In bed with my boss

CHAPTER 14

EMILY

While on my way back to the hotel, my stomach growled, making me realize I hadn’t eaten throughout the day. So, as soon as I got into my hotel room, I ordered a burger and fries with extra ketchup.

After everything that had crashed into me like a tidal wave, all I wanted to do was eat and sleep.

But first, a steamy hot shower.

I stepped out of the shower and stood in front of the mirror, letting my eyes trail down my naked body. They first landed on my right arm, which was beginning to turn a shade of purple from where Richard had grabbed me.

I mentally noted to put some ointment on it before my gaze continued lower and settled on the scar below my belly.

The scar was faint, but I knew exactly when it began and ended from memory. It wasn’t just a c-section scar. It was a mark that carried so much history—a reminder of why I had to become strong so I could finally spread my wings and fly free from the shadows of my past.

“My sweet Aria,” I whispered with a sigh as I trailed my fingers over the scar.

I wondered if she still disturbs mama about me like the way she’s used to. If she still counted the days until she’d hear my voice.

It’s been days since I’d had the chance to hear her’s, and trying to beat the time difference while balancing work had been nearly impossible.

I picked up my phone, wanting to call her, but the time caught my eyes.

She’d either be at school or spending time with the other kids at the park with her grandma.

Maybe tonight I’d finally get to talk to them before I fall asleep. Even five minutes hearing their voice would be enough.

After applying the ointment I found in the first aid kit beneath the sink, I slipped into my robe, turned off the bathroom light and stepped into the room.

Just as I was about to turn on the TV and watch Gilmore girls, there was a knock on the door.

Relief washed over me as I hurried off the bed, happy that I wasn’t going to sleep on an empty stomach.

I checked the peephole before opening the door to a tall, redheaded woman standing there with a Wingstop takeaway bag.

“Well, hey there, ma’am,” she said in a Southern accent, stretching the bag towards me. “An order for Ms... Emily?”

“Yep, that’s me,” I said, collecting the bag and peeking inside, letting the mouth-watering smell fill my nostrils.

“Looks like you’re happy with your order.”

“I sure am,” I agreed, already picturing myself feasting on everything. “This smells heavenly.”

And for the first time since leaving the ballroom, I felt relaxed.

“Glad I could be of service,” she said before taking a step back.

“Wait.” I pulled out a tip of twenty-dollar bill from the pocket of my robe. “Here’s a little something.”

I suddenly felt self-conscious because I knew she probably received much bigger tips working in a place like this.

“Well now, twenty bucks ain’t nothin’ to sneeze at, ma’am,” she said with a smile as she accepted the money and headed towards the elevator.

With the bag cradled in my arms, I shut the door with my leg and immediately went to the little dining area in the corner of the room.

“Oh my gosh! No extra ketchup?” I cried as I pulled out the last item from the bag.

Immediately, I reached for the landline to call the front desk and ask for some, but I didn’t get to dial before another knock landed on the door.

Relief washed over me as I opened the door without checking the peephole.

“You forgot…” my voice trialed off when I saw Cole standing there with his shirt untucked and his hands resting on his hips.

My brows drew together.

What was he doing here?

As though waiting for me to finish taking him in, his eyes slowly raked down my body, making heat pool low in my belly as my cheeks grew hot.

His eyes on me felt so different from Richard’s, making me wonder how much more I could feel with him looking at me like that.

What was wrong with me? One loom from him shouldn’t have affected me this much.

Before that thought could wander any further, he cleared his throat and brushed past me into the room.

Still standing in the doorway with my eyes on the empty hallway, I drew in a lungful of air before closing the door behind me.

“Mr. Callowa—”

“What the f**k did Richard say to you?”

My eyes widened.

He really did see us before I rushed out of the ballroom.

“I need an answer, Carter.”

Tell him.

Just tell him.

The words sat on the tip of my tongue, refusing to come out.

“Not… not… nothing was said,” I replied, my voice cracking.

He raked his fingers through his hair, trapping his bottom lip between his teeth.

“So you’re telling me the look on your face before Richard walked away was nothing?”

My ears began ringing, dragging me back to Richard’s words.

‘Be rest assured that if anything happens to me, it’ll affect his entire career.’

Maybe he was bluffing.

Maybe he wasn’t.

Could I really take that chance?

I should tell Cole everything. The words were right there, begging to be spoken, but it felt as though someone had cut my tongue from my mouth.

I wanted to say something.

I really did.

But I didn’t want to be responsible for whatever Richard had planned for Cole if things went wrong. I’d only just managed to put my life back together, and I wasn’t ready to watch it fall apart again.

My mind drifted back to Aria and my mom.

What if something happened to them… or me?

They needed me just as much as I need them.

If keeping quiet meant protecting the people I loved, then I’d take Richard’s threat to my grave.

“Emily,” he growled as he stepped in front of me, his body almost flush against mine, his scent wrapping around me. “I asked you a question.”

“I promise you, Mr. Calloway, he only asked about work-related matters, and I didn’t share anything with him. So we spoke about life instead.”

He smirked.

“Tell me, Ms. Carter, if I threw you over my lap and gave you a little punishment, would that have you talking?”

My breath hitched.

Was he teasing me… or was he actually serious?

My mind raced a thousand miles a second, trying to make sense of the words that had just come out of my mouth.

“Would you prefer I do that?”

I drew my bottom lip between my teeth, dropping my gaze to my bare feet to hide the heat creeping across my face.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you,” he said gently lifting my chin. “And don’t bite your lip.”

His thumb pulled my lip free from my teeth.

My heart forgot forgot how to beat.

“I asked you a question, Carter. Would you?”

“No,” I whispered.

“Hmm.” He took a step back. “I’ll let you rest, but keep this at the back of your mind—I won’t let this conversation die. Do you understand?”

I still couldn’t find my voice, so I simply nodded and watched him turn towards the door without a glance.

The door clicked shut behind him.

I gasped, blinking frantically as I dropped onto the bed.

What the hell just happened?