I didn’t expect Jensen to emerge from his office anytime soon, not even for lunch, if previous years were any indication. I pushed away from my desk once more, ticking off my mental checklist as I strode to the elevator. There was a small café on the corner, and they were well known for having the best pastries in town. I knew they were something of a weakness for my handsome boss, so what could be better than bringing him one of his favorite treats?

Maybe he would even ask me to join him for the impromptu snack, though I could certainly think of things I’d rather be doing with him. For example, getting bent over his desk and thoroughly plowed. Call me crude, but a girl has to know what she wants, even if there was no chance in hell of me getting it.

Trying to banish thoughts of what Jensen might look like under his suit from my head, I pressed the button to slide the elevator doors open. Waiting casually, I was grateful that I didn’t have to fight dozens of people for access on this floor. It was only Jensen and me at the top, so I suppose it could be viewed as lonely. I only hoped that he knew he could come to me at any time, regardless of how hot I was for him. I wondered if it was as obvious as it felt, if he were hyper-aware of my feelings for him and tried to play nice in an effort not to break my heart.

The thought was a worrying one, but as the elevator dinged pleasantly, I focused on the task at hand and stepped inside. I should have tried to slip away before the lunch hour was in full swing, but there was nothing I could do about it at that point. I could only press myself against the back corner of the elevator while more and more people piled inside.

“Ashley! How’s the boss doing today?” a coworker whose name I couldn’t place asked me. I did little more than smile and shrug my shoulders, not knowing what a more appropriate reaction would have been.

The guy seemed to scrutinize me for a moment, but he was quickly pushed to the opposite side of the elevator as more people piled inside. I prayed under my breath that we would descend the last few floors without needing to stop.

Fortunately, it seemed the gods were on my side that day. As soon as we hit the ground floor, everyone spilled out as quickly as possible.

Taking a deep breath, I shook my head and tried to remain dignified as I stepped out as well. I glanced at the clock hanging above the reception desk, noting that I was making decent time at the very least. I walked quickly toward the exit of the building, smiling contentedly to myself as I stepped out onto the busy sidewalk. The hustle and bustle of city life was something I wouldn’t have traded for anything. It was probably strange, but I had a soft spot for the sound of traffic, people shouting to be heard over the ruckus, the towering buildings that reminded me just how small we all really were.

The café was a short walk from the office, and I was glad to be outside. Nary a cloud was to be seen in the sky, the sun shining brightly upon the city sidewalks. I realized that I was romanticizing things again, and quickly darted in the direction of my destination. The line wasn’t too long, and I drew a few dollars from my wallet, stepping up to the counter to order a fruit-filled puff pastry, along with a cappuccino for Jensen and a caramel macchiato for myself.

Passing the cash across the counter, I gathered my items and change before thanking the barista. My eyes found the clock once more and I drew in a sharp gasp as I realized how much time had passed. I rushed back in the direction of GlobaPharm headquarters, losing myself in the crowds. I managed to squeeze myself into the elevator just before the door could close.

Upon reaching the top floor, I hurried toward Jensen’s office and rapped my knuckles on the door, waiting for a response. When one didn’t come, I tried the doorknob and was relieved to find it unlocked. I walked quietly inside, noticing that my gorgeous boss wasn’t currently brooding at his desk.

I stepped toward his desk, somewhat surprised to see that his personal computer was unlocked, with all his search tabs on display. I knew it was an invasion of privacy, but a little peek wouldn’t hurt, right?

Jensen was something of an enigma, a mystery I wanted to solve. Carefully placing the pastry and coffee on his desk, I circled around it to get a closer look. I kept an ear open for his inevitable approach, knowing better than to touch his mouse or to actually click through each tab on his browser. I just needed to get close enough to read the titles and maybe something would be revealed.

The first few titles were innocuous, business-related, but as I continued to read through his tabs, I was startled to see something of a trend in his searches. My breath caught in my throat as I read each title, pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

What on earth was Jensen Elliott doing looking for surrogate mothers? It seemed a man like him would have no trouble finding someone to settle down with. More shocking was the fact that he was even considering children to begin with. It was something he hadn’t discussed with me, and as far as I was aware, I would be his only confidant regarding this issue.

Was he doing this for the sake of his father? Did he truly desire a family of his own? He could have his pick of any woman in the world, and I was well aware that money wouldn’t be an issue for him.

My heart ached at the thought of my charming, witty boss reduced to searching the internet for someone to carry his child. It ached even further when I realized that I would like nothing more than to be the surrogate he was searching for.

Jensen clearly wasn’t looking for a relationship, however, and I knew I should banish the thought to the deepest recesses of my mind. But something seemed so wrong with the situation. I could have attributed it to the fact that I was snooping in business that very clearly was none of my own. Still, I tried to come up with any other reason he would be browsing these websites.

Perhaps he was just curious. Maybe he was bored, and couldn’t think of anything better to do with his time, though that certainly didn’t seem like something Jensen would do. I couldn’t deny that my heart leapt at the idea that he could be going through the very same thing as me. It was almost impossible to consider, but maybe Jensen just couldn’t find the right partner either.

Imagine my surprise at the thought of the man I’d had my eyes on for years being in the same boat of trying to start a family. However, I was struck all too suddenly by something that I should have realized much sooner. I was snooping in very private business, things that Jensen could well be incredibly sensitive about.

Knowing I should feel guilty and actually feeling guilty were two distinctly different things. I had to admit that there was something oddly comforting about realizing that I wasn’t alone in my search. I only wished that Jensen felt he could come to me. Then again, I could imagine how helpless he felt.

Already carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders must have made the idea of singularly raising a child seem impossible. I was beginning to learn that things weren’t always as impossible as they seemed. Perhaps I could help Jensen learn the same… Maybe we could help each other somehow. I had to think over the technicalities of the plan more deeply, but for the time being, I needed to get out of his office.

From there, I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do.