I Do the Boss (Managing the Bosses Series, #5)(23)

"Back there, last door on the left." He pointed behind him without even focusing on her.

"Thanks," she mumbled and walked down the hall in the direction the guy had pointed.

Cinderella. Ugh. The poor girl with no class or standing meets a prince who changes everything.

And Alex had changed everything for her. Why was she struggling so much with the papers making her look like a lower-class citizen? Who cares if they considered her a princess; at least Cinderella had a happy ending.

"...I realize that, but the reason I pay for so much security is because I have to. Don't let it happen again, or all of you can look for new jobs." Alex's voice boomed from the doorway just down the hall. He walked out and stopped short as she moved toward him. "Oh. Hey."

"Hey. Nicholas is upstairs in a conference room with his lawyer." She turned and walked beside him as they moved out into the large ornate lobby of the building.

"Damn. All this fire alarm crap and I forgot about him coming. Why didn't Kristen try to get a hold of me?" He pulled out his phone and glanced down at it as he absently rubbed at his chest. "Oh. She did."

They got in the elevator, and Jamie moved up to press herself to the front of him. "What's up with your chest? You okay?"

He let out a soft huff before nodding and finally focusing on her. His blue eyes were filled with warring emotions, which only tugged at the deepest parts of her to open him up more. To nestle herself so deep in his heart that there was no possibility of anything ever happening to them. "Just a few pains here and there. I'll have it checked. I'm sure it's just indigestion." He touched the side of her face. "Damn, you're beautiful. How’d I get so lucky?"

She reached back and hit the emergency stop on the elevator before turning back to him. "I don't know, but I miss you. Come home tonight?"

"Yes." He pulled her against him. "I'd like to stay in this elevator for a couple of hours too, but Nicholas is waiting."

She brushed her cheek by his before pressing her lips to his neck and breathing in. "I know. He can wait just a minute. I just want to feel you against me."

"Okay, baby." His strong arms locked her against him, and he turned them, pressing her to the wall and moving just enough to line his face up with hers. His kiss was passionate, but sweet, loving. His tongue pressed against her sealed lips, and she opened up, letting him in as a groan left her.

There was no one like Alex Reid. He had power and raw masculinity, and yet he had a soft side, a subtle humility that not many people got to witness.

But she did.

"I love you," he whispered against her lips as he pressed his forehead to hers.

"Me more." She nipped at his lips once more before turning and pressing the button to release the elevator to move. "Why is Nicholas here?"

Alex let out a long sigh as he ran his hands through his hair. "He's hoping to entice me with a plea bargain. People with wealth never want to go to court for anything. It's too much of a reputation detriment. If we can settle out of court, it will leave him more intact than if we go in there and the jury finds him guilty."

"And you're considering settling after all he's done?" She moved out of the elevator and down the hall with him beside her.

"I'm not sure yet. I'll make the call when the time is right. I'm not an emotional negotiator, Jamie. I'm a businessman, and this is simply business." He paused outside the closed door. "I'll check in with you later."

"Do you want me in there with you?" Concern laced her voice as Alex rubbed at his chest again.

"No. I hate the way he watches you. Vulture." Alex winked and turned, walking into the room. "Gentlemen."

Jamie stood there for a few more minutes before walking back into her office and sitting down in her chair. She was nibbling at her lips, thinking a million things, most of them unhealthy.

Her family was being ridiculous about Stephen, everyone but her father.

"Speaking of." She got up and closed her door before pulling her phone out and calling her dad. An update would be good.

"Pumpkin?" Her father's voice was softer than usual.

"Hi, Dad. I was just checking in. I know Alex went ahead with the suit on Stephen and I wanted to see how everyone was handling it." She walked to the window and let her eyes move across the city. It was a beautiful day, and the need to get out and breathe a bit of fresh air on a long walk later that afternoon left her feeling needy.

"About as well as you would expect. Stephen’s a weasel. He doesn't see the wrong in what he did, but you knew he wouldn't. He's shouting that the world should know that the media lies." He grumbled something that she couldn't make out.

"That sounds about like him. I guess he was served papers?" Jamie brushed her fingers by her lip as her stomach sickened a little. Her family was already messed up enough. They didn't need anything else adding fuel to the fire.

"Yes. He was at the house when it happened, and your mother was actually excited about the trial. I swear she's gone off her rocker." Another sad sigh. "It's like any publicity is good publicity, and yet everything that's happening is so far from center of where I live my life."

"I know, Dad. Let's have lunch soon."