Chapter 9: Filthy Rich Bosses: Chapter 9

I push open the heavy oak door to my home, Juniper trailing behind me with her ever-present tablet. The familiar scent of leather and wood polish greets me, a comforting constant in my life.

‘And don’t forget to reschedule the meeting with the board for next Tuesday,’ I say, running through my mental checklist. ‘We need to have those quarterly reports finalized before—’

A flash of movement outside the French doors catches my eye, stopping me mid-sentence. I turn, drawn to the scene unfolding on my back lawn.

Tessa’s lithe figure moves with purpose, her black cherry-colored hair a vibrant streak against the lush green grass. She’s working with Zeus, guiding him through what looks like obedience training. Her hands move in swift, confident gestures, and even from here, I can see the intensity in her eyes.

‘Mr. Harrington?’ Juniper’s voice fades into the background as I watch, transfixed.

Chase is sprawled on a lounge chair nearby, his tattoo-covered arms folded behind his head. He calls out something I can’t quite hear, but it makes Tessa throw her head back in laughter. The sound carries faintly through the glass, light and carefree.

I feel a twinge in my chest. When was the last time I laughed like that?

‘Should I add anything else to your schedule for tomorrow?’ Juniper asks again, her pen poised over her tablet.

I blink, tearing my gaze away from the window. ‘No. Thank you.’

As she nods, I can’t help but glance back outside. Tessa’s kneeling now, scratching Zeus behind the ears, her smile soft and genuine. For a moment, I’m struck by how natural she looks there, in my backyard, with Sarah’s dog.

I shake my head, trying to clear the unexpected warmth blooming in my chest. There’s work to be done, after all. Always more work.

I turn away from the window, my jaw clenching as I try to push away the conflicting emotions. ‘Juniper, let’s head to my office. I need to dictate a few emails before we wrap up for the day.’

As we climb the stairs, I can’t help but think about Chase’s constant reminders to “switch off” when I get home. But how can I? There’s always another deal to close, another client to impress.

‘Mr. Harrington,’ Juniper says, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor, ‘about the Hendricks account—’

‘Right,’ I nod, pushing open the door to my home office. ‘We need to draft a response to their latest proposal. Take this down. ‘While we appreciate your enthusiasm…”

I settle into my leather chair, the familiar creak grounding me as I continue dictating. The words flow easily, years of practice making this second nature. But part of me can’t help wondering what it would be like to be out there instead, laughing in the sun without a care in the world.

I pause mid-sentence, rubbing the back of my neck. ‘Juniper, do you ever feel like you’re missing out on something?’

She looks up from her tablet, surprise flickering across her face. ‘Sir?’

I wave a hand dismissively. ‘Never mind. Where were we?’

As I resume dictating, I can’t shake the image of Tessa’s smile, or the pang of envy I felt watching Chase with her. But this is who I am, isn’t it? Grayson Harrington, always working, always striving. It’s what’s made me successful. It’s what Sarah loved about me.

Isn’t it?

‘Grayson?’ Tessa’s voice carries up the stairs, interrupting my train of thought.

I lean back in my chair, calling out, ‘I’m in the office. Come on up.’

Moments later, Tessa appears in the doorway, her hair windswept from being outside. Her green-blue eyes sparkle with determination, and I brace myself for whatever she’s about to say.

‘We need to talk about Zeus,’ she says, striding into the room with purpose.

I resist the urge to sigh. ‘Can’t it wait? I’m in the middle of—’

‘No, it can’t,’ Tessa cuts me off, her tone leaving no room for argument. ‘You need to be part of his training, Grayson. Zeus needs to see you as an authority figure too.’

I wave my hand dismissively, turning back to my computer. ‘I’m sure you’re doing a great job. I trust your expertise.’

‘That’s not the point,’ she insists, planting her hands on my desk and leaning forward. The scent of grass and fresh air clings to her, a stark contrast to the stuffy office air. ‘Zeus needs to bond with you. You’re his owner.’

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Sarah’s face flashes in my mind, and I swallow hard. ‘I’m not—I can’t replace Sarah.’

Tessa’s expression softens slightly. ‘No one’s asking you to. But Zeus needs stability, and that includes you.’

I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. Part of me wants to argue, to dive back into work where everything makes sense. But I can’t ignore the determined look in Tessa’s eyes or the truth in her words.

Before I can respond to Tessa, Juniper interjects, her voice sharp and cold. ‘Mr. Harrington can’t just rearrange his entire schedule because you demand it, Miss Morrow. He has important matters to attend to.’

I glance between the two women, feeling the tension crackle in the air. Juniper’s posture is rigid, her fingers clenched tightly around her tablet. Tessa, on the other hand, stands her ground, her chin tilted up defiantly.

‘This is important,’ Tessa counters, her eyes never leaving mine. ‘Zeus’s well-being affects everyone in this household.’

I rub my temples, the headache intensifying. ‘Juniper,’ I say, my voice weary, ‘I think we’re done for the day. You can head home.’

Juniper’s eyes widen in disbelief. ‘But sir, we haven’t finished—’

‘We’ll pick it up tomorrow,’ I interrupt, holding up a hand. ‘Thank you for your work today.’

As Juniper gathers her things, I catch the look of dismay on her face. It tugs at me, but I push the guilt aside. I need to focus on one problem at a time.

Juniper pauses at the door, shooting Tessa a withering glare. I expect Tessa to react, but she merely stands there, unfazed, her attention still on me.

‘Zeus needs you, Grayson,’ Tessa says once we’re alone, her voice softer but no less insistent. ‘If he’s going to succeed in his training, he needs to see you as part of his pack.’

I lean back in my chair, conflicted. Part of me wants to retreat into work, but another part—a part I’ve been ignoring for too long—knows she’s right.

‘What exactly do you want me to do?’ I ask, my resolve weakening.

“I just need you to be part of the training. I can direct you every step of the way for now, but you need to be present.”

I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. ‘Fine,’ I concede, pushing away from my desk. ‘Let me change into something more suitable.’

As I slip into a pair of well-worn jeans and a comfortable T-shirt, I can’t help but wonder how I’ve let myself get so caught up in work that I’ve neglected other important aspects of my life. The soft cotton against my skin feels like a small rebellion against the stuffy confines of my suit.

I make my way downstairs and out to the back lawn, the late afternoon sun warming my face. Tessa’s waiting for me, her dark cherry hair glinting in the golden light. But my momentary peace evaporates when I spot Chase lounging nearby, his presence an unwelcome surprise.

‘Thought you’d left,’ I mutter, unable to keep the irritation from my voice.

Chase’s lips curl into that infuriating smirk of his. ‘And miss all the fun? Not a chance, old man.’

I shoot him a look that could curdle milk, but he just shrugs it off with his typical nonchalance. Then, to my disbelief, he saunters over to Tessa and pulls her into a deep, sensuous kiss. His eyes never leave mine, a clear challenge in their depths.

‘Good luck with your training,’ Chase murmurs to Tessa as he pulls away, but his gaze is still locked on me. ‘Don’t let the grumpy bear work you too hard.’

As he strolls off, whistling, I clench my fists at my sides. ‘Was that really necessary?’ I growl at him, hating the jealousy that burns in my gut.

Tessa raises an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. ‘Focus, Grayson. We’re here for Zeus, remember?’

I take a deep breath, trying to push aside my irritation. Tessa’s right. This is about Zeus, about Sarah. I need to focus.

‘All right,’ I say, tapping my fingers against my thigh. ‘What’s the plan?’

Tessa’s eyes light up, her passion for her work evident. ‘First things first, we need to establish you as the pack leader. Zeus needs to see you as his new authority figure.’

She gestures to where Zeus is lying in the shade of a large oak tree, his ears perked in our direction.

‘How exactly do we do that?’ I ask, eyeing the German Shepherd warily.

‘Body language is key,’ Tessa explains, demonstrating a confident posture. ‘Stand tall, shoulders back. Project calm authority.’

I mimic her stance, feeling a bit foolish. ‘Like this?’

She nods approvingly. ‘Good. Now, we’ll start with some basic commands. But remember, it’s not just about the words. It’s about the energy you’re projecting. Mostly, though, it’s about how you feel. He can feel everything you’re feeling, Grayson.’

As we begin, I can’t help but feel out of my depth. Zeus watches us with intelligent eyes, and I swear I can see skepticism in them.

‘Sit,’ I command, trying to sound authoritative.

Zeus tilts his head, clearly unimpressed.

‘More conviction,’ Tessa urges. ‘He needs to believe you’re in charge. Make sure you’re using the voice and hand commands together.’

She demonstrates the motion for sit again and I nod then take a deep breath, channeling my boardroom presence. ‘Zeus, sit.’

This time, after a moment’s hesitation, Zeus complies. A small victory, but it feels monumental.

‘Good boy,’ I say, surprised by the warmth in my voice.

As we continue, I find myself struggling. It’s harder than I expected, requiring a different kind of focus than I’m used to. But every time I consider giving up, I think of Sarah. Of how much she loved this dog. And I push on.