Page 6 of Protective Boss
Suddenly, he smirks, a slow, knowing curl of his full, sensual lips, almost as if he could read my mind. I drop my gaze quickly, my cheeks flaring up with embarrassment. I'm not one to blush easily, but it seems like I've been acting out of character since I met Jason Ellsworth.
I try to focus on my work, but every time I glance up, his gaze is still fixed on me. It's like he's playing a game, one in which only he knows the rules. I can almost see the amusement in those endless blue eyes each time my gaze meets his…
I wish he'd pull the blinds so I can get my work done but I know he wouldn't. He's enjoying my discomfort too much.
Just when I decide to ignore Jason and restart my work, my phone starts to vibrate. I glance at the phone and my heart suddenly skips when I see it’s Clark Thompson, my family law attorney, calling me. I am immediately on edge, knowing this call can only lead to bad news about Oliver.
Reluctantly, I answer. “Hi, Clark.”
“Hey, Bianca! It's been a minute. How've you been and how's my little champ?”
Despite his cheery tone, there's an underlying tension in his voice that instantly has my guts in a twist.
“We're doing fine, thanks for asking,” I reply, barely forcing the words past the lump in my throat. “What’s going on?”
Clark remains silent for a while, causing my heart to be even faster. When he finally spoke, his voice was grave. “I received a letter from a lawyer today. He's representing Daniel Graham.”
Daniel. My heart sinks at the sound of the name. “W-what does he want?” I ask, hating the slight stammer in my voice.
“He's contesting the adoption,” Clark explains, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. “His lawyer claims they have grounds to reopen the case.”
“B-but that's not possible… Right?” I ask hesitantly, wishing desperately for Clark to reassure me. “His parental rights were terminated four years ago. You assured me it was permanent.”
Clark sighs. “I'm sorry but Washington state law permits a biological parent to reopen an adoption case and while this might not seem like a big deal, we can't afford to ignore it. If Daniel is pushing, we also have to be prepared to fight back with everything we have.”
My mind starts to race as I struggle to process the implications of Clark's words. A familiar feeling of fear and isolation washes over me and just like four years ago, I find myself sinking into a pit of despair.
“But how?” I murmur, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. “How could he possibly have any grounds to challenge the adoption of a child he never wanted?”
“According to the lawyer that I spoke with, there were irregularities in the termination process,” Clark explains, his voice tinged with frustration. “But that can't be true, I did a thorough job four years ago, it's impossible to find any loopholes. Nevertheless, I plan to start a reevaluation process and prepare a counterattack. Don't worry, Bianca. Everything will be fine.”
“What do we do now?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, as the weight of the situation settles heavily on my chest.
“For now, we wait things out,” Clark says firmly, his tone unwavering. “And if push comes to shove, we fight. I'll give this all I've got, I promise you.”
After we hangup, I slide down the wall, no longer able to hold myself upright. How can this be happening?
Chapter Three
Jason
It's been over ten minutes since Bianca left her desk. She looked frazzled when she surged out of her seat to take a call. I can’t stop thinking about her, about the way her dark hair was swinging down her back as she hurried off. Truthfully, I haven’t stopped thinking about her since the first moment she entered my office—she intrigues me. I am desperate to know what she is hiding under her little corporate outfits.
I’ve never felt this way about one of my employees before. I mean hell, I've been having dreams about her. Hot and heavy ones that make me get out of bed to go wank it out in the shower. This wild desire for her is driving me nuts and I find myself constantly wondering what it would be like to touch her, how it would feel to kiss her, to taste her everywhere. I would find a way to get rid of her and finally kill this need for her if she wasn’t so damn good at her job.
Which is why it’s concerning that she hasn’t yet returned to her desk. Something must be wrong. She’s always working, always striving to complete the next task I give her. On top of her being the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, she’s also the best assistant I’ve ever had by a mile.
Just as I'm about to give in to the insane urge to go find her myself, she walks in. The scolding dies in my throat as I watch her walk over to her desk. Her steps seem heavy, her shoulders hunched. I wonder what it could be, she looks so… defeated. As she sits, I watch her shoulders rise and fall. It looks like she may be crying. Before I know it, though, she’s returned to her work. Ever the professional.
I look away from her, returning my attention to the file in front of me but I can only ignore the burning curiosity in my chest for so long. I shouldn’t ask her about personal matters; her life is none of my business. But… I can’t focus on anything until I talk to her, until I have the chance to look into her eyes and see if she’s okay.
Before I can stop myself, I grab the telephone and dial her desk. She picks up the phone while glancing over at me with a curious frown.
“Come into my office,” I say curtly, signaling at her with my hand.
She nods, returning the phone to the cradle. She stands from her seat, running her hand down her skirt, and tucks her hair behind her hair. I like it when she does that. It stirs something within me, a mixture of lust and amusement. She's such a neat freak. Sometimes, I imagine what it'd be like burying my fingers in those lush curls and ruffling the careful middle part just to see the annoyance fill up in those alluring gray eyes of hers.
I wipe the smirk off my face as she enters my office, not wanting to clue her in on just how much she affects me.