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17
Gisele
“Isaid nine, not eight-thirty, Wyatt!”I called out from the vanity the moment I heard my bedroom door slam shut. Since tonight was my birthday, Blair and Vivienne were throwing me a costume party in Blair’s home. Even if it was ten doors down, Wyatt had insisted on pickingmeup.
My eyes scanned my outfit and my heavily contoured makeup, seemingly pleased with the outcome. Steadily taking my pearl earring studs off, I replaced them with large silver hooker hoops, impeccably complimenting my risquéoutfit.
Blair had no clue what Wyatt and I had been up to as of late. However, I intended to break the news to her this evening. Hopefully, she wouldn’t shrill and throw a tantrum. One couldn’t really guess how she’d react. Blair was…well, Blair. She was a sweet terror, and I loved her dearly, but I was not going to deny that the woman could befrightening.
Wyatt’s been a true gentleman, giving in to whatever I wanted. He wasn’t aggressive and would immediately withdraw if I wished him to, which was quite often. After Jared’s severe action of cutting me out of his life, coming home to an empty house didn’t help my disheartened mood. Wyatt saved me from my darkened thoughts, and I couldn’t have been more grateful for his flirty, charismatic company. He and I weren’t necessarily dating. We simply were enjoying each other’s company for the time being. Where this relationship would lead us, we would see. It was too early to tell. We had tons of fun and I admitted his light-hearted personality added to his appeal. He audaciously offered himself as my distraction, and I was somewhat obliged to sample him. The man hadn’tdisappointed.
Grasping my favorite perfume bottle, I spritzed on my wrists, behind my ears, and another one targeting my legs. Wyatt fixated on long toned legs, so I wanted my stems to be as enticing as possible. Giving myself a quick once-over, I decided I was settogo.
Leaving the vanity area, I strode towards the bedroom with a naughty smile teasing my lips. “Wyatt?”
I was a step away from entering the threshold of my bedroom when I halted right at the doorframe. Jared’s tall commanding presence dominated the bedroom. He glowered at the nightstand. My eyes flickered towards the table where Wyatt’s cuff links and Rolex watch were scattered on the mirroredsurface.
My breathing hitched, my pulse quickened, and all of a sudden, I felt the magnitude of seeing him in the flesh. My heart ached at the sight of him. It had been a month, and his effect on me hadn’t dwindled. It couldn’t be denied; I missed him dearly. There wasn’t a day I hadn’t thought of him and prayed hewaswell.
“Jared.” His name escaping my lips sounded like more of a caress than agreeting.
At the sound of his name, the man cocked his head, directing those chilling blue eyes, disgustingly flickering them at my present garishensemble.
Tonight, when I decided to dress as a naughty cop, I also thought it’d be a fun idea to tease Wyatt by embodying Lexi Anne once again since he had liked this look on me that one time. However, I realized my mistake after witnessing the horrified look on Jared’sstonyface.
He savagely flashed his eyes, sharpened daggers piercing through me, straight into my soul. I suffered his revulsion. It penetrated me, puncturing my frayed confidence, dissolving what little happiness I had leftinme.
Without some sort of acknowledgment, Jared callously began to say, “I’m here to inform you that your presence is needed in six weeks’ time. We’re renewing contracts to our Japanese contractors, and since you and I have the majority of shares, they need reassurances directly from you, assuring them you have no intentions of voting me off as thecompany’sCEO.”
His eerie attitude made me nervous. But more importantly, the concern of the company’s present affairs troubled me deeply. “Of course, I’ll do what needs to be done. Where willitbe?”
“It’ll be in Tokyo. We’ll leave on a Thursday and fly back Monday. Is a month and a half enough time to figure out your schoolbythen?”
“I’m sure I can figure something out,” I conceded. Questions lingered, but I was too preoccupied with Jared’s standoffish presence to voice anything. Why was one of the company’s main suppliers needing verbal assurances? Most of our principal circuit components came from Japanese manufacturers. Had it gotten so bad that they were losing confidence in Jared’s vision? Even after father’s death, the company stocks and shares remained steady. The sales never declined. They’d been progressively climbing as expected. So, this revelation was quite a shockforme.
“Is everything okay? Is David Berg causing all of this?” I couldn’t find another reason for it. He was the only man who openly undermined my father. I was sure his opposition had transferred to the man incharge.
“It’s nothing I can’t handle.” Shoving both hands in his pockets, he threw me one last frosty look before stating, “I’ll have Audrey get in touch with you with the details. Have a great birthday,Gisele.”
No, my mind reeled. Staggered by his abruptness, I couldn’t simply let him leavelikethis.
Without dithering, I urgently bolted towards the door, bravely blocking his exit. The cold man wasn’tamused.
Penetrating me with emotionless icy blue eyes, Jared’s unyielding demeanor didn’t thaw an ounce. “Save your childish mind games for your other men. Move out of my way,Gisele.”
“I can’t let you leave like this. Let me explain.” I was taking a step, reaching out to him, when he hastily took a step back, revolted at the thought of my touch. I immediately withdrew my hand, clutching it against my chest as if it burned from his blatant rejection. No matter how I painted it, none of them portrayed me in a good light. I doubted he’d ever forgive me for tricking him. Bracing myself from his fiery razor-like eyes cutting deep into me, I mustered enough courage to speak. “I didn’t see the harm in it. I want you to know I did it with goodintentions.”
“Good to know,” he bitingly remarked. “Will you move out of mywaynow?”
“You’re stillangry…”
His nostrils flared, temper rising. He was beyond livid. I swear I could almost detect steam coming out of his ears. Angry as he was, I still wasn’t going to budge until he and I sorted this out. Somehow, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he thought ill of me…It was rather stupid really, but I simply couldn’t lethimpass.
“Move!” His eyes sparked fire, prepared to throttle me out oftheway.
“No.” I defiantly shook my head, unwilling to yield to his infuriated command. “Talk to me. Then youcanpass.”
He took a step until his nose almost touched mine. Tumultuous eyes held me captive. They pinned me on the spot.“Talk about what, Gisele?”he bellowed in my face, unbridled rage roaring through him. “How you mocked and laughed behind my back?Was I some passing entertainment for you and your friends?You conniving bitch!All this bloody time, you’ve played me for a fool! You speak of honesty when you’ve lied to me this entire time! How fucking dare you! I’m not going to forgive you for this. You’ve gone above and beyond to humiliate me.You bloodydisgustme!”
