Page 4 of Bred By Dad’s Boss (Bred By A Daddy)

Ivy

I t’s been three weeks since I ran into, or rather, collided with, Mr. Slater at the office.

Every day when I bring dad’s lunch, I look around hoping I’ll catch a glimpse of him.

So far I haven’t seen him, and I leave disappointed, going home to touch myself to memories of his handsome face.

Or, when I’m really needy, I pull up his corporate photo, the power radiating from the screen sending me over the edge quickly.

I still feel like I’m being watched, but more like I’m being watched over, protected. Against my better judgment, I’m starting to like the feeling. I just really hope that it’s not Jimmy, the creepy mail delivery guy at the office. Almost every day he makes it his mission to ask me out.

When I take Pudge out for her walks I never feel alone, but there’s never anyone around me. Once I saw a big man with an adorable German Shepherd, and I thought it might’ve been Mr. Slater, but he was wearing a ball cap and they were moving away from me by the time I tried to get a closer look.

Tomorrow is my birthday and I have plans to go out with a few of my girlfriends tonight to celebrate.

I dropped dad’s lunch off at his office, using dress shopping as my excuse to leave quickly, hoping to avoid Jimmy’s unwanted advances.

As I round the corner, the last stretch before I’m free, he steps into my path.

“Hey sexy lady, you change your mind yet?” he asks, sauntering toward me as I take a step back. He advances again, forcing me to flatten myself against the wall until I can dart around him.

“No, Jimmy. And I won’t,” I say as forcefully as possible. “I - I have a boyfriend.” I surprise myself with the lie, but when I envision myself with Mr. Slater, I’m able to believe it a little more when Jimmy questions me.

“A boyfriend?” he asks, one brow quirked. “When did that happen? You’ve never mentioned a boyfriend before.” His eyes are hard, angry, betraying the strained smile on his face.

“A while ago, but we’ve gotten more serious just recently.

So, if you’ll excuse me,” I say, sidestepping him right as he puts his palm against the wall, intent on trapping me.

Walking briskly to the elevator, I bypass it for the stairs, taking them two at a time to the lobby before darting out of the building.

I meet my best friend, Sirena, at the mall a few minutes later, finally feeling like I can breathe.

We walk around several stores looking at dresses.

Each one that I hold in front of me, I wonder if Mr. Slater would approve, or if he would be so overcome with lust that he would drag me into the nearest room and rip it off of me.

Chuckling at my own ridiculous thoughts, I put the lacy dress back on the rack and move to the next.

“So…” Sirena begins, grinning and wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

“When are you going to make a move on Mr. Hot Stuff?” I laugh at her nickname for Mr. Slater.

She’s not wrong. The man is criminally hot.

But I am never going to have the guts to make a move on him.

He’s a powerful, older man and I’m, well, me.

“Oh, you know, tomorrow when I drop off dad’s lunch, I’d planned to strut right into his office and seduce him,” I deadpan, blinking innocently.

I can’t hold it for long, breaking into peels of laughter at my friend’s shocked face.

“Never, you doofus. He’s my dad’s boss .

And, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even know I exist. Or, maybe I should say I’ll seduce Mr. Slater when you make a move on that sexy as sin stepbrother of yours. ”

“Ugh. So never, then. You know, you really should take one for the team. At least one of us should have a love life. And it can’t be me, so the least you should do as my best friend is let me live vicariously through you.

But, since you don’t have any plans… Well, I guess that means you don’t want the gift I got you, huh?

” she challenges with an eyebrow raised.

“Well now, I didn’t say that,” I grin, knowing whatever she got me will make me blush redder than a Valentine rose.

Soon we end up at another store, and I’m buying a dress before I can second guess myself.

Leaving the mall with a quick hug, I head home to get ready, leaving dad a plate of leftovers that he can heat up for dinner.

Taking my time in the shower and putting on my makeup, I dance around my room to upbeat music, forcing Pudge to be my partner from time to time, waiting until the last minute to take my dress out of the bag.

The sheer black fabric stretches over my torso and down to my wrists, covering an offset diagonal black swatch that swirls around my hips, ending mid-thigh.

A four-inch patch of skin between my hip and breast is left covered only by the sheer black mesh.

I pair it with the strappy black sandals I’ve had in the back of my closet and head out the door.

I call an Uber to take me to the restaurant, waiting out front for it to arrive.

Pulling out my phone, I see a text from the pharmacy that my birth control prescription is ready to be refilled.

Sending the request, I put a reminder in my calendar to pick it up tomorrow on my way home from dropping off dad’s lunch.

Honking pulls my attention away from my phone and I jump into the backseat of the car and try not to think about having a baby with Darius Slater.

My driver is pretty chatty, so it’s easy to let him carry the conversation, only answering when necessary.

After he drops me off, I leave a review and a big tip.

My friends are already gathered around a large table, a tangle of balloons floating near the lamp, and several brightly wrapped gifts adorn the table.

Hugging each girl before sitting down next to Sirena, I call the waiter over and order a Diet Coke.