Who's the Boss Now (Managing the Bosses Series, #3) (12 page)

"It's not a fling. We are not a fling or just a casual fuck. Jamie, I care about you. I'm completely lost to you, but I need to figure this shit out. You have to understand that. Respect that. I'm not used to having to consult anyone on anything. I've been a lone for a long time." He closed his eyes and ran his finger through his hair.

"Do you still have feelings for Annette?" She wished she could take the words back as soon as she said them. What if he said he did?

"No, but I want to do right by this kid."

"If there is a kid. If it’s yours. That's a lot of ifs to be putting us in this awkward situation. Let's not even throw in the fact that you've accused me multiple times of having feelings for your younger brother." She lifted her eyebrow sharply. "I've been nice to him to make up for you not being kind at all."

"I have reasons for that, Jamie. Stop bringing it up like I'm the villain. I'm not."

"I'm aware of that, but...” She blew out a hot breath and forced herself to calm down. “How about we instead of jumping to another topic that's slowly strangling out our relationship, let's stick to the one that is destroying it. Both of us."

"Fine." He lifted his eyes and pinned her with a hard stare. "What would you do if you were me?"

"I would get her to take a test firstly to make sure she’s pregnant. Then I would have the DNA testing done. If you think for a moment this kid might not be yours, you need to watch yourself. She could be playing a game. I don’t know her thought. You dated her, you know how she is. It might all be truth and it might make you look like an ass, but better an ass that has to apologize than an idiot roped into a lie.” She swallowed. “From what I’ve seen of Annette, my opinion is that there’s no way to assume she's just been with you and that the baby is yours." Jamie moved to the edge of the couch. "After that I would make some decisions, but not before."

The pain in Alex’s eyes made her want to help. She knew she loved him and whatever he had to go through, she would be there for him.

"I don't want to hurt you in this, Jamie. I don't know what the outcome will be, and I feel like I'm dragging you through the mud with me." He shook his head. "I care too much about you to hurt you at all. I need to figure this out and then if you're still willing, we can move forward."

Pain laced the center of her chest as she tilted her head, her eyes widening. "And until then?" she whispered. She didn’t want this.
Please don’t say it. Please don’t say it.

"I think we should take a break. I need to clear the air on all of this shit. I've worked my whole life to make something of myself. If anyone was to find out about...about... Annette, I would be toast. People don't look too kindly at investing in someone that seems to lie and cheat people in life. The media would make me out to be the bad guy. They’d have a field day with rummaging through my life. I don’t want that. Not for you, Mark, or the people who work for me. I made this mess." He let out a long breath. "We'll—I’ll figure this out."

She’d heard what he had said but none of it sunk in... just the part about breaking up. "Explain what taking a break means."

He nodded, licking at his lips quickly. "I think we should just try and remain good friends. Keep things platonic. And of course work associates. The minute I clear this up, and if you're still into me, I want you to be at my side. My girlfriend or whatever you want to call it. We'll come out and tell everyone. I want you beside me.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I just need a break from the pressure of figuring us out until I can get this shit behind me."

"The pressure of figuring us out? I didn't realize it was keeping you up at night." Anger tore through her and she clenched her jaw. She was hurt, acting out in anger seemed her safest response. Hating him seemed better than loving him and letting him break her heart. Why was nothing in her life ever easy?

"It's just been a lot." He pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced down at it. "Mark wants to go for beers. You want to come with us."

"No. Thanks though." She turned and stretched out on the couch. "So we're on a break."

"Yeah, if you're okay with that."

"Yep. That means that if something were to happen with me and some guy at the bar I'm going to this week that you don't care. You’re not allowed to care. I'm not having anything held against me,
right
?" She glanced up from watching the TV as if he didn't matter. She could play it cool.

Whatever.

She could so NOT play it cool.

Devastation swirled in the pit of her stomach and nothing seemed right all of a sudden. She was in complete defense mode where her only recourse was to attack and draw blood as she did it.

"What? No. I'm not okay with that." He swallowed hard and shook his head. "I don't mean a break like that. If you need me, come to me and I'll give you anything you need. I don't want anyone touching you."

"Oh. That's usually what a break is." She turned back to the TV. "So if I need to be fucked, you're up for just being my meat?" She couldn’t believe she could act this callous. Maybe she would be a good CEO like Nicholas said.

He stood and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not too fond of the term, but I guess if that's what you want to call it."

"Can't be much more when you don't let your heart get involved." She glanced over at him. "Tell Mark hi for me. I'll think about your offer. I'm not too sure that I don't agree with the idea of a break."

"Then what offer are you referring to?" He spoke through clenched teeth.

"The one where you'll take care of my needs. I'm a pretty sexual creature, Alex. I like to feel a man's hands on my body, to hear him grunting my name in my ear, to feel the pressure of being laid open for him. I like to be fucked. I get cranky when I don’t get." She shrugged and tugged the covers up trying to show him that her body wasn’t for him. "Thanks for the offer."

"Jamie. Stop. I already have enough shit on my plate. Don't put this on me too."

"The door's over there. Lock it up when you leave." She yawned and continued to ignore him. Things would work out with them, or they wouldn't. She would be beyond deviated over losing him, but he was making decisions without her, and she wasn't going to beg for anything. If the last six months of her life taught her anything, it was that she was worth more than that. She deserved something great.

His phone vibrated again.

“Mark’s waiting for you.”

Alex stared at her, obviously torn on what to do. He inhaled and let it out slowly. "I'll see you tomorrow then." He turned and walked to the door, pausing as if he expected her to reply again.

She had nothing else to say.

She waited until the door closed to turn into her blanket and press her face into the waiting softness. Her sobs racked her body hard as she let all of the pain and disappointment pour out of her. How did it manage to work out that just when she found the perfect person, job, and house she had to lose them all?

Her phone buzzed and she ignored it, not giving a damn about who wanted to talk. It continued to buzz over and over until she jerked the covers from her face and picked it up.

"What?" Her voice was thick with emotion.

"Hey. It's Christina. Come over to moms. We're making margaritas and lamenting over life. We want you with us."

Really? Of all people? Her sister and her mother wanted to spend time with her? Hell had to be freezing over.

"You guys need someone to make you feel better? Is that it?" She hated how harsh her tone was.

"No, Jamie. I've been trying to talk to you about me and Stephen for a damn week now and mom's just walking around mumbling about missing dad. Look if you don't want to come, I get it. You're the best lay and have a great job, and have a super fine man loving on you. It's fine. Forget I called."

"Wait. Where are you? Moms?" Jamie got up and let the blanket drop at her feet.

"Yeah. We'd love your company."

"I’m on my way. I’ve got tequila.”

––––––––

J
amie walked into the front door of her mom's after coaching herself how to act and not act all the way over. If they said one thing that hurt her feelings, she was out. She couldn't take much more in the way of being broken down.

Alex had done enough damage in his desire to 'take a fuckin’ break'.

"You guys in here?" Jamie called out and walked into the kitchen to find them leaning on each other laughing loudly. She couldn't help but smile at their silliness.

"There she is!" Christine smiled and walked over to pull Jamie into a sloppy hug. Her sister had put on a few pounds, but it actually made her look better, healthier.

"How are you, Jamie?" Her mom handed her a drink and tilted her head to the side. "Have you lost weight? You're looking good. Better. Damn fine!"

It was a compliment. She could take it at face value and move on. It was the swearing off her mother’s lips that made her want to laugh. "Good. Thanks." She took the drink and leaned against the counter before tasting it. "So everyone’s lamenting over their problems, hmm?"

"Yep. Stephen has been on me to get help for my lack of creativity in the bedroom." Christine shrugged and hiccupped loudly, which caused their mom to laugh and snort.

Jamie chuckled, not used to seeing the two of them drunk as skunks.

"Tell him to stop complaining about it and show you a few things. He can be inventive. He's a complete whore." Jamie took a long drink of the beverage as she watched her sister digest the information.

"That's true. Okay. I'll try it. What about you? Any problems or everything’s honky-dory great?"

"Alex wants to take a break because he has some stuff going on in his personal life."

"Oh, that's not good. Hurry and drink up. You have some catching up to do with us." Her mom moved up beside her and slid her arm over Jamie's shoulders.

"Yeah, but he wants to still sleep together.” Was she really telling her mother this? “I told him I’d think about it. Sleeping with him isn't like sleeping with someone I just met. I love him." Jamie's eyes filled with tears much against her will.

"Oh, don't cry." Christine walked toward her. "Just use him for sex and remind him of what he's missing. You're the best lay in New York right?"

"What? I do not need to hear this." Their mother stumbled from the kitchen, laughing again.

Jamie rolled her eyes, but took her sister's advice to heart. "Yeah, maybe you're right."

“My sister’s got a hot-ass body now.” Christine raised her glass, sloshing drink on the floor. “Damn you Alex Reid for thinking you can have your cake and eat it too. Damn you!”

“I’ll drink to that.”

I
f anyone would have told her that she was going to spend a night getting drunk with her mother and sister, she never would have believed them. Somehow by the end of the evening she felt better... more solidified in her decisions where Alex was concerned. She had never been one to give up on anything too easy. If it required her to be a little more aggressive in the bedroom to remind him of what he was considering giving up in the name of chivalry, then so be it. She could play Annette's game.

"Bitch probably isn't even pregnant." Jamie worked on whipping up a quick breakfast of eggs and toast in her kitchenette. Sundays were usually spent lounging around or trying to get a bit of Alex's time, but today she felt the need to burn up some energy.

She took her plate and sat down at the table, letting out a long breath and forcing herself to smile. They would get through this, and be stronger because of it. She just had to keep in mind that Alex wasn't going to be too pleasant until they did. He was the type of man that could roll with the punches in the business environment, but in his personal life, he was as big of a mess as anyone.

Her phone buzzed and she answered it, seeing Mark's number on the screen. "Hey. How are you?" She put her fork down and licked at her lips.

"Good. You up for a jog and maybe some football in the park a few miles from here? I want to get out in this weather and could use a partner to come with me." He sounded ten times better than he had just yesterday. His heart was growing lighter.

"That actually sounds great. I was just thinking I needed to get out for a jog this morning. I'll change and meet you in front of the house. Not sure on the football thing though." A thought crossed her mind. “Is it just you?”

"Yes. The insufferable fool had to rush out this morning to work on something for the investor’s conference you guys have coming up."

"Why am I not surprised? I'll be up shortly."

"I look forward to it."

They hung up, and Jamie got up, cleaned up her breakfast and changed into a pair of tight spandex pants, a running shirt and her favorite tennis shoes. She stretched just before walking out into the beautiful morning.

She could see Mark as she walked around to the front of the house. He was a little bigger than Alex, more the football player type than a swimmer. He was attractive, but for some reason she couldn't see herself with anyone but her illustrious boss. It was a beautiful tragedy in the making.

"Hey there. We missed you last night. The beer was good, but the wings were better." He gave her a goofy grin, and she couldn't help but smile back.

"And the cute waitresses had nothing to with it?"

"Nope. Neither was it at all classy that half their asses were hanging out the bottom of their shorts." He pressed his hand to his mouth and widened his eyes.

Jamie chuckled and popped him in the chest. "Men. Come on before I change my mind."

"What? We were blessed with an exorbitant amount of hormones. They have to come out somewhere. Better here than church or parent-teacher conferences."

She shook her head as they started to jog toward the park. "I have no comment for that."

"Wise girl." He chuckled.

Jamie let the conversation drop between them, wanting to ask about his evening with his brother and yet not wanting to appear nearly as needy as she was for information on Alex.

"What're you thinking about?" Mark asked as they reached the park. He tossed her the football that sat snuggled under his thick arm.