Single Dad Rescues His Intoxicated Boss — The Following Morning, She Acknowledged Everything
The Rescue
Single dad rescues his intoxicated boss. The following morning, she acknowledged everything.
I never expected to carry my boss, the woman who could make or break my career, out of a bar at 2:00 a.m. while she mumbled about how lonely she was.
But that night changed everything between us in ways neither of us could have imagined. And what she confessed the next morning, that’s when I realized some mistakes lead to the most beautiful beginnings.
Jack Matthews stared at his phone, his thumb hovering over the send button. The text to his babysitter read: “Emergency at work need two more hours triple pay.”
He glanced at his watch: 11:30 p.m. He sighed.
If he didn’t find his boss soon, he might not have a job to return to tomorrow. Three hours earlier, Jack had been helping his seven-year-old daughter, Emma, with her science project.
His phone rang. The company’s holiday party was in full swing downtown, but as a single dad with limited child care options, he’d skipped it.
The caller ID showed Vivien Reynolds, his notoriously demanding boss.
“Matthews,” he answered professionally.
“Jack,” Vivien’s voice was slurred. “I need, I need help.”
Something in her tone—vulnerability he’d never heard before—made his chest tighten.
“Where are you?” he asked, already reaching for his keys.
“The blue something downtown. I can’t drive and my phone’s dying.” The line went dead.
Jack knew of only one bar downtown with “Blue” in the name: the Blue Martini. It was a high-end lounge where executives often entertained clients.
It wasn’t like Vivien to drink heavily. As the youngest female VP in the company’s history, she maintained impeccable control over everything, including her image.
After arranging for his regular sitter to stay late, Jack kissed Emma’s forehead and promised to be back soon.
“Daddy’s friend needs help,” he explained.
“Is your friend sick?” Emma asked, her eyes wide with concern.
“Something like that, sweetheart.”
Little did Jack know that finding Vivien would be just the beginning of his problems. By morning, the carefully constructed walls between boss and employee would come crashing down in ways neither could repair.
The Blue Martini was packed with holiday revelers when Jack arrived. He spotted Vivien immediately.
Her normally perfect posture slumped at the bar. Her designer blazer was hanging off one shoulder.
A man in an expensive suit was leaning too close, his hand on her back.
“I said no,” Vivien was saying, attempting to sound authoritative despite her condition.
“Come on, sweetheart, I’ll get you home safe,” the man insisted, his smile not reaching his eyes.
Jack moved quickly. “There you are,” he said loudly, positioning himself between Vivien and the stranger.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Vivien blinked up at him, confusion giving way to relief. “Jack, you came.”
“Of course I did.”
He turned to the man. “Thanks for keeping my boss company, but I’ll take it from here.”
The man sized Jack up, noting his determined stance and the protective hand he’d placed on Vivien’s shoulder. He backed away with a shrug.
“Whatever, man. She’s not worth the trouble anyway.”
Once he was gone, Vivien’s professional facade crumbled completely.
“The board meeting tomorrow. The Westfield presentation,” she mumbled, trying to stand and nearly toppling over.
Jack caught her. “Let’s worry about that tomorrow. Right now we need to get you home.”
“Can’t go home,” she said suddenly, looking panicked.
“My ex—he’s getting his things. Final move out. Can’t let him see me like this.”
Jack hesitated. His babysitter couldn’t stay all night, and he couldn’t leave Vivien alone in this state.
The decision he made next would either be the biggest mistake of his professional life or something else entirely.
“I have a couch,” he said finally. “And coffee for the morning.”
