The Boss Read Online Free Page A

glad?”
    “You’d never understand.”
     
    Abbey smiles at him. She is beginning to see in Jake a man she might be able to admire. Little by little, she’s beginning to cave in.
     
    “There are office policies against these things, you know.”
    “You’re the boss. Change the policies.”
    “Even if I did, you still work for me. It wouldn’t look right to the others.”
    “So make me a partner and give me a big raise.”
     
    Abbey sees something in the corner of her eye. She stands up and looks out over the water.
     
    “What’s that?”
    “It’s an increase in pay. Something you probably never heard of.”
    “No, I mean what’s that on the horizon?”
     
    Jake stands up next to Abbey and looks out at the horizon.
     
    “You see it, Jake?”
    “It’s a boat.”
    “You sure?”
    “Well it ain’t no pickup truck.”
     
    Jake starts jumping up and down, waving his arms and yelling.
     
    “Over here, over here!”
    “You think they can see you?”
    “Not a prayer.”
    “So why are you jumping up and down like a wild kid?”
    “Cause it feels good, Abbey.”
    “Oh.”
     
    Abbey begins doing the same thing. They are both jumping and waving their arms, yelling out in unison.
     
    “Over here, over here!”
     
    Abbey looks at Jake. She smiles and laughs. It is the first time Jake sees the real Abbey shine through as he wished he could. He reaches out his arms to her. She opens up her arms to him. They casually embrace and then resume jumping up and down together yelling.
     
    “Over here, over here!”
     
    Jake knows that even if someone can see Abbey and him, they’re not going to stop and help. Most passing boaters would just think he was making a friendly gesture. This isn’t a deserted island. But Abbey doesn’t know that. This is a corner of the island where a few boaters come for solitude now and then. Jake hopes tonight isn’t one of those nights when they will come.

 
     

Chapter 4
     
    Abbey is tied up and blindfolded in a chair. One of her employees is her captor. In an creepy tone, the man begins his eerie monologue.
    “You give a little, you get some back, ya know? Take me for instance. Been workin’ for ya for seven years. Have ya ever even said so much as ‘thank you’? I don’t think so. Ya prance around the office - like you’re the Queen - of England. That everybody should bow at your feet just because of who you are. You’re no different than the rest of us - other than your money. Ya lucked into the job. You want a little respect - show it to the people. They know you own the business. It’s not the issue. They just want a little humanity, that’s all. You’d be surprised - you give ‘em a little humanity - you get a lot back - a lot more than you give. And they’ll be happy to give it.”
     
    The man removes the blind fold and continues speaking. Abbey is too scared to say a word.
     
    “So. When you’re ready to change yourself a little bit - I’ll change my attitude. But - right now I don’t have to worry - cause right now you work for me - and if you don’t - you don’t eat, sweetie.”
     
    Abbey pops up suddenly with a rush of fear surging through her body. She sees Jake sleeping peacefully by her side. Knowing he will protect her, she holds him for comfort. He awakens surprised to find Abbey holding him, but he comforts her by gently snuggling her back.
     
    “Abbey, what is it?”
    “I had a nightmare.”
    “A bad one?”
    “I never had a good nightmare.”
    “You wanna tell me about it?”
    “It was scary and creepy.”
    “Oh, that could have just been me.”
    “Just hold me.”
    “OK, if you say so.”
    “You know how long it’s been since someone held me like this?”
    “Since you were a child?”
    “A long time.”
    “Well, you won’t be able to say that tomorrow, now, will ya?”
    “I suppose not. You know, Jake, it feels really good.”
    “For me, too, Abbey.”
    “I mean really good. You have no idea.”
     
    Abbey