I Do the Boss (Managing the Bosses Series, #5)(12)

"I know, Dad. I have your name plugged into my phone." She closed her eyes. Why didn't she just let him go to voice mail? She could hear her mother in the background, bitching up a storm because she answered her father's call and not her mother’s. Damn it to hell.

"Oh, right. Sorry." He cleared his throat and said something Jamie couldn't understand. "Have you read the paper lately, Jamie?"

"Yes." She let out a long sigh. "I can't talk about this right now, but I'll be by tonight to figure it out. It's rather disturbing, to say the least."

"Yes, I would agree." His voice grew dim and her mother's filled up the line.

"Why did you answer your father's call and not mine? Something could have been wrong. Not that you care," her mother barked into the phone.

"I was in the security station at work, Mom. It wasn't meant to be—"

"Did you really let Stephen film you guys having sex?" Her mom was being entirely too loud.

Jamie clicked the off button and dropped the phone in her purse as her cheeks burned. Today wasn't going to be as bad as yesterday if she could do anything about it. She'd fight with her mother later that night over Stephen's lies, but not in the middle of an elevator full of people.

Kristen glanced up as Jamie walked into the office. "You look like you've already had a day and a half."

"I have. Almost died on the freeway, and then I accidentally answered a call and it was my mother." Jamie forced a smirk as she pressed her forearms to the front desktop. It was odd not seeing Gina sitting there as she had since Jamie started with Alex. Far longer than that, but either way... it felt as if something was missing.

"What happened on the freeway?" Alex stopped in his doorway and nodded for her to join him.

"It’ll get better. I promise." Kristen patted her arm and offered a warm smile.

"I sure hope you're right." Jamie walked into Alex's office and dropped her stuff in the nearest chair before walking to him and sliding into his arms. "I almost got in an accident. Stupid 18-wheeler pulled into my lane and didn't even notice me there."

"That's not good." He brushed his fingers by her cheek. "You're okay, though?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She pressed her hands to his chest and rubbed softly. "I need a vacation. Promise me we can take a few days off soon and start planning the wedding. It would be great to have a time table. It would give us something to look forward to, or at least me."

"Me too, baby." He leaned down and brushed his lips by hers. "Although, after last night, I think the thing I'm looking most forward to is tonight."

She chuckled. "Oh? You think you're getting a repeat?"

"I'm hoping so. It's all I've thought about half the day." He ran his hand over the curve of her rear and squeezed as the phone buzzed behind him.

Kristen's voice filled up the office. "Mr. Reid, I have Milla Wynn on line one. Would you like to take the call or should I—"

"I'll take it. Thank you, Kristen." He brushed his hand down Jamie's neck and pulled her in for one more kiss. "I love you. Have a great day today, and don't be a stranger. Tell that boss of yours to back the heck up."

"Never. I like him right on top of me." She gave him a cheeky grin before turning, grabbing her things, and moving to her office. Alex almost always had a good day, but it was his outlook on things. She would work hard to do the same; besides, she needed all the "good" she could get.

She was having dinner with her family that night.

*

Jamie lifted to her toes to try to locate the key that usually rested on the doorjamb of her parents’ front door, but came up empty. She knocked and rang the doorbell, which she hated doing. It felt too much like she was some stranger rather than their daughter.

Her dad answered the door, and by the tight grimace on his face it looked like the party had most likely started without her.

"Hi, Pumpkin." He opened his arms and gave her a hug before nodding toward the kitchen. "Your mother is in rare form tonight. She's upset about you hanging up on her. Go fix it."

"Right." Jamie dropped her purse on the dining room table before walking into the kitchen. Her mother had her back to her and seemed to be looking out into the backyard through the small window above the sink. Her apron was tied around her narrow waist, and her black pencil skirt fit her perfectly. Why she dressed up even though she wasn't working any more was odd, but just something she'd been doing for years. "Mom?"

She whipped around and her expression soured immediately. "Is there a reason you hung up on me this morning? Did your father and I teach you nothing in the way of manners?"

"I was in an elevator full of people, Mom. Your voice was carrying and the last thing I needed was for the people I work for to know that my family had laid me out for the slaughter once again." Jamie ran her fingers through her hair and wondered why the hell she thought coming over here was a good idea. It wasn't. It never was.

"Poor pitiful you." Her mother made a fake crying sound. "Regardless of why Stephen felt the need to do something so stupid, it's still publicity. We've had four calls today from various new papers and magazines asking about you and Alex. It's actually kind of fun. Nice to be recognized for being someone important."