Chapter 5
“We need to put pressure on Heusner. We can’t lose this deal, Jade.”
My father stands and walks around the desk. His back is to me, so I spin in my chair. Standing, I make my way over to gaze out over the city below with him.
“I know. I have a plan in the works. You need to trust me, Dad.”
He turns towards me, his gaze softening ever so slightly. “I do trust you, but this guy is smart, crafty, and likes to play dirty. We need to be on our A game with him.”
“I’m smarter, craftier, and a hell of a lot dirtier,” I say with a smirk.
Dad laughs as he wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me in for a brief hug. “That’s my girl.”
My heart warms at the endearment. I don’t get an atta girl very often from him, so when I do, I try to savor them. I’ve spent my entire life trying to be the best and the toughest for him. Sometimes, I wonder if that makes me broken or just really fucked up in the head.
I smile, turning to walk back to my desk. My six-inch heels clack on the tiled floor. I reach my desk, and instead of sitting, I place my bottom on the desk, still facing my father and the city view.
When I was promoted and given this office, the first thing I did was get rid of the drab carpet and ancient turn-of-the-century desk. There’s no telling how many secretaries had been fucked by their bosses on it over the years.
I was not about to use that disgusting, semen-soaked wood desk. And since I was getting rid of the largest piece of furniture in here, I decided to totally revamp the space. It’s now the perfect blend of modern and sophisticated, with just a hint of femininity.
It’s decorated in neutrals. The gray-tiled floor is sleek with clean lines that match the glass desk. It’s a bitch to keep clean, but I love it anyway. There isn’t much on the walls, but that’s how I like it. I don’t have a doting husband or kids to hang pictures of, and I’m not the type of woman to go overboard with décor.
Every picture displayed on my desk is of myself, my dad, or the two of us together. It’s been just the two of us for as long as I can remember. Each picture is of a significant accomplishment throughout my life, they’ve all been with Dad by my side. I strive every day to make him proud and show him the strong woman he raised all on his own.
My career has always been my focus. It comes from growing up and watching my father’s incredible work ethic and dedication to his company and the people who work for us. The white picket fence and two-point-five kids have never been something I wanted in life. I want to do my job and do it well. However, Dad and I have always been narrowly focused, and sometimes, that focus makes us blind and unrelenting.
Dad and Moore are close and have been for years. Even before this whole nightmare. He’s the son of one of Dad’s closest friends, and all of them golf together. Elliott has been planting the seed of a union between the families for years. He brought the connections he met through his broker as well as his father’s construction company. Win-win, right?
I was the one who finally caved and took the bait; hook, line, and sinker. We could take the business to the next level, and I would marry someone Dad loves. Another win-win, right?
Getting married has never been a goal of mine. My career has always been my focus. I’ve barely made time to date, let alone find the love of my life.
We could use the union to our benefit, and I wouldn’t mourn a life I never saw myself having.
But things have changed.
I need a reason to get out of this arrangement, not only to keep dad safe and out of whatever the hell Elliott Moore is mixed up in, but for my sanity as well.
My father would never force me to do something I don’t want to do. I know that with my entire being, but this is about more than just calling off a wedding. It would break up lifelong friendships and create a divide in a very small but very influential social group. People don’t just call off these kinds of weddings.
I also need to find a way to protect the two of us from Elliott. He won’t go down quietly. My biggest fear is the kind of retaliation that would not only harm our reputation, but also my father’s heart.
Dad has his own feelings about marriage. My mom died in a horrific car accident when I was two. He described her death as the single most horrific and painful experience of his existence. She was the love of his life.
Dad has always said it was a love worth having and that he’d never trade the years he had with her just to save himself from all the pain and heartbreak. He wants that kind of love for me as well. I thought I had a good chance of my friendship with Elliott growing into a once-in-a-lifetime love.
Did I think it would truly happen? No.
Was I willing to give it a shot at least? Yes.
I don’t have a single memory of my mother, but Dad has always told me about her. That man has so many detailed memories of her that he still talks about her almost daily, and I still get new stories. He wanted me to always know how loved I was by both of them. He felt it was his job to pass on her love to me and share her hopes and dreams with me.
According to Dad, Mom was so happy when she found out I was a girl. Nothing but the best would do for me. She didn’t trust a soul with me outside of her and dad. It’s hard to explain what it’s like to miss someone you never knew, but I do. I miss the mother I was supposed to have.
The devastation my father experienced over the loss of my mother no doubt played a role in how I feel about marriage. I thought Elliott would be a safe bet. One that would benefit the family and my career. What I failed to account for was the magnitude of what I agreed to participate in.
Only Elliott and I know the deal we made all those months ago. My stomach swirls with unease as I think back to that night. It was a deal with the devil, and I didn’t even realize it.
The clap of Dad’s hands snap me back to reality. “I’ll leave you to it, then.” He smiles.
“I’ll handle it,” I tell him.
The pressure I feel to make him proud doesn’t come from him. It’s pressure I put on myself. I know he’s already proud of me.
“You won’t find me doubting you.” He gives me a wink before he turns and leaves my office, the door softly closing behind him.
I sit at my desk, allowing my shoulders to relax. I tilt my head back and roll it from side to side. My eyes close, but the tension never eases from my body. For the millionth time in the past week, I send up a silent prayer that Colin will find what I need to save Dad and me.
Dad has always been my biggest cheerleader, but he’s also always kicked my ass and made me earn my way in this company. Nothing has ever been freely handed to me. He said his daughter would learn a proper work ethic and know the value of a dollar.
And thanks to him, I do.
I should talk to him about what’s going on, but I can’t bring myself to do it because Elliott’s threat still rings loudly in my ears. After Colin finds something, I can take that proof to my father, to the police, and to anyone else it needs to go to and ensure that Elliott gets what he deserves.
As though my thoughts conjure the man himself, I jerk in my chair as my office door bursts open. I blink several times as I focus my eyes. Colin stands in the doorway while Heather, my administrative assistant, shrieks as she runs in behind him.
“I tried to stop him. I told him to wait in the hall.” Heather’s words are fast and apologetic. She shifts nervously from one foot to the other just behind and to the side of Colin, who stands there so casually. It’s like he just walked into his own home, and he can’t understand what all the fuss is about.
I quickly stand. The intrusion has an unsettling combination of anger and desire swirling in my body. I square my shoulders and hold my chin high. He has some nerve barging into my office like this. He can’t seem to work a telephone, but he can show up unannounced and uninvited.
He crosses the room wearing that cocky grin that’s all him. Fucking Colin. He plops down across from me, crossing his leg to rest his right ankle on his left knee.
“Heather, it’s fine. No worries. I know Mr. Brooks can be…” I don’t finish my sentence.
His grin only grows wider by the second. Clearly, he sees he’s ruffled my feathers. Images of my dream float into my mind, nearly crippling the angry expression fixed on my face.
I look back at my assistant, desperate to recover my indifference. “…an asshole. He can be an asshole. You’re fine. Please close the door on your way out.”
Heather nods before scurrying out of my office and closing the door behind her. She drives me nuts most days, but she’s the best assistant I’ve had. She’s also the only one who’s stuck it out longer than a couple of months. I’ll have to remember to get her a small gift for her work.
“Who was the old guy?” Colin asks, pointing his thumb over his shoulder.
He must have passed Dad at the elevator before he barged into my office.
“Boyfriend?” He smirks again.
I remain standing and with my hands clasped behind my back. My position is a conscious choice. I feel unsettled, partly from the dream from last night and partly because I don’t like the way my body reacts to being so close to him. I need to take control of the situation right now. I’ll be damned if he just barges into my office without notice or an invitation.
I’d like to slap the smirk off his face. His eyes immediately land on my breasts. Heat spreads across my skin under his gaze. I hate that he has this affect on me. Yes, he’s physically attractive, but his arrogance is far from it.
“What do you want, Colin? And why didn’t you call to schedule a meeting?” My arms fall to my sides as I walk back to my chair. His eyes watch my every move. I want to create as much distance as possible.
“I’m here to give you an update,” he answers casually. His body screams sex and confidence, and I hate him more for it.
I’m so hopeful right then that I momentarily forget to hold my mask in place as I lean forward, placing my hands flat on my desk. I wait for him to continue, but he doesn’t. He watches me, slowly stroking the stubble on his chin.
There’s something sexy and seductive about that motion; but it’s also irritating as hell because I refuse to be attracted to this asshole.
“And?” I ask, leaning back to stand at my full height again, my hands raising at my sides. What’s he playing at here?
“You didn’t answer my question. Who’s the old guy I passed coming in?”
His arrogance is too much, but I’m also desperate for answers.
“Harrison Foster, my father. Now, get on with it. What did you find?” I can’t stifle my interest. I hope he has something I can use to nail Elliott to the wall.
Another cocky grin pulls at one corner of his admittedly kissable mouth. “Oh, there’s nothing yet. However, I wanted to be sure I updated you promptly, even if there’s nothing new. Per your request,” he says with a hint of superiority. He rises before tapping the edge of my desk with two fingers. “I’ll update again soon.”
Then he just fucking turns to walk away.
As pissed off as a wet cat, I stomp my Louboutin and march after him. The sound of my red-bottom stiletto heels ring in my ears. “Dammit, Colin!”
He spins to face me just before reaching my office door. Thanks to the extra six inches my shoes give me, we’re nearly nose to nose in a faceoff. His expression is indifferent, and mine reflects absolute fury.
“You could have called for that. I thought you had something!” I’m pissed but keep my voice down. There’s no need to draw Heather’s attention. The less people who know about this arrangement, the better.
“Okay, so would you like me to call when there’s an update? An actual, ‘Hey, I found something,’ update?” He adds air quotes for effect.
I blow out a frustrated breath. He’s doing this to make a point. And as much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. There’s no need to update if there’s nothing to tell. My daily inquiries are out of desperation and need for control of some aspect of my personal life, but he doesn’t need to know that. Every day I inch closer to this damn wedding is one day closer to signing my life away.
“Yes.” My answer drips with defeat.
“Fine. You’re the boss.” That cocky grin spreads across his flawless face again. He doesn’t wait for me to respond. He pulls the office door open and steps into the hallway, allowing the door to close behind him.
I step forward, turn, and sag back against my office door. What have I gotten myself into, and how the hell do I get myself out?