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“While I appreciate the offer, I have to decline.” She tried to open her car door, but Simon placed his hand on it preventing her from opening it.
“Why?It’s Friday night.What else do you have to do?” he said in an accusatory manner as if she were trying to avoid him.
It wasn’t that she was, but after their dinner meeting, it felt awkward, and she didn’t want to lead him on.He’d made his interest in her obvious, and she wasn’t going to add to that.
“I think we should stick to business meetings during the daytime.” Business dinners weren’t unusual, but this man had a romantic interest in her that she didn’t share.It felt awkward, and now he felt pushy.
“Morgan,” he said her name in an exasperated tone as if she was just playing hard to get and he was getting tired of the game.“I’ve told you before, I desire you.”
“And I told you that I don’t date clients.Nor am I in the market to date.” It was a blatant lie, but he didn’t need to know that.She gave the suggestion she wasn’t available to date.
Simon blinked at her as if she had just recited Latin.“You’re single.” He said it so matter of fact.“You even said you don’t date.”
“My marital status isn’t what’s important.” She hissed between clenched teeth, feeling her irritation rising.This guy wasn’t taking a hint that she wasn’t interested in anything more than helping him find a property.
“You’re young, beautiful, and available.So am I.I don’t see what the problem is.We’re both consenting adults.I don’t see why we can’t see where this thing goes between us.” He leaned against the side of her car, completely preventing her from opening the door as his gaze raked over her body from head to toe.
Morgan pushed out her upper lip with her tongue as she fiddled with the mace can, debating if she was going to have to use it already.She would try being reasonable one more time to stay calm, but her patience was wearing thin.“Regardless if I am or am not is none of your business and has nothing to do with our business dealings.I have no intention of going out with you.” There, she’d said it in plain English even he should be able to understand.
Simon pushed up from her car, his body going taunt and his face hard.“I warned you from the beginning, Morgan, that I will fire you and give the contract to Gary.Is that what you want?”
“Are you threatening me?” she asked instead of answering.“Is this some kind of ultimatum?Go out with you or lose the contract.”
“Something like that,” he said unapologetically.
Morgan felt her hackles raise.She would not be coerced into dating this man for that control.To hell with him and his money.Gary could have the contract for all she cared.“I don’t respond well to threats, and I don’t appreciate you being so pushy.”
A fire lit in his eyes.He was not a man used to being told no, but if he thought she was just going to roll over and do what he wanted because he had money, he had another thing coming.“Oh, you’ll know when I’m threatening you, Morgan.I’m as cut-throat in the real world as I am in the business world.Take me or leave me.” He spread his arms out at his sides.
“Then I’ll leave you.” She turned to open the door, disgusted and ready to forget about Simon Valentine.
Simon grabbed her biceps and whipped her around.Her back slammed into the side of her car.Morgan tried not to panic.She was on a quiet street with only older people to hear her cry out for help.
Her pepper spray was still in her hand, and she did have her car keys in the other.She wasn’t completely helpless.Morgan was also hoping the man wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack her at her work.
It didn’t matter how much money he had.Assault charges were impossible to get rid of.“Take your hands off of me,” she demanded evenly.
Simon looked like he wasn’t going to at first.She saw someone walking by with their dog on the sidewalk and watching them curiously.Simon finally released her and took a step back.He smoothed out his suit, and she witnessed his face morph to a calm and collected she didn’t doubt he used in the boardroom.
“Good night, Mr.Valentine.” Morgan sidled past him and slipped into her car.
“This isn’t the last of this,” he snarled, his hands fisted at his sides as if he wanted to reach out and tear her back out of it.
“Yes, it is,” she remarked before closing the door and locking it before backing up.Simon glared daggers at her as she left.Morgan didn’t know if she’d just gotten herself fired or what, but she wasn’t going to apologize for her behavior.
Morgan hadn’t made it a secret she wasn’t interested in Simon romantically.The fact he was giving her an ultimatum—date him or lose the contract—had her gnashing her molars, but she didn’t regret her decision.
She drove the few minutes it took to get to her apartment parking lot.She looked at the street but didn’t see Jameson’s Jeep parked there.Maybe Morgan had finally gotten through to him to leave her alone.
That was what she’d wanted all along, wasn’t it?For him to finally leave her alone.Yet, he’d become a constant in her life again.She found she was missing him.Morgan wished he was here so she could apologize for earlier.Could ‘I’m sorry’ fix what she had said?
What she really needed was a long conversation with Brooklyn.She’d help her sort out this mess.
Morgan gathered her things.The parking lot wasn’t well lit.There was only one light post in the far corner, furthest away from the street to the front entrance.Their landlord hadn’t bothered adding a back entrance, which would have made lives a little more convenient.Since she usually walked, it wasn’t a big deal.When she had to bring groceries in though, it wasn’t fun.
Morgan closed her driver’s door when a force slammed into her chest, ramming her back against the car.She grunted in pain at the double impact.The metal at her back was just as unforgiving as the force at her front.
She looked up at a black mask.There were two cut-outs to see the person’s eyes, but it was too dark to make out the color.There wasn’t even a cut-out for their nose or mouth.Based on the height and build, she would say it was a man.No way could her luck be so shitty that she got kidnapped two weeks in a row.
