Wreck Me (Savage Bosses)

Chapter One

Archer

The Takeover

I walk through the glass doors of Iconic Technologies with Jaqueline at my side. She’s talking, explaining details about the team, the projects, the so-called "potential." It’s all background noise. I don’t care about the names or faces, just the numbers, the deliverables. That’s what got me here, and that’s what will take me to the next place.

"Iconic has been a passion project for everyone here," Jaqueline says, her voice trailing off as she gestures to the open floor plan. Rows of desks, people staring at screens, waiting. They see me as their new leader. I’m not here to lead. I’m here to flip the switch, make this machine run faster, harder, and then walk away.

"You’ll find the team has an excellent grasp of the market," she adds, clearly hoping I’ll care. I nod because it’s expected, but the truth is, I don’t need her to sell them to me. They’ll deliver, or they won’t. I’ve done this too many times to get lost in the weeds of handholding or micromanagement.

I look around, scanning faces. Some eager, some apprehensive, all of them irrelevant. What matters is the bottom line. The tech here is solid. I made sure of that before I signed the papers. Now it’s a matter of execution. Get in, get them producing, and when the quarterly profits peak, I'm gone. Simple.

"How do you like the space?" Jaqueline asks, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts. She’s smiling, expecting me to compliment her legacy.

"It works," I say. No more, no less. This isn’t about aesthetics; it’s about efficiency. Every second we spend talking is time that could be better spent pushing forward.

We reach the end of the floor, and I see the department leads lining up to meet me. They look eager. Eagerness is good. But it’s loyalty I’m after—loyalty to results, not to me. I don’t need their admiration or their allegiance. I need their work, their ideas, their best. And once I have it, I’ll package it, put a bow on it, and move on.

Jaqueline’s voice cuts through the hum of the office as she asks, "Have you had a chance to play with the Icon-X-tech administrator board?" Her enthusiasm is almost contagious, but I keep my expression neutral. She’s excited, and I get it. Today’s her last day in this building, the last hurrah before her retirement begins. She’s leaving this place behind; I’m here to take it apart, rebuild, and move on.

I nod, a simple acknowledgment. "I’ve had a look. Everything feels similar to Epic’s system. The project management and development board operate the same way." Epic was my latest conquest. Just another company with solid tech that needed someone to make it work faster and smarter. Iconic isn’t much different.

"Great," she says, her smile widening. "If you have any questions, Grace, Tahani, Ava, Mason, or Braedon can help. They’re the bread and butter of Iconic. You’ve got brilliant ideas for growth, but treat them well, and everything will fall into place." She gestures toward the team members lined up eager to meet me, that infectious enthusiasm still in her tone. "Now, come on. Let’s go meet your new team."

Her optimism hangs in the air, but I don’t buy into it. Treat them well? That’s not the game I play. My goals aren’t achieved by handholding. These people, their skills, they’re tools in a machine. And I’m the one who decides how fast that machine runs.

Jaqueline leads me to the next office, where I find Grace. We met last week, when I outlined the company’s new direction. She got the message. Efficient, no-nonsense. That’s what I like in a team leader. We exchange a brief nod, nothing more to say. She knows what’s expected, and I trust she’ll execute.

We move on to Ava’s office. She’s standing behind a sleek, state-of-the-art computer, her focus locked on the screen. The graphic designer doesn’t look up, and I don’t interrupt. There’s nothing more valuable than someone absorbed in the task in front of them. I make a mental note. She’s productive and driven. Good. Our introduction is quick, just enough for her to know I’m here, but not enough to break her concentration. I’d rather she stays in her creative zone than waste time on pleasantries.

Next stop, Tahani’s office. I step inside and immediately notice the difference. Brighter, more vibrant than the others. A purple vase filled with faux lilacs on the desk. Decorative, unnecessary. But no Tahani. I glance around, no sign of her.

"She’s not here, so let’s move on to meet Mason. He’s a joy to work with," Jaqueline says as she heads down the hall. I’m not here for ‘joy.’ I’m here for results.

She peeks inside another office near the waiting room and calls out, “Mason?”

I follow, mentally checking boxes. Grace, solid. Ava, focused. Tahani... yet to be seen. And supposedly, I’m about to encounter joy. I don’t care about joy. I care about who’s going to deliver.

A tall, white man in his late thirties rises from his chair. I assume this is joy as he briskly strides over to Jaqueline. He takes her hand, a wide smile plastered on his face. “I wasn’t expecting you this morning, but I hoped you’d stop by. How are you, Jaqueline?”

“I’m fine, Mason. Thanks for asking. How are you?” she responds, her smile warm and familiar.

“Doing great now that I have one more chance to see you before you leave us.”

Jaqueline beams at him, clearly fond of this interaction. “Aw, thank you. It’s good to see you too.”

“How’s the husband?” Mason asks, still holding onto her hand, lingering in the moment like he’s catching up with an old friend instead of addressing his soon-to-be ex-boss.

“He’s well. I’ll tell him you asked about him,” Jaqueline replies, practically glowing with affection for the mention of her husband.

“Good, good,” Mason says, still gripping her hand in a way that’s more personal than professional. “Do you know how much you’ll be missed?”

I stand back, observing, and it doesn’t take long to size him up. Mason is a kiss-up, plain and simple. The type that survives by charm and flattery. Useful, sometimes, but not the kind of employee I bank on.

“You’re too kind. I will truly miss your charm, Mason,” Jaqueline says as she finally pulls her hand away, running it through her graying hair. “I want to introduce you to the new CEO, Mr. Gates. He’s eager to take Iconic to the next level.”

“That’s right,” I step forward, my tone all business. “I’ve heard great things about everyone, and my team is ready to jump in and pick up on the great work you’ve already been doing.” That line is calculated. I’ve used it in every takeover. Even if it’s just words, people eat up a bit of validation. But if flattery doesn’t boost productivity, there’s always a simple solution—pink slips.

Mason turns his gaze to me, extending his hand toward me for a handshake. “I’ll miss Jaqueline dearly, but I’m looking forward to seeing where you’ll take Iconic under your leadership.”

“Good,” I say, shaking his hand, but I let go before he does. He’ll learn soon enough—I’m not Jaqueline. Charm won’t get him anywhere with me. “You’ll receive an email this evening about our first team meeting.” I give a curt nod and turn, leaving no room for more idle conversation. Mason will either fall in line or fall out of the company. Either way, we’ll see who delivers when the time comes.

Jaqueline walks across the hall to speak to a younger black man, who I assume is Braedon. I follow her but stop when a remarkable sight catches my eye.

Braedon steps into the doorway, talking about something—probably the usual small talk or business updates. I nod in acknowledgment, but my attention isn’t fully on him. My eyes flick to the woman leaning over the front desk. She’s... striking. From her black heels to the way that green skirt fits perfectly over her curves. For a brief moment, I can’t help but take it in.

But then, like flipping a switch, I remind myself why I’m here. A quick swipe of my tongue over my lips, and I force my gaze back to Braedon. Whatever this momentary distraction is, it’s nothing compared to the multimillion-dollar financials waiting for me. That’s the only thing that should be occupying my mind.

“Nice to meet you, and glad to have you on my team,” I tell Braedon, keeping my tone steady and professional. It’s the same script I’ve used for years. The ‘I just took over your company, and the best is yet to come’ speech rolls off my tongue effortlessly, well-practiced and polished.

As I go through the motions, I make a deliberate choice not to look back at the woman in the green skirt. Sure, I’m curious. But letting my eyes wander again isn’t just unprofessional—it’s a weakness, and I don’t indulge in those. Not here. Not now. Especially not with someone who will be reporting directly to me in the coming months.

I refocus on Braedon as Jaqueline steps in, her usual upbeat tone cutting through my thoughts. “You’ll get an email later today about your first formal meeting with Mr. Gates,” she says, smiling as if this is a welcome event.

“I’ll be on the lookout for it,” Braedon replies with enthusiasm, maybe too much of it. He’s eager. Good. Eagerness is useful as long as it’s paired with results. And that’s what I’ll be watching for.

As Braedon steps away, giving a final nod of acknowledgment, I feel the familiar shift—the one where the conversation ends, and my mind pivots back to what’s next. There’s always something next.

Jaqueline gestures toward the hall, ready to move on to the remaining introductions, but I don’t miss the subtle glance she gives me. She caught my momentary distraction earlier. I’m sure of it. But she says nothing, just smiles. She’s professional enough to leave it at that.

We make our way back to the front desk, and this time, I allow myself the briefest glance at the woman in the green skirt. Still there, still focused on her conversation. Good. That’s the kind of employee I need—focused. As long as she is focusing on work.

Jaqueline clears her throat, pulling my attention. “Come on, let’s go meet Tahani and Contessa. Looks like they’re together at the front desk,” Jaqueline says, motioning me forward.

As we approach, I find myself silently hoping that the woman in the green skirt is Contessa. Attraction aside, it will complicate things if she turns out to be the twenty-six-year-old star software engineer. It’s better to keep that particular line uncrossed.

“Tahani, can I steal you away for a moment?” Jaqueline asks, addressing the two women at the desk.

Both of them turn toward us, and for a moment, my anticipation builds. Logic tells me that the woman behind the receptionist’s desk isn’t Tahani. It wouldn’t fit. But still, I wait for confirmation.

“Jaqueline! So good to see you again,” the woman in the green skirt says, her voice playful and teasing. “Of course, you can steal me. Are you taking me with you when you leave the company?” She pushes herself up from the desk, standing to a solid five-foot-eight, maybe taller with those heels.

As she turns to face me, I can’t ignore what’s in front of me—her silk green blouse clinging to full, round breasts. Her dark brown thighs, thick and strong, command attention as she tugs on her skirt, adjusting it smoothly without a wrinkle in sight. She’s statuesque, built in a way that’s impossible to overlook. Every inch of her is deliberate, every movement precise.

And for a second, just a brief one, I let myself take it in. Then I reel it back, remembering why I’m here.

A force I didn’t see coming pulls my focus from her body to her eyes. Dark brown, warm, with a subtle sparkle that chips away at the all-business exterior I’ve built over the years. There’s something that makes me want to know more, to peel back the layers. And then she smiles. That’s when I know I’m screwed. Absolutely, royally screwed.

Jaqueline chuckles, oblivious to the mental tug-of-war happening in my head. “I would take you with me, Tahani, but I’ll be lying on an island for the rest of my golden years. You’ve got plenty more years before you’re ready to retire. In the meantime, the software engineering world still needs you.”

She beams at Tahani like a proud parent, and Tahani offers her a modest grin, clearly flattered. “You’re right about that,” Tahani says softly, “I’m just so happy for you.”

“Thank you, dear. I’ll enjoy my retirement, but don’t worry about a thing. I’ve been by your side since you were an intern in college. You can trust me when I say I’m leaving you all in good hands.” She gestures toward me. “I’ve kept the new management under wraps, but Mr. Gates has a reputation in the tech world that speaks for itself.”

Tahani turns to me, extending a graceful hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Gates,” she says with that same smile—the one that, if I’m not careful, could be dangerous.

I take her hand, keeping my grip firm but controlled. “Likewise,” I say, my voice steady. But beneath it, there’s an edge. I’ll play the role Jaqueline expects, keep everything professional. But that smile? It’s already thrown me off balance in ways I didn’t anticipate.

Jaqueline pauses, giving me the opening to deliver the same speech I’ve regurgitated to Grace, Ava, Mason, and Braedon. It’s second nature at this point. But right now, all my energy is focused on resisting the pull to stay connected to Tahani. I release her hand, regaining my composure, reminding myself of why I’m here. She’s my new star engineer. She’ll help me rake in millions and add to my empire. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Jaqueline speaks up in my place, giving the room her usual confidence. “Mr. Gates has taken tech companies like Iconic to the Fortune 500. He’s turned them from multimillion- to multibillion-dollar enterprises. His leadership could mean wonderful things for your career,” she says, raising her brow knowingly at Tahani, offering her reassurance about the takeover.

I let the words wash over me, but then my control slips again. Against my better judgment, my eyes drift back to Tahani, roaming indiscriminately over her body, taking her in for a second and a third look. This is breaking every rule I’ve set for myself. I don’t do second looks in the office. I don’t get turned on by my employees. I don’t shit where I eat. And yet, here I am, blatantly checking her out. My mind starts wandering to places it shouldn’t, thinking about things I’d never consider doing with a subordinate... but with Tahani? It’s different. It’s dangerous.

Tahani, unaware of my internal struggle, sounds excited as she responds, “I’m going to miss you terribly, Mrs. Lewis, but that sounds amazing, and I’m up for the challenge.”

And a challenge it’s going to be, in more ways than she realizes.

I take a step around her, forcing my mind back on track. I need to introduce myself to Contessa and get on with the business at hand. The timeframe for my goal accelerates in my mind. I need Iconic moving in the right direction fast. Hit the profit targets, make the exit, move on. Staying in the presence of this woman for any longer than necessary will be a wreck waiting to happen.