Page 53 of Off-Limits Bosses
I stepped away from between the two of them, pulling my updo tight and fixing my blouse before I turned to face them. I needed a second to catch my breath and to think, but it didn’t seem like I was going to get that. I was literally in the corner of the office now, with three men all watching me expectantly.
Even in this situation, they were so attractive that a part of me wanted to take them all right here and now. Each one had something different that drew me to him, far more than what was physically obvious.
I couldn’t imagine choosing one over the other, or having any one of them leave my life. Things had moved fast, and I was still confused, but that was the one thing I was certain of. But how could I explain that to them without sounding selfish and greedy?
“I care about all of you!” I finally snapped, knowing that it probably wasn’t enough to say just that. “I don’t know how it happened, okay? I tried to stop myself, but… I couldn’t. I fell for Landon, and for Nolan, and— I’m falling for Bryant, too. I don’t know how to choose, and I don’t really want to. I can’t deny it. I want you all.”
“I can’t blame you for that, either,” Bryant said with a shrug, seeming like my emotional meltdown wasn’t bothering him. “We’re all highly successful, and from what I’ve been told before, damn good-looking. Not to mention we have personalities to match. Isn’t that right, boys?”
Landon and Nolan’s expressions were completely unreadable now. I couldn’t tell if they were furious, confused, or interestedin where Bryant seemed to be going. I didn’t know how I felt about it, either. It seemed as if he wanted all three of them to share me.
Things were already complicated enough as it was. I felt as if I was being pulled in all kinds of directions, and my heart had no idea which lead to follow.
I knew what Sierra would have told me. To leave all three of them behind immediately and focus on my work, if I stillhada job. But at this point, it didn’t look like either Bryant or Landon intended to fire me. I wasn’t completely sure what it was they wanted from me, though. Nolan wasn’t really saying anything. As usual, he was clamming up.
“I know they’re a bit bummed right now,” Bryant went on as his gaze met mine. “They’ll come around to the idea, I promise you. Neither of them want to leave you, and neither do I. The choice ultimately lies with you, Adriana.”
I could barely hear him above my heartbeat now. I wanted to agree with him, to fall into his arms and theirs, to curl up with the three of them without anything going wrong. But I couldn’t do that. Letting this go on was only going to blow up in my face. Sierra had been right about that.
“I can’t do this,” I finally breathed, crossing my arms and hugging myself to keep my emotions under control.
Now they were all staring at me again, surprise etched onto their faces. Even Bryant’s amusement seemed to falter. I didn’t want to say it, didn’t want to break away from this, but I had to.
“You’re my bosses,” I went on, trying to hammer that sentence into my own mind, too. “All of this… it’s unprofessional. It’s inappropriate. It should never have happened.”
None of them spoke. The atmosphere was thick and the tension tight.
“This job… It’s my dream,” I continued, wringing my hands together. “I should never have done anything to jeopardize it, and I’m sorry. It— It’s important to me, and I can’t afford to lose it.”
“What are you saying?” Bryant finally questioned, his gaze turning hard.
“This was a mistake,” I answered, taking a step back. “All of it.”
I turned, opened the door, and rushed out of Landon’s office, fighting back tears.
25
Adriana
I found it impossible to sleep that night. By morning, I was still a complete mess. It was hard to believe that Bryant really did own the Pacific, that I’d slept with both Landon and Nolan at the same time, and that I’d broken up with all of them at the same time.
She was probably going to say that she told me so, but I texted Sierra about what happened anyway. I needed someone to talk to, someone who could keep me from losing my mind.
I checked my watch. I was going to be late if I didn’t leave immediately. In a rush, I left the staff quarters and stormed up to reception.
“The Whitfields have left for their breakfast,” Louisa announced as I walked up to her table. “You okay?”
I’d forgotten about that. I was supposed to get up earlier to get them to the car. It wasn’t a huge mistake. It was still fine. All I had to do was focus on my job and let it distract me from the drama.
“Fine,” I answered Louisa, even though I was aware that it didn’t sound very convincing. “Is the dining room ready for the group that booked it?”
“Isn’t that tomorrow?”
“I’ll check.” I reached into my jacket for my tablet, which wasn’t there. “Damnit. This isn’t my morning.”
“I’ll uh, keep an eye on things while you go get it,” Louisa suggested, her face full of concern. “If you’re not feeling well, maybe you should take the day off? I don’t think anyone would blame you. You’ve been working your fingers to the bone.”
“No, I’m okay, I promise,” I insisted. Taking time off would only make it all worse. I’d spend all day in my room thinking about Bryant, Landon, and Nolan, and nothing else. That would easily lead to a spiral of overthinking, and I’d end up running away in the middle of the night.
