4. Chapter Four #2
I drive closer to where she is before she can take another step. For the briefest minute, she glances at the car in slight confusion.
I open the passenger door with a frown. “Get in.”
Hailey stands in the downpour, arms crossed, rain plastering her hair to her face. Even as water drips from her lashes, she still manages to shoot me that signature glare—stubborn, infuriating. She hesitates, eyeing my car like it’s some kind of trap, as if pride alone can keep her warm.
I sigh, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “I’d do the same for anyone else, Hailey. Now get in before I change my mind. You’re wasting my time—and soaking my leather seats.”
She exhales sharply, jaw clenched, before yanking open the door and sliding in. “Fine,” she grits out, slamming it shut behind her.
The tension between us burns brighter than a torch in the dark. It simmers and prickles my skin and my grip around the steering wheel tightens when I remember what occurred in the meeting room.
Except for the ironic slow jazz playing from the stereo and the sound of the rain pelting down the car, a deafening silence exists between us.
I risk a glance at her and find her glaring at the window while she shivers on the seat.
I’m not expecting an apology from her, but her silence annoys me still.
I look away as I turn up the heat in the car. I feel her eyes turning to me but I keep my gaze on the road.
“Thanks.” She murmurs. Then after a tense minute or two, she sighs. “I just don’t get it.”
“Get what?”
“Why you’re doing all of this.”
“Would you have preferred me to leave you stranded in the rain?”
“Not that,” Hailey argues. “I’m talking about work. I really fail to understand why we have to fight tooth and claw for something you can easily have your own.”
“So, I was right then,” I say, glancing at her. “My presence at work does intimidate you.”
“I’m not saying that. I’m just…” she trails off with a deep sigh.
"You're a literal billionaire, Matthew." She frowns, arms crossing. "You can have anything you want with a snap of your fingers."
Her words land like a slap, but she’s not done. "You were born into privilege, so excuse me for feeling a little insecure when I have to fight tooth and nail just to get a taste of what I want."
I scoff, tearing my gaze away. "A little unfair, don’t you think? To assume I don’t work hard just because I have money?"
She exhales, frustration flickering across her face.
"That’s not what I’m saying. I just..." Her voice trails off, then she sighs. "It’s just frustrating, okay? Of all people, why do I have to compete against you for the Director position when you could be running your father’s empire—or building your own? "
For a moment, we’re silent again.
I understand her frustrations and the urge to divulge everything to her is strong. But then I remind myself that I don’t owe her any explanation.
Talking to her about the things I struggle with just complicates my relationship with her.
"I’m still fighting to keep her out of my head after that night. It messed things up more than I expected.
When it comes to her, every decision I make should push her farther away. That’s the smart move. The safe move.
And yet, somehow, fate keeps shoving us into the same damn corner, like the universe is hell-bent on proving me wrong."
But it shouldn’t stop me from trying. Hailey Donovan is a no-go area. A restricted zone. And I should do well to constantly remember that.
Hailey looks at me for an answer to her concerns. So, I come up with a half-truth.
“I just want to live as a simple man. A life that doesn’t involve running an empire and having the media all up in my business all the damn time.”
The next words she utters aren’t for me to hear, but I do anyway.
“Nothing about you is simple, Matthew.”
We don’t say anything to each other after that. Not even when we get out of the car or take the elevator to our floor.
As soon as we get to our doors, Hailey turns around and calls my attention.
Her gaze is blank. “Maybe I stepped out of line with what I said during the meeting.”
I lean against my door. “Is that an apology?”
She scoffs. “You wish.”
But we both know it is. I fight the grin that threatens to appear on my face.
“I still think you’re just a pretty face with an ego the size of Jupiter on your shoulders.” She adds.
“And you’re too closed off to new ideas. You’re so uptight, it’s a surprise you walk without turning stiff.”
Hailey rolls her eyes. “I don’t think we have to come up with ideas together.
We’re different people with different point of views.
All we have to do is present our ideas to the team and I’m convinced that multiple minds thinking together will come up with the best option to move the project forward. ”
“May the best man win.”
She focuses her blue gaze on me. “May the best man win.”
“And try not to provoke me at work,” I smile sweetly. “I get that you might be thirsty for my attention sometimes, but you’ll have to learn to control your urges at work. So we don’t have a repeat of what happened today with the team.”
Her right eye twitches a little. “In your dreams, Matthew Pierce.”
Oh, in my dreams, alright. Because I have no doubts that she and that hot mouth of hers will resurface in my dreams tonight.