Page 30 of Boss Abroad
After what feels like hours, April looks at me. I mouth the words ‘what the actual fuck?’, my eyes the size of saucers to convey the confusion I’m drowning in right now.
And what does she do? She smiles, stifling a laugh before she turns back to the other doctor, still going on and on about God knows what.
I might need another contract to prevent her from suing me for defamation. Or harassment. Maybe slander too. This is a clusterfuck of epic proportions. I rest my elbows on the table and my forehead in my hands, looking down and figuring out how to deal with this.
Last night is turning out to be the most expensive fuck of my life.
Since it was the best too, the headache is kind of worth it.
By the time the meeting is over, I’m nursing a migraine and Mia is staring at me like I'm a ticking bomb about to explode. I won’t correct her since she’s not far from wrong. Everybody stands and starts fruitless small talk, keeping me from getting to April on the other side of the room.
Max has an arm around her shoulder and I think I just popped a vessel on my forehead. Mia is too perceptive for my own good and dodges people from my way with her own brand of stupid small talk. I still have to stop and say hello to a few people as I make my way to April.
It’s pissing me off that she seems so unaffected while I’m ready to crawl out of my own skin. By the time I part the fucking red sea to get to her, people start making their way out and the room is almost empty.
“Hello, Maxwell. You’ve outdone yourself and surprised us all.” I extend my arm and an open palm to offer my most insincere congratulations for doing the least he should do and is paid millions for.
That forces him to let go of April and shake my hand. I want to crush his hand but don’t, because he makes me a shit ton of money and some could argue he needs his hand to play football. Debatable, at best. Max jerks free of my excessively tight grip and thanks me with a confused frown.
My eyes now land on April, and without any logical explanation, I can breathe better. “Impressive work, doctors. Much appreciated too.” I nod at both of them and Max does the honors.
“Gunn, sir. Strong handshake, ha? So, this is Dominique Bresson, my physio, and this is one you already met, right?” Before I shit in my Armani pants, April jumps in.
“Yes, we met earlier when he thought I was a different April. Very funny story.”
I was wrong. Now I can breathe better.
She really does have the upper hand here, and I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all. I’m at no one's mercy.
I cough my relief at her reply and ask for a minute of her time, though she dares try to dodge.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Gunn. But my schedule is packed, and I was already on my way ou—” Before she can finish that sentence, I take her by the elbow and excuse us to everyone left behind.
“This will only take a minute. I’ll bring her right back.”
“What is it with everyone manhandling me today?” she grumbles as she tries in vain to free herself from my grip.
I open the first door I see and, jackpot, it’s an empty office. This is my first win in this fuckfest of a day. I trap us inside, grabbing her little body and crushing it against the door with mine. I pin her hands above her head with one of mine and find the lock with the other. Fuck if I’m not hardening already.
When I know we’re safely locked in here, I lower my forehead to hers to and whisper, “What the actual fuck is going on, April? You’re a doctor?”
She tries to play it cool, but her heaving chest betrays her. “Yes, Liam, but apparently, you thought I was a sex worker. At your service. Then at Max’s.”
“Escort, yes.” I pause. “I’m terribly sorry for that.” Those foreign words come out as a grunt. I don’t tend to apologize very often and don’t especially like to.
“Why sorry?” She wiggles her wrists to set herself free and fails spectacularly. “I took it as a compliment. I’m talented enough in bed that I could pass as a professional.” She smiles with no teeth, just disdain. “But I'm doing just fine as a doctor, so I think I’ll stick to this career.” She fights me one last time and growls at me in defeat.
What a feisty little thing she is. April’s proving to be quite a good source of entertainment and I can’t prevent a half smile from bursting free from the edge of my mouth.
“I’ve already apologized. Move. On,” I say with pause and emphasis. “We’ll have a redo tonight. I’ll take you out on a proper date.” Wait, what did I just say? I don’t date. My dick must have stolen all the blood from my brain.
She pushes me away, and this time I let her. “We’ll have no such thing, Mr. Gunn. Reality is, I’m not an escort, but you are my boss. It’s unethical and I’ve already said I’m not interested.”
Every word I say next is dipped in sarcasm: “You already knew who I was when I was eating your pussy at my office desk earlier. Was it ethical then?”
She opens then closes her mouth, lost for words. A full-on, smug smile spreads across my face as I unlock the door and gesture that she’s free to go. She turns to leave but halts at my words.
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”