Seduced by My Billionaire Boss: The Billionaire Boss Series, #3

By Sierra Rose

This is Part 3. (The conclusion of this series) 

18+ due to sexual situations.

Jenna tries to move on with the breakup between her and Tom. She refuses to quit her job and move somewhere else. Both have agreed to maintain a working relationship in the office. But it's so damn hard seeing his handsome face every day, and thinking about what could've been. She stays professional at work and even gets a new male best friend. As she begins to bond with Eric, Tom gets more and more jealous. Can Jenna fix her life and move on? Can she put the past behind her? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dark Shadows Publishing
• Release date: Dec 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519990389

Book preview

Chapter 1

YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE or when you’ll find love...or when it might find you! And I found it, or I thought I did when I crossed the line big time and slept with my billionaire boss. What a huge taboo. A subordinate dating their boss is always a poor idea. And I knew that. It was risky business. But I swear my feelings felt real, so wonderfully and undeniably real. Tom was super smart, funny, and extremely adorable. He was everything I could ever want in a boyfriend. The romantic in me wanted to believe love conquers all, so to hell with the consequences.

I took the leap of faith. What a recipe for disaster. How very naïve of me, huh? I was devastated, sad, hurt, and disappointed.

More questions plagued me. How could I continue working for somebody who dumped me? No, I wasn’t being chased away. I loved this job more than anything. I fit in here. I did a great job. I was likable. I put out solid work, avoided office politics and gossip, and accepted criticism well.

Dating the boss was a bad idea for my career. And I knew that, but I was in in awe of my boss. I’d actually seen the guy in magazine articles and on television. And I even felt like the luckiest woman alive when he picked me out of all the women who fought for his attention. Talk about a huge ego boost. I always wondered why he chose me. Was it because I was forbidden fruit? Or maybe it was the adrenaline rush from breaking the rules. He lavished me with a world I never knew, from excessive spending and fine dining to expensive gifts and fancy country clubs. And then there was the sizzling attraction and undeniable passion. 

Tom and I had the perfect office romance...until one day, well, we didn’t. I wasn’t sure how I was suddenly swept away. Now I was lifting my head up off the floor. Wounded pride aside, my knight in shining armor had picked work over me. CEO or Jenna? It was an obvious choice. I wasn’t worth fighting for. He just dumped me flat on my butt. Our office heat turned into a big ice cube.

Man, did that feel crappy.

Normal breakups suck, but office breakups... They’re a whole new ballgame. We jumped right into the pot, keeping everyone in the dark. The chemistry and heat were in every touch and kiss, the attraction undeniable. We both knew it was wrong, yet, we couldn’t stop ourselves. And now we’d broken up. Was I setting myself up for heartbreak?

I’m still wondering how to fix my life and get it back to normal.

I walked into the break room for my normal ten a.m. break. After pouring a little milk in my coffee, I stirred it as my thoughts wandered off to Tom. My life was falling to pieces. I wasn’t a robot. I had a heart. And it hurt badly. I needed to stay away from Tom and give myself some room. I couldn’t blame him because we didn’t work as a couple. So I needed to stop analyzing what when wrong. I tuned out Joan and Bob whining about having to get expense reports done by the end of the day.

I didn’t want a fling. I wanted so much more. Women want commitment like men want sex. But I can’t help that’s what I want. I just want one guy that makes me smile and feel special. I wasn’t meant to date three guys. That just wasn’t programmed into my DNA. Darn Cupid in the workplace! Take your stupid arrow back!

I’ve learned two things about dating: You can’t meet a guy at the office water cooler or a barstool.

It was over. I needed to be strong enough to let go.

I will find my soul mate one day... Even if it’s an entire house of cats when I’m fifty.

Jenna, the guy in accounting said.

Hi, Bob.

Two words. I need two words that describe your life. It’s for the Larchwood newsletter. Mine is ‘deliriously happy’. Anyway, I’ve got everyone but you.

Two words, huh?

Yeah.

I bit my lip as I pondered. Life’s complicated.

That’ll work. Smiling, he wrote it down and darted off.

Hey, girl, Betty said. Be strong. Hang in there, okay? If you need me, I’m here.

My jaw dropped. My heart started to beat furiously. How the heck did she know? I racked my mind over it. Was Tom blabbing? Or was it Michael? I knew Rose wouldn’t say anything. Unless somebody accidently heard her?

You know what Tom did? I managed to get out.

She nodded. Well, yeah. We all do.

I could feel the tears welling up, but I refused to let them spill. If I fell apart at work, my colleagues would doubt my professionalism as well as my ability to cope with stress. I’d be remembered as the emotionally unreliable girl who went to pieces when her boyfriend broke up with her. No, I had to stay strong. I wanted to get to the point where this breakup didn’t bother me. But how would that ever happen if everyone knew?

Unbearable awkwardness. I had officially tarnished my professional reputation. The gossip mill will go berserk! I’ll probably be front page news on the newsletter. HR will be on my butt! Why didn’t Tom keep his mouth shut?

Take a breather, Jenna. Your main goal is to stay sane...and employed. I needed to proceed with maximum caution.

Chapter 2

I WANTED TO AVOID POPPING up on HR’s radar and becoming another casualty. But looks like the cat was out of the bag. I muttered a few curses in my head. My heart was racing. Would I be axed?

How did you know? I asked in stunned disbelief.

I saw that pile of work Larchwood put on your desk this morning. Jonas Katers quit and all his work had to be divided up evenly. I know you feel overwhelmed. But don’t. You’ll get through it. And I can help as much as I can.

I let out a long sigh of relief. Work. She was flipping talking about work.

It’s so much, I said, playing along. But I can handle it. I’m tough. I don’t know how, but I’ll get through it. I think I was talking more about my personal life than my work one.

She chuckled. 

What are you doing tonight? she asked. Any big plans for Friday night?

Oh, yeah. I’ve got some big ones.

Throwing on my pajamas, watching a movie on Netflix, and crying into my ice cream. I guess the old break-up cliché is true. I was living proof of it.

Betty smiled. Oh yeah? What?

Um, a show. I’m going to watch...

That new show on Broadway? Oh, I want to go to that so bad! Those are great plans.

She grabbed her coffee and walked off. When I turned around, I bumped into Tom. The coffee splashed out of my cup and onto his black dress shirt.

I’m so sorry, I said.

Spilling coffee on the boss, Joan’s voice rang out. Not good. Especially when it’s time for your quarterly review.

Our first meeting post-breakup and I doused him with coffee. Great. Just great. What a gut-wrenching disaster. Okay, don’t let your emotions get the most of you. Stay calm. Breathe. You could do this.

Tom chuckled. It’s okay.

I ran to the sink and grabbed some paper towels. Like a madwoman, I started dabbing his shirt. I felt like such an idiot and klutz. Remember, I thought. Stay polite and completely professional. I couldn’t let negative things affect my productivity and professional reputation. I knew the workplace could become a minefield of anxiety and distraction, and I didn’t want that to happen.

Please, don’t worry about it, he said.

My mind was racing. I didn’t want to have that Oh my gosh, I’m a crazy ex! moment.

When his hands touched mine to stop me from wiping up his shirt, I looked up. A shiver slid down my spine. I couldn’t do this. Seeing him every day like this... I was going to change my routine and plan my break at a completely different time. I had memories in this break room. I remembered how totally hot it was to steal a kiss here when no one else was watching. His lips were so soft, his kiss so addictive.

I’m sorry, I said.

No, it was all my fault. I’m sorry.

Sorry that you crushed all my hopes and dreams? Of course, I didn’t say that. He had told me a few days ago in a text that he wanted to stay friends. How nice. His friendship was my crappy 'consolation prize.' No thanks. 

I hated this stomach-churning confrontation. I felt like bursting out in tears as emotion consumed me. I wanted to cry a river right there on the reports I was holding. And soaking those with tears wouldn’t do much to establish my credibility.

Why was he so hot? Looking at me with those pretty blue eyes and handsome face in that designer suit that made him look like a million bucks.

It wasn’t fair, Thomas Larchwood. Not fair at all. I loved him. And he threw it all away. And I couldn’t even show how upset I was. Or tell anyone we ever dated. I was a dirty little secret.

I couldn’t let hurt feelings make it uncomfortable for everyone else. 

How was I supposed to deal with the fallout eight hours a day, five days a week, with reports, meetings, and all the other stuff that comes along with management? Should I dust off my résumé and start somewhere else? No. I worked hard to get here. I gave up everything to get this position.

Joan’s right. It’s time for your quarterly review, he said.

Are you giving it to me? I asked.

I gave it to Michael, he answered. I’m too swamped to get to it.

Yeah, right.

I shook my head. Oh, okay. Well, I’ll see him as soon as I get the chance.

Our eyes locked.

Then I darted out of the break room, running as far away as I could get. It’ll get easier to get over him if I just got on with my life. The busier I made my life, the easier it would be to forget him. I spent too much time thinking about him which meant I was too invested. That had to stop!  Okay, I needed to be more focused and move on. That’s what I had to do. No matter what happened between us, I needed to leave the drama out of it. 

It was best to avoid the ex at all costs.

I went back to my office hoping and praying he wouldn’t come after me. He didn’t. And I was thankful for that. I couldn’t take seeing him right now. But I wasn’t so lucky later in the day.

Rose called me on the work phone.

What are you doing tonight?

I didn’t answer.

Please don’t tell me you’re sobbing into your keyboard?

I’m not.

Good. What are your plans?

You know my plans only too well.

She let out a long exaggerated sigh. Not ice cream.

I bit my lip. Maybe.

How about wine?

I don’t want to be sad, drunk, and alone.

No, silly. I’ll drink with you. We’ll laugh, and then I’ll cry with you afterward. Like you did for me when Jeremy dumped me.

I sighed deeply.

Sorry, she said. I didn’t mean that you were dumped.

I don’t want to end up all alone, I said. I want somebody to take long walks on the beach or snuggle by the fire. I want to feel Tom’s body heat under the covers as we cuddle.

Look at you go. You’re already writing up your dating profile. We might want to leave out that last part, though.

No internet dating!

Why not? Tinder is great.

No Tinder, Rose. No fix ups or blind dates either.

Okay. But Michael has this gorgeous friend and... 

I know you mean well. But you have a date with Michael. Go be happy. Don’t let me suck the light away like some kind of black hole.

Stop it!

Will you take my phone away so I don’t leave Tom any drunk-texts I’ll regret?

I sure will. And want some advice?

No, but I’m sure you’re going to give it to me anyway.

Yep. What’s the key ingredient in the prescription for recovery?

Wine. Lots of wine.

No.

A wild party and lots of booze?

Create distance from Tom. It’s time to sever all bonds that aren’t work related. No texts, no phone calls, block him on text and social media, etc. You get the drill.

I do. Don’t explain. Don’t rationalize. Don’t say anything. Ignore everything. Block him on everything, everywhere.

Atta girl. 

Chapter 3

AT TWO P.M. I RUSHED off to a meeting. I rushed into the board room, and lucky me. There was only one seat left at the table and it was right next to Tom. I groaned silently.

Please have a seat, Jenna, Tom’s father said.

Yes, Mr. Larchwood.

I smiled and took a seat next to Tom. I couldn’t have his dad suspecting anything, especially hostility. I was uncomfortable and distracted the entire time. I don’t think I heard a word the man said. My mind kept drifting back to the heat of Tom’s kisses.

Next time,