Naughty Boss by C L Cruz

Author:C L Cruz
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-03-26T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Josie

The Uber driver pulls up to the tall, iron gate and looks at me in the rearview mirror.

“Is this the place?” she asks.

I sigh and nod. “Push the button.”

She does, and a crackling voice comes over the intercom. “Can I help you?”

I lean forward between the seats. “It’s me, Edward. Josie.”

There’s silence, and for a moment I think my father’s footman won’t let us in, and then the gates open with a loud buzz. The Uber driver pulls through, going slowly down the winding driveway until finally the house comes into view.

I haven’t been to the Kline Estate, in over five years. It’s a sprawling, lakeside mansion on hundreds of acres situated between Oakwood City and its smaller neighbor, Fairview.

“Oh, wow,” the Uber driver says as she eases to stop at the top of the circular driveway.

“Yeah.” I pull out my wallet and handing her a twenty for a tip. “Wow.”

I gather the store-bought pie I brought and step out, only to be met by Edward’s disapproving glare. I swear this man was old when I was a kid, but he doesn’t look any different now, two decades and some change later.

“Eddie,” I say by way of greeting, knowing he hates the nickname.

“Ms. Kline,” he says, practically hissing on the S as he pulls open the heavy front door and follows me inside. “Late, as usual.”

“It’s called making an entrance,” I correct him, turning toward the dining room.

“Oh,” Edward says from behind me, “you certainly don’t need any help doing that.”

When I round the corner into the large, ornate dining room, I find that he’s right. Everyone is already there, and conversation stops when they turn and see me and my cardboard-wrapped pie standing there. God, how did I forget how horrible this whole song-and-dance is?

Just a few hours, I promise myself.

My father, seated at the hand of the table, stands, and my brother does the same moments after. My mother remains seated.

“Josephine,” my father bellows, always too loud even in large spaces. “Don’t hover in the doorway. Come in, come in.”

A maid rushes over and takes the pie, which I’m sure will find its way into the garbage. My dad pulls me into a hug, and I pat my mother’s shoulder, giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek.

“It’s been too long,” my mother says.

Tobias wraps me in a hug next, and then pulls out the chair next to him for me. I sink into the plush, red seat and shake out my cloth napkin.

“You’re just in time for the first course,” he says, eyes sparkling.

“I was hoping I’d missed at least a couple,” I mutter, loud enough just so he can hear.

He chuckles. My father checks his phone while my mother looks at me with loads of disapproval and a hint of regret. Pretty much the story of my childhood, if I ever saw them at all. Mostly, it was just me causing trouble, and Tobias cleaning up my messes.

Not much has changed, I guess.

Dinner drags on, course after course.

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