I Hate You, Mr. Boss-Man [18+]

031

   

"Listen to me, Kathy,"

My wide eyes looked up at him, all my love and pure wonderment for the man I was proud to call my father.

He reaches over, aligning the brim of my cap—fragments of dahlia bushes falling from his gloves. I scrunch up my nose, pushing away his hands. "Dad," I press, rolling my eyes at my nickname. "I told you about calling me, Kathy."

"Oh, well...forgive your old man for forgetting what to call his little girl." He sticks his tongue out at me, getting off-topic. "I almost forgot what we were talking about...right!" He exclaims, wiping away the fallen tears from my cheeks. "Ignore that Heather's boy. I thought your drawing was wonderful."

"Really?" I sniffle, wiping at my nose—he takes the crumpled-up piece of paper from my small hands, smoothing out the wrinkles and folds.

"With all my heart," He smiles warmly, removing a glove to cup my cheek in his palm, brushing the tear with his thumb. "Would you look at that?" My dad turns my drawing over, letting me get another view. It was a drawn picture of our house, iron fence, and everything. "You even got our dahlias. That's a damn picture there!"

"Landon!" My mother exclaims, waddling down the steps—her hand cradling her full belly. "Don't say the d-word in front of your daughter, she's only four."

His eyes trail up to my mother, glimmering with love for the woman who happened to be nine months pregnant—ready to pop any day. "She's gotta learn sometime, Liv. I'd rather it be me teachin' her than some punk who's tryna get her in trouble."

My mother steps carefully through the lawn, stepping over the dead branches and twigs as she stands beside my father, gently taking the drawing from his hands. "What's this?" Her green eyes meet mine, a radiant smile pulling at her mouth. "Did you draw this, kitten?"

I nod, still trying to calm myself down. "It's our house," I say softly, hope shimmering in my expression. "Jacob Heathers said it was ugly and I can't draw."

Olivia shares a knowing look with Landon, cocking a brow at what I'd said. "I think it's marvelous, kitten," My mother beams, bending down to hold my face in her hands, pecking my forehead softly. "Jacob can eat his words."

"Yeah," My father snickers, rising to his feet, pulling my mother close to place a chaste kiss on her cheek. "You're gonna go far, kid."

"You still with me?" Jesse's voice pulls me from my earliest memory, a single tear cascading down my cheek. I notice his frown, concern washing over his expression. "Katherine, are you okay?"

The meeting had ended over twenty minutes ago and I was still in shock. I didn't know what to say to his offer. Do I accept, decline? I wasn't going to lie, the whole idea of me being his partner for the company was exciting. That meant more vacation days, a better paycheck, and I didn't have to worry about coming in so early. I also couldn't help but feel a smidge guilty. Was he doing this because we were together or did he genuinely think I was good enough at my job, that he could trust me with something as important as C.O.O?

"I...uh, I just remembered something. I'm sorry," I huff, wiping away my tears. I met his eyes, fidgeting with my thumbs as we waited for his dad to join us in Jesse's office. He was still discussing matters with the board, catching up with old associates who now worked for his son. "I'm not okay with this," I admit, crossing my arms as I lean back in my chair, heel tapping mid-air.

"Why the hell not?" Jesse scoffs, crossing his arms as well, frown turning into a soft scowl, not for me but my answer. "It's a good opportunity, sweetheart. I only want the best for you."