Millionaire Romance: In Love With My Boss - A Contemporary Romance (Millionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance, Comedy Romance Book 1) Read Free Page A

are you?”
    There was silence on the other end for a moment before an answer came to her. “Katie and I are through. She’s been cheating on me.”

Chapter Three
    Change of Plans
    THE FACT THAT the news didn’t upset Jennifer should have bothered her a bit; albeit that bit was buried beneath a rush of feelings and fantasies at the potential future. For a moment, all Jennifer could do was stare into the distance at the news with a smile creeping onto her face. James’s voice brought her back to reality.
    “Is Andrew there?”
    Jennifer flipped back into business mode. “Yes. When will you arrive?”
    “I’m not going to.”
     Her stomach dropped within her. She clutched her gut and put her back to the tables enjoying the Chicago night.
    “You have to,” was all she could manage in a strained gasp.
    “No. I’m leaving. I’m taking a trip to Jersey.”
    Jennifer squeezed her eyes shut, knowing the room would start to spin if she didn’t. She felt for the open doors between the outside deck and the soft ambiance of the indoor glow.
    She needed something to keep her steady. Her mind raced with possibilities and settled on nothing. They had a flight to Denver on Thursday and the Benefit tomorrow night. His presence was desperately needed, and more than anything, she knew he was hurting. She couldn’t console him if he were in Jersey, running away. Not to mention that Jersey could only mean one thing: Melony Richards.
    Forcing her breath to calm, Jennifer felt her insides moving to tranquility. She brought her voice back to an even level ad began to speak calmly.
    “James, just breathe.” He tried to interrupt, but she continued to talk to him, “You can’t make decisions while you feel this way.” She exhaled, happy that she had been able to calm herself down. After silence, James spoke.
    “Are you done with that?” His voice was hard and angled. Frowning, Jennifer started to begin to say more, but James continued, this time with a softer voice, “I know you, Jennifer. You can do this. She’s been cheating on me. I don’t know how long—I don’t care. I already bought my ticket. I’m sorry to drop this on you. You’ll have to step in.”
    The anger was back. Jennifer’s hands started to shake. She wanted to say more, but she knew that tone all too well, the tone that reminded her that he still paid her salary to tell her what to do.
    “What the hell do you expect me to do?” She said through clenched teeth.
    After another pause, James answered. “He’s qualified. I know he is. How is he? Do you like him?”
    Jennifer tried to blink back tears of frustration. She looked up at the sky, trying to take the advice she had just given and took big gulps of forced air into her lungs. Hanging low through the Terrance were meticulously placed Chinese lanterns. Their warm glow blurred as she sought to latch her eyes onto something. She found the anchor by settling on the John Hancock beacon.
    The blurs and swirls slowed and then stopped. After several more seconds, Jennifer looked towards her table. Andrew was finishing the rest of his glass. Once the last of the wine fell into his mouth, he leaned forward to set the cup down. As he sat back, leaning against the loveseat, he turned his eyes to her. They locked, and neither looked away.
    “I think I could like him,” she said softly into the phone.
    “Then tell him he’ll have a test run in the partnership. See what he knows about our clients in Aurora. Get him a ticket and still plan to leave Wednesday,” there a moment of brief silence before he added, “And take him to the benefit.”
    “Your speech,” her words were strained, but even she heard the silent plea and beg within her vocals for him to reconsider. There was another pause.
    “You give it.” The line went dead.
    Jennifer’s jaw tightened and locked. She clenched the phone in her head, looking away from Andrew, aware that he still looked in her direction. He couldn’t know that