Loving Our Way

By Thea Monk

I'm Mallory Amadou, and I want a second chance to get things right. You see, I'd fallen for the boss and I'd fallen for his best friend. We lived and loved in the moment, avoiding the reality of what we truly wanted from each other and from our happy threesome. Hence, our special unit fell apart and we went our separate ways.

 

Chen Soo Lee had one goal: to make his tech company a roaring success. His biggest distraction--Mallory and Jack--had turned his orderly world upside down. He'd relied on rules of respectability to keep his affair with them hidden in its box. When he could no longer control his private life, he no longer felt he needed the box...or Mallory and Jack.

 

Jack Vance had room in his heart for Mallory and Chen, his friend since college. They had a special vibe that worked for them. But he knew that Mallory would be forced to choose to fit with society's rules and comfort. To avoid rocking the boat, he made a hasty exit, knowing that he'd regret the decision for the rest of his life.

 

Guided by a firm, but loving ally, the three are forced tomend their broken hearts and give love a second chance all in a day's work. it won't be easy. But armed with her double strand of pearls, Mallory aims to get her men back, by any seductive means necessary.

 

Loving Our Way is a sexy, steamy, happy ever after novella. Wear those oven mitts for the super hot, naughty bits, and graphic language.

• Language: English
• Publisher: That Joyful Spark, LLC
• Release date: Oct 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201404383

Book preview

1

7:15 a.m.

Ipushed open the familiar glass doors that, eight years ago, significantly changed my life when, as a young, recent college graduate, I was ecstatic to add any notable company to my resume. The short-lived experience was one to remember. My dedicated musings and emotional bloodletting onto several journal pages documented how massive an impact on my life those twenty-four months had been.

My heels clicked along the black marble floor leading from the elevator bank to the receptionist desk that served as the guard post against any further entry. I’d often wondered if they had placed me on the enemy list, despite the civil parting of ways.

A familiar face, a mature visage of elegance and grace, looked up from her perch behind the desk. The indomitable Laila Banks was here for the welcome and re-entry. My fear fluttered its wings in my belly. I hoped the sensation wouldn’t hit a frenzied beat to destroy my will. I was too close to calling off this crazy idea, and an uptick of self-doubt was enough to pause my stride and urge an about-face with a hasty retreat.

Mallory Amadou, good morning. The older woman’s welcoming broad smile opened the release valve on my panic somewhat. Welcome back to Smart Solutions Technology, my dear.

Thanks, Laila. I exhaled with exaggeration, and we both laughed. I’m nervous as hell. Can’t believe I’m doing this. Can’t believe I’m back. I looked around the reception area, taking in the stylistic changes that were made to incorporate the latest in office design and furniture.

Your first job, Laila reminded, with a soft touch of nostalgia.

I nodded.

She’d know, as the one who’d hired me. Her loyalty to the company and years of hard work hadn’t gone unnoticed as she steadily climbed from director of human resources to her current position as senior vice president of operations. In that time, she had taken me under her wing, mentored me, and kept in touch even after I’d left the company.

Good to have you back, bigger and badder. Laila winked.

Laila easily intimidated with her icy blue-eyed stare, fastidious appearance, and tight-lipped, no nonsense expression. Most didn’t know about her softer side, though. The person who loved a dirty joke, who enjoyed a good bourbon, and who liked to pop up at summer EDM concerts in the city to dance and have a blast.

Yeah, I’m no longer the scrappy girl from small town USA. I raised my arms out to the sides and wiggled my curvy hips for emphasis. I had just celebrated by thirty-second birthday and looked forward to the thirty-something journey.

She waved off my comment and came around the desk to greet me with a big hug. You’ve read the agenda, right? I sent you all the materials to give you a complete picture of the day’s activities.

I nodded. Again, fear repeated the somersaults in my gut. I pressed a hand against my belly, silently willing my body to calm the fuck down.

Laila looked at her watch. "You don’t have much time. The executive team meeting will start in about forty-five minutes. And he’s testy this morning. Not happy with his opening remarks. I think he spent the night here, writing and rewriting."

That famously foul temper will not help my case. I hated to sound whiny, but I’d told Laila that this—whatever this effort was all about—would not work.

The phone rang, and Laila hurried back to the desk to answer. After a bit, she covered the mouthpiece and whispered, I’ve got to take this. You know your way, right? She motioned to the corridor on my right where the executive offices framed the building’s rectangular shape and afforded the senior staff the bay side view of the city’s downtown district.

I gave Laila a thumbs up and set off.

Of course, I knew my way. I headed down the familiar hallway with glass enclosed offices and oversized walnut-colored doors. Privacy shades that were mostly drawn usually hindered the fishbowl effect of seeing in or seeing out of the offices.

Across from the spacious offices was the rest of the area comprising smaller rooms but mainly a myriad of open work-stations organized in tiny clusters.

When I’d been part of the company, the entire operation and staff fit in this compact area. Now, the company had swelled to offices on the entire floor, along with two satellite offices for the European and Asian markets. As I took it all in, I pictured how this busy hub of activity flowed on the average workday.

Did I miss it? Missed being a part of the company’s growth and innovation?

Maybe a little. Soon after I’d resigned, I’d suffered through the shaky reality of being suddenly unemployed with no immediate game plan. But with Laila’s help and my survival instinct, I went from human resources assistant at another company, to personal coach as a side hustle, to running my personnel staffing agency.

Because of that crazy trajectory, an opportunity that triggered my impulsive nature nudged at me. At least, that’s how I framed the audacious plan that Laila and I had cooked up.

The invasion into a definitely cold territory was a heavy risk. But some things never die, but hibernate for a better day. Possibly, as a result, making the heart grow fonder.

Smart Solutions Technology’s quarterly executive meetings and its related events seemed the perfect setting to test that theory.

I slowed my approach and finally stopped in front of the CEO’s office—the bat cave, as