Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

With all that’s happened recently, the stalker, the corporate spy, I can’t help thinking, why now? It’s odd how everything seems to center on Madison. We didn’t find out about the corporate spy until after she started. Coincidence?

Is she someone’s pawn? Is this all one big manipulation? Have we accidentally let in a Trojan horse? I don’t think she could tell me if she was. She seems so innocent and loving. Or is she really all she seems to be?

So fucking perfect for all of us.

Her blue eyes don’t drop from my gaze, though her smile fades a little. I don’t know what to think anymore. The moments we share are real, but something about last night just niggles at my brain like I’m missing something important.

“Are we ready to go?” Coop comes out of his office and looks between the two of us.

I don’t know what I’m doing. But I know I trust Madison. I love her. “Yes, I’m ready.”

Coop takes Madison’s hand with that enormous ring he weighed it down with. That’s something I can’t even process. It’s all a lie. Them being engaged. Them dating.

But when he flaunts her like she’s his, it makes me want to claim her so she knows she’s mine. Fuck, I want to fuck her in front of him to remind him who else she belongs to.

Seth and Noah join us as we head to the elevator. Coop draws Madison back against him and rests his chin on her head. He gives me a look like he knows I’m pondering something.

This whole lunch is a bad idea. Seth knows how I feel about it. If this were just my company, I would have terminated the relationship with Taylor’s. Not tried to salvage it. But I get that Taylor’s is a large account, and while Hunter is an ass, William is a good man.

“Who’s Madison riding with?” Coop asks in the quiet elevator.

“I’m keeping Madison with me.”

Her beautiful eyes lift to mine, and she gives me this little smile that makes my insides fucking buzz. That need to claim her is fierce. It will become a problem if I can’t contain it.

“Would I really let my fiancée ride with two other men?” Coop’s fingers tighten on Madison’s hips, drawing her pencil skirt tight against her hips. She sucks in a breath.

“She’s our assistant, Coop.” Seth leans against the wall. Not to mention she’s fucking all of us, not just the pretty boy.

The elevator stops at the garage level, and I hold out my hand to Madison. She steps forward and takes it. A rush of rightness flows through me. If someone put her in our paths on purpose, they could destroy us, because they know us better than maybe we know ourselves.

Wanting Madison is easy. Loving her is hard because I don’t know what to do with my love. Especially when it’s not just me she wants, but all of us. I don’t think it would make the relationship any easier if it were just me and her though. In fact, I know I would have fucked it up by now if it were just me and her.

Besides, I’d never give up the relationship I have with my friends and business partners. Not for any woman.

We walk to the car and I open the door for her. She stops and looks up at me. When I meet her eyes, she blows out a frustrated breath.

“Hunter Adams is a lot of things, but sorry isn’t one of them. This apology is to make his father feel like he’s atoning. When he trapped me in that copy room, he said he’d be rough. He didn’t care what I wanted.” Madison’s mouth tightens. “I don’t want to feel that helpless again.”

“He won’t get a chance to corner you today.” That I can promise her. My thumb traces her jaw. I can protect her. He won’t get within arm’s distance. This time I can make sure Hunter doesn’t touch any part of her.

She nods and lowers herself into the car. Seth meets my gaze over the roof. We’ve discussed this. He knows where I stand on Hunter, but he makes the final call. That’s why he’s the boss. This whole deal could go sideways real quick if we aren’t careful.

Madison

I spin the ring on my finger for the hundredth time since the car took off. I don’t want to do this. Facing Hunter Adams is the last thing on this earth I want to do. I’d prefer to be back in that hallway with Jimi Alan.

Blake takes my hand and weaves his fingers with mine. My gaze fixates on our hands together. His large hand engulfs mine. He’s been quieter than usual. Something weighs on his mind. Something I’m not sure I can help with, but I want him to confide in me. I want him to trust me with his innermost feelings. I hope someday he feels he can talk to me about anything.

The car comes to a stop at the restaurant. I exhale and follow Blake out of the car. Smoothing a hand over my skirt, I follow Seth inside. Blake stays behind me, flanking me. My outfit is my armor today, and my guys are my protectors. I’m safe.

We’re the first to arrive, and the hostess leads us to a private dining room like before. My hands feel clammy as we sit at the table. Seth on one side of me and Blake on the other. My fingers play with the ring again.

Blake leans in and says in my ear, “Nothing will happen to you. I promise.”

I lift my gaze to his. Fiery green eyes meet mine, blazing with need that makes my insides answer his call with a fire of my own. In his eyes, his fiercely protective side shines through. I’m safe today. I release my breath and nod.

Coop and Noah arrive with William and Hunter. We stand to greet them, but Seth and Blake don’t move out of the way. No one can reach me to shake my hand.