Bastard Boss

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Tyler

I stand at the window of Gavin's office, staring out at the city and listening to him talk without really seeing what is before me or hearing what he's saying. "Are you listening to me, Tyler?"

I rotate to find him leaning on the edge of his desk. Gavin is my age, early thirties, a smooth-talking ladies' man, with sandy brown hair, soaring ambition, and skills to match.

"The contract is fine. I read it. It protects me, and the money is high enough that no one is going to want to run their mouth and lose it."

"I need the list of women you want to be considered."

I laugh without humor and eye the ceiling. "That's not so simple."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Do you know Bella Bailey?"

"Of course, I know Bella. She's gorgeous and successful. What man wouldn't know her? Oh, fuck. You're in bed with her. Holy hell, Tyler. After Allison—"

"It's not the same. I have feelings for her." I speak those words effortlessly, and that says a lot about where I stand right now.

"I think the ground just shook. Since when do you have feelings for anyone?"

"Now," I say. "And if I do this fake fiancée thing, I will lose her."

"If you don't, you lose a shit ton of money and the company. The company being the big one here, because everyone attached to the company, me included, could end up screwed over if leadership flies south. We're talking a lot of lives here, Tyler. Hundreds of employees."

"What if I talked to Bella? Her mother was Alice, from Alice Shopping Network. Her father is Victor Bailey."

"The NASCAR driver?"

"Yes. She's swimming in money. She doesn't need mine. And I trust her."

"She's perfect, except for one thing. She obviously values creating a life and a career for herself because no one here knows about her mother. And I sure didn't know about her father. The minute it's discovered that you two are together, she's ruined. It will be assumed she slept her way to the top. If you have feelings for her, convince her the rest of this shit is as fake as it is, and don't fuck the other chick. But you cannot be caught with Bella. There's small print you need to know about."

"What small print?"

"If anything about this 'marriage' is deemed for show, you lose everything. I'm guessing there's a PI who will be following you. You have to assume you will be watched."

"Of course, I will be. And as for Bella, the other woman is just never going to fly with her. And you're right. Her career matters to her. Hell, she's up for partner, and that was on the table before we ever got involved. She just closed a major deal for her brother, Dash. I can't take that from her."

"Then get a list. You have fifteen months to screw this up, or six months plus a short marriage to end this. Once you inherit, it's done."

"What about the company? What will anyone know?"

"Nothing. You're the crowned CEO and majority stockholder until you're not. I'll spare you the details unless you want to hear them, but technically you inherited the stock and maintain your current role of CEO, with stipulations. As of today, you are no longer in an acting role. You're the real deal. Notifications have been sent out to all partners. With your permission, I'll send a formal notice to the clients of the firm."

"Yes. Do it. We're done here. I need to think." I walk toward the door.

"Get me the list," he calls out.

I lift a hand and say nothing.

There is only one name on my list, and that's Bella, as impossible as that seems right now.