Page 5 of His Boss for Christmas
“I hate you,” Justin grumbled. “You’re the worst boss I’ve ever had.”
“I’m the most lenient boss you’ve ever had. Anyone else would have already fired you for your lack of respect.”
“There’s no lack of respect,” Justin mumbled. “You’re the best lawyer I’ve seen, but sometimes I don’t think you’re human. I’m convinced you were born in your fancy suits, with your smug, stupidly handsome face and arrogant smirk. Do babies smirk?”
Peter snorted, amused despite himself. “I’d ask my parents—well, if I spoke to them in this decade.”
“I’m sorry,” Justin said after a moment, his voice disgustingly soft.
Peter grimaced. “Nothing to be sorry about, Danvers. I’m hardly the only person in the world with estranged parents. It’s fine.”
“Do you know that you call me ‘Danvers’ when you feel uncomfortable? It’s a tell.”
“Quit psychoanalyzing me and go to sleep,” Peter said with a smile. “You’re making even less sense than usual.”
“Whose fault is that?” Justin murmured before hanging up.
Peter was still smiling as he put his phone down, relieved that the tension building under his skin was gone.
Chapter 4
Peter woke up the next morning feeling extremely antsy. At first he thought it was just the hangover, but the feeling didn’t go away after he fixed his hangover with some greasy food. If anything, the more time passed, the worse his anxiety got.
He didn’t fucking do anxiety.
It wasn’t normal.
Peter could no longer deny that something was wrong. He could no longer ignore the itch under his skin, an itch to be elsewhere, go somewhere. And as much as he hated admitting being wrong—and as much as he scoffed at the idea of being affected by that bullshit spell—he could no longer deny that he did seem to be affected by it.
He had a soulmate.
The mere thought made him cringe. Damn it, it was ridiculous for a grown man to even consider nonsense like that. But Peter was a realist. As a lawyer, he liked facts. And the facts spoke for themselves. He’d been seemingly unaffected until Saturday evening. His soulmate must have been close enough for him not to feel the pull toward them—which meant they had been in the same building all week.
He could find out how many people had been in the building the previous day easily enough. He had contacts. But why makean effort when he had his personal associate to do the grunt work?
Besides, he hadn’t spoken to Justin since yesterday. It was... strange. He was used to brainstorming ideas with him all the time. His associate was excellent for that kind of thing. And his arguments didn’t annoy Peter even when he was wrong. That was rare. Most people were annoying even when they were right.
“No,” Justin said as he picked up. “It’s Sunday, Peter.”
“It’s an emergency,” Peter said, slipping into a shirt and buttoning it up with one hand.
“It always is,” Justin said before sighing. “What sort of emergency?”
“I need you to research something for me. Find out how many people work in this building—and which of them aren’t here today.”
“Are you fucking serious?”
“Watch your language. I’m still your boss.”
“Not on Sunday.”
“Even on Sunday. I expect a report within the hour.”
“What? Fuck off! You can’t seriously expect me to—”
Peter hung up, knowing that for all Justin’s bitching, he’d do as he was told. He always did. He was the only person Peter could always rely on.
Once again, Peter wondered if he should give his associate a Christmas gift. It felt… right. Justin’s efficiency and loyalty should be rewarded. Last year Peter hadn’t given him anything, even though he’d kind of wanted to.