He's the Boss (Dance with Me #1): Boss-Employee Romance

Chapter 21: Battle Lines Drawn

Brooke

Whatever Mervyn has done to cover his tracks has worked so well that I would really admire the man if I didn't want to strangle him. Nothing adds up because everything adds up. I mean, the books balance. The profit-and-loss statement hasn't given me the answers I need. I can't find any mistakes in the way the expenses have been allocated to the accounts. Every cent in and out of the bank has been accounted for, and yet I'm still convinced things aren't right. It's doing my head in.

And knowing Claudia starts working at the club tonight, I'm feeling more under pressure than ever before. Linc and I have been doing our best to keep our relationship on the down-low; we've been keeping our distance at work. But the problem is, other people are catching on.

Saxon knows something is up, and according to Linc, Kane saw me leave Linc's office and put two and two together. I'm worried Claudia will watch me like a hawk. I don't want to work with her at all, but I understand why Linc is giving her a job. She needs to support herself, and Linc feels responsible for her. For someone who loves his freedom as much as he does, Linc takes on an awful lot of responsibility.

And I feel like I'm failing under the weight of my responsibilities.

A couple of days ago, I asked Linc to take me through his original projections for the club. The club should be making a profit. Not a big one, since it's still in its first year of business, but a profit nonetheless.

I look up as Linc walks into the office. He stayed the night last night but went home earlier to change. It's been mere hours since we were in bed together, and yet I ache for him. The frustration of not being able to work out what's happening and the knowledge that failure will lead to Linc marrying Claudia has me completely messed up. Which is why I abandon the filing cabinet I was rifling through and walk over to him, wrapping my arms around his neck and waiting for his lips to come down on mine. When they do, I press myself against him.

He pulls away. "How's it going?"

I want to lie to him, tell him I've found the answer, or at least make him feel better and tell him we'll be okay, but I can't. We're running out of time too quickly to bullshit him. The situation is dire, and I feel so helpless.

"You came to me asking for help and right now I feel as if I've failed you." He stares down at me, his green-eyed gaze ticking from one side of my face to the other. "I can't find the answers," I explain. "And we're running out of time. If there's ever a time to look for a Plan B, that time is now. I can't find it, Linc. I've been at this for over a month now and I'm not..." I stop and try to draw breath into my lungs.

He pulls away, and I see the full extent of his panic. "Are you giving up?"

"No! I would never give up. I'm just letting you know I don't know how to solve this. Mervyn is a better accountant than I am." Tears sting the backs of my eyes, and when one rolls down my face, I swipe at it angrily. I can't remember the last time I cried. Mum's funeral, I think. But I'm looking at the devastated look on Linc's face, and I can't help but break. "I don't know how to solve this problem. Everything's gone wrong. I wanted so badly to help you and I..."

I don't know how to express how frustrated and disappointed I am with myself for not being able to figure out Mervyn's plan. Linc is going to end up marrying Claudia, and he'll be forced to live a life he never wanted for himself. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to fail you."

He pulls me against him and hugs me, holding me there. "You haven't failed me, Brooke. God, I don't even understand how you can think that. You've been a godsend."

He might tell me that, but I still feel as if I've failed him.

"So," Linc says gently, pulling back, "You're telling me there's no problem with the accounts?"