Page 7 of The Boss

So imagine my surprise when I'm organizing my desk for the third time and Levi appears, looking disgustingly happy for someone who should be halfway to his honeymoon by now.

"Last-minute details," he says, reading my expression. "Flight's not till noon. Come on, let me introduce you before I abandon you to the wolves."

My stomach drops. "He's here already?"

"Conference room. Don't look so terrified, Viv. He's not actually going to eat you."

"That's not what Jaden heard."

"Jaden heard wrong." Levi pauses at his office door. "Probably. Also, wasn't he the one who said UFOs were spotted near Florida?"

"No, he said Maine."

"Hmm."

My palms are sweating, and I almost commit the very unladylike sin of rubbing them against my skirt. I'm just meeting my temporary boss, and yet it feels like I'm headed for the guillotine.

This is so much scarier than when I had to present my thesis.

I follow Levi down the hall, mentally rehearsing professional small talk.

Good morning, Mr. Astor. Looking forward to working with you, Mr. Astor.

Please don't fire me on day one, Mr. Astor. This girl has bills to pay.

I have the nerve of watery tofu, so please go easy on me, Mr. Astor.

Levi pushes open the conference room door, and I take a deep breath. "Matthew, I want you to meet⁠—"

The world comes screeching to a halt. My stomach drops, and my breath catches. It's the same feeling I get when I misjudge how many stairs are ahead, and my foot lands in thin air. The slightly giddy, slightly shocked sensations as my body regains its balance.

No way. No freaking way.

Standing at the window, eyes scanning documents, is Matthew. My Matthew. Friday night Matthew. Hotel room Matthew. Tongue-in-my-pussy Matthew.

No, no, no.

This is not happening. It's still Sunday, and I'm having a nightmare. I'll wake up any minute now, and my alarm still hasn't gone off.

This is a joke.

But…

Same dark hair. Same broad shoulders filling out a perfectly tailored navy suit. Same hands that had my hair wrapped around his fingers. Same mouth that was on me.

He lifts his head and locks gaze with me. For two seconds, his gaze sharpens and narrows, and just like that, it's gone. He schools his face into a neutral expression, as if he has never seen me once in his life.

"Vivian," Levi says, completely oblivious to the fact that my world just imploded, "this is my brother, Matthew. Matthew, this is Vivian Olivers, the best EA I've ever had. She keeps this place running, and I basically just do whatever she tells me."

Matthew steps forward and extends his hand, a bit reminiscent of Friday night. "Ms. Olivers."

Okay, so we are actually doing this.

His voice is different. Colder. Flatter. Gone is the man who laughed at my rambling and told me I was beautiful when I was falling apart in his arms. At least he's not trying to make this any more awkward than it actually is.

I can do this. I can pretend just as well as him … if not better.

I force my hand into his. The contact is brief, professional, and absolutely nothing like the way those same fingers felt on my skin while he grunted against my neck.