Page 14 of Claimed By the Boss

Becca leans forward. “Yes. Please.”

I press my lips together, trying to contain the grin that’s been threatening to escape ever since I left his office. “I got the job.”

Her eyes go wide. She slams her mug onto the coffee table so hard coffee sloshes over the side. “Shut up!” she screams, giddy.

I let the grin finally break free. “I’m serious. He hired me on the spot.”

She lets out an unholy shriek and I wince.

“Becca—”

But it’s too late. She leaps off the couch and slams into me in a hug that nearly knocks me off balance.

“Oh, my God!” she screeches in my ear. “Oh, my God, Lyra! You did it! You actually did it!”

I laugh helplessly, wrapping my arms around her. “Yeah. I did.”

She pulls back just enough to stare at me, eyes shining. “Tell me everything. Every. Single. Thing.”

“It was so awkward.”

She cackles. “That’s exactly the hot gossip I want to hear.”

I sigh. “He asked me all these questions about my resumé and my senior project and why I was waitressing instead of coding.”

She nods, eyes wide. “And what did you say?”

“I told him the truth,” I say, shrugging. “That I needed to wait tables to pay the bills.”

Becca whistles low.

“He respected it,” I admit. “I think.”

She grins. “Of course he did. That’s you. Blunt and honest to a fault.”

I squirm a little. “Yeah, well. He pushed. He asked about my experience with different programs, my research, why I wanted to work at Integrated Solutions.”

“And you answered flawlessly, I assume,” she says with a flourish. “So how much is the pay? Tell me it’s worth the embarrassment of working for your new crush.”

“High six figures,” I say, unable to help bragging a little.

Becca gasps. “Holy shit, Lyra. That’s insane. That’s more than both of us make in a year combined. That’s more than what the both of us make in five years!”

I grin helplessly. “Yeah. It’s a lot of money.”

She punches my arm. “Tell me you accepted the offer.”

“I did!”

Becca squeals again, bouncing. “We’re rich, we’re rich!”

“We’re not rich!” I argue.

“Fine,” she groans. “You are going to be rich and graciously be my Sugar Mama.”

“For what in return?” I giggle.

“My undying devotion?”