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Taking a deep breath, I try to stem the shaking that’s overtaking my body as I watch him walk out of the room. The sound of the door slamming shut radiates through me. His words hit me hard. Is that all I am to him? Is our relationship nothing more than professional?
This vendetta has taken over his life. He won’t let anyone in until this is over. Not even me. He’s left me alone in here. My heart races as I wet my lips and stand up. This might be the only opportunity I get to try to find something. I creep over to where his laptop sits next to his bed. My hands shake as I reach for it. I glance at the door, expecting him to walk back in at any moment. I take a deep breath and open the laptop.
Password protected. Fuck. I fiddle with it, trying a few combinations, which all fail. I put it down and search through the drawers. Condoms, some money, mints…There’s nothing unusual in here at all. If not here, in his private room, where does he keep all his secrets?
Sighing, I slam the drawer shut and sink onto the bed. There’s only one way I’m going to get the information I need. I reach for my phone and look up Ryan’s number, my career the furthest thing from my mind as I dial his cell.
—
I can feel the blood drain from my face when the door swings open and Kasey is standing there. I don’t know why, but I was expecting him to be home alone when he asked me to come over. I was sure he was planning to make a move on me, but he wouldn’t do that in the presence of his daughter, would he?
“What do you want?” Kasey snaps, her dark eyes narrowing in disgust. “Don’t you have any shame, showing up here?” After what happened with her, she’s the last person I wanted to run into, and judging from the annoyed expression on her face, the feeling is mutual.
I lower my head, because I can’t argue with that. From her point of view, everything I did looks bad. Hell, who am I kidding? It’s bad from any point of view.
“I’m sorry you got hurt, Kasey,” I begin. And I am. What I did to her has been eating me up.
“Are you?” she spits back. “Because it seems to me you’re not sorry in the slightest. If you were, then you wouldn’t be still working for that creep.”
“I’m sorry,” I repeat. I’m only half listening to her response, because a question is burning in my mind. How does she know I’m still working for Jaxon?
“Kasey, for God’s sake, I told you I was taking care of it,” Ryan says from behind her.
He scowls as he approaches us, his tone scolding. Kasey turns to face him, a frown spreading across her face. She folds her arms across her chest and steps back.
“Kasey,” he warns her.
Her eyebrows shoot up. “What? I’m just talking to her. What the hell is she doing at our house, anyway?”
“That’s none of your business. Now, don’t you have somewhere to be?”
Kasey mutters something under her breath as she walks away. She turns back and glares at me every few steps until she’s out of view. My heart rate begins to return to normal, but the pit in the bottom of my stomach is still there.
“Sorry about that,” Ryan murmurs, a smile spreading across his lips. He ushers me inside. I jump as his hand moves across my lower back. I could give him the benefit of the doubt that the gesture is innocent, but somehow I don’t think it is. “I take it you’re here because of Jaxon?”
“What do you mean?” I ask. His arm around my shoulders, he leads me into his office. He closes the door and watches me as I walk over to his desk. I sit down, wishing he would take his eyes off me. I shudder at how uncomfortable this guy makes me feel.
“I made it clear during our last chat that he’s not to be trusted.” He walks over and sits in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. “And here you are. Has he done something, Charlotte?”
“Not really,” I reply. “I’m just…You said I can’t trust him. I need to know what you mean. Am I in danger?” I peer up at him, widening my eyes to make my fear more believable.
He smiles and leans forward. “Are you asking me if I think he’s going to hurt you?”
“I’m asking you what you think he’s capable of.”
“You’re aware of what happened to his last girlfriend?” he asks. “Of course you’re not,” he adds before I can respond. “Because nobody is. You don’t just disappear like that, Charlotte.”
“Are you saying he had something to do with it?” I ask. I squirm in my chair. A couple of months ago I might’ve believed what he’s saying, but now I just don’t think Jaxon is capable of that.
“I’m not saying anything, Charlotte. Just be careful. Until you know the full story, don’t trust him. He’s had a lot of tragedy surrounding him for somebody so young and innocent.” He says innocent like Jaxon is anything but. Is he suggesting he had something to do with his family’s death? What crap is he going to try to feed me next?
I stand up and try to ignore the way his eyes travel down my body. Slowly he raises his eyes to mine, making his thoughts very clear with a glint in his eye and a hint of a smile.
“You’re leaving so soon? I’m sure there are other things I can help you with. Relieve some of that tension, maybe?”
This guy has no shame. We’re in his house with his wife and daughter. What is he expecting, to throw me down on the desk and fuck me senseless while his wife watches the daytime soaps in the next room? I wouldn’t put it past him.
“I have to get back to work before he notices I’m gone.” I try to sound apologetic, even though all I want to do is throw up. “Maybe another time?” I suggest.
