The Boss Undercover Series is available on Amazon as e-book or paperback. Alternatively, why not check out 'The Love Affair' on here. Thank you for your incredible support. 

Duke nudged Harper gently on the shoulder. "C'mon, babe. I'll drop you off." As he grabbed the car keys from her hand. It wasn't even seven in the morning and her friend was up at the crack of the morning when he could have been lying in, like Daniella was doing currently. Instead, he was up, had folded the spare blanket and pillow and left the couch as if a person hadn't spent a night on it.

"Are you sure? You could literally sleep all day if you wanted, Duke," Harper offered.

"Nah, I'm good. You know I've never been one to sleep in, so, grab your gear and let's go," he encouraged before heading towards the front door. Harper shrugged her shoulders as she followed in pursuit, picking up her handbag perched nicely on top of the side cabinet.

They headed out of the apartment complex towards the mini coupe parked neatly between a moped and a small Ford. Duke climbed into the driver's seat, fiddling with the mirror before he adjusted the seat. He was about 6'4 so he needed the extra room unlike her 5'4 frame and Daniella's 5'5.

"Anyway, this will give us the chance to have a good catch up. You know what Danni's like. She takes up the spotlight," he chuckled lightly, as he reversed the car out of the bay. "So, how's work? Fresh out of the uni and already snagged yourself a pretty darn good job," he added.

"It's...okay," she responded, shrugging her shoulders.

"Oh, come on. Just okay?"

"Yeah, I mean. It's good. I'm just not doing my job at the moment," she replied, anxiously rubbing the palms of her hands together as she glanced at the passing scenery.

"What do you mean?" he asked with a quizzical look.

"I mean, the CEO has me down as his personal assistant until further notice," Harper said, feeling a little embarrassed as she said that aloud.

"How-"

-"It's a long story," she interrupted him, "anyway, how's the states?"

Duke thankfully accepted her shift in subject. "Yeah, it's great. I'm still trying to get used to driving on the left side and tipping," he explained, "but my roommates are friendly and well, the technology company I work for have super perks like a massage room or nap room. Can you believe that?" He laughed.

"Wow, can we swap? I could do with a nap or a massage any day," she said with a smile.

"Well, I told you, you and Daniella are more than welcome to come visit me. We have a spare room in the apartment and it doesn't get used. Or, well, if Joey isn't hooking up with some bird. He's got a thing about hooking up in his own bed," he said, amused by Harper's face of disgust.

"Nice, thanks for that detail," she snorted.

The drive was another twenty minutes or so stuck in traffic but it gave her plenty of time to catch up with her friend. She had met Duke at college where he was studying ICT and they immediately hit it off when the three of them, including Daniella, bunched up in the corner of the cafeteria playing card games. They'd been inseparable until Harper got into Oxford, Daniella in some fashion course and him, studying abroad in the US. So, it was always a pleasant surprise when they could meet up.

Duke pulled up the carpark of her building, neatly slotting into a bay adjacent a big, bulky SUV. Switching off the engine, with at least 15 minutes spare, Duke surprised her next with his unexpected question.

"So, who was that guy yesterday? The one by the bathroom? It looked like you knew him," he asked, interested to know what her relationship was with James.

Harper shrugged her shoulders. "I told you, I don't know."

"You seemed pretty close." His brows lifted with amusement.

"What? Did we? No, No, he-he, was just trying to get pass," Harper tried to convince him.

"Sure," he laughed, "who would have thought the bashful Harper would be trying it with a stranger. Miss ole innocent one over there. Speaking of, have you?"

Harper blushed. "That is for me to know and for you to not."

"Ah, I'm only kidding, babe. It's nothing to be embarrassed about at all. It's admirable," Duke said, leaning over as he gently grabbed her into a side hug. Harper had always felt comfort in Duke's arms. It probably wasn't a surprise that she used to have a crush on him college and had sadly seen him go through girls, whilst giving him dating advice that she had no credibility for. How things have changed, she thought.

TAP. TAP.

Harper jumped back, surprised at the sound of tapping against her window. She felt herself grow smaller and smaller as she caught the appearance of James standing outside the passenger window. Duke aside her, switched on the car, allowing her to press the window down.

"Miss Daniels," he said, firmly with an edge of bitterness.

"Hang on, wasn't this the guy—" Duke began to pitch in.

"Er, I gotta go, pick me up later. I finish around 5," she interjected, squeezing Duke's hand before sliding out of her seat.

Closing the door behind her, she stood awkwardly aside her boss, feeling nauseous at the thought that yesterday had been a thing. Not like it didn't matter. He had found himself in someone's else bed.

"Well, we better be going," he told her, "I have a lot for you to do today," he added, refusing to look her in the eyes before he turned on his heel to head back to the front entrance.

Harper followed behind, shuffling her bagstrap further up her shoulder.

"Who was that?" she heard him mutter quietly.

"A friend," she replied, a little unsure as to his interest.

He didn't say a word after that as they passed through the swarm of people and took hostage of one of the unoccupied lifts that no one else dared to enter in at the sight of the CEO. They stood in silence as the numbers lit up on the dashboard, ascending to the top floor. His eyes remained solidly intact with the floor. She found herself attached to the soles of the feet hoping it wouldn't be long till she could escape his close proximity.

"Why are you making it so difficult?" he suddenly said, barely a whisper. Harper gulped gently as she looked over.

"W-what?"

He didn't say a word anymore as he swiftly closed the space between them, gently pressing himself against her as his fingers brushed against her lips. Her heart was racing even more now as she froze in shock, watching as his eyes studied hers and then her lips.

"What makes you so special?" he muttered, licking his bottom lip as he traced his fingers across her jawline. Harper couldn't speak, move or think as she remained hostage in his presence. Butterflies fluttered around her stomach at the touch of his fingertips. She couldn't help but glance at his lips, secretly hoping he would kiss her, but instead, he pulled back as the lift doors opened without another word.

She stood there, panting a little as she gripped onto the metal bar running around the diameter of the lift. What the fuck had happened?

James

He wanted to. Seeing her with another man vexed him. More than it should have. He wanted to remain mad at her. But he couldn't help not to feel swarmed with desire, desire to kiss her, touch her and take her there and then. So why didn't he? James wasn't sure as to why.

Heading onwards, he headed into his office, distracted thankfully by his office phone than the mere moment of what had happened back out there.

James brought the phone to his ear. "James Brewer. Speaking?"

"James, it's Jackal Watkins," the voice responded with slight informality. James froze a little, perhaps anxious at the sound of a man, who was known in the oil industry to grow one of the largest oil corporations. A well-experienced man with a taste of class, as he had heard.

James cleared his throat. "Mr Watkins, it's great to hear from you. Please, I'm a little surprised," he replied, a little vexed by his lack of confidence.

"James, relax. Jackal is fine," the man laughed down the other end of the phone.

"Sorry, what can I do to help?" he apologised, scratching the top of his head as he paced around the room.

"Son, I like what you're doing. I've seen your figures. You're not far behind me. I actually bumped into your father the other day. He told me you're looking to expand but investors are falling short. I think I can help with that," he said.

"Wow, that's great-"

-"Only, I won't lie, James. Your reputation isn't the...greatest. I've seen the scandals. Women after women, James. Your personal life isn't something I want to go into business with. I'm offering a potential partnership, a chance for you to expand your operations, go hand in hand with mine. But your personal life needs to change," he explained.

"I am aware that I do not show the—"

-"Look, if you can manage to keep your name out of the papers for a month or so, then we chat," he interjected, "cause son you have the opportunity to make Brewers a greater name for itself. Make your old man proud."

"I understand. So, just keep my name out of the press," James reiterated.

"Exactly. Good business press is fine. Just no more silly articles about the millionaire playboy. I'll have my PA draft the contract and all of that. Of course, the contract will mean nothing if you fail to keep your end of the bargain, understand?"

"Yes, I understand. I'm incredibly thankful for this opportunity," James replied, a little overwhelmed by the unexpectedness of this situation.

"Great, until then," Jackal said, ending the call straight after.

James was stunned and a little excited. He sat on the edge of his desk, unsure how to respond to what had happened there. This was a good opportunity, an opportunity that could turn his business into a giant corporation. The only problem. His eyes glanced towards the door. Harper. That woman sitting at her desk, blissfully unaware to his current dilemma of trying to resist himself.

Grabbing his mobile phone out of his trouser pocket, he quickly phoned up Samuels, requesting his presence to the office.

Knock Knock.

James looked up from his laptop. It had been only twenty minutes or so, so it was surprising to know Samuels had arrived so quickly. What he didn't anticipate was that when the door opened inwards, it was Katherine.

"You can't keep showing up like this," he said frustrated. "Seriously, Katherine. There's nothing here for you," he added, silently wishing that Samuels wasn't too far to escort her out.

"How about you answer me who that woman was in the papers? Did you sleep with her?" she demanded to know, her sleek black hair cascading down her shoulders as she marched forward.

"Yes, I did sleep with her. It's got nothing to do with you. We're not exclusive," he sighed, trying to ignore her as he tried to focus on his email inbox.

"She's just some slut. I'm the real deal, babe," she sneered, propping her ass onto the edge of his desk as she dropped her small handbag onto the desk, disrupting his paperwork.

"Katherine, just get over yourself," James grumbled.

"Oh, stop being boring. You know I turn you on," she objected, suddenly then pouncing herself onto his lap. "Come on, don't be shy. A quickie, you know you want to," she pestered, running her hands up and down his shirt.

James gently pushed her off. "Katherine, stop. Go entertain someone else. I'm not interested anymore," he told her, getting up right after her.

Before she even had the chance to speak, Samuels entered the office, quickly attending to the scene.

"Could you escort out of this building and if she ever comes back, get security to immediately take her out," James instructed his bodyguard, thankful, he had entered at the right time. Not that he couldn't handle himself, that is.

"Wow, you're just playing with me," Katherine chuckled, "you can't resist me, babe," she added as she headed out the room.

"Samuels," James said, asking for his attention. Samuels headed over to him. Once in earshot, James muttered for his ears only. "I need to make sure that she never goes near me nor any other woman. I have to keep myself out of the press. I'll explain more later but for now, just get her out," he told him.

James relaxed. One less problem to worry about hopefully.

Except for one person.

Harper Daniels.  

THANK YOU FOR READING! IF YOU ENJOYED, PLEASE VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE!