Stranded for Christmas with my Boss (Forbidden Billionaire Boss Daddies)

13. Alyssa

Chapter thirteen

Alyssa

D istress rattles my chest with every breath as I stride into work, holding my white winter coat tight around my body to fight the chill outside. Each step toward the elevator feels heavier than the last.

I should be focused on my job—focused on proving myself here—but all I can think about is the man waiting upstairs. The man I promised myself I wouldn’t fall for—but already have.

The towering Christmas tree with a golden glow. The garland adorning the front of the receptionist’s desk. The potted poinsettias in every corner.

I think it’s safe to say that my Christmas spirit has dwindled down significantly. How can I focus on being holly and jolly when my parents and I are going to be broke?

My teeth press into my bottom lip as I wait for the elevator doors to slide open, nervously chewing as my mind races. Most of my parents’ monthly bills have already been taken care of, but none of us were preparing for a huge cost like their only car needing repairs!

We’re barely digging ourselves out of the medical debt hole. We haven’t had enough money left over to have much of an emergency fund, so the repairs will be coming out of our pockets. Not that my pockets are all that lined with cash right now.

I don’t get my next paycheck until next week, and I’ve already spent most of the last one on bills and necessities.

I step into the elevator when the doors finally open, my brow furrowing as another worry hits me like a punch. Yes, another worry. I can’t only have one at a time, right?

Life doesn’t work that way.

My parents’ car is in the shop, which means they have no way to get anywhere they need to go, like doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, and any other errand that is necessary for them to run. The older they get, the more important their errands are.

An uneven breath drifts from me as I watch the red, digital numbers count upward as the elevator zips along. What the hell am I going to say to Jensen? I completely skipped out on work yesterday without warning or explanation.

I suppose the truth will suffice, but what if he’s still pissed?

As soon as the doors glide open, I hurry out, determined to get my explanation to Jensen out of the way so that I can get to work. I need full paychecks from here on out. I can’t risk stiffing myself.

“Alyssa.”

I jolt to a stop as Austin steps out of his office ahead of me. I plaster a polite smile onto my face and nod a greeting to him. “Oh, hello. Can I help you with anything?”

Austin motions for me to follow him into his office.

A pang of anxiety hits me in the stomach, nearly sending me running back to the elevator. I’ve barely even talked to the guy. What does he want from me?

Oh, no. What if he’s firing me because Jensen doesn’t even want to see me?

The worst scenarios possible filter through my mind as I step into Austin’s office, my heart pounding as he cracks the door behind me. “Did I do something wrong? I have an explanation for why I left yesterday.”

Austin waves his hand dismissively as he approaches me. He glances toward the door before clearing his throat, seeming unsure of how to say what he wants to say. “I talked to Jensen about this yesterday, but…I know about the two of you.”

My heart stops so suddenly that it knocks the breath out of my lungs. “What? What do you mean?”

“I know that you’ve slept together,” Austin states, his voice coming out way firmer than my shaky words. “I’m sure you know that’s strictly against company policy, but it’s not just your fault. Jensen shouldn’t have approached you in that manner at all. He’s your boss. He needs to set a professional precedent.”

This can’t be happening. No, no, no. This has to be some sort of mortifying nightmare that conjures up my worst fears.

“I…I’m so sorry,” I say as I lower my eyes, unable to even look at him directly as my face burns bright red with embarrassment. How the hell did he even find out?

It doesn’t even matter. I shouldn’t have been sleeping with my boss in the first place! What if I get fired or blacklisted? A reputation for inappropriate behavior will ruin my chances of getting a great job in this city.

“It won’t happen again. I know what I did was wrong.” I continue my groveling, hoping that he won’t punish me as severely as I probably deserve.

Austin eyes me for a few seconds, determining the sincerity of my pleading words. He finally sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose like he’s stressed out. I suppose he has something to lose as well if things go wrong. It’s his company too, after all.

“All right, all right. Just…don’t do it again. Focus on your work. The January update will be here before we know it.”

I nod, my body remaining stiff as he stares me down. “I will. I mean, I won’t do it again, but I will focus on my work.”

O-M-G. Shut up!

Austin opens his door all the way and nods toward the hallway. “Keep this between us, okay?”

“Okay.” I zip out of his office before he can change his mind, my eyes starting to burn as my embarrassment doubles. It feels like I’ve been chastised in the principal’s office, but this is way worse.

I rapidly blink my eyes and keep them cast down toward the floor as I head down the hallway, not wanting anyone to see me in this state. My breaths quicken as my anxiety grips me, making tears fill the bottom of my eyes. I cannot lose it in the middle of the hallway!

I swallow hard and look up to see Jensen walking toward me, my breath stopping. I’m not ready for this. I can’t talk to him right now, especially after getting in trouble with his best friend because we were sleeping together!

Keeping my head down, I try to slip past him to hide in the women’s restroom or whatever empty room that I can find, but he steps to the side and blocks my path.

“Alyssa, what’s going on with you?”

His voice makes my face flush even hotter, all of my worries clouding my mind in an overwhelming storm of noise. “I need…I can’t…”

Jensen takes hold of my arm and drags me to the left, bringing me into an empty meeting room and shutting the door behind us. He turns to me as I slip out of his grip. “What’s wrong? We’re not leaving this room until you level with me.”

I part my lips to scoff at him, but a sob comes out instead. I slap my hand over my mouth, but the dam has already burst. Tears roll down my cheeks as I lower my head, my burning eyes squeezing shut.

Jensen freezes as I suddenly break down in front of him. “Woah, woah. Did I upset you yesterday?”

I sniffle and shake my head, dropping my hand to my chest to try and calm my rapid breaths. My head aches as I attempt to blink away my tears, half of my strength leaving my body. I’ve been so tired since yesterday.

My talk with Austin was the icing on top of this mess.

“I don’t even know where to start. So much shit has happened,” I say as I hastily wipe away my tears.

“Why did you leave yesterday?”

I guess that’s a good place to start.

“My parents got in a car accident. I had to go make sure they were okay,” I explain, my words coming out at a quickening pace. “And their car needs so many expensive repairs because some guy ran a light and hit them. They’re getting older, so I’ve been helping them financially with my paychecks. But we obviously didn’t see this huge expense coming!”

“Hold on. Hold on. Breathe,” Jensen urges me as he takes my shaky hands in his, squeezing them firmly enough to ground me.

I suck in a deep breath until I don’t feel lightheaded anymore. I blink through my tears and shake my head, fighting down the sob that keeps trying to rise up my throat. “I just didn’t expect this. No one does, but…I’m just trying to get them out of medical debt. I can only handle so many things at a time, and Austin also talked to me this morning.”

Jensen’s brow furrows in confusion. “Austin? What did he say?”

I lift my eyes to his, an expression of shame filling my flushed face. “He knows about us. He told me that he already talked to you about it.”

Jensen’s shoulders drop as he sighs. “Yeah, he did. He won’t say anything to anyone.”

“That’s not the point. I promised him that nothing else is going to happen between us. It puts us both at risk,” I tell him before looking down at our joined hands. Even this is wrong, but it’s the only thing keeping me somewhat steady.

“Look, I don’t want you worrying about anything else, okay?” Jensen says with a stern look on his face as he steps closer to me. “You have too much on your plate. Do you want to take the day off?”

His surprising kindness tugs on my heart so much that tears well up in my eyes again. I look away from him and trap my trembling bottom lip under my teeth, wishing I could stop myself from falling apart.

This is what I get for not getting my emotional breakdown out of the way last night after leaving my parents’ house.

When I don’t answer because I’m struggling to withhold another sob, Jensen lets go of my hands. At first, I think he’s going to ditch me and wait for me to gather myself before having a levelheaded conversation with me. Instead, his strong arms wind around my body, drawing me against his.

My eyes widen as his warmth envelops me. Austin’s words slice into my mind, reminding me that this is completely forbidden. Even something as simple as a hug.

Yet, I can’t bring myself to pull away. Something about being held, especially by a man who has made me feel such a range of emotions, breaks down every wall I have left. My composure shatters, prompting me to shove my face against his chest as more tears leak from my eyes.

I just need to steal this one moment with him. One moment where I can forget he’s my boss, and I can just see him as a guy who I can briefly trust with my fragile heart. That’s all I need to get me through today.

Jensen rests his hand on the back of my head, cradling me close in a motion that steals my breath away. It’s so…unexpected coming from a man who can be so rigid and cold emotionally.

But it’s not unwanted.

Far from it.