Oh, Mr. Boss! A Steamy Workplace Romance

By Mitzi Lang

The attraction was there at the start, but neither knew it. Kit, wealthy heir to a chain of department stores, often goes clubbing. Cleo also likes to party, but she's from a working class family on the other side of town. After a night out, Cleo oversleeps and reports for her new job at Kit's store an hour late. Rushing out without makeup or contacts with her hair severely pinned back, she's a far cry from the flirty Cleo at the club.

 

At first, Kit scolds her for being late. He soon realizes his new hire isn't a woman who's easily pushed around. Not until he catches her in a lie do both realize they were at the club unknowingly flirting with each other.

 

While their relationship roars ahead full speed, Kit's mother is looking to clip his wings. Anxious for him to settle down with a nice girl, she wants to meet his girlfriend. Hoping to get her off his back once and for all, Kit introduces her to Cleo with her take-no-crap attitude. Will his plan succeed? Or will Cleo outsmart him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mitzi Lang Books
• Release date: Oct 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393514275

Book preview

Oh, Mr. Boss!

A Steamy Workplace Romance

By

Mitzi Lang

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Copyright 2020

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All rights are reserved and no part of this work may be reproduced without author’s permission except for brief quotes in reviewers’ comments. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance between persons living or dead is pure coincidence.

The attraction was there at the start, but neither knew it. Kit, wealthy heir to a chain of department stores, often goes clubbing. Cleo also likes to party, but she’s from a working class family on the other side of town. After a night out, Cleo oversleeps and reports for her new job at Kit’s store an hour late. Rushing out without makeup or contacts with her hair severely pinned back, she’s a far cry from the flirty Cleo at the club.

At first, Kit scolds her for being late. He soon realizes his new hire isn’t a woman who’s easily pushed around. Not until he catches her in a lie do both realize they were at the club unknowingly flirting with each other.

While their relationship roars ahead full speed, Kit’s mother is looking to clip his wings. Anxious for him to settle down with a nice girl, she wants to meet his girlfriend. Hoping to get her off his back once and for all, Kit introduces her to Cleo with her take-no-crap attitude. Will his plan succeed? Or will Cleo outsmart him?

CHAPTER ONE

Only an hour late for her new job, Cleo rushed upstairs. When she burst through the office door, Sophie, the receptionist, jumped from her desk.

Cleo, I almost didn’t recognize you, hurry. He’s yelling for you.

As the only son of a major mover and shaker, taking orders didn’t come naturally to Kit. Christened Horace Kitridge Chamberlain Jr., he’d been called Junior from birth by family members. Later, like any self-respecting teen, he’d insisted on retiring that childish name for the abbreviated form of his middle name, Kit. Despite that minor rebellion, as heir to the family’s large chain of department stores, it was imperative that he learn the biz from the trenches, just as the elder Chamberlain had. Today, as he waited for a new hire to show up, his impatience had reached a fever pitch.

Where the hell is this woman? he yelled loud enough for Sophie to hear through the door.

As if on cue, the door opened, and Sophie ushered in a woman about thirty years of age and as homely as a bedbug. Her large, square glasses made her look like Velma from the Scooby-Doo cartoons. Unlike her counterpart’s hairdo, though, her dark hair was severely pulled into some kind of twist or bun at the back of her head that made her look like a stodgy schoolteacher. She also was in dire need of a more fashionable wardrobe.

Unimpressed, he sat back in his chair. Are you my new display guy?

Yes, Mr. Chamberlain. I am, she said in a breathless voice.

Well, you’re late! he barked, not caring if his tone offended her.

Her lips bunched up as if she were preparing to yell back. An instant later, they softened, and she lowered her head deferentially.

Sorry, she murmured into her feet. I wasn’t aware when I left home this morning that it would take two buses to get here.

Look, I need someone I can depend on. Don’t you have a car?

Her colorless lips bunched up again. No, she said defiantly. No one told me that was a requirement for employment.

From her snappy answer, he got the impression she wasn’t a woman who could be pushed around easily. Well, he said meekly. It isn’t. Just make sure you’re not late again.

She sat back in her chair. Yes, sir. I’ll make sure of that, Mr. Chamberlain.

Appeased by her answer, he attempted to soften his gruff image with a smile. Please, I like to think we’re all family here. Mr. Chamberlain is my father. Most of the people here are on a first name basis.

Her brow crinkled. If—that’s what you want—Horace.

Hor . . . Oh, God, no! Call me Kit. And I’ll call you, uh . . . He quickly searched for her name on her application. Cleo. Is that right? Cleo Patrick? He felt a smirk coming on.

Yes, she snapped. And I’ve heard all the jokes about leaving my barge on the Nile. So, we can dispense with the jokes if it’s all right with you, Mr. . . . uh, Kit.

Sorry, he said, properly chastised. Damn, I’m the boss. Why am I apologizing?

So, she said, rising. Are we done here? I’d like to meet my co-workers and learn exactly what my duties are.

He waved his hand in a dismissive manner, and she stuck hers out. Forced into it, he clasped it; she gave it a hard shake, then yanked hers away as if she’d just shaken hands with the devil.

* * *

Well? Sophie said as soon as Cleo emerged from the room. How did it go? Was he mad? Sometimes he just pretends to be mad, but he’s really a big softie at heart.

He did light into me a little, but then he calmed down. I think everything will be all right now.

Oh, good. Now, come on, I’ll show you your office.

My office? I get an office?

Well, sort of, she said in an apologetic voice. It’s in the basement with all the props you’ll be using.

Oh. I didn’t know that, but that’s fine. I’ve worked in crappier places.

Cleo followed Sophie to the elevator, and they went down, down, down. Along the way, the girl rattled on. So what do you think? she asked. Still want the job?

Cleo laughed. At this stage in my job search, I can’t afford to be picky. It’s food in my belly and a roof over my head. So, yes, I’m okay with it.

Well, look at it this way, you’re getting paid more than me, so that should make the job more attractive.

Really? I get paid more than you?

I don’t do much up there but answer the phone and look pretty. They like pretty around here. Whether you’ve got something upstairs or not, she said, tapping her head. So when you came in today looking, well, not the way I remembered you at your interview, I got a little worried.

Believe me, I didn’t intend to look so dowdy today.

That’s okay. Everyone has a bad hair day every so often.

That’s very kind of you, but we both know there’s way more wrong with my appearance than my hair.

Dropping the subject of Cleo’s appearance, the girl moved on to their boss. So, what did you think of the boss? Gorgeous, isn’t he?

I suppose so. If you like them tall, good-looking, blue-eyed, and rude. She gave in to a grudging smile. He is hot, though.

Sophie laughed. And he gets a little snippy sometimes, but you’ll warm up to him.

Maybe. But I can’t help feeling I’ve seen him somewhere before.

Well, he’s been photographed a lot with his family. Maybe you saw him in the newspaper when his dad gave him control of the store.

Hmm, maybe.

Okay, enough girl talk, Sophie said, still perky as the elevator door opened into the bowels of hell. Let me show you around.

What followed was a whirlwind tour of all the props at Cleo’s disposal. When it began to boggle her mind, she shook her head in confusion. Wait, wait. Exactly how many windows does this store have?

Oh, you’ll be staging more than windows. You have all the departments, from bedding to babies, to lingerie and women’s wear. And all the mannequins you could ever want, she said, spreading her arms like a game show hostess.

Cleo followed her gaze. Oh, she said, as her mute co-workers stared back.

You’ll do fine, Sophie said. Now I better get back upstairs. Have fun.

Left to her own devices, Cleo studied her fellow dungeon dwellers, some without arms or legs, but all with a vapid look on their face. Okay, listen up, guys. Down here, I’m the boss, and you will do exactly as I say with no backtalk. Got that?

From somewhere in the large storeroom, a mannequin fell over, creating a cascade of falling props. Backtalk?

* * *

As the boss, Kit felt duty-bound to interact with the men and women in his employ, a tradition initiated by the family patriarch. As a private person, however, it wasn’t a choice he would make on his own. Sighing, he tucked his papers in his briefcase and headed for the elevator, hoping he didn’t run into too many people on the way out. When the elevator door swooped open at ground level, he quickly scanned the path to the exit. Okay, not too many people to schmooze with. How’s the new baby, Martha? Great job you’re all doing, guys. Keep up the good work.

Without waiting to hear their answers, he breezed out the door, grateful to have gotten off easy this time. Some days, it seemed like the entire crew was down there waiting for him, delaying his getaway for a good ten minutes or more. Although being the boss afforded him many advantages, it also came with responsibilities. Sometimes he wished he could forget he was in charge of a major enterprise that employed hundreds and just be a beach bum with a