the ground by their feet. Stephen didn’t even notice. He pressed her hand against his small erection. Probably too drunk to get it up.

She twisted her neck back and forth, trying to free her mouth. She bit his lip, tasting his blood, and still he wouldn’t let her go.

“You know you want me,” he mumbled as he moved to her ear, making sure his hand held her neck in a tight grip.

“Let me go!” Jamie started struggling again. "I’ll scream, Stephen!" she hissed as his knuckles tightened around her neck, cutting off her airway.

"Shut up!" he said, licking her and kissing her again.

Suddenly the painful pressure of him against her released. He flew back. Someone had heard her calling out in the parking garage and had come to her rescue.

Jamie’s hands dropped to her knees as she fought to catch her breath. She looked up when the distinct sound of someone’s jaw being punched brought her back to reality.

Alex stood a few feet away, punching Stephen repeatedly. She ran up and held his arm. "Stop please," she said. "He's not worth getting arrested for aggravated assault."

Alex looked at her, breathing hard. Jamie shivered at the rage burning in his eyes. "You're right." He glared at his former friend, now bloody and still drunk. He picked Stephen up by the front of his shirt. "Get the fuck outta here," he hissed. He threw Stephen on the ground again.

Stephen clumsily picked himself up and stumbled off, muttering insults under his breath.

Jamie watched him leave and suddenly the adrenaline drained from her. She fell against Alex, trembling and wiping her mouth, ready to throw up from the thought of Stephen. "Thank you," she said. "I’m glad you showed up."

"I'm glad you called me," he replied. "That was very smart of you."

She shook her head. "It was a hail Mary," she said. "I couldn’t see my phone and had to do it behind my back.” She giggled out of nervousness. “I'm just glad I actually pressed one of my speed dial numbers and you knew where I was." She shivered, thinking about what could have happened if she hadn't done that.

Alex took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. "Let's take you home," he said. "You need to rest and calm down."

She nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted. "I only need to rest for a few minutes," she said. "I'll be okay, I swear."

"I know," he said. "But please let me take you home. For my peace of mind."

Jamie glanced at him and realized he looked more traumatized than she felt. His hands were shaking and his breath came out hard. "Okay," she said. "Let's go."