Page 186 of Boss of Me

At the end of February, my attorney calls me at work. “Just wanted to let you know we’re good to go. All thei’shave been dotted and thet’scrossed. The company’s shareholders are more than happy with the new stock price. You’re supported by the majority of the board of directors, and the few remaining holdouts will probably fold under pressure. Barring any unlikely surprises, your bid will be accepted unanimously.”

“Perfect.” I smile a cold smile. “Good work.”

“Hey, it was your master plan. I just executed your wishes,” Archie quips humorously. “Harlan should have realized a longtime ago that you’re way out of his league. He’s been punching above his weight for years, trying to go toe-to-toe with you. And now it’s going to cost him everything.” Archie chuckles, thoroughly enjoying the moment. “So after you give him the boot, what do you have planned for your new company?”

“Gonna do some restructuring and form a label called Blue Wish Records. We’ll sign new artists and have album release parties at my club. I also want to remaster and rerelease some of Bowen Somerset’s recordings. Maybe I’ll let Marlowe run that division—or the entire company—when she’s ready in a few years. She has more musical knowledge in her little pinky finger than Harlan has in his whole goddamn body.”

“Well shit, Ransom. Remind me never to get on your bad side,” Archie says with an admiring chuckle. “Congratulations on your new acquisition. I’ll await your further instructions.”

“Excellent. I’ll be in touch.” I end the call and lean back in my chair with my fingers steepled under my chin, lips curving with vicious satisfaction as I imagine the look on Harlan’s face when I stroll into his boardroom to seize the reins.

Checkmate, motherfucker.

“Mr. Ransom?” Veronica singsongs over the intercom on my desk. “You have a visitor.”

I swivel from the window, my heart kicking like crazy when my gorgeous fiancée pokes her head around the open door and smiles at me.

“This a good time?”

“For you? Always.”

Her smile widens as she struts into the room. I lean back to watch her approach, my gaze caressing every curve of her body from her luscious breasts down to her long legs accentuated by spiked boots.

“I was on my way to the library and thought I’d pop in and say hi.” She hops up onto the corner of my desk and crosses her legs, her denim shirtdress riding up her thighs.

Just like that, my dick gets hard.

When I slide my chair close to her, she smiles and leans in for a kiss. Just touching her sends my blood rushing through my veins and pooling thick in my groin. I can’t get enough of her. I’m worse than a love-starved teenager.

We’re getting married in June, and not a day too soon. She wanted to get through the spring semester so she could relax and enjoy our wedding and honeymoon.

I can’t wait to put another ring on her finger and make her my wife. I can’t wait to start a family and raise children together.

I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her. God willing, we’ll have many long years together.

Our lips cling deliciously before I pull away to rub my nose against hers, our eyes still locked. “How’d everything go with the wedding planner this morning? Please tell me our mothers behaved themselves.”

Marlowe grins. “Other than a few minor power struggles, they were on their best behavior.”

“Really? Only a few power struggles?”

“Yup.” An amused twinkle dances in her eyes. “Remember the warning you issued at our engagement party? When you threatened to ban them from our wedding if they say or do anything to upset me before June? I recall lots of pearl clutching. But I think they’re taking your threat seriously.”

“They should. I meant every word. I won’t have them stressing you out trying to achievetheirvision of the perfect society wedding. Same goes for Grandma Billingsley. She’s even worse than my mother, if you can believe it.” I grin. “So where are they now?”

“Our mothers? Trace dropped them off at some fancy tearoom. They can haggle about catering menus and seating charts over mint tea and scones.”

I smile but I’m only half listening, distracted by how beautiful she looks with her sparkling hazel eyes and dark hair spilling over her shoulders and breasts. I want her captured on canvas, which means it’s time to hire an artist to paint her portrait.

“Ooh, caffeine. I could use some of that.” She picks up my cooling mug of coffee and sips appreciatively. “I have lots of reading to do tonight. I need all the caffeine I can get or I’m in trouble.”

“Nah. You got this, Miss Straight A’s.”

She grins and sips more coffee, her eyes twinkling at me over the mug’s rim.

I’m so proud of her and everything she’s achieved so far. Though she doesn’t graduate for another year, I’ve already planned a big bash for her at my villa in Lake Como. Nothing but the best for my baby.

She smiles at the framed pictures on my desk. The one of her twirling on the clifftop has been joined by our official engagement photo, which was taken as we kissed in the rowboat at sunset. A bit cheesy, but undeniably romantic.