Bet On It: An Age Gap Billionaire Office Romance(24)

I gave my head a shake. Not falling for him. Surely, it's just lust, right?

Okay, so maybe more than once, I’d wondered what it would be like to be with him beyond the physical. I imagined living in a big house and waking up in the morning next to him. Maybe we'd shower together and then get ready for work. We'd carpool to the office, where we’d part while I created amazing social media marketing campaigns that turned his company into the number-one fantasy sports betting business in the world.

My fantasy had us having lunch in his office, and by lunch, I meant sex. But now I could amend that to having lunch in his private dining room, eating amazing food and having spectacular sex.

I recognized that my job and my desire for respect were the big issues between us. If I did leave this position, those barriers would be gone. I’d be free to pursue whatever it was between us. To make those dreams a reality.

I let out a groan at my silly thoughts. There were so many reasons it was a stupid fantasy. For one, he was my boss. Then there was the fact that he was so much older than me and a billionaire. He wasn't married, but that didn't mean I wasn't just viewed as a little something to bring excitement into his life. Didn't he say that his life was boring? But I wasn't a woman he would get serious with. At his age, it seemed possible that he preferred to be a bachelor.

So no, I’d keep my job. I wasn’t a woman who’d let her career be derailed by a man, which meant I needed to be more careful. God, if anyone caught wind of my having had sex with Reed, before and after he hired me, I’d be accused of being a gold digger or wanting extra perks.

I'd known all this when I went to lunch with him, but my brain had short-circuited. My body had taken over. The memory of it warmed my blood. I couldn't stop from thinking about the way he touched me.

Stop, Analyn! You have got to get yourself under control.

I tore my gaze away from Reed and worked to focus on developing a storyboard for our mystical animals campaign. Not that it worked.

My phone rang, and I was relieved to have something interrupt my thoughts of Reed. I checked the caller ID and saw it was Betts.

I answered. “Hey. What’s up?"

"I just want to check and make sure you’re going to be home tonight in time to help me pick out an outfit for my date. I think tonight's the night that Paul is going to pop the question."

I smiled, happy that my friend was finding happiness. "I'll be there."

For a moment, I wondered what would happen if Paul did ask her to marry him. That meant my living situation would be changing, which was all the more reason I needed to make this job work. I needed to get my hormones under control.

"You're going to be my maid of honor, right? I'm going to need you right there by my side."

"Of course. I'm going to help you put together the grandest wedding that ever was."

"Oh, my God, Analyn. I think I'm getting married."

I laughed. "I'm happy for you."

"Of course, this doesn't change anything between us. You know that, right? We’re the epitome of BFFs."

"Best friends forever."

When I hung up the phone, I tried to imagine what it would be like to know the man you loved was about to ask you to marry him. That he wanted to spend the rest of his life with you. I glanced over in Reed’s direction, where he continued to run a meeting.

Don't be a dope and imagine such a life with him. It would be some time, if ever, before I knew what Betts felt like now. But that was okay. I had my job, a job that I was really enjoying.

I pulled myself together, refocusing on creating a storyboard for the mystical creatures social media campaign. When I finally came up for air, several hours had passed, surprising me. But that's how it was when I had a job I loved. I got lost in the creativity of social media campaigns.

It was nearing five o'clock, so I gathered my things to go. I looked over toward the meeting room and was surprised to find that Reed was still there. He was by himself, his attention on a laptop.

He looked up, and I cursed myself for getting caught staring at him. He gave me a slight smile and then turned back to his work.

I started to leave but then worried he might head me off as I was leaving. I wasn't ready to talk to him. I was too worried that my staff, or anyone in the company, Catherine in particular, would see me talking to him and be able to tell what we had done during lunch.

Then again, I had to get home to help Betts. Knowing I'd have to risk it, I pulled my bag together again. I closed down my computer and walked out of my office. I said goodbye to a few of my staff who were still there and made a beeline to the elevator. I sent up a silent prayer that I would be able to leave without having to talk to Reed.

I stepped into the elevator, and as I leaned over to press the button for the ground floor, Reed rushed toward the elevator, stepping in before the door could close.





13





Reed





My meeting ended over an hour ago, but I stayed in the conference room, working, hoping that I would have a chance to talk to Analyn. I figured I'd catch her when she was leaving for the night and walk her out.

Risky, maybe. But I needed to find out what she was thinking.

I was brooding over my epic fuckup and needed to make amends. Yes, she had been an active participant during sex this afternoon, but I was the one who’d said I wouldn't touch her. Hell, I'd made a bet that I wouldn't. Had I not put us in a highly charged situation, it wouldn’t have happened, so in the end, it was my fault.