I hug her so tight. “Oh Anna, thank you, thank you.”
Black rook to B6, an evasive side move on my part. But isn’t this how one plays the game?
“Now let go, snag some clothes and fill this bag so you’re not naked when I rescue your ass.”
Chapter 14 ~ Alexander
I was such an asshole yesterday. I just wanted to show her the library and give her some place else to work besides her fucking room because she is always in it. And then she had to ask about her damn job. I can’t let her go back to work yet, and I didn’t know how to explain it to her.
What was I going to say to her? Your dad’s a conniving asshole and I have to watch you because I don’t know if I can trust you? Come to think of it, that might have been better than what I did. My damn temper always gets the better of me.
I brought her coffee this morning trying to be nice. She was asleep on the couch again, and I didn’t have the heart to wake her, so I sat on the coffee table just to watch her. Her face was all scrunched up; her hand was under her chin, making her lips pucker; one pinkie finger was in the corner of her mouth; and her hair was a mess around her head.
She looked adorable, but then she woke up and was not exactly happy to see me. I apologized rather well, I thought, and that’s something I would never have done a month ago, to anyone for any reason. She took my peace offering, drank it, and let me hold her till she realized she was succumbing to my kiss and flipped herself out of my arms and over the couch, retreating to the bathroom.
Now I’m sitting in my office eating lunch alone, waiting for Carlos. I take another bite of my sandwich and plop it back onthe plate. I just want to get this meeting started and formulate a fucking plan. This sitting on our asses while Robert makes move after move against us is getting under my skin.
There’s a tap on my door, and Carlos pokes his head in. “Boss.” He comes in and takes the seat across from me.
“How was your weekend?” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Not as exciting as you would think.” I move my plate to the side of my desk.
“What did you do?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Why do you assume it’s my fault?”
Carlos raises his eyebrow. “Because it usually is.”
I sit back in my chair and lock my fingers together over my stomach.
“We had a great night. She was sweet, and I was ‘nice.’ We made it through a meal without killing each other. I had the bright idea of showing her the library. I thought she could use it as an office. Get her out of her room for once.”
“And?”
“She asked if she could return to work.”
“Shit.” He breathes out heavily and sits back in the chair, rubbing his forehead.
“Yeah, and that’s what it was after. It all went to shit. I yelled. She argued back for once, and that just drove me over the edge. It was a shit show that ended up with her locked in her bathroom, telling me to fuck off.”
Carlos bursts out laughing, “She actually said ‘fuck off?”
I lean forward, “Yes, she did, and it’s not funny. This shit between us runs so fucken hot and cold I never know if I’m coming or going.”
He just laughs, and the door opens. My father and brothers'step into the room. I get up and greet them, hugging each one. Christopher points at Carlos and pushes me away.
“What so funny, you two, and who’s coming?” He waggles his eyebrows at me, and I shove him toward the table.
“No one. You’re spending too much time in Silk, Brother.” I point in his face.
My father pulls out a chair. “Let’s get this started, shall we?”
I pass out the drinks and we all take our seats around the large table in the corner.
Carlos tosses the envelope at me, and I open it. A sealed letter and key falls out sliding on the table. My father picks it up and looks it over before setting it down.
“Read it,” He mumbles.
