The Billionaire Boss Read Online Free PDF Page B

by January’s guess, three minutes later.  She picked up the phone and an automated voice said, “Your cab has arrived at…” She slammed down the phone, not waiting to hear Ariel’s address. January made her way to the door, then down the long hallway. She noticed now that the walls were lined with small paintings.
    Ariel sat on the couch with a MacBook perched on his lap.
    You're actually doing work. If January had been a cartoon character, smoke would’ve shot from her ears. She had to get out of there and walked behind the sofa where Ariel sat. She didn’t want his eyes on her. January got her purse from the end table where she’d left it.
    “Where are you going?” His eyes got wide.
    “Home.”
    “Let me get my keys.” Ariel stood.
    “I called a taxi.” She saw something in his eyes—pain. No, don’t be foolish.
    Maybe Ariel Cunningham was too complicated for her. She turned toward the front door and began walking. January heard his footsteps behind her, but when she reached for the doorknob, the footsteps stopped. Beg me to stay. Say something.
    He didn’t.
    She didn’t look back when she unlocked the door and opened it. The door slammed behind her.
     
    ***
    January sat on her queen size bed, her skin damp from a shower. Relief swept over her now that she was safely at home. She held her head in her palm until she felt a throbbing at her temples as she tried to figure out the CEO.
    She jumped when her phone rang, part of her hopeful it was Ariel.
    It was a long distance number on the phone’s screen. Bethany, her roommate.
    “Hello.”
    "Hi, it’s me. How’s everything? How are you?" Bethany’s voice was cheerful.
    January wondered if she should confess. No. Instead she said, “Kind of down.”
    They’d been roommates for a year. January had never been much of a talker with Bethany, but she was comfortable with the ambitious pre-med student.
    “Why?”
    “A man.” January sighed. “Enough of that. How’s your trip been?”
    “Jamaica’s great, as usual. I’m extending my trip.” The smile in Bethany’s voice was obvious. “Back to you. Do I know him?”
    “No.”
    “Tell me something,” Bethany said with angst.
    January expected this from someone who loved to read weekly celebrity magazines and she hesitated. She decided to share a little—that she Ariel worked together, that they were getting close, that things abruptly ended.
    "Bookie, you’ll be okay."
    “Yeah.”  January sighed. Bethany always called her that nickname when she was trying to cheer her up. January hadn’t wanted to give too many details. By the time her roommate returned from Jamaica, who knew how things would be between she and Ariel.
    “Well this is a long distance call, so I'll see you in a couple weeks.”
    “Okay."
    "And January, things might be better tomorrow. You know how I am with my boo. I think things still have a chance of working out for you."

 
     
    Chapter Eleven
     
    January was determined not to be so easily captivated by Ariel.
    He's a heart crusher.
    According to Mary, management at Logis App thought January had the most potential among the temps. That morning, she was asked to help Heather, who’d returned from sick leave. 
    Heather didn’t seem thrilled by January’s presence, and January wasn’t sure if it was hormones or if the woman just wasn’t nice.
    January saw the pinched look on the woman’s face as she walked back with the file Heather had asked her to retrieve downstairs.
    "I asked you email the supply company an hour ago," Heather began. "Did you get the information I needed about the serial number?"
    It was the fourth time for the morning January had journeyed downstairs. She just wanted to go back to her own desk, which was on the same floor. She felt being around the crabby woman was punishment for some unconfessed sin. January just didn’t get why Heather had such a negative attitude when January had done nothing wrong.
    But she was determined to remain