AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Aria doesn’t know everything there is to know about me.
Yet.
* * *
ARIA
Wednesday’s conversation with Liam remains heavy on my mind on Thursday, while I sit behind my desk in my office across from Jackson’s. I tease Liam, and I’m not sure why I do it. Maybe it’s because I can. I like that I hold power over a man like Liam. It’s addictive. It’s sinful. It makes me feel powerful.
Through the glass walls of my office, I stare into Jackson’s office, seeing his brows draw together tight. He’s not wearing his suit jacket and his cuffs are rolled up, which tells me he’s feeling flushed. He’s not happy, that much I can tell. His mood has slowly and surely been worsening as we get closer to the weekend. I understand why—he doesn’t want me anywhere near Liam. It’s why I’ve never allowed this thing to happen with Liam. Hell, it’s theonlyreason. Because I care for Jackson. Deeply. And I won’t hurt him by being with the man who Jackson hates so much.
I glance at the time on my computer monitor and see that it’s nearly noon. I can’t leave today with Jackson being so miserable. Hoping to lighten his mood, I leave my desk and move toward his modern large corner office wondering if I can get him happy by filling his belly. “I was thinking I could go and grab us some lunch,” I say, leaning against the doorframe.
He doesn’t even look up, his voice tight, surly. “Sure.”
“Thai?” It’s his favorite.
“Sure.”
“Pad Thai?”
“Sure.”
The third “sure”in a few seconds can’t be good. I hate this. Every part of it. I hate how much I want Liam. I hate that I’m looking forward to this weekend. Because I hate what it’s doing to Jackson. “You’re not still mad at me, I hope.” I enter his office, shutting the door behind me. We’ve been avoiding this conversation all week but I need Jackson to be okay with all this. “My loyalty is to you, and always will be to you.”
Jackson heaves a long sigh and glances up, his stormy green eyes narrowed, mouth set into a firm line. “It’s impossible for me to be mad at you, Aria, and you know this. I’m concerned for you.”
I move toward the brown leather chair in front of Jackson’s grand desk and take a seat. “What exactly are you so concerned about? Do you honestly think I can’t handle Liam?”
“I know you can handle him,” Jackson counters without pause, leaning back in his seat, folding his arms. “I also know that he’s very good at handling women, and that’s my concern. Do not get caught up in his games.”
I shake my head, wishing things were different. “Will there ever be a time that you both finally stop this feud between you?”
“I am over it.”
I raise my brows at the curtness in his voice. “I sincerely doubt that.”
Jackson pauses again and frowns, then he speaks firmly. “Aria, listen to me very carefully. The only reason Liam bought you is to get back at me. This is the game we’ve been playing for years. That’s the type of guy he is. There were dozens of women that entered the charity event, why else would he have picked you?”
Because there’s this crazy lusty goodness between us that you can’t understand.Of course, I don’t say that, and gently offer, “Even if that’s true, I think you’re reading too much into this. I’ll be fine. I’m a big girl, Jackson. I can look after myself. No one is tricking me into anything.”
His potent eyes search mine before he curses and adamantly shakes his head, sputtering, “I don’t like this.”
“I’m sure you don’t. You have to share me, and you’ve never been good at sharing.”
“You’re right, I don’t like to share,” he says harshly. “If it wouldn’t have made it look like we were fighting for you, I would have outbid him. But I didn’t want to put you in the spotlight, something that Liam would do to you.”
I ignore his jab at Liam, sticking on the positive things he did say. “Thank you for caring enough about me to consider doing that.” We have this odd kind of relationship, Jackson and I, that grew over the years. He doesn’t have siblings and neither do I, but we are close like that. In a world of cutthroat business and fake friends, I’m the only real friend he’s got. “Please stop being angry about this.” Then I say the one thing I know will fix this. “You’re upsetting me.”
His eyes search mine again, and I make the emotion in my expression thick. He finally sighs, his posture relaxing. “I’m sorry, Aria. I don’t mean for you to be in the middle of this bullshit with Liam. You did enter the auction for charity, and that was kind of you. This is my problem, not yours.”
I smile. “So, we’re good?”
“We’re always good,” he says, giving a soft smile I know is forced.
“Great.” I rise from my seat, knowing things aren’t trulygoodbut they’re as good as they’re going to get. I might care about Jackson, and would never intentionally hurt him, but this is my once chance for a taste of Liam, and I’m going to take it. “I’ll be back in a jiffy with our lunch.”
He says nothing more, glancing down at the papers on his desk, clearly getting his mind back on the job.
