Chapter 11: Filthy Rich Bosses: Chapter 11

I slam the car door shut, the satisfying clunk doing little to quell the frustration boiling inside of me. The late afternoon sun beats down on my neck as I stomp up the driveway, my boots crunching with each angry step.

‘Tessa, come on,’ Chase calls from behind me, his voice a mix of exasperation and guilt. ‘I said I was sorry!’

I don’t even bother turning around, just quicken my pace toward the sprawling mansion looming ahead. My fists clench at my sides as I replay Chase’s patronizing words from earlier in my head.

‘I was just trying to help,’ he’d said, as if I was some damsel in distress who needed rescuing.

Yeah, right. More like he was trying to play hero and show off. I’d been taking care of myself long before Chase Cavanaugh waltzed into my life with his tousled hair, carefree smile, and bucketloads of money.

As I reach the front steps, I hear him jogging to catch up. ‘Would you just talk to me, please?’ he pleads.

I whirl around, fixing him with a glare. ‘What’s there to talk about? You made it pretty clear you don’t think I can handle things on my own.’

Chase runs a hand through his hair, messing it up even more. ‘That’s not what I meant at all. I was worried about you, that’s all.’

‘I don’t need you to worry about me,’ I snap. ‘I’m not some charity case for you to swoop in and save.’

With that, I yank open the heavy oak door and storm inside, my footsteps echoing in the cavernous foyer. The cool air-conditioning hits my flushed skin, but does nothing to calm the anger still simmering inside of me.

Who does he think he is? I fume silently as I head for the stairs. Just because he grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth doesn’t mean he gets to dictate my choices. I’ve survived worse situations than that without any help, thank you very much.

Chase’s footsteps quicken behind me, his voice taking on a softer tone. ‘Tessa, would you just stop for a second?’

I keep walking, my shoulders tensing even more at his pleading tone. Why can’t he take a hint? I pick up my pace, hoping to reach my room before he catches up.

‘Look, I know I messed up,’ Chase continues, his words tumbling out. ‘I didn’t mean to imply—’

I round the corner into the living room, intent on ignoring him, when I nearly collide with a solid wall of muscle. Cole. Great, just what I need.

His deep-set eyes narrow as they flick between Chase and me. The air feels thick with tension as Cole’s low, dangerous voice cuts through the silence. ‘What the hell is going on?’

I open my mouth to reply, but the words catch in my throat. Cole’s imposing presence makes me feel small, and I hate that. I’ve never been one to back down from a fight, but something about his intense gaze makes me want to retreat.

Instead, I square my shoulders and meet his eyes. ‘Nothing that concerns you,’ I say, my voice steadier than I feel. I try to sidestep him, but he doesn’t budge.

‘Doesn’t look like nothing,’ Cole growls, his gaze now fixed on Chase.

I feel a flare of indignation. Of course he’d assume it was Chase’s fault. As if I’m not capable of having my own issues.

I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. The urge to lash out is overwhelming, but I bite my tongue. These guys don’t deserve to see how much they’re getting under my skin.

‘It’s nothing,’ I growl, shoving past Cole. His cologne—woodsy and spicy—fills my senses for a brief moment. I push away the unwelcome flutter in my stomach.

As I storm toward the stairs, my mind races. Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to grab my stuff and bolt. These infuriating men, with their testosterone-fueled drama and misplaced protective instincts, are driving me insane.

But then reality crashes down. The bills piling up. The lack of a home. The reference I desperately need. The animals that depend on me.

I pause at the foot of the stairs, taking a deep breath. I can’t let them win. I won’t.

‘Kitten, please,’ Chase’s voice floats over, tinged with regret. ‘Can we just talk about this?’

I turn, facing them both. Cole’s arms are crossed, his jaw set in a hard line. Chase looks like a kicked puppy.

‘There’s nothing to talk about,’ I say, forcing my voice to remain calm. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.’

As I climb the stairs, I silently vow not to let these men—or my own pride—ruin this opportunity. I’ve faced worse. I can handle this.

As soon as I reach my room, I shut the door behind me, leaning against it with a heavy sigh. The tension in my shoulders eases slightly as I spot Lulu curled up on my bed.

‘Hey, girl,’ I whisper, my voice cracking slightly.

Lulu’s tail thumps against the comforter as I approach. I sink onto the bed, burying my fingers in her soft fur. The familiar warmth of her body against mine acts like a balm to my frayed nerves.

‘What am I doing here, Lu?’ I murmur, scratching behind her ears. ‘These guys are driving me crazy.’

Lulu responds with a gentle lick to my hand, her dark eyes full of unconditional love. I can’t help but smile, feeling some of my frustration melt away.

‘You’re right,’ I say, giving her a final pat. ‘No use wallowing. We’ve got work to do.’

I stand up, grabbing Lulu’s leash from the dresser. ‘Ready for a walk, girl? And maybe we can make some more progress with Zeus.’

At the mention of a walk, Lulu’s entire body wiggles with excitement. I clip on her leash, taking a deep breath to steel myself for whatever awaits downstairs.

‘All right, Lu. Let’s do this.’

As we descend the stairs, I’m relieved to find the foyer empty. No sign of Chase or Cole. Small mercies, I suppose. We make our way outside, the fresh air helping to clear my head.

Zeus’ kennel comes into view, and I see his tail start to wag cautiously as we approach. My heart aches for him, remembering all he’s been through.

‘Hey, big guy,’ I call softly, crouching down near the kennel. ‘How about we try something new today?’

I unclip Lulu’s leash and set it aside. Zeus watches us intently, his ears perked forward. I command Lulu to stay, then let myself into the kennel with Zeus. The introduction needs to be slow. He can be aggressive with strangers and I don’t know if that extends to other dogs.

‘Okay, Zeus. Let’s start simple,’ I say, my voice calm and steady. ‘Sit.’

To my surprise, Zeus complies almost immediately, his haunches lowering to the ground. A smile tugs at my lips.

‘Good boy!’ I exclaim, tossing him a treat. Zeus catches it mid-air, his tail picking up speed.

I run through a few more basic commands—stay, down, come—and Zeus nails each one. My earlier frustrations start to fade, replaced by a growing sense of accomplishment.

‘You’re doing so well, buddy,’ I coo, risking getting closer to him. Zeus doesn’t growl or back away, which I take as a good sign.

Feeling emboldened, I decide to push things a little further. ‘Want to try some agility work, Zeus?’

I set up a simple obstacle course using some equipment I spot in the yard—a low jump, a tunnel, and a weave pole. Lulu watches curiously from her spot near my feet.

‘All right, Zeus,’ I say, opening the kennel door slowly. ‘Let’s see what you can do.’

As Zeus emerges, I can’t help but hold my breath. This is the moment of truth. Will he bolt? Growl? Instead, he looks up at me, awaiting instruction.

‘Good boy,’ I breathe, relief washing over me. ‘Now, heel.’

I hook the leash to his collar for now, until I’m sure he’s not going to go after Lulu like she’s his next tasty treat. I let the two approach each other slowly. Zeus is guarded but shows no signs of aggression. I tell Lulu to lie down to make her less threatening.

Once I’m sure Zeus is comfortable with her, I walk them both over to the course I’ve set up.

We make our way through the course, Zeus responding to my commands with growing enthusiasm. By the third run-through, he’s practically prancing.

‘You’re a natural, Zeus!’ I laugh, my earlier tension completely forgotten. This is why I do what I do—for moments like this. I can’t wait to tell Grayson.