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"Are you two involved?" He keeps pushing the subject. "I need to know, Ivy. I don't want to try and negotiate a deal with him blindly. If there's some sort of personal relationship I'd like to know."
I feel flush. I have to admit to this man that I haven't seen in years that I'm sleeping with the person who insulted him earlier today. I nod my head slowly up and down.
"I knew it," he replies. I can't gauge his reaction but I do sense disappointment or anxiety in his voice. "This complicates things for me."
"I'm sorry," I offer. "We're not exactly involved. We're not together like couples are together."
He looks as confused as I feel. I know I should explain more so I sigh while I search for the words.
"You two are just sleeping together?" He throws me a lifeline as if he wants to save me the embarrassment of having to explain that Jax and I just have sex at this point.
I nod. "It was moving in another direction but then I found out about his father and the company." I grimace at the words. The bitterness still sits within me. I hate that Jax hadn't divulged that he was Tom's son when we first met.
"His father used to be Mark's partner, right?" He pulls the lid from the water bottle again and swallows what's left. He places the empty container on the table.
"That's right. I didn't find that out until he offered to buy my shares." I hang my head towards the floor. This is humiliating. In the short span of five minutes I've confessed to Nathan that I'm still sleeping with a man who manipulated me and lied to me.
"That's low." He points out.
"I know." I catch his glance and see pity there. I don't want him to pity me. I want him to help me get away from Mark. Maybe I want him to help me get away from Jax. I don't know. I can't stop and think about all of this. All I can focus on is what Jax and I did in that corridor earlier.
"Is he hiding anything else?" he asks softly.
I look towards the windows as I measure my answer. Why haven't I asked Jax that question? Did I not want to know? "I don't think so."
"I hope not." He stands and I follow his lead. "Find out if he is, Ivy. That's leverage we can use. He may not budge on Veray and anything he doesn't want to come out may be your guarantee to get exactly what you want."
I nod realizing that I have no way of doing that. I'm not certain that Jax will actually be honest with me if I ask him such a pointed question. My heart drops as I absorb that thought.
Chapter 8
"Ivy, I heard you were here." I feel his hand on my shoulder and I spin around to face him.
"I was just picking up my consignment check." I smile at him. He looks gorgeous. He hasn't shaved in a couple of days and the slight growth of beard makes him appear less perfect. Imperfect Jax is someone I could definitely get used to.
"You should have told me you were coming." He places his hand on my back to guide me in the direction of his office. "I would have saved you the trip. I could have brought the check to your apartment."
I step through the doorway of his office pulling in a breath to try to calm my nerves. So far my plan is going flawlessly. He has no idea why I'm really there. "No, that would be silly. I like to come by so I can catch up with Graham."
"Who?" he raises an eyebrow. "Who is Graham?"
"One of your assistants." I heave a sigh. "Hopefully my assistant when I take over."
He moves to shut the door. I can't help but notice that he subtly turns the lock. He thinks we're going to sleep together right here in his office. I've become nothing but a fuck buddy to him. I push my anger down and focus on the task at hand.
"You know we can't discuss that, beautiful." He pulls on the end of my hair. "This dress is stunning on you."
"Thank you," I whisper as I try to temper my discomfort. "I can't stay long. I have an appointment to get to."
"With that attorney of yours?" The animosity in his voice isn't disguised at all.
"You have a problem with him." I bite my bottom lip so I won't launch into a full-blown smile. "You have a temper tantrum whenever we talk about him."
"Hardly." His jaw tightens.
"Liar." I playfully spit back at him.
"I'm not a liar." He catches my waist between his hands. "Never call me that again."
