In bed with my boss

CHAPTER 15

COLE

“Welcome back to New York, sir,” my driver said as Emily and I stepped off the plane.

“Jack,” I said as I handed him my carry-on. “You came early.”

He threw his head back in a laugh. “I did actually. I came yesterday to pick you up, but I was told your flight had been moved to this morning, so I booked a room nearby for the night.”

“I see,” I said as I stepped onto the tarmac.

“Good morning, ma’am,” he greeted Emily before taking her bag.

We walked over to the black Range Rover parked by the curb, and once we were all settled in, Jack asked, “Are you going home or to the office, sir?”

“I have a lot to catch up on, at the office. But you’ll be taking Ms. Carter to her place.”

I caught the sharp snap of Emily’s head from my paripheral vision.

“I have work too.”

“No you don’t,” I shot back despite wanting to watch her complain through thousands of emails and paperwork, I knew she needed a familiar space to rest.

“But—”

“No buts, Ms. Carter,” I said as I adjusted in my seat and fastened my seat belt. “You can resume work tomorrow, but for now, you need to rest.”

“We had nothing scheduled for yesterday because of the flight change, so I used the opportunity to rest. I’m fit to resume work, sir,” she argued.

“Ms. Carter,” I snapped. “Jack will take you home, and that’s final.”

She wrapped her arms around her middle and slumped back with a sigh.

Jack cleared his throat, his eyes fixed on the rare view mirror.

“Are we good to go?”

I gave him a slight nod, and with that, the engine roared to life as we pulled away from the airport.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The ride to the office was filled with silence, Emily’s attention fixed on only two things—her phone and the view outside the window.

I still had questions about Saturday night, but since she seemed determined to cover for Richard, I was going to take my time and show her who she should really be afraid of.

“We’re here, sir,” Jack said as he brought the car to a stop in front of Ways Enterprise.

I unbuckled my seat belt and picked up the briefcase containing my laptop and files.

“Like I said earlier, you’ll be taking Ms. Carter home, but be back in the next five hours.”

“Okay, sir.”

I stepped out of the car and looked at Emily.

“If there’s anything important I need you to work on, Sloan will email it to you. But for now, go home and get some rest.”

It seemed she had finally come to terms with my decision because she quietly whispered, “okay,” before turning her attention back to the window.

A smirk tugged at my lips as I shut the door and walked into the building.

The elevator opened onto the thirtieth floor, revealing a room full of busy employees. As soon as I stepped out, conversations dissolved into polite greetings and practiced smiles I’d grown accustomed to over the years.

I acknowledged them with nothing more than the briefest nod, my attention fixed on the woman waiting at the end of the corridor.

“Mr. Calloway,” Sloan called before catching up beside me, effortlessly matching my pace with her tablet tucked beneath one arm.

“I’ve moved your online meeting with Mr. Clayton to twelve, and the legal department also sent over the revised contracts you requested.”

“Good.”

She tapped something on the screen before continuing. “Your mother called earlier this morning. She said she’d like to—”

“Whatever it is can wait.” My answer was clipped enough to stop her before she could finish.

I reached my office and pulled the door open.

“If there’s nothing urgent, I’d rather not be interrupted.”

“I understand, sir.”

With that, the soft click of the door faded into the silence of my office.

After hours of sitting in the same position behind my desk, drafting emails and planning a new project, the sharp murmur of voices outside my office interrupted my work.

At first, I paid it no mind, assuming Sloan was dealing with a client on the phone. But when the exchange continued with a voice that sounded oddly familiar, I frowned and reached for the tablet resting on my desk.

The security feed outside my office filled the screen, revealing the other person.

A muscle in my jaw ticked.

Of course.

Only my mother would walk into this building like she owned the place and argue with half of my staff.

I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck before pressing the intercom.

“Send her in.”

A second later, the door burst open.

“What the heck is wrong with you, Cole?” my mother began as she stepped inside. “Telling Sloan to stop me from coming in to see you?”

Sloan followed after her but came to a halt when she saw my mother already standing in front of my desk.

“Sorry, sir. I tried stopping her,” she said between heavy breaths.

I dragged my eyes away from my mother to her.

“It’s fine, Sloan. I’ll handle this. You can go back to work.”

“Okay, sir.” She quietly closed the door behind her.

My gaze traveled back to the woman standing in front of me.

Even at fifty-two, she carried herself with effortless elegance.

An impeccable white dress skimmed her figure, paired with red Louboutin heels that complemented her signature red lipstick and chestnut hair.

“Mother,” I said flatly.

“Don’t ‘Mother’ me while using that tone, Cole,” she snapped.

Knowing arguing with her would get me nowhere, I set down the pen and tablet still in my hand, giving her my full attention.

“What brings you here, mom?”

“So I can’t come see my son because he refuses to pay his mother a visit?” She asked as she slowly pulled out a chair and sat.

“Mom…” I began, but my voice trailed off when she raised a hand.

“Cole, you’re about to tell me you’re a busy man who barely has time for himself, but we both know the real reason you refuse to come see me.”

She sighed. “Well, since you refuse to stop by, I decided to bring two messages to you.”

My brows knitted together. “What messages?”

She took a deep breath, and that alone told me I wasn’t going to like what she was about to say.

“Your brother will be visiting next month, and Victor wants you at the house for dinner when he arrives.”

Heat spread through me as her words settled in.

It had been years since he walked out of my life by leaving New York, and now he suddenly decided to show his face?

“Son,” my mother called softly. “Did you hear what I just said?

“He’s not my brother.” Were the only words I managed as I stared into the empty space beyond her.

She reached across the desk and rested her hand over my clenched fist.

“Cole, how long are you going to stay angry at your stepbrother?

“For as long as I please,” I snapped before picking up my pen again.

She let out a slow breath.

“But are you at least coming for dinner?”

“And sit at the same table with Victor and his son? No.”

“Cole—”

“Mom, can we just move to the next message?”

She closed her eyes for a brief moment before opening them.

“Hank brought the second part of your father’s will today.”

Every muscle in my body slowly tightened as memories came crashing back.

When my father died, Hank told me he had three wills to be revealed when I turned twenty, twenty-five, and thirty.

Taking over Ways enterprises had been the condition. The remaining two were tied to it, and if I failed to fulfill them, everything I’d inherited would be taken away.

Hearing my mother mention the will again, I knew this was no longer something I could ignore.

“Here’s the paper he brought,” she said pulling a neatly folded sheet from her gold clutch.

I wasn’t ready to read whatever was written on it.

“Tell me what it says.”

“Cole, I think it’s best if you read it yourself.”

“No, mom. Just tell me what it says.”

She rubbed at her temple.

“I know you won’t like this, but it say you’ll have to get married before you turn twenty-seven.”

My jaw tightened.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I’d already known one of the remaining wills might demand something like this.

Still, hearing the words aloud was different.

“And if I don’t?”

She unfolded the paper and let her eyes scan the page.

“Then…” her voice faltered. “… the woman whose name is written on the paper becomes your wife.”