From Neglected Wife to CEO’s Obsession novel Chapter 139

“Oh, you mean this?” I held up the breakfast bag, feeling a little sheepish. “I made an extra in case I got hungry on the road. Figured the boss would have Marian fussing over him, so he’d be covered. What about you, Mr. Garcia? Did you eat?”

“No time,” he replied.

“Marian’s not back yet,” said the boss.

Both men answered at the same time, their voices overlapping.

Fantastic. I’d just set myself up and walked right into the mess.

Seriously, Mr. Garcia could’ve given me a heads-up if the boss was coming along. Making another breakfast wouldn’t have killed me.

So now what? One breakfast, two hungry grown men. How are we supposed to split this?

I stared at the bag, stumped. Suddenly, a slender hand swooped in, grabbed it right from me, and deftly opened it. She took out the coffee, popped the lid, and took a slow, appreciative sip. Her furrowed brow relaxed and she gave a little nod. “This coffee’s perfect. Just the right strength and temperature.”

My eyes met Blake’s in the rearview mirror.

I gave him a look that said, What can you do? He just stared back, totally deadpan.

This was going well—said no one ever.

Willowstead borders Georgia Bay, about a five-hour drive if you’re lucky.

The car was quiet, the faint scent of jasmine drifting around us.

Elliot finished breakfast, balanced his laptop on his knees, and got to work—cool as ever, totally focused.

The fifth is a wild trail—narrow, steep, and pretty much abandoned. Only hardcore hikers even think about trying it.

Elliot and Blake are both adventure junkies. They’ve free-climbed cliffs before, so of course they wanted the wild trail.

They tried talking me into taking one of the easy paths with the group, but I shook my head. No way—I wanted to go with them.

I’d watched enough dramas where sword-wielding heroes climb cliffs like they’re walking on air, and I’d always wanted to try it myself. Now that I had the chance, there was no way I’d pass it up.

“Sunny Peak isn’t that high,” Blake said, a little hoarse from arguing. “But the wild trail is famous for being steep and dangerous. Are you really sure about this? Think it through. If you get halfway and regret it, there’s no turning back—especially with your zero experience and, let’s be honest, not-so-great stamina.”

Elliot didn’t say a word. He just looked out at the mountains, his jawline as sharp as ever.

I grinned. “I know I’m not exactly in peak shape, and I have no clue what I’m doing, but come on—I’ve got my boss with me. Worst-case scenario, he’ll drag me up the mountain himself. No way he’d let his best employee fall off a cliff. I’m way too valuable to lose, right?”