Grumpy Boss

By B. B. Hamel

She's trouble and I love it.

Millie Drake is supposed to fix my reputation. That's the only reason I'd ever hire a woman like her: pretty in a quiet way, smart enough to see through my arrogance, and willing to call out all my BS.

I don't need trouble like that. And yet when a business partner from my past resurfaces to try and destroy my latest venture, I need her help to prove I'm not some womanizing monster.

Millie thinks I don't deserve it, but she's fresh out of law school, her grandmother depends on her financially, and she's too afraid to the take bar exam. I'm the only chance she's got at making enough money to survive.

Except there are some minor flaws to my logic.
Flaw number one: we start making out in my office almost immediately.
Flaw number two: I want to take things to the next level, and she only wants to run away.
Flaw number three: I'm the man with a thousand plans—but I don't know what I'm going to do about falling for her.

Once this deal is finalized, I'll have to choose between the future of my business or the future of my love life.

And neither looks like it's going to be easy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B. B. Hamel
• Release date: Feb 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201069483

B. B. Hamel

B. B. Hamel writes steamy stories that make fans squirm. As an Indie author, fan support means everything. For more information, visit BBHamel.com.

Book preview

1

MILLIE

Isat in a waiting room surrounded by skinny blonde girls in immaculate skirts and button-down blouses, and all I wanted to do was spill my water, pretend like it was an accident, and use that as an excuse to get the heck out of there. I shifted slightly in the uncomfortable plastic chair, craning my neck to peer around the corner of the wall that penned in the office waiting room toward where another skinny blonde girl in perfect clothes sat behind the receptionist’s desk, and I was inches away from getting up.

This job wasn’t for me. I mean, based on the applicants, it wasn’t even within the realm of possibility—I was brunette, for starters, so scratch me off right there. I didn’t have expensive clothing, and I didn’t have the posture of a professional gymnast. And seriously, the one girl looked like she was reading an advanced calculus textbook—who even did that?

If it weren’t for Lori, I would’ve been out of there already, but she got me this interview. I’d known her since college, and we’d been friends ever since freshman year when I helped her find her phone one morning after a particularly rough party. She’d gotten so drunk she dropped it in some bushes, and luckily for us, the battery hadn’t died. We heard the bush ringing, and I was like, is that bush ringing? Sure enough, there it was, in a patch of dirt, like two feet away from a spilled Big Gulp, which was also hers. Anyway, we were best friends after that.

I stood up, ready to run. I loved Lori, she was a sweetheart, and one of the smartest and most talented people I knew—but seriously, I wasn’t prepared for this. I should’ve been at home, in my apartment, studying for the bar exam, which I’d been trying to ignore for the last few months ever since graduating from law school. While all of my peers took the test, passed it, and became practicing lawyers, I kept putting it off, putting it off, and floundered.

Maybe this job was another way to procrastinate. Maybe if I just left right now and went home, I’d get myself together and finally take the stupid test. I mean, I didn’t need to be some rich guy’s assistant, even if it paid fabulously well, and maybe I could—

Millie Drake? The blonde receptionist stood in front of me, tapping a black pen in her palm. Millie Drake? He’ll see you now.

I felt my heart do flips. I was so close to getting away, but I couldn’t run, not now, not with eight sets of beautiful blonde-lady eyes staring at me.

Right, that’s me, I said, and followed the receptionist back into the offices.

The place was gorgeous. I’d never seen so much glass in my whole life: smooth, clear glass, frosted glass, stained glass, in all shapes and sizes and thicknesses. The cubicles were in the center of the main space, and people buzzed around in there, moving from desk to desk with purpose, talking to each other, laughing loudly. Everyone wore smart business casual outfits, and I could’ve sworn we were on the set of a movie, based on how stupidly hot everyone was.

I had to keep reminding myself that if I could put myself through law school, I could do freaking anything.

The receptionist took me to a conference room at the far end of the building. The blinds were drawn, though light leaked out from between the slats. She opened the door and ushered me inside.

Millie Drake, she said, announcing me like some rich lady at a fancy ball, then disappeared.

I stood in front of a long, mahogany conference room table. A white screen was pulled down on the far side, blank and empty. Several phones were set up in strategic locations. The walls were bland brown and gray, and the decor was decidedly modern—paintings with abstract shapes in bright colors covered the walls. Two men sat staring at me—one, an older guy with salt-and-pepper hair, and another, younger, handsome man with striking blue eyes, and a strange, deadpan scowl.

Thanks for coming in, Ms. Drake, the older man said. My name is Jack, I’m Mr. Court’s lead council. And this is Rees Court.

I walked over to Jack and extended my hand, pushing down the sudden jolt of anxiety. He shook it with a smile, and I tried not to maintain inappropriate eye contact. Rees Court was hotter than I thought he’d be, which knocked me off my game, but I quickly gathered myself together. No time to stand there slack-jawed gaping at an attractive rich man in a suit. Nice to meet you, I said, and placed a copy of my resume down on the table in front of each of them. I extended my hand for Rees, but he only nodded at me. I felt heat descend through my face at the odd snub, and I glanced at Jack, who still smiled politely, like nothing strange just happened. I wondered if Rees was a germaphobe or something. Jack picked up my resume, but Rees ignored it, and stared at me with a steady, disconcerting gaze.

I sank into a chair and did my best to project confidence. I pretended like I was one of those immaculate women from the waiting room—straight back, powerful smile. I could totally do this.

Ms. Drake, Jack said, you went to UPenn’s law school. That’s impressive.

Thank you, I said. But call me Millie, please.

Millie, of course. He looked through the resume. You do realize this is for an assistant job, correct?

I locked the smile down tight. I didn’t say, oh, yes, I know that, but I’m trying to put off taking the bar exam and moving on with my life because I’m afraid that I’ll fail and all my hard work will be for nothing, and I’m a total loser, so yeah, there you go—even though that was all more or less true. Instead, I only nodded my head once, and glanced at Rees, hoping that he wouldn’t somehow see through my thin veneer of competence.

He was the reason I was there. Lori was his cousin, and although I hadn’t heard much about him in all the time that we’d been friends, I knew the basics.

Rees Court was rich as hell. Like, could buy the Empire State Building from his petty cash account sort of rich. He got his start young, skipped college and opened a cloud computing company before that was really a thing. Ever since then, he’d been running an investment firm that all but printed money, and he was considered one of the golden boys of computers and finance.

And he had a terrible reputation. Not in terms of sleeping around with various women, although probably that, too. No, mostly people thought he was a total asshole.

I could see why. He glared at me like he wanted me to get up and get out—like I was the one wasting his time, even though he was the one trying to hire an assistant, and I was there as a favor to his cousin.

If I weren’t actively trying to avoid becoming a real person and passing the bar, I’d never have agreed to this, but Lori knew I was looking for something temporary and said this would be a great opportunity. I never wanted to get involved with a guy like Rees, and there were was a very loud and very intense voice in the back of my skull that thought I should flip him off and run away.

Apparently, running away was my move these days.

Yes, of course, I said. I’m in between school and taking the bar exam, and I really need to pay the rent.

Jack chuckled and I gave him my best, winning smile. We can certainly help with that, he said. How about we—

Lori sent you, Rees said suddenly, cutting his lawyer off. If it bothered Jack, he didn’t show it. I guessed he was used to being interrupted, working for a guy like Rees.

Rees’s intense blue eyes stared at me and he leaned forward slightly. His suit was simple, a plain black, the fabric nothing special, but it was cut like he’d been born in the thing. His arms were muscular, his chest pressed against the crisp white shirt, and I had the stupid, impulsive urge to run my fingers through his thick, chestnut hair.

Instead, I returned his gaze, and tilted my head. Yes, she did, I said. She thought I’d be good for this.

Do you know what we’re really hiring for? he asked.

Rees— Jack started, his lips pulled into a frown, but Rees held up a hand.

Did she tell you? Rees pressed.

For a second, I felt uncomfortable, and glanced at Jack. I didn’t know what Rees meant. She just said it’s an assistant job, I said, looking between the two men. I genuinely didn’t know what he was talking about. Lori had warned me that Rees was kind of a dick, but she said he paid well, the hours would be flexible, the work would be easy, and having him as a reference would be good for whatever I decided to do in the future. She had me at paid well, but the other stuff was fine too. I had no clue what he was talking about, beyond all that.

He leaned back in his chair, still studying me, and I felt like I was pinned up against the wall, a butterfly with my wings spread out. He ran a finger down his chin, then up to the crease beneath his lower tip, and rubbed at it. I stared at his mouth and felt an odd jolt in my chest, and had to look away, toward his eyes—which wasn’t much better, as it turned out.

I’ve gotten some bad press lately, he said, glancing at Jack, who openly groaned and rubbed his face with both hands. Apparently, I was spotted with a young Italian pop star. Did you read about this?

No, I said. I graduated from school a couple months back, and I’ve been pretty focused on studying for the bar. Which was a lie, since what I’d really been doing was bingeing sitcoms on Netflix, going for long runs along the river, and eating frozen yogurt with Lori. I just didn’t follow the news closely and didn’t bother with gossip.

He didn’t seem phased. The young pop star in question has a husband, he said. And her husband is a member of the Italian parliament. I think you can imagine how this would be bad for me.

Is it true? I asked suddenly, the words blurting out like I had any right to know the answer. I felt like a moron almost instantly, and wished I hadn’t said anything, but Rees didn’t seem to mind.

Don’t answer that, Jack said before Rees could open his mouth. It doesn’t matter if it’s true, it’s all just—

It’s true, Rees said, tilting his head. Does that bother you?

I tried to hide my disgust, and clearly failed, because Jack groaned again and rubbed his face even harder, like maybe he could get the discomfort of this conversation off his skin.

It’s not my business, I said, though I was definitely judging him. Rich, gorgeous, a total asshole, and willing to sleep with a married woman, as if he couldn’t have any other single girl he wanted. That didn’t sit right with me at all.

I didn’t fuck the girl, if that’s what you think, Rees said.

Rees, seriously, Jack said. As your lawyer, and your friend, you’ve got to shut the fuck up.

But Rees ignored him. I felt my heart beat rapidly, and I tried to understand what he was doing. I didn’t need to hear any of this—although he clearly wanted me to know for a reason. Italian pop stars with politician husbands were the thing of a movie or a soap opera, not something that ever protruded into my life, not matter how far removed. And yet here I was, nodding along like it made total sense.

Giana and I were friends, Rees said. The rumors that we were seen together are all true, of course. I visited Italy, and I spent time with her while I was there. But we never kissed, never slept together. Although I assure you, she would have, if I wanted it.

That’s presumptuous, I said, and immediately regretted it. He raised an eyebrow, like I’d cursed in church or something.

I don’t think it is, he said. I’m good at reading people, and there’s no doubt in my mind that she would’ve slept with me.

I’m sure you think so, but not all women worship at the altar of rich men, I said, and inwardly I was, like, what the hell is wrong with me? I was trying to get a job, not trying to scold him for a being a dick. And yet keeping my mouth shut wasn’t exactly one of my skills.

But it didn’t seem to matter. If anything, he smiled a little, and his lips parted—those full, pretty lips—showing off straight, white teeth.

Jack, for his part, was sweating. I think that’s enough detail, he said. We have a lot of girls to interview.

No, we don’t, Rees said. I want to hire you, Millie.

I let out a surprised laugh. It was a scoffing sound, and tore from my throat like a train. I wished I hadn’t done it, because Jack rubbed his face again, like he couldn’t believe any of this shit, and he was right. All of this was unbelievable.

I more or less insulted Rees a second ago, and now he wanted to hire me. I’d been on job interviews before, and I was pretty sure that’s not how they were supposed to go.

There are plenty of other girls, Jack said. If we could just—

Rees held up a hand. Millie, do you want this job?

I need a job, I said, which was passive, I’ll admit, but the truth at least. I wasn’t sure what I wanted from Rees Court anymore. I tapped my fingers nervously on the black armrest of my chair while Rees watched me, clearly contemplating something. The silence was heavy, and I felt like I was watching my entire life unfold in front of my eyes.

I’m running a SPAC, Rees said finally, and some of the tension released from the room. Do you know what that is?

No, I don’t, I admitted, although I hated to tell him that I didn’t know something. I got the sense that he prized intelligence and knowledge, and besides, I didn’t want to see the smug look on his face as he explained.

But, of course, he looked smug anyway. Don’t feel bad, Rees said. It’s a strange financial situation. They’re very in vogue right now.

SPAC stands for special purpose acquisition company, Jack said. Which I know probably doesn’t tell you much.

Imagine it this way, Rees said, SPACs are basically blank checks, companies with no purpose other than to raise money. Once enough money is raised, whoever runs the SPAC goes in search of another company to buy. If that acquisition is successful, the SPAC merges with that purchased property, and everyone that invested gets a ton of money in return. If not, well. He made a gesture, rubbing his hands together, then spreading them apart like casting dirt into the wind.

So people just give you money? I asked, trying to imagine the type of person that would trust Rees Court with some unspecified amount of cash to do with whatever he wanted, and actually didn’t find it all too hard to picture. He was a wunderkind, after all, and rich people loved that kind of thing, and tended to have spare money to throw at a project like this.

More or less, Rees said, glancing at Jack.

We have to raise the money, Jack specified. Go out and find investors. We’ll go public, have a big IPO, sell stock to raise even more. Then once we have a big pot of money, we’ll go buy a company, and hopefully get rich.

Sounds crazy, I said. People actually do this?

Absolutely, Rees said. Now, we need to gather new investors. Rich people with a lot of spare dollars lying around in foreign bank accounts that don’t mind risk, and are willing to trust me. But because of this Italian pop star situation, many of my original investors have been pulling out.

He watched me carefully as I sat back in my chair and chewed on my cheek. I could see where this was going, and I didn’t like it, not even a little bit. He had an image problem, and he wanted to hire a young, pretty, female assistant. And now he was tying those two things together in a very subtle way, and I really hoped he wasn’t going where I thought he was going.

I’m hoping that this position you’re looking to fill doesn’t have anything to do with rehabilitating your image, I said.

He raised his eyebrows and looked at Jack. She’s quick, Rees said.

Too quick, Jack said, and leaned forward on his elbows like he’d just run a marathon and gotten his ass kicked.

I’m not sure what you think this is supposed to be, but I don’t think I’m interested, I said, pushing the chair back from the table. It was one thing, working as an assistant for this rich asshole—and an entirely different thing getting involved in some crazy plan to help fix his image so he could raise millions of dollars for some wild and overly complicated financial scheme. I didn’t know how he wanted to use me exactly, but I could guess it involved lying to people and pretending to be something I wasn’t.

Before you walk of out here, listen to my offer, Rees said. You’ll regret it if you don’t.

I opened my mouth to tell him, no, I didn’t think I’d regret getting away from his crazy ass, but I shut it again.

I didn’t have an easy life. My parents died when I was four,