Wreck Me (Savage Bosses)

Chapter Three

Archer

Focus

With a new day comes new challenges. I walk down the hall, the rhythmic tapping of keyboards and low murmur of conversations filling the air. It’s the sound of progress—exactly what I expect from my team. Each step forward means more profit, more control. The urge to loosen my tie hits as I approach Tahani’s door, but I suppress it. I have to stay focused.

She’s there, perfectly moisturized dark skin, midnight black hair cascading over her shoulders, typing furiously. Her arched brows are knit in concentration, and every keystroke, every movement, reminds me of her precision, her drive. It’s what I need from her, nothing more. I tell myself that, but my eyes betray me, lingering on her for just a second too long.

Focus.

The past week has been torture. Her presence, her intelligence, the way she owns a room when she speaks makes me second-guess every rule I’ve set for myself. I’m drawn to her ambition, her relentless drive, the fire in her eyes when she argues a point in a meeting. And then there’s the way she bites her lip when she’s deep in thought, unaware of how much it pulls at me. It’s everything I admire in a person, everything that I can’t allow myself to want.

She’s exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

And exactly what I can’t have.

“Are you still available for our one o’clock meeting?” I ask, cutting through the intense focus she has on her screen.

She glances at the clock and mutters, “Oh, shoot. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Okay. See you then,” I reply, my words steady, though my mind is anything but. The mocha-skinned beauty sitting only feet away has been occupying too much space in my head lately. I force myself to turn and head back to my office.

Once inside, I try to shake the tension that’s been building, but the clock ticks far too slowly, each second dragging. My leg bounces with nervous energy, an unfamiliar feeling. I’ve conducted thousands of one-on-one meetings, but this one feels different. Wrong, almost. It’s not the meeting that has me off-balance. It’s her. I tell myself; I’ve never let lust interfere with a takeover, and I’m not starting now.

A soft knock at the door interrupts my thoughts.

I stand, straightening my tie, masking the chaos underneath. “Come in.”

The door opens, and in steps Tahani. Her silk blouse clings in all the right places, her skirt hugging her hips just enough before falling to her knees. It shows just enough to make my mind wander, despite every effort I’ve made to keep it in check. Her eyes meet mine, dark and unreadable, but there’s a flicker there, something knowing. The corner of her mouth lifts in a slight, almost teasing smile.

“Good morning, Mr. Gates. Ready to get started?” Her voice is smooth, low, like honey dripping slow and steady.

I nod, keeping my face neutral, though inside, my control is slipping. “Let’s begin.” Attempting to regain control, I swallow hard and gesture to the chair across from my desk. "Please have a seat, Miss Stevens." My voice comes out thicker, huskier than I intended.

She moves gracefully, and as she passes, the sweet and intoxicating scent of her perfume wraps around me. Tahani crosses her legs slowly as she sits, her skirt tightening against her thighs. I force my eyes upward, but the heat between us is undeniable. This is going to be a long meeting.

I clear my throat and open the file in front of me, focusing on the task at hand. "So, let's discuss the updates for Wilford Industries," I begin, but my voice falters slightly as she leans forward, her blouse dipping enough to give me a glimpse of her cleavage.

She nods, completely composed, seemingly oblivious to the tension swirling around inside my head, spurring every nerve ending in my body to life. "Of course. I have some thoughts on optimizing performance." Her tone is professional, but the close and inviting way she’s positioned herself wreaks havoc on my concentration.

I do my best to focus on the papers, but my eyes keep drifting back to her lips as she speaks. Full and soft, moving with precision as she outlines the technical refinements. The brilliance of her ideas should have me impressed, should have me locked into the conversation, but my mind is already wandering to the way her lips might feel against mine.

"The integration with the existing backend needs refinement," she continues, her focus entirely on the project. "I’d recommend utilizing asynchronous processes for improved scalability."

"Right, that makes sense," I reply, but I’m barely listening. My gaze lingers on the curve of her neck. The thought of kissing her there, tracing a path down her collarbone, ignites a fire in me I’m struggling to control.

Tahani tilts her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Is everything okay, Mr. Gates?" she asks, sensing my distraction.

I clear my throat, forcing myself to refocus. "Yes, of course. Just thinking through your suggestions." I sit up straighter, trying to regain some semblance of control. "Please, go on."

Her lips curl into a knowing smile, her eyes flashing with something that tightens the air between us. She continues talking about the code changes, but I’m barely holding on. When her fingers graze mine as she gestures to a line on the document, a spark shoots through me—intense, immediate. I freeze, and our eyes meet.

The room feels charged, electric. Her lips part slightly, and I catch the subtle change in her breathing. Being this close to her is torture, but I can’t pull away. I turn my attention back to the paperwork, though it’s a hollow attempt. My mind is already racing, thinking of the feel of her skin, the sound of her breath if I were to get any closer.

I clear my throat again, struggling to stay professional. "I rarely give compliments," I say, my voice rougher than usual, "but you've clearly put a lot of thought into optimizing performance. I'm impressed."

"Thank you," she replies, her voice softening. "I take pride in my work. But it’s not without its challenges."

I hear the sigh in her voice and sense an opening to connect on a deeper level. "How so?" I ask, genuinely curious despite myself.

"The long hours, the pressure," she admits, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her voice. "Keeping up with my existing clients while trying to deliver Zeenith... sometimes it feels like this job is all I have time for." She pauses, as if surprised by her own honesty.

"I understand completely," I say, surprising even myself with the rawness of my tone. "My work is my life, too. It can get... lonely."

Our eyes lock again, and the energy between us shifts. For a moment, we're not just boss and employee. We’re two people who understand the isolation that comes with ambition, the hunger for something more real than work.

A knock at the door shatters the moment.

Regina pokes her head in. "Sorry, sir, your next meeting is starting. I have them on line two."

I stand abruptly, needing to regain some control over the situation. "We’ll have to pick this up later," I say to Tahani, my voice strained with the effort of pulling myself back.

She nods, standing slowly, her hand smoothing the curve of her skirt. "Sure, just let me know when you want to meet again."

I nod, but the mystery swirling in her dark eyes makes it hard to focus on anything else. Every fiber of my being wants to close the space between us, to feel her body pressed against mine, her lips on my skin. But I shove the thought away, locking it down where it belongs. "Of course. We’ll continue our conversation later today, if you're available."

She meets my gaze, and there’s something flickering behind those dark eyes—desire, maybe even a hint of a challenge. "You’re the boss, so just say when."

That line hits me like a punch to the gut, and my slacks tighten as the implication sinks in. After she walks out, I sink into my chair, letting out a long, frustrated sigh.

I came here to turn this business into a multibillion-dollar enterprise, to push it to its fullest potential. I didn’t come here to fall for an employee. But Tahani… without even trying, she’s ignited something in me I’ve never felt before. Something raw. Something real.

It’s dangerous. Pursuing this could destroy us both. We’re boss and employee—it can’t go any further than this. I let out a deep breath, trying to gather the last bit of resolve I have left. No matter what I feel, I have to keep this professional.

For now.