Wreck Me (Savage Bosses)

Chapter Five

Archer

Shaky Ground

Contessa makes it in at seven sharp, as usual, with breakfast from Starbucks. Her assistance has been invaluable, giving Regina more time to work with me on driving new business. I appreciate everything running like clockwork.

I can’t help but notice the exact moment Tahani arrives. I hear her and Contessa talking and laughing, their voices carrying through the halls. There’s a lightness to their exchange that almost pulls a smile from me. Almost. I fight the urge, keeping my focus on the screen in front of me, but it’s harder than it should be.

The soft sound of Tahani’s footsteps as she makes her way to her office reaches me, and for reasons I’d rather not admit, it lifts my mood. The realization hits hard; I’m affected by her presence. She doesn’t even have to be in the same room. Just knowing she’s near… it does something to me.

I run a hand down my face, trying to shake off the thought. There’s no way I’m feeling anything for Tahani. I barely know her. She’s my employee. And the rules— don’t mix business with pleasure, don’t shit where you eat —the mantras I’ve been repeating since day one here, none of them seem to stick anymore. I’ve been telling myself the same things for weeks, but it’s like trying to hold back the tide. Useless.

A soft knock on my already open door pulls me from my thoughts. Tahani stands there, dressed in a long-sleeved, loose-fitting dress that falls well below her knees. Modest. Professional. But the loose clothing does nothing to diminish the way I look at her. The way my body reacts to her.

I’ve made it a point to keep our relationship strictly professional, even going so far as to implement a new dress code. But here she is, and all I can think is that clothes don’t matter. It’s not about what she’s wearing. It’s something about her.

Something I can’t seem to ignore.

“Come in.”

Tahani steps into my office, her presence commanding more of my attention than I’m willing to admit. “Mr. Gates, good morning. I have something I need to run by you.”

She explains the recurring issue she’s been facing with Zeenith, and we spend the next hour working through different iterations. As the problem finally resolves, I notice the look of satisfaction on her face—her beam of excitement is hard to miss.

“I know you have a reputation for being a great businessman, but I didn’t know you were this good at code,” she says, her smile lighting up the room.

“Oh, what a shot to the ego.” I place a hand over my chest, pretending to be wounded. It’s a cheap joke, but her laughter is worth it. And that’s when I see it—a small dimple in her cheek, faint but adorable. How had I missed that before?

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she laughs, her voice softening the tension in the air.

“It’s fine. There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.” The words slip out before I can stop them, more comfortable and familiar than I intended. Realizing the conversation is drifting into dangerous territory, I shift gears. “You have a heavy workload, and you don’t want to get too far off schedule. What are you working on next?” I ask, pulling us both back to reality.

“You’re right. I have a lot to do. I plan to finalize Zeenith today and get it in for peer review.” She stands, her scent—roses and peonies—lingering in the room as she walks out. “I should go.”

I fight against the physical reaction her presence always seems to provoke. She’s not mine to want. I remind myself. She’s my employee. But that reasoning does nothing for the situation happening under my desk. I shift uncomfortably in my chair, trying to will my body into submission.

Before I can fully recover, Contessa buzzes in. “Sir, I have ordered dinner for this evening. It will arrive at seven.”

“Won’t you be here then?” I ask, a little more irritated than I should be. I don’t care about dinner. I care about the fact that Tahani just left, and I already want her back in this office, filling the space with her energy.

“No, sir. I won’t be here. I get off at five p.m.,” Contessa replies, sounding a bit taken aback.

I scoff. “No one is leaving at five p.m. We’re on mandatory overtime for the next two weeks. Did Grace approve you leaving early today?”

Contessa huffs, clearly annoyed. “I didn’t ask for approval because I have an appointment that’s been planned for months.”

“You’ll have to reschedule it. Overtime is mandatory for the entire team,” I say, my tone final.

Her frustration is obvious now. “I will have all of my work done by five. No clients are coming in after five. We should be fine without me.”

I sit back, my irritation growing. Contessa’s defiance might normally warrant a more measured response, but I’m already frustrated. “I have things for you to do after five p.m., so plan to stay.”

“I can’t, but I’ll work overtime tomorrow,” she replies casually, almost dismissively.

“If you leave early that’s grounds for termination,” I warn, my voice sharp.

“Okay,” she says, hanging up.

I hope she’s reconsidering. We’re in an all-hands-on-deck situation right now, and I can’t afford anyone to drop the ball.

After another meeting, I head to lunch. When I walk back out to the front office shortly after five, I notice that Contessa is gone. Not just gone; her desk is cleared out.

Annoyance flares as I step into Tahani’s office. The familiar scent of her perfume greets me, clean and crisp with a subtle allure that’s as disarming as she is.

“Hello, Mr. Gates,” she says, her eyes meeting mine steadily.

“Did Contessa leave for the day?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

“Yes,” she replies, her voice tinged with something I can’t quite place. “She said today would be her last day.” I catch a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, disappointment directed at me.

I grip my tablet tightly, keeping my voice level. "I’ll call and speak with her tomorrow.”

Tahani leans back slightly, her gaze unwavering. “She was very upset,” she adds, as if testing me.

I sigh deeply, the long, busy day settling over me. “I was very clear with the entire team. Overtime is mandatory until further notice.”

Tahani shrugs, though her disappointment lingers. “Her prior plans should have been taken into consideration.”

“Like I said, I’ll handle it tomorrow,” I reply, my tone firm, signaling that the conversation about Contessa is over. “But I need to discuss the Wilford Industries project with you now. Are you free?”

She glances at her screen, then back at me, her voice tight with a hint of defiance. “Sure. It’s not like I was doing anything.”

I lean forward slightly, my eyes locking on hers. “Tahani,” I say, my voice low but commanding, “I know you’re always busy. Don’t waste my time pretending otherwise.”

Her posture shifts, and for a brief second, I see the flicker of realization that I’m not just anyone— I’m her boss . Her lips press into a line as she straightens in her chair.

She gestures to the chair across from her, and as I sit, our knees brush under the desk. The contact sends a jolt through me, sharp and immediate. I shift back quickly, forcing myself to focus. Get it together, Archer.

We dive into the proposal review, with Tahani leading the discussion. Her melodic and measured voice pulls me in, but it’s more than just her voice. The way she gestures with her hands, the intensity in her eyes as she talks... It’s captivating.

As we debate strategy, I’m struck by her brilliance. She’s not afraid to challenge me, pushing back on my ideas with a confidence that few dare. It’s bold, and it’s damn attractive. My respect for her grows with every point she makes, and so does my desire.

Focus. I tell myself again, but it’s hard when her every move, every word, draws me deeper. She’s beautiful, smart, everything a man could want. And she knows it.

Our hands brush against the paperwork, just for a moment, but it’s enough. The brief contact sends another rush through me, and I notice the way her cheeks flush. Her breath hitches, and for a split second, we’re not boss and employee. We’re two people caught in something neither of us is ready to admit.

Inside, I’m unraveling. I want to sweep the papers off her desk, close the distance between us, and... No. I can’t do that. Not here. Not now.

But the temptation is stronger than ever, and I can feel myself slipping. This partnership is too important to mess up. But damn it, she makes it hard to remember that.

Somehow, I make it through the meeting with my composure intact. Barely. As we wrap up, Tahani smiles warmly, the kind of smile that lingers. "I appreciate you hearing me out, Mr. Gates. I think this will be a great update for Wilford, and it’ll create a new revenue stream."

Her praise sends a thrill through me, one I try hard to ignore. Focusing is damn near impossible when she looks at me the way she’s looking at me.

"I’m sure we’ll break barriers in the market. I’ll be in touch for updates soon," I reply, keeping my tone neutral before leaving her office.

Once inside my own, I shut the door and lean against it, exhaling deeply. That woman unravels me in ways I’ve never experienced before. I’ve always been the one in control—cool, collected, untouchable. But Tahani burns right through my defenses like they don’t even exist.

With her, it’s different. I can feel something stirring in my belly that I’ve never allowed before. She doesn’t see me as just another ruthless businessman, here to take over and throw my weight around. She looks deeper, beyond the arrogance and the power plays. She sees the ambitious man within. She understands the drive, the hunger for success, and respects it.

And that’s what makes this dangerous. Her strength and passion mirror my own, igniting something in me I didn’t even know I wanted. She makes me imagine things I’ve never thought possible—love, passion, letting someone inside my walls.

She’s wrecking every inhibition I’ve built, without even trying… and that’s what scares me the most. I’m losing control—something I swore would never happen.