Page 39 of Boss of Me

“It’s Gunner.” I pause. “Gunner Ransom.”

Mom and Ember gasp loudly, their eyes widening in shock. “The tech CEO?”

“You’ve heard of him?”

“Of course we’ve heard of him!” Mom exclaims. “He only happens to be one of the richest men in the country! He’s worth billions and he’s constantly featured inForbes,GQ, Money, you name it. Honestly, you’d have to be living under a rock not to know who he is!”

“Ididn’t know who he was,” I admit with a shrug. “But I figured that was because I’m not from Texas, and I don’t move in business circles like you guys do. If he was a famous artist, that would’ve been a different story.”

“Silly girl,” Mom chides, but there’s no scorn in her voice. In fact, she’s staring at me with pure, unadulterated delight—something I’m not used to. “How did you land a job as Gunner Ransom’s housekeeper? More important, how much is he paying you?”

I hesitate, chewing my bottom lip. “Two hundred thousand.”

Mom and Ember’s stunned faces almost make me laugh.

“Two hundred thousand dollars?” Ember squeals.

I can’t help grinning. “Crazy, right?”

“Good heavens,” Mom bursts out incredulously. “You’re making more than your sister makes with a law degree!”

“Seriously.” Ember is grinning wide. “Maybe I need to quit my thankless job and move down to Texas to become a housekeeper.”

“Or to catch a rich husband.” There’s a calculating gleam in Mom’s eyes. “Marlowe can work her charms on Gunner, and you can do the same with his brother.”

Ember and I groan in disgust. “Don’t even?—”

“Marlowe?” a stern voice calls from inside the house.

Shit!

“I have to go.” I rush off the phone and hurry back inside just as Mrs. Calder turns to leave the billiard room. “Did you need me?”

She turns around. “Oh, there you are. I was wondering where you’d gone off to.”

I blush at being caught slacking on the job. “Just getting some fresh air. Sorry.”

“Don’t be, dear girl. You’re allowed breaks.” Mrs. Calder has a leather garment bag folded over her arm. “Mr. Ransom is having dinner with some important investors this evening. He asked that you bring him a fresh change of clothes.”

“Right now?”

“Of course.” She walks over to hand me the garment bag. “Take the Range Rover. The company’s address is already programmed into the GPS.”

“Um. Okay.” I glance down at my gray uniform. It’s double-breasted with a fitted waist, an A-line skirt, and a white collar and cuffs. Without the apron, it could almost pass for a stylish dress.

Still, I’d feel pretty weird showing up to Gunner’s office in a maid’s uniform. “Should I change?”

“I’d rather you didn’t. The longer you wait, the worse traffic gets.”

“Especially on a Friday.”

“Precisely.” When I don’t move right away, Mrs. Calder briskly claps her hands. “Chop, chop, off you go.”

I almost curtsy. “Yes, ma’am.”

pantheon global solutions is headquartered ina glistening skyscraper overlooking West Second Street. The impressively sleek building has forty floors of office space, two five-star restaurants, a bar and cigar lounge, and a spa and fitness center.

Following Mrs. Calder’s instructions, I park at the private entrance in the back. A security guard is waiting to escort me up to the top floor, which houses the company’s C-suite offices.