Bet On It: An Age Gap Billionaire Office Romance(44)

"Fuck!" I threw my glass across the room. It hit the wall and shattered.

I wasn't a violent man, my hockey days notwithstanding, so the burst of violent frustration surprised me. Annoyed at myself for letting my emotions get away from me, and Analyn for being the catalyst for it, I went behind the bar to get a rag to clean up my mess. I grabbed a garbage can and brought it with me, carefully picking up the glass off the floor and wiping up the bourbon and smaller pieces of glass with the towel.

"Getting dropsy in your old age?"

I didn't bother to look at Pierce. "Not exactly."

"Jesus. Did you throw your glass?"

This time, I turned to look at him. His gaze narrowed on the wall. I looked to where his attention was directed to see my drink dripping down the wall. I straightened and wiped that up as well.

"Where's Analyn?" he asked.

"Maybe you should ask Bo. "

"Oh, shit. What's going on?"

I tossed the rag in the garbage can, leaving the rest for the janitor to clean up. "Check your social media feed."

Pierce stared at me for a moment as he pulled out his phone. It took a moment, but then he winced. "The only thing wrong with this picture is the fact that I think you’re into her."

I glared at him.

"So, what's going on?"

"There's something there, Pierce. Sometimes, she seems to acknowledge it, and then she runs off like a skittish cat."

Pierce walked over to the bar, pulling out two glasses. "You can't really blame her. You are her boss. It's a big risk for her unless she doesn't mind looking like a gold digger. There's even some risk for you if she decides to sue you for sexual harassment."

I ran my fingers through my hair, knowing he was right and at the same time knowing there had to be a way through this.

"It doesn't bother you that she is young enough to be your daughter?"

I growled at him. "Whose side are you on here?" Was the age difference really that bad?

Pierce picked up the glasses, walked around the bar, and handed me one. "I'm on your side, man. But I'm not sure that you've considered all the facts. Sure, there are a lot of men who marry women who are younger than them, but is that what this is about? Or is this just a little infatuation that's going to burn itself out?"

When I had pitched the idea of an affair with Analyn, I had discussed the idea that we could indulge in it until it cooled off. But I was beginning to recognize that this could be something more. The seething anger I felt at the idea that she was with Bo proved to me that my feelings for her were more than just friendly and wanting a good fuck.

"If it is more than that, I'm happy for you. But your track record with women isn't so great. I think part of the problem is the women you fall for. You shouldn’t be picking a woman who works for you. And I have to question a woman who comes to a hockey game with you and leaves with Bo Tyler. You deserve a good woman who knows your worth, and I don't mean your billions of dollars. I mean that you are a good man. I know you’re looking for a good woman who can appreciate you."

I downed the drink and sat down in the chair feeling like all the air had gone out of me.

"Maybe a night with Bo will make her realize just how good you are." Pierce sat next to me.

I doubted it. Bo was closer to her age. He probably had more stamina. He also wasn't her boss. He had everything going for him, and I had nothing.

"I don't know. Maybe it's like you said. I'm terrible at choosing women I find interesting. She's not willing to take the risk, so maybe that's the answer."

"What are you willing to risk?"

I glanced over at him. "What do you mean? The sexual lawsuit isn't enough?"

He shrugged. "We both know that's not likely to happen. And if it did, you're a billionaire. While you could get some bad publicity, your fucking your employee is more of a cliché. But she's risking her reputation. If she were to go somewhere else, she might have difficulty getting another job if this all came out. Or her new boss would expect her to put out. I guess the point is that you clearly like her, and the chemistry between you two was palpable, but is that really enough to risk it all? Maybe it is for you, but is it for her?"

I knew the answer to the latter part of that question was no. After all, she was out with Bo Tyler now. "Thanks for the pep talk." I rose from my chair and brought my glass back to the bar. "I'm just going to head home now."

"No notes about the game?"

All of a sudden, I felt mentally exhausted. "Can we talk about it tomorrow?"

He stood and brought his glass to the bar as well. "Sure. I'll walk out with you."



When I arrived home, I parked in the garage and entered the house through the kitchen door. I considered getting another drink, but being exhausted, I decided to go to bed.

I made my way out to the foyer and toward the hall to the bedrooms when I noticed an envelope on the floor at the front door. Picking it up, I noted that it had no writing on it. Opening it, I pulled out a piece of paper and immediately scanned to the bottom to find Gino's signature.

"Jesus fuck. Will this guy ever leave me alone?"

I scanned my eyes back to the top of the page to read what it said.