Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

I turn my hand in hers and let our fingers tangle, imagining she’s Madison. It’s the only way I can get through this evening without looking at Elizabeth as if she’s the disgusting blackmailer she is.

“We should discuss how long our romance should last.” Elizabeth takes a sip of her wine. “After all, we need a nice long relationship to get the most benefit from it.”

My fingers twitch on hers. I give her a fake smile. “You’re the one with the leverage.”

For now.

The company that does our background checks is currently looking into Elizabeth. I’ll only be beholden to her for as long as it takes to find something to use against her. I won’t let her destroy Madison’s future. Elizabeth could come at me and I could take the hit, but I won’t let her take Madison down.

Elizabeth laughs delicately, though her fingers tighten on mine. Her nails dig into my skin, but I maintain my expression. “Don’t be a bore, darling.”

“I didn’t guarantee entertainment, my dear.” I take my hand from hers and look around the restaurant. Not paying attention earlier might bite me in the ass because Noah and Sara walk through the dining room to their table, followed closely by Coop and Madison.

Fuck.

The dress looks better on her than I could have imagined. It clings to her curves and shows flashes of her pale skin perfectly. Her legs are long, and the heels make her ass look fantastic.

“What a coincidence.” Elizabeth’s words capture my attention. She doesn’t seem surprised at all. “The very object of your desire walks in, and you’re mesmerized by her. If you don’t want the rest of the restaurant to believe you want your assistant, you’d better pay close attention to me.”

I’m not naive enough to believe this is a coincidence. Elizabeth planned this. Backing me into a corner where I have to make up for whatever perceived attention I throw Madison’s way. What a fucking bitch.

Taking my glass, I drink the remains of the scotch and hold the glass up as our waiter walks by. He nods, and within a few minutes, a fresh glass of scotch is in my hand.

“Coop and Madison are engaged. It doesn’t matter what or who I look at.” I swirl the scotch in the glass. “I’m here with you to prove a point. Am I right?”

“You should give up on the girl, Seth. You and I understand each other.” Elizabeth leans forward as she talks. “Yes, I’m hard and driven, but so are you. That’s what made us perfect in college. My mother’s plan was always Cooper, but you were always mine.”

“You had me fooled back then.” I shake my head and take a drink. How stupid I was to think she loved me.

“Not really. You enjoyed that I was willing to submit to you. I’m still willing to do that.” Elizabeth trails her hand along my forearm. “You and I could rule the business world with Morrigan and Stiner together. No one could compete with us. Our children would have the best of both worlds.”

I nearly choke on my scotch. Children? I raise my glass to her in a faux toast. “You’re determined if nothing else. Delusional, but determined.”

“Don’t tell me you love her,” Elizabeth scoffs. “You’re too smart to let your heart lead you. This is just another business transaction. A way to secure your future. Our future.”

“Children are a business transaction?” I set my empty glass down.

“Why not?” Elizabeth shrugs as she takes a sip of her wine. “I was. It worked out for my mother. Knowing you though, I wouldn’t expect you to not be a part of their lives.”

“Fuck,” I breathe out. This was all a mistake. I rub my temples. “This won’t work.”

Elizabeth laughs like I said something hilarious. “We don’t need to be too hasty. We have time to plan and arrange things. Maybe you could even carry on an affair with your lovely assistant while we’re married. We all have our vices, after all.”

“How desperate of you.” This evening is going to be a shit show. Before I even left home, I knew it would be, but I’d hoped to make it through. For Madison’s future.

I care less and less about burning down my future, but I can’t be what stands in Madison’s way. She deserves the world, and if I can make that happen for her by taking one for the team, I will. Even if that “one” is Elizabeth Hartfield.

She can have my time for now, but not my future.

“I will reiterate, I’m not looking for a wife of convenience nor poor, unloved children. You and I would never survive a relationship together. Please stop bringing it up. I’ll do my time and act like the devoted boyfriend, but I’m not looking at this long-term. And I won’t change my mind on that.”

The waiter chooses now to bring our meals. We sit in awkward silence while he places our food before us. “May I get you anything else?”

“Another scotch.” I hold up my glass. He nods and walks off.

“Maybe you should slow down,” Elizabeth says quietly. “We don’t need you drunk.”

I wink at her. “If I have to spend the evening listening to you, then yes, being drunk might be the answer.”