Chapter 12: Filthy Rich Bosses: Chapter 12

I watch Tessa stomp off, her shoes smacking angrily against the hardwood floor. Her dramatic exit makes me roll my eyes. Christ, I’m so sick of this kind of theatrics. Women and their damn drama.

I don’t know what the hell Grayson was thinking bringing that human-sized ball of trouble into our lives. Well, maybe I do. And maybe part of me gets it. But he could have hired someone else—anyone else. Someone actually qualified for the job even.

But, no. We get a walking, talking temptation I want nothing to fucking do with.

My gaze shifts to Chase, who’s staring after her with that look in his eyes. That soft, intrigued look that makes my stomach churn—even if it is mixed with hurt. I know exactly what he’s thinking, and I don’t have to like it one bit.

‘You can’t be serious,’ I mutter under my breath, shaking my head.

Chase turns to me, one eyebrow raised. ‘What was that?’

‘What the hell is your problem, Chase?’

He looks up at me, those blue eyes wide with feigned innocence. ‘My problem? I don’t have a problem, man. What’s yours?’

The casual tone in his voice grates on my last nerve. I can feel a vein throbbing in my forehead as I glare down at him. ‘Don’t play dumb with me. You know exactly what I’m talking about.’

Chase sighs, running a hand through his disheveled blonde hair. ‘Look, Cole, if this is about Tessa—’

‘Of course it’s about Tessa!’ I snap, cutting him off.

Chase sighs, his usual carefree demeanor slipping for a moment. ‘All right, all right. I’ll spill.’ He leans forward, elbows on his knees. ‘We were out on that rescue mission, right? And it was…it was bad, Cole. She shouldn’t have been there at all.’

I pinch the bridge of my nose, already sensing where this is going. ‘And let me guess, our little spitfire couldn’t leave well enough alone?’

‘Bingo,’ Chase nods, a hint of admiration in his voice that sets my teeth on edge. ‘She let herself in the damn house before I could stop her. Next thing I know, she’s face-to-face with this huge dude, screaming her head off about animal abuse.’

My jaw clenches. ‘Jesus Christ,’ I mutter, the anger bubbling up inside me. ‘What the hell was she thinking?’

Chase shrugs, his nonchalance only fueling my irritation. ‘Animals seem to matter more to her than her own safety apparently.’

I start pacing, my mind racing. Why am I so worked up about this? It’s not like I care what happens to her. But the thought of Tessa putting herself in danger still makes my stomach churn.

‘That’s no excuse,’ I snap, more harshly than I intended. ‘She could’ve gotten herself killed, or worse.’

Chase raises an eyebrow. ‘Worse than killed?’

I ignore his attempt at humor, grabbing my laptop bag from the nearby table. ‘I can’t deal with this right now. I’ve got work to do.’

‘Aren’t you already supposed to be at work?’

I shoot him a glare. ‘I was working from home.”

“You never work from home.”

“Yes, well I’m remedying that now. The office suddenly seems like a much better option than this circus.’

I storm out of the house, slamming the door behind me. I slide into my car, the leather seat creaking under my weight, and peel out of the driveway.

The city streets blur past as I weave through traffic, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. But no matter how fast I drive, I can’t seem to outrun the image of Tessa’s defiant face, those greenish-blue eyes flashing with that infuriating mix of passion and stubbornness.

‘Dammit,’ I mutter, punching the sound system on. The car fills with thundering bass, but even that can’t drown out my thoughts.

Why the hell do I care so much? She’s just an temporary employee, for Christ’s sake. A troublesome one at that. Not even my employee.

I catch a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror, my jaw clenched tight. ‘Get it together, Cole,’ I growl at my reflection.

As I round the corner, the sleek glass tower of Gray Smoke Enterprises comes into view. The sight of it settles something in me, like a deep breath after holding it for too long.

‘Finally,’ I sigh, pulling into my reserved spot. ‘Somewhere that makes sense.’

I stride through the revolving doors, the familiar hush of the lobby washing over me. Employees scatter, averting their eyes as I pass. Good. At least here, I’m still in control.

‘Morning, Mr. Ashford,’ the receptionist chirps.

I nod curtly, already feeling more like myself. The polished marble floors reflect the morning light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating an almost ethereal glow. I pause for a moment, taking in the carefully curated modern art pieces adorning the walls. This place—it’s a testament to everything I’ve built, everything I am.

‘Good morning, Mr. Ashford.’ The security guard nods respectfully as I pass.

‘Morning, Jim,’ I return, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease slightly.

As I step into the elevator, I catch my reflection in the mirrored walls. I straighten my tie, running a hand through my hair. By the time I reach the top floor, I’ve managed to school my features into their usual mask of cool professionalism.

The doors slide open, revealing Janine at her desk. She’s already on her feet, tablet in hand, ready to tackle the day. Now this is what I’m talking about. Efficiency, competence—none of that messy emotional crap.

‘Morning, Janine,’ I say, striding towards my office. ‘What’s on the agenda today?’

She falls into step beside me, her heels clicking rhythmically on the polished floor. ‘Your one p.m. with the board is still on, and there’s the conference call with San Fran at three. Oh, and…’ she hesitates, her usual confidence faltering.

I stop, turning to face her. ‘What is it?’

Janine takes a deep breath. ‘Morgan’s called. Multiple times. She’s…insistent on speaking with you.’

I feel my jaw clench involuntarily. ‘Of course she is,’ I mutter, pinching the bridge of my nose. ‘Any idea what she wants?’

‘She wouldn’t say, sir. Just that it’s urgent.’

I let out a humorless chuckle. ‘With Morgan, everything’s urgent.’

I run a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up inside me. ‘Keep telling her I’m unavailable. If she persists, threaten to block her number.’

Janine nods, but I can see the concern in her eyes. ‘Of course, sir. But…she seems particularly determined this time.’

‘Fuck,’ I mutter under my breath. Of course she is. Morgan never understood boundaries, even when we were together. Why would that change now?

I push open the door to my office, the familiar scent of leather and polished wood greeting me. It’s a stark contrast to the chaos I left at home. Here, everything is in order.

I toss my briefcase onto the desk and shrug off my jacket, draping it over the back of my chair. The morning light streams through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the sleek, modern furniture. This space screams power and control—exactly how I like it.

Sinking into my chair, I boot up my computer and begin scanning one of the reports on my desk. But as I try to focus on the numbers in front of me, my mind keeps drifting. To Tessa’s fiery eyes as she stormed off. To Chase’s uncharacteristic anger. To the suffocating tension that seems to have taken over my home.

‘Dammit,’ I growl, shoving the report away. Why the hell can’t I shake this? It’s just another day, another drama. So why does it feel so…different?

I lean back, staring out at the city skyline. The world outside carries on, oblivious to my internal struggle. And here I am, Cole Ashford, master of his domain, rattled by a slip of a girl and her rescue dog crusade.

Just as I start to regain my focus, a commotion erupts outside my office. Raised voices pierce through the usual hum of productivity, and one in particular makes my jaw clench. Morgan.

I’m on my feet before I realize it, striding to the door and yanking it open. The scene that greets me is exactly what I’d feared. Morgan stands in the hall, her face flushed with anger, her designer handbag clutched like a weapon. Poor Janine looks flustered, trying to block Morgan’s path while maintaining some semblance of professionalism.

‘Mr. Ashford is in a meeting,’ Janine insists, her voice strained.

Morgan’s laugh is sharp, cutting. ‘Oh please, I know he’s avoiding me.’

I scan the office, noting the not-so-subtle glances from my employees. Great. Just what I need—more fodder for the rumor mill.

‘Morgan,’ I say, my voice low and controlled. ‘What are you doing here?’

She whirls to face me, triumph flashing in her eyes. ‘Cole, darling. We need to talk.’

I feel a headache brewing behind my eyes. The longer this goes on, the more it disrupts everything I’ve built here. With a resigned sigh, I jerk my head toward my office. ‘Fine. Five minutes, and then you’re gone.’

Morgan’s smirk is insufferable as she saunters past me. I exchange a look with Janine, who gives me a sympathetic shrug. Steeling myself, I follow Morgan into my office and shut the door firmly behind us.

‘Well?’ I say, crossing my arms. ‘What was so important it couldn’t wait?’

“Your girlfriend should never have to wait.”

I lean against my desk, trying to project an air of calm I definitely don’t feel. ‘Look, Morgan, I’ve been clear about this. We’re done. There’s nothing left to discuss.’

Her perfectly manicured nails tap against her thigh as she lets her skirt show more and more skin. Does she think she can seduce her way back into my life? ‘Oh, but I think there is, Cole. You can’t just throw away what we had.’

I suppress a groan. ‘What we had was toxic, and you know it. Now, I’ve got work to do, so if you don’t mind—’

‘Don’t you dare dismiss me!’ Her voice rises, eyes flashing. ‘You think you can replace me? Please.’

For some reason, the spitfire living in my house is the first thing that pops into my head. I push the thought away, focusing on the problem at hand. ‘This isn’t about anyone else. It’s about us being over. Period.’

Morgan’s laugh is brittle. ‘You’re making a mistake, Cole. We were perfect together.’

‘Perfect?’ I can’t help but scoff. ‘Is that what you call the constant drama? The manipulation?’

She steps closer, her perfume cloying. ‘I call it passion. Something you clearly lack without me. Actually, you’re nothing without me, and you know it. You need me back in your life because your life is nothing without me in it.’

I feel my patience wearing thin. ‘That’s enough, Morgan. You need to leave. Now.’

‘Or what?’ she challenges, chin tilted defiantly.

I straighten, my voice hardening. ‘Or I’ll have security escort you out. And trust me, if this happens again, I won’t hesitate to get a restraining order.’

For a moment, I see a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. But it’s quickly replaced by a cold fury. ‘You wouldn’t dare.’

‘Try me,’ I say, reaching for my phone.

Morgan’s lips curl into a sneer. ‘Fine. I’m going. But this isn’t over, Cole. You’ll regret this.’

As she storms out, slamming the door behind her, I sink into my chair. The silence feels almost deafening after her outburst. I rub my temples, wondering how the hell I ever thought getting involved with Morgan was a good idea.

And why, despite everything, does a small part of me still feel guilty?