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

Chapter 13: Mind If I Stay?

Linc

I royally screwed up last night. I drank way too much, enough to mute my conscience and forget about my responsibilities. Away from my club, it became all too easy to ignore the fact that Brooke is my employee and friend and completely off limits. I practically screwed her on the dance floor, for fuck's sake. I didn't hold back from letting her know how much I want her; like a selfish bastard, I turned her on and revelled in her reactions.

I have a stack of paperwork sitting on my desk, but I can't focus, thinking I've strained the friendship and working relationship I have with Brooke. I know she said she wasn't feeling well when she left Seven so abruptly last night, but it was like she couldn't get away fast enough when Stacey showed up. What's worse, Brooke isn't answering my calls.

Brooke doesn't strike me as the type to ignore someone even if she is upset or unhappy with them, so I've started to worry something's wrong.

By the time three in the afternoon rolls around without a word from Brooke, I've already imagined a multitude of scenarios—none of them good. Giving up pretending I'm getting any work done, I pace the short length of my office while scrolling through my phone for Jemma's number.

"Linc?" Jemma answers, obviously surprised I'm calling. "What's up?"

"Have you heard from Brooke today?"

"I'm with her now, why?"

"I've been trying to get a hold of her. It keeps going through to voicemail."

"Ah, she probably forgot to turn her phone on after we left the hospital."

"What?" The punch of her words nearly sends me stumbling backwards. "Is Brooke all right? Is Belle?"

I knew I should have left the club with Brooke last night. So what if there wasn't enough room in the car with Saxon's friend? I'm sure that was a load of crap, anyway. I should have followed them in a taxi. If something happened after they left—

"Brooke and Belle are fine. We came home last night right as their neighbour was being rushed to hospital."

"Patricia?"

"Yes," Jemma says, sounding surprised I know the neighbour's name. "Patricia."

The relief at hearing Brooke and her sister are okay is swept away by fresh concern for Brooke. Patricia is the closest thing to family that Brooke and Belle have here in Victoria.

"How is she?"

"Patricia?"

"Yes."

"She's okay now. She's back home."

"And Brooke? How is she dealing with it?"

Jemma pauses, halting me in my pacing. I hold my breath waiting for her to answer the question. Thinking of Brooke worried and upset tears at something inside me—something making me feel as helpless as having Mervyn crunching the numbers for my club. Brooke is always there for me, offering me her shoulder, her kindness, and generosity. I hate that I wasn't there for her last night when she needed me.

"It shook her up."

I glance at my desk, which is practically groaning under the weight of the work I haven't gotten done.

"Tell Brooke I'm coming over," I tell Jemma decisively.

"Hang on."

The line goes silent as Jemma passes on my message to Brooke, likely muting the microphone on her end so I can't hear what's being said. There's a good chance Jemma will think it's strange I'm coming over to check on an employee, but keeping up appearances isn't exactly my priority right now.