The Boss's Hideaway Baby (Billion-Dollar Babies)

1. Nathan

The door clicks shut behind the last of the suits, leaving me alone in my office with my chief operations officer. Corey plops down in the chair across from my desk and loosens his tie.

“Well, that went better than expected,” he says. “The board was eating out of your hand by the end. That skyscraper’s as good as approved.”

I nod, barely listening as I straighten the stacks of paper on my desk. My mind is still buzzing with building plans and design concepts.

Years of hard work have gone into this moment, and to say that I’m proud of myself would be an understatement. When I started my real estate development company, I certainly dreamed of being where I am today — in this skyscraper office overlooking New York City — but I never knew whether I’d meet the goal or not.

And now here I am. At the pinnacle.

I’m about to erect one of the tallest buildings this city has ever seen. I’m about to shape the skyline, leaving a lasting mark on this concrete jungle. The weight of responsibility settles on my shoulders, but I embrace it, fueled by passion and a relentless drive for success.

A smile pulls at my lips. Honestly, the success is almost a letdown, as I’m not sure where to go from here. It seems I’ve already reached the top.

Corey leans forward. “So, are you excited for the gala tonight or what?”

“Hmm?” I press the button on my coffeemaker. “Want a latte?”

“No, thanks.” He grabs a fidget toy from the coffee table. “Did you hear what I just said? The fundraiser gala. For your charity.” He laughs.

I glance up at Corey, my mind still preoccupied with thoughts of my towering achievement. The fundraiser gala for my charity…

How could I have forgotten? An event of such significance should have been at the forefront of my thoughts, but sometimes my single-minded focus on my real estate empire momentarily eclipses any other concerns.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Rubbing elbows with the city’s elite is about as appealing as a root canal, but my COO, just like me, knows it’s part of the job.

“Yeah, should be a great time,” I say flatly.

He chuckles. “You’re a terrible liar, Nathan. But at least there will be a full bar to get us through.”

I force a smile. The things I do for the things I love.

Through the glass wall of my office, I see my assistant Maria tidying up her desk. She tucks a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear and wipes down a picture frame.

Maria has been with me for the last year, and I’ve never had an assistant with a work ethic like hers. Day in, day out, it’s like she anticipates my needs before I even know what they are.

She’s a little different from everyone else here, but that’s kind of what I like about her. For example, the picture on her desk isn’t of a friend of family member. Nope. It’s of some anime character.

Not that I care. The girl can look at whatever she wants to all day long, so long as she does her job right.

She glances up, meeting my gaze, and warmth rushes into my cheeks. I quickly avert my eyes.

Maria is beautiful, but there’s something more to her beauty than just physical appearance. It’s the way her eyes light up when she talks about her passions, the way she always carries herself with confidence and grace. There’s a spark in her that sets her apart from the rest.

Not that I spend much time thinking about her. She is my assistant, after all. It would be improper for me to dwell on her too much.

I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure.

“We should go to the Bahamas after the deal closes,” Corey is saying.

“Sure.” My latte done, I take a sip and lean my shoulder against the wall. It’s been a while since I’ve had a vacation, and I can take a few days off.

Well… maybe two. I can take two days off.

If I bring some work with me.

Any longer than two days with some productivity sprinkled in and I might go insane.

As I entertain the idea of a short vacation, my eyes unintentionally wander back to Maria. She’s still at her desk, a thoughtful expression on her face as she types something on her keyboard. It’s moments like these that make me wonder what goes on in her mind. What are her dreams? What are her aspirations in life?

Surely she can’t want to be an assistant her whole working career — although being my assistant is a great job to have. Not only does it pay better than most assistant jobs at other companies; it comes with every benefit possible.

But it’s not exactly a creative, fulfilling job. So what more does she want? Who is she outside of our office?

I know I shouldn’t be asking these questions, but I find myself drawn to her aura, like a moth to a flame.

Corey’s voice pulls me back to reality. “So, what do you think?” he asks, snapping his fingers in front of my face. “Bahamas, right?”

I blink a few times, trying to refocus my attention on the conversation at hand. “Yeah, Bahamas sounds good,” I reply absentmindedly.

“You, me, Michelle…” He trails off. “Anyone you would want to bring?”

“Probably not.” I pour a sachet of brown sugar into my latte and stir it.

“Michelle can’t wait to meet you,” he says, lighting up at the mention of his girlfriend.

Corey and I have been tight since college, and I’ve never seen him as happy as he’s been the last three months, since Michelle came into his life. He met her at an industry event, and they instantly hit it off. She’s everything he’s ever wanted in a partner — smart, funny, and drop-dead gorgeous. And I’m genuinely happy for him.

“Yeah, I’m really excited to meet her too,” I say, trying to match Corey’s enthusiasm. “She sounds amazing.”

“We’re going to lounge on the beach all day, party all night,” he says wistfully. “You should come. When’s the last time you took a vacation, anyway?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I’m pretty busy here.”

Corey shakes his head. “You can’t work twenty-four seven, man. You need to relax, have some fun. Maybe even meet someone.” He waggles his eyebrows suggestively.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes again. This isn’t the first time he’s nudged me about my perpetual single status.

“I date,” I say.

He laughs and shakes his head, and I have to grin as well. We both know that the dates I go on are mostly just for show.

“But what about romance?” he pushes. “What about?—”

“Sex?”

“Obviously.” He leans forward. “But I was going to say a connection. Don’t you want that with someone?”

“I’m just not interested in that right now.” I look away.

It’s not exactly a lie. My company has been my top priority for years. But if I’m being honest, it’s more than just work keeping me from relationships. After seeing my parents’ disaster of a marriage, I’m wary about getting into anything even remotely resembling that. Easier to keep things superficial.

Corey sighs. “You can’t be married to your job forever. One of these days you’ll meet the right girl and change your tune.”

I just nod absently, my gaze drifting again to Maria. Maybe Corey has a point, but I brush the thought aside. I’m not cut out for romantic entanglements.

“Anyway, I better start getting ready for this thing,” Corey says, standing up and straightening his tie. “See you there.”

I watch as he strides out of my office, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I take another sip of my latte and let out a deep sigh. Relationships are just too much effort, and I have enough on my plate already.

Finally alone, I sit down and focus on work. Within minutes I’m sucked in, answering emails and making quick decisions like the pro I am.

Until my phone rings and breaks my stride.

I hit the button to answer Maria’s call. “Yes?”

“Sir, Anna is here for you.”

I frown at the clock. Is it the end of the workday already?

Nope. It’s only four. So what is my date for tonight doing here so early?

“Send her in,” I say, and hang up.

Anna walks in with a smile on her face, and I try to return it as naturally as possible. Her long, brown hair falls in loose curls down her back, and she’s wearing a form-fitting red dress that hugs her curves in all the right places.

“Hey,” she says. “I hope it’s okay that I came early.”

“Of course,” I reply, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” she says, her smile faltering a bit. “I just wanted to talk to you about something.”

I feel a knot of anxiety form in my stomach. This can’t be good.

“Sure, what’s up?” I ask, trying to sound casual.

We’ve been on a handful of polite dates over the past couple months, but there’s no real spark between us. I know she wants more, though. It’s in the way she looks at me and touches my arm when she laughs.

Anna takes a deep breath and looks down at her hands. “I needed to talk to you before we go tonight and just find out… what page we’re on. Where do you see this relationship going? We’ve been seeing each other for a while now, and you haven’t even kissed me.”

I sigh. Shit. Here we go again. I’m going to need to explain to her that I’m just not interested in a relationship. It’ll suck. She’ll be hurt, maybe even pissed.

“Look, you’re great,” I begin carefully. “But I think we want different things here. I’m just not looking for anything serious right now.”

Anna’s face falls, and I can see the disappointment in her eyes. “Oh,” she says softly. “I see.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, feeling like a complete asshole. “I should have been more upfront about my intentions from the beginning.”

Anna nods slowly, still not meeting my gaze. “I just wish you had told me sooner.”

“I know,” I say, feeling guilty. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

Anna looks up at me then, and I can see the tears glistening in her eyes. “It’s not fair,” she says, her voice choked with emotion. “I really like you, and I thought you liked me too.”

“I do like you,” I say, feeling a pang of regret. “But I’m just not ready for anything serious right now.”

Or ever.

Anna nods again, wiping away a tear with the back of her hand. “I understand,” she says softly.

I can see the pain etched across her face, and I feel terrible. I don’t want to hurt her, but I also can’t force myself to feel something that isn’t there.

“I’m sorry,” I say again, feeling my own eyes starting to water. “I don’t want to be the bad guy here, but I also don’t want to lead you on.”

Anna nods again. “I get it,” she says, her voice flat. “I think I should go.”

With glistening eyes, she leaves without another word. I instantly feel like a jerk. She didn’t deserve to be strung along.

As the door clicks shut behind her, I lean back in my chair. Why do I keep sabotaging any shot at a real connection?

I hate hurting people, but I also hate the idea of settling down. I’m not ready for that kind of commitment, and I don’t know if I ever will be. Maybe deep down I don’t believe I’m capable of intimacy. That I’ll only end up disappointing whomever I’m with, just like my parents disappointed each other.

I run a hand through my hair in frustration. Another burned bridge. Story of my life.

Unfortunately, now I’m dateless for tonight.

I could go on an app, but word about that would get out, and I can’t afford to look desperate. So, then, what do I do? Call a matchmaker?

No. That would provide the same problem…

I need a woman who is eye-catching and polite. Someone who would enjoy an evening with me but also wouldn’t expect anything beyond that, as I don’t want to hurt yet another woman the way I just did Anna.

And, for bonus points, I need someone I can trust.

But where will I meet someone like that within the next few hours?

I sigh, ready to throw in the towel and just show up to the gala alone, when my eyes fall on Maria’s back. She’s diligently working at her desk, posture perfect and earbuds in.

And, just like that, my problem is solved.