The Boss Project by Vi Keeland

“No problem, boss.”

Merrick extended his hand for me to walk first toward the elevator. I waited until we were out of earshot to say anything.

“You know, I’m not a jerk about being called doctor. I could care less about the title. You were just being difficult that day and brought out a side of me.”

The elevator doors slid open, and Merrick held them and grinned. “What side would that be? Your bitchy side?”

I squinted. “Did you just call me a bitch on my first day of work? I think I’ve already figured out the root of your stressed-employee problems here at the office. This job is going to be easier than I thought.”

Merrick smirked. “I never claimed I wasn’t part of the problem. Your job is to get people to learn how to deal with it.”

“Or…you could act more professional.”

Merrick pressed a button on the elevator panel. “What fun would that be?” He paused. “By the way, your office is on a different floor than the one you interviewed on. Not sure if Joan told you that.”

“Oh yes, she mentioned it. The traders are all on one floor and everyone else is a floor down?”

He nodded. “We don’t all fit on one, but it’s better split this way, anyway. The traders yell across the bullpen all day long. It can get pretty loud, and the language isn’t great when a stock they’ve invested in heavily tanks.”

“I bet.” The doors slid closed, and I felt Merrick’s presence, even though he was standing an appropriate distance away in the elevator car. “So…do you come to the office early to run every day?”

“I live in the building. The top few floors are residential.”

“Oh, wow. Guess that cuts down on commute time. It also explains where all your papers and photos are.”

“Papers and photos?”

“Your desk is so clean. I was in your office twice, and both times I saw no sticky notes, notepads, files, or paperwork. And your credenza didn’t have any personal items like framed photos or signed baseballs or whatever.”

“I like things organized. My files are in drawers, and my sticky notes are electronic.”

I snorted. “You’re not going to love my office then.”

Merrick raised a brow but said nothing. The elevator dinged at the thirty-fourth floor, and he led me down a series of hallways. It didn’t dawn on me that every one of the offices was a glass fishbowl until we came to the one he said was mine. It was glass, too, but the glass was different, frosted so you couldn’t see inside.

He unlocked the door and opened it for me. The lights turned themselves on as we entered.

I sniffed a few times. “Do you smell that?”

He pointed to the glass. “It’s the glue from the film we installed to make the privacy glass. It was just done over the weekend. HR thought it was necessary to shield people who are having appointments with you from prying eyes.”

I nodded. “Thank you. Privacy is important. Without it, patients will be apprehensive about opening up.”

Merrick thumbed toward the door. “The coffee room is a few doors down, and restrooms a few after that. I believe your desk has been filled with basic supplies. You have a laptop there, and I can see the HR manuals are behind you on the shelf. Joan will give you the full tour when she gets in. I’m going to go upstairs and take a shower, but if you need anything, you know where my office is.”

“Okay, great. Thank you. I’m anxious to get started. Will you have some time to talk later today? I’d like to learn about the company’s culture.”

“I’m sure HR can fill you in on that.”

“Actually, I’d prefer to hear it from you. Things like values and priorities are usually set at the top level and trickle down. But I’d also like to talk about the expectation of communication between management and me, as I learn things from employees.”

Merrick frowned and looked at his watch. “Fine. I’ll come by when I’m done upstairs.”

“Thank you.”

As he walked out, I stole a glance at Mr. Grumpy from behind. His running shorts stretched across the muscles of his rear end as his long strides ate up the distance to the door. Good Lord, even the man’s ass was toned—the kind of toned that reminded me I needed to get my own butt back to the gym. Only I didn’t have one any longer. The apartment I’d shared with Christian had a gym in the building—another thing I’d lost in wedding Armageddon.

I’d been lost in that thought, my eyes still glued to the boss’s derrière, when he turned back around. The slight smirk at the corner of his lips told me I’d been caught.

“You might want to leave your door open to air out the smell. Wouldn’t want you high off glue fumes your very first day.”

I nodded and willed my face not to show embarrassment. “I’ll do that.”

After he left, I took a deep breath and looked around my new home away from home. This office was bigger than the one I’d had at Christian’s family’s company, and I also had a decent view of the city from the windows on the back wall. All in all, it felt like I’d made a good decision. So maybe there was something to Kitty’s advice to manifest my own happiness...



• • •



My nose was deep in the employee manual when I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up to find Merrick’s appearance very different than it had been just a little while ago. His hair was slicked back, still wet from the shower, and those little ends I knew would curl up when they dried brushed against the collar of his navy blue suit jacket. His face, which had been peppered with scruff earlier, was now shaved clean, making the chiseled line of his jaw even more pronounced.