All Chapters of Chasing The Boss: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Four weeks had passed since the warehouse explosion. Four weeks since Shaw disappeared into the night like smoke. Four weeks of trying to return to normal life.The Metropolitan Club's dining room hummed with the quiet conversations of powerful people. Crystal glasses clinked against fine china. Servers in white jackets moved silently between tables. This was where the real business of the city got done, over expensive meals and carefully worded agreements.I checked my watch. 2:15. The lunch meeting with Senator Williams and his committee had run longer than expected. They wanted Cross Industries to fund a new technology initiative. I wanted assurances that the technology would be used responsibly. We were still negotiating."Mr. Cross?" My assistant David appeared at my elbow. He had been waiting patiently near the bar. "Your car is ready whenever you are.""Thank you. Any word from Marcus about Lexi?""She finished her interview with the mayor's office. They're escorting her back t

The call came at 7:30 in the morning while I was drinking my first cup of coffee. I was standing in my penthouse kitchen, looking out at the city as it woke up. The sun was just starting to touch the tops of the skyscrapers. It was going to be a beautiful day."Mr. Cross?" It was Gregory, my assistant. He sounded upset."What is it?""Sir, I have some bad news. Giselle Laurent was released from prison yesterday."I nearly dropped my coffee mug. "What do you mean released? She was sentenced to five years for fraud and embezzlement.""Yes sir. But her lawyers filed a medical appeal. They claim she has a brain hemorrhage that requires immediate treatment not available in the prison medical facility.""A brain hemorrhage? Since when?""The medical report was filed three days ago. Her lawyers moved very quickly through the courts. They got an emergency release order."I set my coffee down on the marble counter and walked to the window. The beautiful morning suddenly felt less bright."Greg

I was in the middle of a board meeting when Marcus texted me. "Giselle Laurent just called Miss Carter. We have the recording."I excused myself from the conference room and called Marcus immediately."Play it for me."I listened to the entire conversation between Lexi and Giselle. My blood boiled with every word that came out of Giselle's mouth. She was trying to poison Lexi's mind against me. She was planting seeds of doubt about my feelings, about my motives, about everything we had built together."Where is Lexi now?" I asked when the recording ended."Still at the Daily Buzz. But sir, there's something else. Miss Laurent is on the move. She left the medical facility an hour ago.""Where did she go?""To a private airport. Her grandfather's jet is waiting there.""Is she leaving the country?""We don't think so. Our sources say she's just picking up some luggage. Expensive luggage. Louis Vuitton, Chanel, the works. Looks like she's planning an extended stay.""An extended stay whe

The conference call with investors lasted three hours. Three hours of reassuring nervous men with too much money that their investments were safe. Three hours of explaining that Giselle Laurent was a convicted criminal with a grudge and nothing more.Most of them seemed satisfied by the end. But a few still had doubts. I could hear it in their voices. The hesitation. The worry."Mr. Cross," one investor said near the end of the call. "I understand that Miss Laurent was convicted. But her grandfather is Charles Laurent. He has significant influence in European markets. If he decides to wage a public campaign against you, it could affect our stock prices.""Charles Laurent can wage whatever campaign he wants," I said firmly. "The facts are on our side. Giselle embezzled two million dollars. She tried to frame me for insider trading. She was convicted by a jury. These are not disputed facts.""But public perception doesn't always align with facts.""Then we'll make sure the public knows

The stress of the past few weeks felt like a heavy weight on my shoulders. Every day brought a new problem. Giselle was still making threats through her lawyers. The business was facing new challenges from competitors. And now, Lexi was being pressured by her editor, Frank, to dig up dirt on me. I felt like I was fighting battles on all fronts.When my phone rang and I saw it was Michael, an old friend from college, I almost did not answer. I was too busy. But something made me pick up. During college days, I didn't have any friends, most of them forced themselves on me."Lucian! I am in town for a conference. A few of the old gang are here too. We are grabbing drinks tonight. You have to come." His loud voice blasted.I started to say no. I had too much work. I needed to be with Lexi. But then I thought about it. A few hours with old friends, laughing about the past, might be exactly what I needed. A chance to forget about all my problems for a little while."I will be there," I said