I Came Back as His Boss

My boyfriend, Liam Vance, had just landed a record-breaking broadcasting deal. That night, the host asked him who he wanted to thank most. Without missing a beat, he put his arm around Caroline Bennett, the vice president. "Her, of course. She's my rock." The host teased, "Sounds like wedding bells are in the air." They exchanged a smile but didn't answer. Once the cameras moved away, he slipped a key card into my hand. "Reporters are everywhere outside. Leave through the back door." I tossed the key card into his wine glass and left through the front door. Then I called my assistant. "Tell my father I'll take the CEO job. But Liam Vance's company—I'm going to inspect it personally." …… "Marcus is waiting for you in the alley behind the kitchen. Put on your hat." When Liam slid the key card across the table, two graduation ceremony invitations were still tucked inside my bag. 3 hours earlier, he'd promised he'd make time for me that night. I'd rushed straight from the library, still in my college hoodie, ready to tell him my thesis had passed and ask if he could make it to the graduation ceremony next month. "The back exit again?" "Harper, don't throw a fit tonight." A fake palm tree blocked half our booth, and me with it. On the other side, his business partners were raising glasses to toast a new broadcast deal. There was a faint smudge of lipstick on his suit cuff. It wasn't mine. 10 minutes earlier, Caroline Bennett, vice president of the sports network, had been standing arm-in-arm with him in front of the photo wall. The host had grinned and said, "You two make such a perfect couple." He hadn't corrected him. He'd just rested his hand on her waist. When she stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, he'd laughed and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Right after that, he'd led her around to greet the guests, saying, "This is Caroline. None of tonight would've happened without her." I'd been standing right behind him, and I'd just lifted my hand to wave when someone asked, "And who's this?" "A friend, still in college. She just stopped by to pick something up." My hand dropped frozen. Caroline had turned to him then, asking, "Do I need to bring wine when we go to your mom's place on Sunday?" "She's got it covered. Just bring yourself." His mom had met me before. But whenever there were other people around, he always found some excuse to leave me out of introductions and group photos. Last Christmas, I'd been just a "friend" too. "I just want to leave through the front door," I said. "The place is swarming with reporters out there. You know what they'd write—another girl trying to get a guy to pay her rent." "You could tell them I'm your girlfriend." His jaw tightened. "Wait for the right time." "Oh, so the time was right for Caroline?" "Her position speaks for itself. This deal is make or break for us today—I can't embarrass her in public." "You didn't hesitate to embarrass me 2 minutes ago." He drew in a sharp breath. "I let you come tonight, didn't I?" I stared at him, and all the words died in my throat. For 3 whole years, I'd taken even the tiniest crumb of his attention—like being allowed to sit hidden away in some dark corner of his events—as a sign I was inching closer to being a real part of his life. "Then when will you introduce me properly?" "Once the deal closes, and the playoffs are over." "You said the exact same thing last year. I sent you my graduation date, and the only response I got was from your assistant asking if I needed a ride." "Since when did you start keeping score?" I shoved the invitations deeper into the bottom of my bag. So now, even holding onto all the times he'd let me down was my fault, apparently. I thought back to my birthday last year. He'd stumbled home in the middle of the night, saying he was too exhausted to celebrate and that we'd do it the next day. When he saw the cake in the fridge the next afternoon, he'd just blinked and asked who'd sent it. That same week, for Caroline's birthday, he'd posted a group photo from a fancy restaurant with the caption: No matter how busy I am, I'd never miss your birthday. I asked him about it later. He said all the network execs were there, that it was just work. That forgotten cake sitting in the fridge was coconut flavor. I hated coconut, but I'd never had the heart to throw it away. I'd kept telling myself that if he ever came home and took even one bite, that would count as him celebrating my birthday with me. A photographer walked past our booth. Liam's hand had been barely 2 inches from mine, but he yanked it back fast. I picked up the key card, loosened my grip, and let it drop. The card hit the ice with a sharp clink. "What the f—?" "I'll have someone come pick up my stuff tomorrow. Your credit card and the spare keys are already in the kitchen drawer. I left them there before I came over." "If you walk out that door right now, we're done." My chest still gave a sharp, stinging twinge. "Sure." He lunged after me and clamped down hard on my wrist. "Don't make me deal with your little tantrum right here in public." A waiter carrying a tray of drinks paused awkwardly nearby. "Then let go of me." He loosened his grip one finger at a time. When I got to the main entrance, Jace caught up to me, holding a leather jacket. He was 8 years younger than his brother Liam, and the starting quarterback for the Titans. "It's 46°F out there." "I already called a car." "Yeah, the car blocks the wind, but you don't while you're waiting for it." "Your brother probably won't be too happy about you doing this." "There are a lot of things he doesn't like." His voice was steady as he held the jacket out for me to take on my own. The sleeves covered my hands, and the lining still held his warmth. The venue manager hurried over. "Miss, regular guests need to use the—" "She's walking out this way," Jace cut him off. The doors swung open, and a flood of camera flashes poured in. "Jace! Who's the girl with you?" I stopped short. He stopped too, making no move to pull me along. "You want me to walk through the crowd with you?" I looked across the lobby and saw Liam. He saw the reporters, he saw me standing there, and he didn't move an inch toward me. I pulled the jacket tighter around my shoulders. "Yeah. I do."