9. Billie

CHAPTER 9

BILLIE

" S o how's it all going in the Big Bad Wolf's office?" David asks as we leave the coffee shop.

I glance around, making sure no one from the office is nearby. "It's… nice."

"Really?" He raises an eyebrow, obviously not believing me.

I sigh. "James has pretty high expectations. It's a lot to keep up with."

David sips his latte as we walk down the cloudy street. "I bet. But you seem to be handling it well," he says, giving me a reassuring grin.

I return the grin, but inside I'm struggling. It's not just the workload that's getting to me. It's James.

Every time I see him, my heart races. Every time he smiles at me, my knees go weak. It's like I'm back in high school with a crush on the popular boy.

But I'm not a teenager anymore. I'm a grown woman with a job to do. I can't let my emotions get in the way.

"Hey, you okay?" David's voice brings me back to reality.

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."

"Well, maybe you need a break. Working here can be demanding, I know."

I sigh. Yes, I would love a break, and I'm looking forward to exactly that. Tonight, as soon as I get home and the babysitter leaves, I'm making dinner and then crashing on the couch to watch a movie with Quinn. I don't care about any laundry or dishes to do. Those will need to wait.

"I'm impressed you've lasted this long," David says. "Two whole weeks."

I stop walking. "What do you mean?"

He looks at me like it's obvious. "You don't know about the firing rate at GarrisTech?"

I shake my head, feeling a knot form in my stomach. "No, I don't."

David's expression turns serious. "Well, let's just say it's not easy to keep your job here. James has a reputation for being a hard-ass."

I swallow hard, thinking of James's stern demeanor and unyielding expectations. "I had no idea."

David gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, Billie. You're doing great. Just keep your head down and keep working hard."

I nod, trying to push away the anxiety that's starting to creep up inside me. I need this job. If I lose it then there goes my chances at getting the information I need.

I make a mental note to work even harder. To prove myself to James and to the rest of the company. I won't be just another statistic on the firing-rate chart.

David and I part ways in the building, and I stride to James's office. To my surprise, it's empty. He must be taking his own break.

My heart speeds up. This is it. My opportunity to go through his office and see if I can find any medical information.

He told me he doesn't have any issues, but how do I know he wasn't lying and he was just trying to end the conversation?

I take a deep breath and slowly turn the handle of James's office door. I step in, immediately noticing the scent of his cologne. It's musky and rich, and I'm hit with the urge to bury my head in his neck and inhale deeply.

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts, and begin to search through his desk drawers. I find nothing but paperwork, pens, and some knickknacks.

And no photos.

Which would be odd for most people, but what should I expect? Given how he abandoned Quinn before she was even born, it's clear James doesn't value relationships.

Disappointed, I turn to leave when something catches my eye. A small notebook, tucked in the corner of his desk.

My curiosity gets the best of me, and I pick it up. Flipping through it, my heart races as I read his handwriting. It's a journal, filled with musings and thoughts about his work and personal life.

I know I really shouldn't, but I can't resist reading more. As I turn the pages, I stumble upon an entry that catches my attention. It's dated a few days back and reads: "I shouldn't be feeling this way about an employee, but I can't help it. I know I need to keep my distance, but it's becoming harder and harder each day."

My heart beats faster. James has an office crush?

Could it be… me?

I've seen the way his gaze lingers on me, the way his pupils dilate when we lock eyes. I haven't given these reactions much thought, but putting them together now it seems entirely plausible.

My heart jumps all the way into my throat, and my hands start shaking. Quickly, I snap the notebook shut. This is wrong. I should never have read the page in the first place.

Putting the notebook back where I found it, I whirl around just as the door opens and James strides into the room.

I freeze, holding my breath. His eyes meet mine, and for a moment we just stare at each other. I'm not sure what he's thinking, but I can feel my face flushing with embarrassment.

"Good. You're back." He crosses the room and takes a seat in one of the corner armchairs, where he left his laptop. "Let's get to work."

I inwardly sigh with relief. Okay, so I didn't look as suspicious as I thought I did. Thank God.

I take a deep breath, trying to concentrate. But my mind keeps drifting back to the notebook and James's words. Does he really have feelings for me? Or am I just reading too much into it?

Finally, after what feels like hours, James looks up from his laptop. "You seem distracted," he says, his voice calm and even.

I swallow hard. "I'm fine," I say, my voice shaking slightly.

He looks at me for a long moment, his blue eyes seeming to bore into my soul. "It's not something that will get in the way of work, will it?"

I lift my chin slightly. "Nothing will get in the way of me doing my job."

"Good." He nods once, looking satisfied, then drops his gaze back to his computer screen.

The rest of the afternoon, I manage to mostly stay focused. Except for here and there, when my mind drifts back to what I saw in James's journal.

Maybe he wasn't writing about me. Maybe it was someone else at the office.

I can't tell which option would be worse: James liking me, or him liking someone else.

Thinking about him with someone else fills me with jealousy. Which is ridiculous. Despite his money and good looks, James is anything but a catch. He could be a Greek god and have all the money in the world and it wouldn't make up for his lack of empathy and caring.

When the clock hits five, I stand up and start to gather my things. James gives me that familiar look — the one that says he's displeased but he's waiting for me to figure out why.

"Well." I shoulder my purse. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"It's only five." He frowns.

"I know…" I say slowly. That's when the work day ends at GarrisTech.

"We have a lot of work to do, Billie."

I can feel my heart racing. I know what this means: he wants me to stay late again. My babysitter can only stay so long, and I have to be home before she leaves. But there's no way I can tell him that.

"I can stay a little longer," I say, trying to sound accommodating.

"A little longer?" He scoffs. "We have a deadline to meet. You can't just leave when you feel like it."

"I understand that," I say, my voice trembling slightly. "But I have a—"

"A what?" He raises an eyebrow. "Another job? What could possibly be more important than what we're doing here?"

I clench my fists, anger boiling inside of me. Is he being serious? What could be more important than work?

A dozen other things! Like my family, my health, my sanity. But I don't say any of that. Instead, I force a smile and say, "Nothing. You're right. I'll stay until the work is done."

James nods, apparently satisfied, and goes back to typing on his computer.

The brief attraction I had to him is gone. The man is arrogant, domineering, and completely uninterested in anything that doesn't benefit him personally. Anyone who might end up with him is unfortunate.

"I just need to run to the restroom." I head for the door, not waiting for a response.

In the bathroom, I pull out my phone and text Chelsea, Quinn's babysitter. Fingers crossed she can stay later. If not, my only other option is Monica, and I'm pretty sure she's on a shoot until late tonight.

Sure, I can stay, Chelsea texts back. Quinn wants to call, if that's okay?

I chew on my lip and glance at the door. I desperately want to talk to my daughter — especially because there's a good chance I won't make it home until after she's asleep.

I just don't want to risk James hearing me.

Making a quick decision, I call Chelsea's phone. It's Quinn who answers.

"Hi, Mommy."

"Hey, baby girl," I say, beaming at the sound of her voice. "How was your day?"

"It was good," she says. "We painted today. And I made a new friend. Her name is Aurora."

"That's great, sweetie," I say, feeling a pang of guilt in my chest. I wish I could be there with her, watching her paint and make friends. But instead I'm stuck here, working for a boss who doesn't care about me at all.

"I miss you," she says, her voice small. "When are you coming home?"

"I'm not sure," I admit, feeling a lump form in my throat. "But I'll be home as soon as I can, okay? And when I get there, you might be asleep but I'll still come in and make sure Morris Elephant and you are comfy."

She sighs. "O-kay."

I hate the sound of disappointment in her voice. It's like a knife twisting in my gut.

I take a deep breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. "Hey, how about we make a deal?" I say. "If you go to bed on time tonight, I'll take you to the goat farm this weekend. Sound good?"

"Really?!" she squeals, and a smile spreads across my face.

"Really. Scout's honor," I say.

"Yay! Thank you, Mommy!"

I smile, feeling a little bit better. "No problem, Quinnie. Mommy loves you so much."

"I love you too," she says, and we say our goodbyes.

I hang up and take a deep breath. I can do this. I just have to get through tonight, and then I'll have the weekend with Quinn. And on Monday, I'll come up with a new way to find the information I need.

Maybe James's secretary has it. I wouldn't be surprised if Terri were the one who scheduled his doctor's visits.

Tucking my phone away, I wipe a couple tears from the corners of my eyes and head out of the bathroom.

And right into James's chest.

"Oh!" I jump back like I've been shocked. "I'm sorry."

"Everything all right?"

My jaw actually drops. Is that… concern in his voice?

He's probably just faking it. Trying to get me to trust him. Or stop me from telling everyone what an asshole he is.

"Fine." I stand a little taller.

He raises an eyebrow. "You sure? You seem a little upset."

I try to keep my guard up, but my emotions are still raw from the conversation with Quinn. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"I heard you talking on the phone."

My chest tightens. Is he trying to get me to admit something?

Hell no. I'm not playing that game.

"Do you make a habit out of listening to what's happening in the women's room?" I cross my arms.

His face falls, and it's probably the first time I've really scored a point against him. The win makes me feel so jubilant I want to jump and shout for joy.

Instead, I giggle.

Which he hates.

James's eyes darken, and I realize that I might have pushed him too far. But I can't help myself. Every time he's around, I feel like I'm suffocating.

"Is that an accusation?" His voice is low and dangerous.

I shake my head, trying to keep my laughter under control. He's trying to turn this around on me, but I won't be falling for it.

His face is still red, and he doesn't press the issue any further. Instead, he steps aside and gestures for me to go ahead of him.

"Thanks," I mutter, brushing past him.

I can feel his eyes on my back as I walk away, and it makes my skin crawl. But I don't turn around. I don't want to give him the satisfaction.

As I round the corner, I realize that the floor is quiet. Everyone else has left for the day.

It's just me and James.

Alone.

I start to pick up my pace, but James catches up. "Hold on a minute." His voice is soft, and I can feel his breath on my neck.

I freeze. What does he want now?

I turn to face him, and his eyes are intense. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to listen to your conversation. I was on my way back from the bathroom as well. It was completely unintentional."

I stare at him, trying to figure out if he's telling the truth. His expression is open, but I've learned to be wary of him.

"Why should I believe you?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly.

"Because it's the truth." He takes a step closer, and I can smell his cologne. It's a musky scent that makes my stomach flutter.

I try to shake off the feeling, reminding myself that I can't trust him. But as I look into his eyes, I see a glimmer of sincerity. Could it be possible that I've misjudged him?

I take a deep breath and nod. "Okay. I believe you."

Relief washes over his face, and he smiles. "Thank you. I know we haven't exactly had the best relationship, but I want to change that."

I raise an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

"Because we work together." He looks away, his cheeks turning pink. "I know it's probably hard to believe, but I do care about my employees."

I'm taken aback by his confession. It's hard to wrap my head around, but at the same time, I can't help but feel a flutter in my stomach.

"I know we've had our differences," he says, "but I just wanted to say that I respect you, Billie. You're a strong woman, and I admire that."

I blink a couple of times, trying to process what he's saying. Is this some sort of manipulation tactic? But his expression seems genuine.

"Thank you," I say cautiously.

He clears his throat and looks away. "Well, uh, let's get back to work, shall we?"

I follow him back to the office, feeling like I'm in the twilight zone. Everything has been flipped on its head.

And all it took was me calling him out on some bullshit. Who would have thought?

With James's back to me, I smile. Maybe working with him doesn't have to be such hell after all.