I Do the Boss (Managing the Bosses Series, #5)(9)

Chapter 4


She got too busy with returning calls and working through a few documents that Alex had e-mailed her to worry much more about her family or their involvement in the recent interview in the paper. After a long day at the office, she drove home in stony silence and let out a long sigh after getting into the house and locking the door behind her.

A long swim would do her good. She changed into her suit and grabbed a towel before feeding her dog, Jake, and then spent a few minutes playing ball with him. Alex’s texts said that he wouldn't be home before midnight, and where she would usually have gotten upset about having another night to herself, this one was more than needed.

The water was warm in the pool, which was almost soothing. She would have to figure out what to say to her family, but maybe just playing around the edges of the conversation would have them opening up to her instead. After a thirty-minute swim, she dried off, made herself a sandwich, and snuggled up on the couch.

Christine answered on the first ring.

"Jamie?"

"Sorry to bother you so late. I just wanted to—"

"Did you really let Stephen videotape you guys f*cking? I've been sick about it all day." Her sister's voice was laden with tears.

"What? Of course not." Jamie sat up, her body going rigid. "Why would I do something like that?"

"Because I know how you are about sex. Stephen's a god in the bedroom. Why wouldn't you let him tape you? I'm honestly confused about all of this. It's disgusting and such a sad plea for attention. You should be ashamed of yourself." Christine sniffled several times as anger burned through the center of Jamie.

"Are you f*cking kidding me? Your piece of shit husband gives a nasty, slanderous interview to a national magazine about me, and you're upset with me? Is this a joke? Am I being punked?" Jamie shot up off the couch as the room dimmed just a little around her.

"It's always about you, isn't it? You haven't even stopped to think about how embarrassing your actions might be to me. To Alex! I thought you cared about him, but you don't. You care only about yourself, just like you always have." Her sister was yelling by this point, which was beyond absurd.

"I cannot believe we're having this conversation." Jamie let out a sharp laugh before pacing the floor in front of the couch. "So let me get this straight... you knew that Stephen spoke with the magazine about me? Do Mom and Dad know what you two have done?"

"Us two? Oh, hell no. You're not pulling me into the middle of this."

"I hope you choke on something or trip and bust your f*cking teeth out." Jamie hung up and tossed the phone down on the couch before letting out a painful yell. How dare her sister turn the finger back on her? What was she thinking? Christine hadn't a logical bone in her body. That she would marry someone Jamie had been dating for a damn year was the first clue that something was off.

She screamed and stomped her foot. "Idiots!"

She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bag of cookies, not caring how many was in a serving, or how shitty she would feel later. She'd just shoved two in her mouth as the sound of the front door stopped her.

"Jamie?" Alex's voice reached her and should have offered comfort, but he wasn't happy by the sound of it.

She tugged her robe tighter, suddenly feeling like the overweight maid caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "In here." She finished what was in her mouth and turned to see him standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

He looked delicious in his suit and tie, but the grimace on his face said that he was less than thrilled. Was he judging her for eating cookies at ten at night? For looking like hell after her swim?

Every insecurity she had came rushing back to wrap around her, and she felt alone. Tired. Used up.

"What the hell is this?" He lifted the paper and dropped it on the counter beside him. "You let Stephen film you guys f*cking? Really? Who does that?"

"What?" She wrapped her arms around herself. Was this day really happening? "Do you think I'm the kind of girl who would let Stephen film me having sex with him?"

Fucking sounded so crass all of a sudden. Something dirty to be ashamed of.

He ran his hands through his hair and tugged. "No. Yes. Fuck, I don't know. This day has been horrible, and now this."

"Now this?" Jamie pressed her fingers to her lips as tears burned her eyes. "Now what? My ex-boyfriend, who is also your ex-friend, splashes my name all over the place as a worn down, sex-starved slut, and you're upset? I'm no longer Cinderella, with a pretty rags to riches story, but now pretty woman with a horrid past and loose morals?"

"Jamie." He walked toward her, but she held up her hand and pressed it in the middle of his chest, keeping him at a distance.

"No. To hell with you. All of you. I've been kicked a million times today. Get another punching bag, or maid, as it were." She moved past him, feeling his grasp on the back of her arm.

"Baby. I'm sorry. I didn't—"

She whipped around. "No, that’s right... you didn't. You were too busy worrying about your own public image to consider me."

"Jamie." He walked after her, following her into the bedroom, and grabbed her firmly.

She was too tired to fight him, and the inside of her chest felt raw from holding back her need to break down all damn day. She sunk into his hold and let out a soft sob. "I know I'm not good enough. I'm fine with that. I just don't want to be reminded of it." She cried as he rubbed her back of her head and pressed kisses to the side of her face.