One Night With The Boss

Chapter 10

Wounded by her conversation with Elgort, Kate sleeps soundly and around her is a tropical forest. The forest lived with the occasional sound, chirping, howling, babbling and growling that made him wish there was a glass between him and the treetops. And when he does fall asleep, his head is full of visual impressions of an arrogant Mexican billionaire with a tormented and gloomy past controlling his emotions.

At one point he gave up on going to bed and walked to the window, finding a glass dome that looked like a private office.

And he was there. Even in the darkness of the night Elgort was in front of his computer, the phone stuck between his cheeks and shoulders, his eyes fixed on the screen. He sat on a chair, the sleeves of a shirt that had been tangled rolled past the elbows, and his jaw darkened with a beard.

Being in a tropical forest doesn't stop Elgort from working? He may be hidden in the woods but he's still connected to civilization.

Why can't he sleep?

Her questions continued to add up as Kate stood there watching and she eventually pulled away, feeling as if she was interfering with a part of the man's personal life.

After all, if the man chose not to go to sleep and rest, it was none of his business.

Kate slid back into bed, getting rid of the visuals of shiny black hair and a snobbish male profile. When he finally woke up from a deep sleep, it was raining. Heavy rain drenched the trees outside his room and muffled the sound but the air was still moist and warm.

Kate wore army pants and a simple white shirt, slipped her feet into hiking boots and tied her hair back.

What would she say, Kate wondered, if Elgort knew that she was much more comfortable in boots and trousers than when she wore suits and heels?

The man probably wouldn't believe it. Obviously he felt a great sense of prejudice about women.

Determined to think positively, Kate looked in the mirror and encouraged herself.

This morning is a new day. Yesterday was over, all day to change the man's mind about extending his loan.

One more day to persuade him to keep his investment in his business is a good thing for everyone. Despite why Elgort was so worried about such a small amount to him. Kate doesn't understand.

Is it all about money? Or is there something else lurking in the dark shadows? Something he doesn't share with strangers.

Something that kept him awake late into the night.

Elgort spoke in a short, truncated tone, relaying orders in an authoritarian style that made Kate feel sorry for the person on the other end of the line.

Does anyone like working with him? Or do they all spend their lives in a tense nervous state?

When Kate had a meeting with her team, they took off their shoes and splashed on the sofa with a teacup. Everyone gave their opinions and argued loudly.

Kate smiled wryly. His business is not very developed, Maybe he should go to his room and practice developing a more autocratic style.

Elgort ended the call and looked at Kate. "What... no suit? No heels?"

She clearly thought Kate was wearing some kind of riding outfit and her comments confirmed the girl's suspicion that she might have gotten used to the woman shopping.

Kate decided to keep the business conversation going. "You told me to dress for the forest. When will the helicopter arrive?"

"We don't use helicopters, Kate.” His voice was as smooth as silk. "We walk. I hope your boots are not for show because you'll be tested."

Does that scare me? Kate almost laughed. What he doesn't know is that his whole life has been spent being tested.

Why, Kate wonders, does everyone in the world always expect her to fail?

Kate lifted her chin. "good. If you wait for me to collapse then you'll wait a long time for that."

"Good, because I have no desire to drag you on the forest floor or push you into an anaconda roll."

"What's your problem?" Kate looked at him confused. "You want me to fail, right? You want me to fool myself. Wh why? Just because my company isn't making enough money for you? Does it really matter?"

Elgort observed Kate for a moment and then leaned over and took two backpacks off the floor. "It's gonna take two hours on foot." He put the backpack in Kate's hand. "Let's go, we'll have breakfast on the way."

Kate's question has not been answered by Elgort, but she is already left with a terrible feeling that she will soon find the answer.