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Jillian
“So, you knew the Mastersons before they hired you, didn’t you?” Cynthia asks me the second the elevator door closes behind Sawyer’s broad back and handsome backside.
“Yes,” I answer, blowing out a hard breath and sending a strand of hair out of my face.
“Oh my goodness. There is something between you two, isn’t there? I’m sorry I mentioned anything about Ms. Wallace.” I hold back the tears because there’s no way I’ll shed another one for that man. At least, that’s what I tell myself. He’s my boss and nothing more, despite what happened back there. Hell, I don’t know what came over me.
Twisting my lips and shrugging, I mutter, “I don’t suppose she’s some sixty-year-old lady ready to sell her company.”
“No. She’s perfect, and she has eyes on them. Well, Sawyer in particular since he’s the one handling the deal.” She responded to me and her email at the same time, working effortlessly. Everything about Cynthia is effortless; she’s beautiful and smart, and she’s well put together. I’m surprised the guys haven’t already fallen at her feet. Could that be the reason she’s leaving? Have they hurt her and left her with no will to stay? I understand that more than anyone else. I’m not sure what possessed me to say yes when Lennox offered me the job yesterday. Who the hell am I kidding? I know exactly why I jumped at the offer. Being close to Sawyer is all I’ve thought about for years.
“So it is a business deal?” She nods, but there’s something about the way she does that makes me think this dinner is for pleasure and not business. He touched me with filthy whore hands. I think I’m going to be sick.
“I’m not sure this is the place for me,” I confess, barely above a whisper.
She turns and grabs my shoulders, shaking me. “Oh, you can’t let that get to you, girl.”
“You have no idea. I’ve had a crush on Sawyer since I was ten.”
Her eyes widen, and her mouth opens so damn big I can see her tonsils. “Shit. Does he know?”
I nod and pull myself out of her freakishly powerful grip and focus on the wall behind her so I don’t cry. “Yes, and he thinks of me as a little girl. He’s not happy about me being here at all, so it’s probably best that I quit.”
“Just give it a day or two, and then you can decide. Besides, you could use this place as a way to find a hot guy. They come in here in droves to do business as well.” She smiles, and as she does, the elevator opens and in walks a handsome man in a suit. My mouth falls because this guy is gorgeous. Not as handsome as Sawyer, but definitely a reason to stay, like Cynthia said.
He saunters over to us without taking his eyes off me, and I look at Cynthia, seeing if she’s noticing and she is. She smirks at me, wagging her brows, nudging me with her shoulder. “Well, hello, Cynthia. You must introduce me to your friend, here.” He gives me a charming smile and I smile back, blushing nervously.
“She’s—”
“None of your damn business. What are you doing here, Banks? We were supposed to be meeting at your offices.” I didn’t even hear him come in. Where the hell did Sawyer come from?
Banks appears startled. “I thought it would be a better idea to meet here. Didn’t you get my voicemail?”
Sawyer moves to stand in front of Cynthia’s desk, blocking Mr. Banks’s view of me. “I told your assistant that wouldn’t be prudent since I needed to tour the facilities before I even considered signing the contract.”
“Don’t be such a hard ass, Masterson. I was in the area and thought it would be a good idea. Besides, we’re not far from there anyway. Let’s get coffee and head down there.” He dips his head and looks over at me and winks. “See you later, beautiful.”
Sawyer spins around, eyes landing on Cynthia, and says, “Cynthia, cancel tonight and tell Thorne to call me when he’s free—even if it’s just a piss break. Do you understand me?” He growls out that last bit.
“Yes, sir.” He turns his gaze to me, stares briefly with a look I can’t explain, and then turns away and follows Mr. Banks out to the elevators.
Once they are gone, Cynthia whips her head toward me, grinning from ear to ear. “Oh my goodness. Could that have been any more of a pissing match?”
“Are they fighting over a property?” It sounded like they’re working on making some sort of agreement, and it wasn’t a friendly one.
She scoffs. “Yeah—you, dear.”
I shake my head. “No way.”
Her head bobs with a face splitting grin. “Totally. Sawyer Masterson wanted to rip his head off just for looking at you.”
“You don’t know Sawyer like I do. Since I was a kid, he has protected me from bullies.”
“That’s not a bully. That’s a man trying to get in your pants, and Sawyer didn’t like it.” I could only wish that Sawyer saw me as anything more than that. Hell, he made a fool of me in his office, reminding me I was nothing more than a little girl with fantasies that weren’t going to happen.
“Like I said, I haven’t seen him in four years, and he’s still being a big-brother protector.”
“Maybe he’s not sure those feelings are like a big brother anymore.”
