Page 94 of The Bitter Words

This situation is messing with my head. I need to get control of myself.

She’s eighteen, for fuck’s sake, and I’m acting like she’s some powerhouse bombshell. I march back to the table to make some distance between us, determined to keep this interaction appropriate.

She puts three ice cubes into the glass and pours me a Jack Daniel’s. Then this little firecracker returns to the cabinet and proceeds to make herself a glass of The Macallan neat. It’s like she’s trying to one-up me.

I sit, grind my teeth, and suppress a rumble from my chest. She picks up both our glasses and returns to her seat.

She places my drink in front of me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

I say the first thing that comes to mind. “I’m just wondering if you’re ever going to grow up.”

“What?”

“Your behavior. It’s…disturbing.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because it is.” I keep my burning gaze on her confused one. I don’t dare look anywhere else.

She takes a sip of her whiskey and hostility flicks in her eyes. “You sit there as if you’re on a throne, all holier than thou like the king in a deck of cards. But Jaxon, I see the real you.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes. You’re just a jack pretending to be the king. As a matter of fact, I’m going to call you Jax from now on so you know you aren’t fooling me.”

I smirk even though I started it and because she’s acting like a brat. “There’s one thing you’re missing, little one.”

“What’s that,Jax?”

“Whether I’m a jack or a king, they both wear crowns. I guess that means I’m mightier than you.”

Her face turns red and she growls. I sip on my Jack Daniel’s and let her fume for a second.

I recline while keeping my hand on my glass. “Since you shared how you feel about me, would you like to know what I think about you?”

“Why not? It won’t be any skin off my back.”

“You want the world to see you as some kind of atomic bomb when we both know you’re just a little firecracker. Maybe you’ll cause a pop and a burn but nothing earth-shattering.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’re a young lady and have a lot to learn before anyone will ever see you as the woman you want to be seen as. If you want your business to succeed, grow up. Become the queen you’re meant to be.”

There’s a moment of silence where she seems to take it in. She straightens her back and her gaze hardens.

“I was being nice to you, Jax. I’ve done nothing to make you see me as the way you described.” A sliver of hurt cuts through her expression. She tightens the lace draping she’s using as a cover-up. “I looked up to you and?—”

“My apologies.” Greg steps into the kitchen. “Lorna’s armoire fell over on her.”

“Is she okay?” I shift in his direction.

“She’s fine.” He joins us at the table. “The furniture is another story.”

“That can be replaced.” I lift my glass and take another sip.

He glances around and notices our drinks. “When in Rome.”

He gets up and makes himself a glass of The Macallan neat while he asks me more about my housing decisions. Iexpect Livianna to leave, but she stays right where she is, staring at me.