Never Date the Boss: Age Gap Instalove Romance, page 1
Never Date The Boss
Age Gap Instalove Romance
By Haley Travis
Copyright 2021 Haley Travis. All rights reserved. Edited by Rosemary Stewart. Cover Design by Lexie Renard.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted or duplicated in any form whatsoever without express written permission of the author. This book is intended for sale to adults. All main characters are over 18. This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to actual people or specific locations or details is completely coincidental, or intended fictitiously.
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***
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 ~ Charles
Chapter 2 ~ Ashley
Chapter 3 ~ Charles
Chapter 4 ~ Ashley
Chapter 5 ~ Charles
Chapter 6 ~ Ashley
Chapter 7 ~ Charles
Chapter 8 ~ Ashley
Chapter 9 ~ Charles
Chapter 10 ~ Ashley
Chapter 11 ~ Charles
Chapter 12 ~ Ashley
Chapter 13 ~ Charles
Chapter 14 ~ Ashley
Chapter 15 ~ Charles
Chapter 16 ~ Ashley
Chapter 17 ~ Charles
Chapter 18 ~ Ashley
Epilogue One ~ Charles
Epilogue Two ~ Ashley
Other Books & About the Author
Chapter 1
_____
Charles
Some days I honestly was sure that other people could hear my teeth grinding in frustration. As a senior partner at the prestigious law firm of Wentworth, Sudhir, and Carols, I knew that I should be above minor annoyances. Yet they were constant, and no matter who I hired around me, they seemed to add to my stress instead of relieving it.
Richard, my PR person, was hovering at the open door as if he were trying to drum up the nerve to enter.
“Get in here,” I barked across my huge office. “You know I hate it when people lurk.”
“Sorry, sir,” he muttered, rushing in with a tablet in his hand.
He sat in one of my black leather guest chairs opposite my giant mahogany desk. They were designed to keep people at the front edge of the seat, so they’d remember they had to leave as quickly as possible.
“I just got a call from the civic awards gala people about the casual dinner ahead of time with the major sponsors. They asked me to remind you that the event is tonight at eight. They’ve apparently sent you the invitation a few times but you didn’t respond.”
Of course I didn’t. I hated those things. I had better things to do than have strangers blow smoke up my ass.
“Get one of the other partners to do it.” My attention was divided between him and the case file on my laptop. I still had at least another hour and a half of work to do, even though it was already five pm.
Richard’s frown made him look like a lost puppy. “I’m sorry, sir, but Mr. Sudhir is getting on a plane to London as we speak, and Mr. Carols just got a call that his wife might be going into labor.”
“Get one of the juniors to do it.”
“Sir, with all due respect, the firm is already gaining a reputation for being…well, prickly. It would be extremely helpful for the optics if you could spend a few hours with them. It’s just dinner.”
I sighed heavily, staring out the window over the city. I had just sent a text to my trainer for an extra workout session in the hopes that it mightwear me out enough for a full night’s sleep before the weekend.
“Just dinner. One hour, that’s it.”
“They’ll likely expect you for three, so perhaps you could split the difference and manage to stay and chat with them for at least two?” Richard pleaded.
Even though I felt like he was always nipping at my heels about something, he was actually very good at his job and I trusted his input. “Fine. Two hours. Chatting about the weather. What else do I need to cover?”
Richard made a note on his tablet. “I’ll send you a quick list of current events and talking points. Have you seen any movies lately?”
“No.”
He frowned, scratching his nose. “Well, I’m sure your date can help with that. She can be a buffer.”
Turning, I pinned him with a look. “Date? What date?”
“Oh,” he stammered, “You have to bring a date. This is a party.”
“So?” He looked so uncomfortable that I mellowed my tone. “Please be honest, Richard. It’s one of the things I pay you for. Why can’t I go alone?”
“Sir, it would, well, soften your image to be seen in a relaxed setting. A date would help even more. They only know you from court, and your reputation.”
Holding up my hand to stop him, he seemed relieved. “I get it. Don’t think that I’m not fully aware I’m known as the king of assholes.”
“Sir, I didn’t—”
My chuckle made his shoulders relax again. “It’s fine. Where am I going to find a date on such short notice?”
“Oh.” Richard stared out the window for a moment, thinking. “You’re not seeing anyone at the moment?”
“No.” I didn’t add that it had been at least four years since I’d dated. What precious bits of time I had to myself didn’t need to be eaten up by dating anyone I wasn’t truly interested in, and nobody had caught my eye in ages.
Well, except for the gorgeous little researcher down on the seventy-fourth floor. The senior partners’ offices and the boardrooms on seventy-five had a stairwell that connected to the back offices of the firm below. I’d certainly noticed a certain pair of shapely legs running up and down.
On a few occasions, I’d even made an excuse to go down to the research department myself, just to see if she was around. Her long, thick hair was a honey-brown that gave warmth to her delicate features. Although I’d only met her eyes once, they were a soft chocolate that almost seemed to glow.
Her outfits were quite plain, almost prim, and she favored understated grays and blues. That pleased me. It meant that other men were less likely to be staring at her. I was absolutely dying to see what curves were concealed beneath those thick sweaters and straight skirts.
She was definitely dedicated to her work. I’d seen her in the office at all sorts of strange hours, usually peering at her second monitor while she typed at lightning speed. I admired her focus.
On the few occasions when I’d walked by, every other employee practically snapped to attention as they wished me a good morning. She didn’t even notice, glued to her task. How odd that I appreciated being ignored by her.
“Do you have any female friends who might stand in as your date?” Richard asked hopefully.
“No, just colleagues. Most of them are married.”
“All right. I can see what I can do,” Richard said. “But it’s short notice.”
“I have every bit of faith you’ll find someone perfect,” I said, turning back to the laptop. “If this thing starts at eight, send a car at ten to, so that we arrive ten minutes late.”
“Perfect, sir. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you, Richard.”
He practically ran from the room, and I couldn’t help shaking my head. The details that other people found important often seemed ridiculous to me.
I sent a text to my trainer to cancel my workout, then set an alarm for seven-thirty so that I could shower and change into a fresh suit. There was always a selection in the closet next to my private washroom for sudden court appearances or important meetings.
Most of my suits were equally formal, but there was something about pulling on the fresh fabric that felt like I was donning armor. Like I was preparing for battle. Being casual at a friendly dinner with a bunch of city planners and volunteers was going to be far more stressful than marching into court.
I just hoped that whoever Richard found as my date could at least chat about pop culture and fill in the bits of my conversational repertoire that were lacking. It also wouldn’t hurt if she were at least cute. Maybe then I’d remember to smile once or twice.
Chapter 2
_____
Ashley
“But…I have work to do!” I sputtered. My entire day had been spent trying to get this report polished before the morning.
I’d never even spoken to Richard, the firm’s PR expert, before. Now he wanted me to go on a date with Charles Wentworth, the most senior of the senior partners, and boss of the entire firm?
“It’s just a quick dinner,” he said with a broad smile that didn’t quite sit right on his narrow face. “Mr. Wentworth would consider it a huge personal favor.”
I’d never even spoken to the man, yet I’d certainly noticed him. It was impossible not to. He was built like one of those mid-sized football players that other women always seemed so fascinated with. Power seemed to radiate from him with every step as he strode purposefully around the entire office.
His regular features and short dark hair were jaw-droppingly handsome. Yet it was those piercing dark blue eyes that made it difficult for me to look directly at him. I’d heard people describe him as drop dead gorgeous before, and thought it was a weird turn of phrase. Yet there might be something to it: whenever Mr. Wentworth entered the room, my heart nearly stopped.
It was rude
“I can’t,” I stammered.
“If you have a boyfriend or something, I’m sure that he would forgive you for having business dinner with a work colleague, especially since it’s the boss,” he said smoothly.
He seemed so desperate that it made me feel for him.
He leaned in and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “As you may have noticed, Mr. Wentworth is a bit...reserved.” He paused. “Just between you and I, he’s too much of a hard ass for social events. Having a nice young lady with him would go a long way toward making him seem more likeable. I assure you, it will be completely professional. You’ll just be making a few rounds of small talk with him, and having a nice dinner.”
“Find someone else, please,” I begged. Richard stuck his head out into the hallway and glanced around, but I knew what he’d see. The only people left were all male, except for Mrs. Caldwell, our fifty-something receptionist who was likely on her way out the door already.
Richard dropped into my guest chair, looking defeated. I honestly felt bad for him. “I know this is awkward, and I really hate to ask, but you’d be doing us a great favor. I keep telling him that he needs to be more social, and he completely hates it. But I’ve seen him brighten up if someone else gets him chatting. It would be so helpful if you could be that catalyst.”
Staring down at my hands, I thought. I did want to help the firm, of course. Networking was important. And I knew that Mr. Wentworth would be nothing but polite and a gentleman.
‘I’ll take care of everything,” Richard said. The urgency in his voice made me feel bad that he was somehow in the position to wrangle a date for his boss. “I know a woman at a dress shop just a block away. All you have to do is go, have a pleasant dinner, and chat about things like movies, television, and light current events. Things that Mr. Wentworth doesn’t have a clue about.”
My mother had trained me well in the art of making small talk with absolutely anyone, saying it opened the doors to all sorts of opportunities. It was one of the very few positive life lessons I’d received from her. Usually, Mom was so busy catering to Dad’s every need and whim that she barely had time to teach me anything useful.
She had clearly been also trying to get me to date, but I wasn’t interested. I felt like she wanted me to have a man in my life, perhaps so that I’d move out of the house faster. For myself, I wanted to get my career off the ground first, and settled on my own. It was a great relief when I moved out and no longer had to watch the train wreck that was my parents’ maladjusted relationship.
If only I’d had a few days to prepare. I would have researched every person who would be at this dinner, and created notes of appropriate talking points for each of them. I usually researched everything into the ground. Going in with no information like this was terrifying.
Staring down at my hands, I was terribly glad I’d polished my nails last night in a fresh, pale pink. I was going to have to do this. Getting to know the boss was supposed to be a good thing, right? Even if the sight of him made my heart race and my stomach tighten.
“You won’t make me wear anything too sexy?” I asked Richard as he hovered nervously over my desk.
“No, not at all. This is a casual event – more of a business dinner. Just a simple cocktail dress.”
I was too shy to tell him that even that sounded far sexier than I was used to. This was going to be a personal challenge. But I did want to be seen as a team player.
“Okay,” I whispered hoarsely, then cleared my throat and tried again. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
“Thank you,” Richard sighed with relief, already hitting a button on his phone. “Hello, Jasmine? I’ll be there in five minutes with...” He covered the phone. “It’s Ashley, right?”
“Yes.”
Wow . If he barely knew my name, then Mr. Wentworth surely didn’t. Squaring my shoulders, I made the decision. This was going to be a career stepping stone. Although I didn’t want any favors as I worked my way up to senior researcher, a little socializing was I guess expected. Somehow, I was going to find the courage to do this.
I’d told myself that I’d make time to start dating in another few years. A business date with the boss didn’t count.
Chapter 3
_____
Charles
Standing in the office lobby, it almost felt like the high school prom all over again. It had been so long since I’d been out with a woman that it felt important, even though it was just business.
Richard had sent a text that my date would meet me right at seven-fifty, and sure enough, I heard the click of heels on the marble floor.
Turning around, it felt like I’d been punched square in the chest.
It was her.
She was a knockout, stunning. Even in the heels, she barely came up to my shoulder as she took a few graceful steps closer.
Every curve was displayed in a slim-fitting navy blue dress, and I loved that her hourglass shape was more girl next door than burlesque dancer. Her caramel hair was half pinned up to keep it out of her face, yet spilled in waves down her back. She was demurely sexy. Quietly ravishing.
The knowledge that she was precisely what I’d been looking for all my life washed over me slowly. She was perfect.
Then she looked up at me, and her warm melted chocolate eyes regarded me apprehensively. My breath tightened in my chest at the same time my cock twitched in my pants for the first time in ages.
“You’re the girl in the research department,” I blurted awkwardly.
“Yes,” she barely whispered.
I was staring at her as if she were a prize I’d just won, which was completely unprofessional. My hand extended automatically. “Charles Wentworth.”
Finally, a tiny smile. “I know who you are, sir. I’m Ashley Burke.”
Her hand felt chilly in mine, and I worried that her sleeveless dress wasn’t warm enough. Richard should have made sure she had a wrap. I couldn’t stand the thought of her being even the tiniest bit uncomfortable while having to spend an evening with me.
“The car is here,” Richard said, barreling down the hallway toward us. “Remember, smile a lot, laugh as much as is natural, and chat to every person for at least a minute or so. Have fun, you two.”
We stepped into the elevator, and as soon as the doors shut, I muttered, “I swear it amuses him to boss me around.”
Ashley looked up at me with a wider smile, which brought my focus to those perfect pink lips.
“I really appreciate you doing this,” I said. “It’s weird spending time with a total stranger like this, I know. But maybe we can find a way to have fun anyhow?”
It was impossible not to stare at the slight flash of cleavage as she released a deep breath. “Thank you so much for getting that out in the open. Yes, this is definitely weird.”
