ROMANCE: Billionaire Romance: Tantalizing Temptation (New Adult, Short Stories, Billionaire Romance, Contemporary BBW Romance) Read Online Free

could hear the gentle snick of his door closing when he wanted to concentrate, and I could identify the rhythm and tone of his footsteps on the hall floor as he walked in and out. Every day, he left for a long lunch, which was unusual. Had he met someone else? Had I been so easily replaced? The thought filled me with a cold fury.
    After two weeks of his long lunches, I couldn’t stand it anymore. As soon as I heard his footsteps go down the hall, I followed him, taking three flights of stairs down so he wouldn’t see me at the elevators.
    He didn’t take a car, but instead walked. There was a chill in the late October air, and I pulled my cardigan closer around me, wishing I’d brought my coat. My heels, too, weren’t up to the trek, but at this point I was driven by something stronger than pain—I was driven by a breaking heart.
    Kale’s long strides kept him well in front of me, so there was no risk he’d see me following, especially not with the crowds on the sidewalks. I narrowly missed running into a food cart because I was looking at him instead of where I was going. Suddenly, he turned to the left and went up a set of stone stairs and into a tall stone building. Was this where his new girlfriend lived, or maybe where she worked? I got closer to the building until I could read the sign: NYC Montessori Preschool.
    As I stared at the sign in wonder, the doors opened in front of me, and out stepped Kale, holding the hand of…Nadia.
    Of course. I wanted to kick myself for all of my suspicions and jealousy.
    “Angie?” Kale said, confusion in his voice. “What are you doing here?”
    “Oh, I was…just out for a walk. Needed to get my blood pumping. Hi, Nadia. It’s nice to see you again.” Nicer than she’d ever know, because the relief that she wasn’t a woman with her claws sunk into my boyfriend’s hide was so immense I couldn’t stand it.
    Kale cleared his throat. “There’s a hot dog vendor up the block. Nadia and I were going to get some lunch. Would you like to join us?”
    “Oh, no, thank you,” I said. “I should, uh, get back to the office.”
    My face felt like it was on fire. Turning, I rushed back the way I’d come.
    *
    Back at my desk, I slipped off my heels and tried to concentrate on work. I felt like the biggest idiot, chasing after Kale and thinking he’d been seeing someone else. Of course he was spending time with Nadia—he’d just met her for heaven’s sake. I picked up His Mistress’s Arms and scanned the pages. The words blurred as my eyes filled with tears. Why couldn’t I believe that Kale wanted me? He wanted me in his life, and I kept looking for ways that I didn’t belong, instead of looking for ways that I did belong.
    Wiping my eyes, I read over the editorial letter I’d compiled for the author. Everything was here. My notes in the margin, my overall notes in the letter. The book was ready to be edited, and I was hanging on to it, waiting for perfection.
    Perfection would never come. I was doing the best I can on my end, and I knew this author would do her best, too. I dug in a drawer for an envelope and slid the manuscript inside, then took the package to Nate’s desk. “Mail this for me?” I asked.
    “Oh, is it finally time to let this one go?” His eyes glinted with amusement.
    “Yes,” I said. “Yes, it finally is.”
    Kale walked in just then, a tiny smear of ketchup on his collar, no doubt left there by Nadia. If I hadn’t seen him with her, would I have believed the ketchup to be lipstick? I turned, hiding my face from him.
    “Angie, my office, now,” he said, his voice cool with authority.
    Nate gave me a questioning look, and I shook my head, shrugging. Kale wasn’t waiting for me, though; he’d already walked ahead with his powerful stride, so I followed behind, wondering what he’d say. Would he break up with me? Fire me? I couldn’t believe he’d put me out of a job—he wasn’t ruthless.
    Whatever he wanted, I’d face it like a