Chapter 4: Filthy Rich Bosses: Chapter 4

I‘m lounging against the kitchen counter, crunching into a crisp apple as I watch the chaos unfold around me. The house is buzzing with activity, staff scurrying about like ants preparing for winter. And at the center of it all is Grayson, looking like he’s about to pop a blood vessel.

Well, today should be entertaining at the very least.

‘Juniper! Where are those contracts?’ Grayson barks, his usually perfect hair slightly disheveled.

I can’t help but smirk as Juniper practically trips over herself to hand him a stack of papers. ‘Right here, Mr. Harrington,’ she simpers, batting her eyelashes.

Ugh. I wrinkle my nose at her obvious fawning. Can’t she see he’s not interested?

‘These are the wrong contracts!’ Grayson snaps, shoving the papers back at her. ‘Get me the revised drafts. Now!’

Poor Juniper looks like she’s about to cry as she scampers off. I almost feel bad for her. Almost.

As I take another bite of my apple, I watch Douglas directing the staff like a military general. ‘Make sure the guest room is spotless,’ he orders. ‘Fresh linens, flowers, all the things.’

I have no fucking clue what’s going on, but I’m loving every second of it. Who could this mystery guest be to get Grayson so worked up?

Honestly, I’m at a loss. No one comes here besides me, Grayson, and Cole. I mean Juniper makes a very unpleasant appearance if Grayson is working from home, but she never stays.

My mind is conjuring up all kinds of fun scenarios. Grayson knocked up some young little thing and now he needs to house her until she pops out his spawn. Or, maybe he’s feeling extra charitable and he picked up someone in need to join the Old Ass Bachelor Club.

‘You look like you’re enjoying the show,’ Douglas comments dryly as he passes by.

I grin, juice dribbling down my chin. ‘What can I say? I live for the drama.’

Grayson whirls on me, blue eyes flashing. ‘If you have nothing better to do, get the hell out of the kitchen!’

‘Yes, sir,’ I salute mockingly, tossing my apple core in the trash.

Grayson storms off, and I poke through the pantry, looking for something else to eat.

I’m lounging against the kitchen counter, idly scrolling through my phone and mindlessly eating some crackers, when the front door swings open. My jaw nearly hits the floor.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

This absolute bombshell of a woman strides in like she owns the place. She’s tiny—can’t be more than five foot three —but her presence fills the room. High cheekbones, piercing greenish-blue eyes, and hair the color of black cherries. But it’s her expression that really catches my attention—a perfect resting bitch face that screams, “don’t mess with me”.

‘Damn,’ I whisper under my breath.

Then I notice the little furball trotting beside her. It’s the weirdest, most adorable dog I’ve ever seen—like someone shrunk a pitbull and gave it hound dog coloring.

I’m so distracted by this unexpected vision that it takes me a moment to register the luggage she’s hauling.

‘Wait, what?’ I mutter, pushing off the counter. ‘She’s the one staying here?’

Grayson appears out of nowhere, looking harried. ‘Ms. Morrow, thank you for coming on such short notice,’ he says, his tone clipped but polite. ‘If you’ll just sign these documents, we can get you settled.’

The woman—Ms. Morrow, apparently—raises an eyebrow but takes the offered pen. “I’m not signing a damn thing until I’ve read through it. I know how you people work.”

You people? Oh, this is going to get really interesting. I watch the vein in Grayson’s forehead become more and more pronounced as she slowly reads through every. Single. Page.

As she (finally) signs, Grayson turns to me. The warning in his eyes is clear as day: behave or I’ll behead you.

I never behave. He should know that by now. We’ve been friends since prep school, after all. Two decades in, and you’d think he’d learn. Warning me off only makes me want something that much more.

“You can meet Zeus tomorrow. I’d rather you settle in and get comfortable first before introducing the two of you. I have to get to the office, but my house staff can show you to your room and help you get settled.”

I watch as Douglas glides into the room, looking dapper in his perfectly pressed, three-piece suit. He gives Ms. Morrow a polite nod. ‘Welcome to the Harrington residence, madam. I trust your journey was pleasant?’

Ms. Morrow’s eyes narrow slightly, like she’s trying to figure out if Douglas is for real. I can’t blame her—his posh British accent and impeccable manners can be a bit much at first.

‘It was fine,’ she says curtly, her voice carrying a hint of steel.

I decide it’s time to break the ice. ‘Hey there, beautiful,’ I say, flashing my most winning smile. ‘Allow me to give you the grand tour. I promise it’ll be way more fun than whatever stuffy welcome Douglas had planned.’

Her eyes snap to mine, and damn if they don’t sparkle with irritation. ‘I’m not here for fun,’ she snaps. ‘And I don’t need a tour guide, especially not one who looks like he just rolled out of a frat party.’

I can’t help but laugh. ‘Ouch! Kitten’s got claws,’ I say, holding a hand to my chest in mock pain. But inside, my heart’s doing backflips. This girl is something else.

Douglas clears his throat. ‘Perhaps I should show Ms. Morrow to her room now,’ he suggests.

‘Nah, I’ve got this,’ I say, winking at Ms. Morrow. ‘Come on, Grumpy Cat. Let’s get you settled.’

“It’s Tessa.”

“Well, kitten, the name you’ll be screaming later is Chase.”

“In exasperation, I’m sure.”

“Oh, no, my sweet. In absolute pleasure.”

As I lead her toward the guest wing, I can’t stop stealing glances at her. The way she walks, all confident and no-nonsense, it’s doing things to me. I fall hard and fast and move on quickly. It’s the rich boy MO, and I’ve perfected it.

But this time, I’m absolutely smitten. I’ve never fallen this hard, this fast before. And even though she’s pretending to be annoyed, I catch the tiniest quirk of her lips when I crack another joke.

Oh yeah, I think to myself. This is going to be fun.

I shadow her like a puppy all afternoon, watching as she unpacks and settles in. Every time she catches me staring, she rolls those gorgeous eyes.

‘Don’t you have anything better to do?’ she asks, exasperation dripping from her voice.

I lean against the doorframe, arms crossed. ‘Nope. My schedule’s wide open, just for you.’

She huffs, but I swear I see the hint of a smile. ‘Lucky me,’ she mutters.

As the day wears on, I can feel her walls starting to crack. She laughs at one of my jokes—a real laugh, not just a sarcastic snort—and my heart soars.

When my phone buzzes with a text from Grayson, I grin. ‘Looks like the boss man’s working late,’ I announce. ‘You know what that means?’

She raises an eyebrow. ‘Maybe you’ll join him?’

I clutch my chest dramatically. ‘You wound me! No, it means we’re having a private party. Just you and me, kitten.’

‘I told you not to call me that,’ she grumbles, but there’s no real heat behind it.

‘Come on,’ I say, holding out my hand. ‘I promise it’ll be fun. Unless you’re scared?’

Her eyes narrow at the challenge. ‘Fine,’ she says, following me down the hall. ‘But this better be good.’

As I lead her downstairs, my mind’s already racing with possibilities. One thing’s for sure—this is going to be a night to remember.

I saunter into the kitchen, feeling Tessa’s eyes on me as I rummage through the fridge. The chef left us a mouthwatering spread of appetizers—I grab the platter, balancing it carefully.

‘Red or white?’ I call over my shoulder, eyeing the wine rack.

‘Red,’ Tessa replies, her voice closer than I expected. I turn to find her leaning against the counter, arms crossed. ‘If you’re going to force me into this ‘party’, I might as well enjoy it.’

I can’t help but grin. ‘That’s the spirit, kitten.’

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the ghost of a smile. ‘I thought I told you to stop calling me that.’

‘You did,’ I agree, snagging a bottle of Merlot. ‘But it suits you so well.’

I lead the way out to the patio, the warm evening air enveloping us. The sun’s just starting to set, painting the sky in vibrant oranges and pinks. I set everything down on the table, gesturing grandly.

‘Your private party awaits, my lady.’

Tessa snorts but takes a seat. ‘You’re ridiculous, you know that?’

‘It’s part of my charm.’ I wink, pouring us each a generous glass of wine. ‘So, tell me something about yourself that isn’t in that contract Grayson had you sign.’

She takes a sip, considering. ‘I…I rescue animals,’ she says finally. ‘Mostly dogs, but I’ve got a soft spot for any creature that needs help.’

My heart melts a little. ‘Is that how you ended up with your dog?’

Her face softens, and I realize it’s the first time I’ve seen her truly relax. ‘Yeah, that’s my Lulu. Found her abandoned in a park. She was so tiny, I thought she was a puppy at first.’

I lean in, genuinely intrigued. ‘What was she doing in a park?’

As Tessa launches into the story of Lulu’s rescue, I can’t help but marvel at how animated she becomes. Her eyes light up, and her hands gesture expressively. I find myself hanging on every word, drawn in by her passion.

This girl is something else, I think to myself. And I’m determined to unravel every fascinating layer.