Free #Boss (The Empire Series Book 3) by Nicole Hite

Luca Manning, was going to destroy her career and her baby.
        Composing herself, she stood straight, cracking her neck from side to side. This was not going to be pleasant and, yet, she refused to be a little bitch about it just because she felt something for the guy.
        No, Vivienne Harper was the boss here. Not Luca Manning.
        Cranking the door open with a thud, Vivienne stormed the hallways of Empire Magazine. As if she had regained her lady-balls, she heard the ruffling sounds of employees scrambling to get out of her line of fire. This was a bitch on a mission.
        Without giving Luca the common courtesy of knocking, Vivienne burst through HER office door.
        "Vivienne..." he began as he covered the receiver of his cell.
        "When were you going to tell me you knew my sister, June?"
        "I'll have to call you back," he said into the phone, hanging it up.

9
    "There's just one problem..."
    " T hat's probably a good idea ," Vivienne indicated, as she stood like a giant in front of him. Stronger than ever before, she promised herself she would listen before automatically judging. But, honestly, that was going to be terribly difficult given the present evidence.
        "I can explain..." he started.
        "Well, I am alllll ears, Luca. I told you things I have never told anyone else. I told you about my siblings, my childhood, and you said nothing. Not a damn thing. That seemed like the perfect time to say something, don’t you think?"
        "Fair enough. You are right. I should have said something."
        "But..." she coaxed him to finish.
        "It was a sticky situation, Vivienne."
        "How did this even happen? No one reaches out to anyone in Bethany unless it's for a reason," she asked, confused.
        "She reached out to me. We've known each other for years."
        "Why? How?"
        "When I first met June, we were both in a rough situation. Did you know your aunt passed around the time June was sixteen?"
        "I had no idea. All I knew is she was being taken care of, and had a house over her head, food on the table and clothes on her back."
        "We met years ago when we were in the foster care system together. I think that's a huge reason she resented you. She thought you knew all along, and had just abandoned them just like your father had."
        "I had no idea, Luca. I never would have allowed them to go into the system. They must truly hate me."
        "We stayed in touch over the years. Always making a point to keep tabs on one another. Your sister is exceptionally manipulative. Once she found out what industry I went into, she made her move, I suppose. She had the money, I needed it. She hit my vulnerable button, and I gave in."
        "So, it was just about the money?" she questioned, as she crossed her arms across her chest.
        "At first, yes. She told me horrible things about what you did. She said you purposely left them with your father, so he could physically and verbally abuse her and your siblings."
        "But that's completely untrue." Her heart crumpled at the thought of June-bug going to such extent to destroy her.
        "As soon as we talked the other night, it was a clear indication that she was deceitful. Her plot for revenge was only fueled by the abandonment issues she harbored. Her bitterness for you was evident in her every wish and command."
        "Did she ask you to sleep with me?" Vivienne probed, dreading the answer.
        "Hell no. I was immediately attracted to you when we first met. We are very similar creatures, Vivienne. We know what we want and we go after it. We also know what it's like to work from the bottom to get to where we are today. Not many people can relate to the struggles of clawing your way to the top under difficult situations," he listed, as he stood to walk over to her.
        "Then, why did you leave the other night or not say anything, for that matter?"
        "I panicked. I was furious