Taming Her Boss

Almost three years to the day since she’d first walked into Alexander Limited, Trixie Benning had just about reached her limit.She was home for lunch on a Monday from the job she loved – and feared she would lose before too much longer.I’ve made a lot of rookie mistakes the last several months. It’s a wonder Marjorie still has any patience with me at all.After all, as the accounting manager, her company depended on her to get her job done accurately. But lately, it seemed it was all she could do to arrive on time, much less present solid data.She rolled her shoulders to try to dissipate some of the tension as she nibbled at the sandwich she didn’t want.Granted, she’d had a lot of distractions come her way since January, when her dad’s health had begun to plummet. He’d been ill for some time with heart issues and diabetes, but it had quickly spiraled out of control. The dementia diagnosis had come not long after, and that news had ratcheted up the worry and stress to a brand-new l

The Tuesday morning call with his CFO went pretty much as he’d feared.“Are you kidding me right now?” Drew was managing to hold his temper in check, but only barely.“How did she even manage that? She’s not even employed here, much less set up as an authorized user, Bill.”A long silence, and Drew’s stomach dropped to his feet.“Bill?”No answer.Drew pinched the bridge of his nose in a vain attempt to rebottle his rage before the building headache he suddenly had exploded his head.“Bill,” Drew said, slowly and evenly, measuring his words. “What did you do?”He heard a long exhale on the other end of the phone, then he heard Bill clear his throat to prepare to confess.“Well,” Bill began, “I was spending the weekend with Lola, and I’d forgotten my laptop in my hotel room, so…”“Tell me you didn’t. Tell me, William Jones, that you did not use your girlfriend-of-the-week’s computer to access our secure mainframe, then forget to log out and clear the history. Tell me you didn’t make a

One-thirty found the man occupying her thoughts roaming the eighth floor. Drew had hoped to surprise her in her office and was shocked to realize he felt more than a little disappointment that Trixie wasn’t at her desk. He helped himself to a post-it and pen and left her a message, then reluctantly returned to the elevator.***At one-thirty-seven, Trixie walked back into her office and immediately frowned when she saw her desk wasn’t exactly as she’d left it.She picked up the post-it, scanned it, and paled.There’s been a development. Come see me. – Drew“Crap,” she muttered. “So much for steering clear.”She took a breath or two to steady herself, then grabbed a notepad and pen and headed for the elevator.Andrea beamed at Trixie when she stepped out into the top floor reception area.“Go on back, he’s waiting for you,” she said.“Thanks,” Trixie replied, trying to keep both her tone and expression neutral.She walked slowly toward his open doorway, then rapped lightly on the frame

“Auntie Trix!” Scott bellowed as he ran to hug her.“Hi! And Joshie! Hey, Joshie,” the boy said in a singsong voice as he knelt down to love on the excited beagle.“Hey, kiddo. You got taller,” Trixie said with affection.“Yep,” Scott said proudly. “Dad says I’m growing like a weed.”Trixie laughed.“Can I play with Joshie out back? Chester’s already outside.”“That’s fine. I’m sure Joshua will be glad to see Chester.”“Come on, Joshie, let’s go,” Scott yelled with the energy only a six-year-old could muster at the drop of a hat, and Trixie’s smile grew as the little boy raced to the back door, Joshua’s body wriggling as he followed.“How have you been, Trixie?” Brad asked as he walked up to give her a hug.“Not too bad, all things considered,” she said. “You?”“I’m good. Listen, Meghan told me about Grant. He’s an asshat. I know it hurts, but I think he did you a favor, Trix. He was never good enough for you anyway.”“He is definitely an asshat,” she agreed. “But you know what? Didn’

The alarm sounding at five-twenty a.m. pierced Drew’s skull like a screwdriver, and he reached out a hand to beat it into submission.He yawned, stretched, then gingerly opened his eyes, and looked around.Good. I didn’t bring some stranger home. That’s an improvement over some years, anyway, he told himself before slowly sitting upright to minimize the cacophony of drums pounding in his head.He flung the covers back and staggered toward the shower, running his tongue over teeth that felt fuzzy and tasted like whiskey…and salt… and caramel?He frowned.Did I eat salted caramel last night? And why do I feel like I did spend time with someone?He’d been under the shower spray for almost ten minutes when he remembered some of the previous night’s events. A fragment of something Trixie had said floated to the surface of his memory.It’s dangerous… My career is all I have left…“Man,” he muttered in frustration. “I’m such an ass.”***Trixie laid her suitcase on the bed and carefully pack