Sleeping With My Boss: A Standalone Novel (An Alpha Billionaire Romance Love Story) (A Dirty Office Romance) by Claire Adams Read Free Book Online Page A

alcohol. I
staggered across my bedroom to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on my
face to try to rouse myself from the foggy haze I felt trapped in.
    Another wave of nausea hit me, but it seemed to pass
quickly. I started to feel better after I splashed a bit more water on my face
and brushed my teeth. I knew that a green smoothie would sort me out and make
me feel better as well, so I buzzed my chef and told him that I needed one stat .
    Make no mistake, I had no regrets about all of the
wine I drank the night before. I'd had a wonderful evening with Lilah.
    To be honest, I couldn't remember the last time I'd
had fun with someone just talking. Inviting her to dinner was easily one of the
best spur of the moment decisions I had made in years. And while dinner itself
wasn’t likely going to make things a little awkward at the office, the kiss
we'd shared at the end of the evening was another story all together. That had
definitely been an unexpected turn of events, although I couldn't say I
regretted it. Given the chance, I’d probably kiss her again.
    Still, I'd have to give what had happened some
thought. I hadn't hired Lilah because I wanted something to happen between us.
Yes, I'd been immediately and powerfully attracted to her from the moment I'd
first laid eyes on her. Her fiery personality, sharp, unconventional intellect,
and strong will were definitely things I found intensely attractive in a woman;
but it had definitely been her brilliant, out-of-the-box approach to the Harry
Winston project that had prompted me to offer her a position on my personal
staff.
    That had been why I'd chosen her, I reassured
myself as I stared into the mirror.
    I splashed another round of water on my face. First
thing in the morning after too much wine wasn't the time to think too deeply
about such things. I made my way to the kitchen and drank half of the green
smoothie waiting for me before I headed to the gym where Bryce, my personal
trainer, was waiting for me.
    “A little late this morning, Ash,” he said with a
disapproving look on his tanned, angular face.
    Bryce was never afraid to call me out when I slipped
up and had no reluctance about criticizing me harshly when he felt it was
necessary. That was precisely why I'd hired him. I wanted people around me who
were not afraid to voice their opinions. I didn’t want yes-men and flattering
lackeys.
    “Yeah,” I said. “I was up late last night and had way
too much wine.”
    He grinned. “Oh, so it's like that, huh? Well I guess
I'm gonna have to work you extra hard this morning to get you to sweat all
those toxins out!”
    “Come on, Bryce, you can cut me a little slack this
morning. I feel like I got trampled by a herd of elephants last night.”
    “All the more reason why I'm not going to cut
you any slack, Ash. You hired me not to. If I recall correctly, you hired me because I used to be a drill sergeant
and discipline is my middle name. Now, I'm telling you, if you want to be
trained like a marine, it's gonna be painful. Especially, if you slip up and
drink on a school night. Your personal screw-ups are not my problem,
Sinclair. I'm here to turn you into a machine , and if you can't
discipline yourself, then I'm here to step in and do it for you.
    “Now get your ass on the treadmill! We're setting the
starting speed at twenty percent higher than usual to make up for your
stupidity! Go, soldier; go, go, go!”

 
    ***

 
    The moment I stepped off of the elevator at the office,
my secretary had a dozen things waiting for me that needed immediate attention.
Because of that, I'd been too absorbed in work to stop by Lilah’s office even
to say hi in the three hours since I’d arrived. As luck would have it, though,
I was about to head out of my office when I saw her walk past my door in the
hallway. I immediately called out to her before she disappeared around the
corner.
    “Lilah!”
    She stopped and peered back into my office over her
shoulder.
    “Good