Chapter 15

My eyes eventually widen as I realize I’m kissing my boss. This is not what I thought I’d be doing this weekend, let alone ten minutes ago.

But I can’t help it. I’m enchanted by this kiss. It’s so romantic and soft, and the way he protects me feels good.

Derek’s masculine scent engulfs me in a fog, and my whole body feels weak as he lets his lips fall away from mine.

Holy shit.

I want to question him almost immediately. “What was that for? I thought we were boss and subordinate!”

But no words exit from my lips. It’s as if Derek’s kiss has left me entirely speechless. What a superpower.

Natalie, for her part, bursts into tears like a toddler who’s spilled their milk. She starts wailing and talking incoherently.

I side-eye the model as she sniffs dramatically. “I’m going to terminate your contract!”

Derek doesn’t answer, but then again, he hasn’t even looked over at Natalie yet. It’s strange, this dynamic appearing before me in the form of a supermodel complaining about me.

With no reply still forthcoming, Natalie stomps her foot. “I’ll ruin your company! You’ll come crawling back to me in one day, I guarantee!”

That has Derek slowly turn to half-glance at her. Sensing she must be getting to him, Natalie continues.

“Given my status in the modeling world, I signed with you and your company at a discount! It takes only one phone call, Derek. I’ll make sure every model, every star, every clueless bastard out in the world turns against you and your company!”

He blinks as if the words being hurled in his direction don’t reach his ears.

“We’ll blackball all of you! The line of scandals will be out the door, all because you refused to save me.”

Now I’m starting to feel panic in my bones. While I love sticking it to this bitch of a person, there’s still the looming threat of my job and everyone we work with!

I still don’t even know what the hell is happening exactly. How did we get here, to this strange place?

My eyes must show the fear brewing inside because Natalie’s tears begin to slow, and her wicked smile grows. I can almost hear her laughing at my downfall.

She must be right. There’s no way I can allow any of today to affect my job. That’s what’s the most important thing to me.

As I open my mouth, ready to speak, I’m interrupted by my boss at once.

“You just need to pay the $5 million breach fee, then,” he states plainly.

Natalie raises her left eyebrow and, through confusion and tears, simply asks, “What?”

Derek turns his full attention to the model. “The breach fee, Natalie. You see, I had never said that signing a contract with you meant I’d be selling my soul.” He’s so calm and straightforward I think for a moment I’m delusional.

This time, Natalie doesn’t find a response within that mess of her mind. She looks bewildered, though, which shocks me.

“You need to wake up, Natalie. I only signed you because of our family connection. But clearly, you’d rather be vindictive and controlling.” Derek shakes his head in exhaustion.

“But you can’t just—” Natalie starts, only to be cut off by Derek raising his hand to basically silence her.

“You made the decision to put your job in jeopardy, not Esme. She has been nothing but kind to my girls and shows real compassion. If you’d taken a little bit of time to get to know her, you would have seen that.”

The supermodel’s mouth has completely unhinged, bewildered eyes proving she has no idea how she got here.

Derek, for his part, stands back up and holds his hand out to me. “Let’s get you back to your apartment, Esme.”

I stare up at the adonis-like man. His tan skin and chest muscles ripple together like an ocean wave, but his dark eyes are the one part of him I can’t seem to read.

So, without arguing or even saying a thing, I take Derek’s hand to bring me to my feet, and he walks us straight back to the elevator.

Standing in Derek’s wet robe while waiting for the elevator to return us to our floors is painstakingly awkward. We just stand next to one another, refusing to look at or even acknowledge each other.

For my part, I’m still questioning in my head what I’d stepped into by offering to help Tris and Bea and their dad. I was just there to take pictures. How had everything spiraled so fast?

“I need to apologize.” Derek’s voice surprises me, and I jump at the sound. Wait, wait, apologize?

“Sorry?” I ask.

Derek sighs, which I’m coming to learn is a common thing for him. “I’m sorry, Esme. I’d…well, I’d used you up there.”

My heart falls below my feet, which I hadn’t expected to happen. Was I hoping he had feelings for me?

Or worse, was I dumb enough not to realize he had used me?

“I hope that you can possibly pretend that nothing has happened here. I’d like to maintain our work relationship as best as we can.”

My heart sinks lower, and I’m sure by now it’s in the basement of the apartment building. But what was I really thinking? It made sense to kiss me to make Natalie jealous.

But I feel a loss inside my body now.

Acting indifferent, I nod at my boss. “Of course, Derek,” I agree.

He looks around the elevator as if someone may just appear out of nowhere after I give him my answer. “Good. Good, thank you.”

Not wanting to sit on this subject too long, I instead ask my boss the question I’ve had on my mind. “What’s the stick that’s up Natalie’s bony ass anyway?”

Derek’s eyes widen, and a genuine, quick laugh escapes him. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting that.

“Well,” he starts, clearing his throat. “Natalie is actually a distant cousin of mine. She’s always wanted to marry me, even in our younger years. She holds…I guess you could call it a strange possessiveness toward me.”

I don’t know what’s worse: Natalie wanting to marry my boss or the fact they’re actually related, and she still wanted him.

I have a thousand questions rushing through my head, but I don’t know what to say first. Derek doesn’t seem to notice the stream of thought rushing between my ears.

“And in any case, that’s why I kissed you. To get out of this…entanglement that she seems to continue enforcing.”

A means to an end, it seems. Somehow, that’s what my life has turned into through these past few weeks. All I am is just a steppingstone for other’s success.

Instead of arguing with him, I instead look up at the man before me. “You’ve helped me out at work so much. It’s only right for me to help you out while you’re in a tight spot as well.”

I see some relief flood him, but it doesn’t change the way my heart is stuck in my throat at the moment.

“Oh God,” I say suddenly, remembering what actually happened upstairs. “My phone!”

“Your phone?” Derek echoes.

“All my work data, stuff that’s been absolutely crucial for the company! My phone’s been soaked through now!”

I hold the device in front of me, having forgotten about it. I try to turn it on once, twice, and then a third time.

“Oh God, oh no, it won’t turn on, this is so bad!” I ramble on, trying every trick I can think of aside from just smashing the damn thing into the wall.

Holy shit, I’m going to get fired! All because of a jealous supermodel!