—Autumn—
Inever knew what he was thinking, especially when he was around the guys I dated. He didn’t stop denying his attraction to me until I was almost seventeen, and that was only because I’d made him. Thinking about that night made me pissed at him all over again.
The pushing me away, only to lead me on was definitely one of the worst games he’d played with me. Always blaming it on my brother.
Wait… Why am I thinking about this? Why do I care?
“Julian Locke.” Jude looked at Beck, pulling me away from my reckless thoughts. “Where have we heard that name?”
“Fuck if I know.”
“Oh! I know! Alpha CEO! You invented the eco-friendly sports car, right?”
“The engine.”
“Yes! I fucking own three of those cars. Fucking spectacular, Mate! Let me buy you a drink.”
“I don’t need you to buy me anything.”
“Julian…” I rasped under my breath, not used to this side of him.
Was he just being possessive and controlling, or was he jealous?
Jealousy wasn’t something I was used to from him either. He was always so fucking confident and cocky when it came to me. It was such a turn-on and as much as I hated to admit it, it still was.
Goddamn it.
“Don’t get your knickers in a bunch. We didn’t fuck your girl, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Not that we didn’t try,” Beck commented.
“Autumn Bum Bum is a fucking peach. She turned our entire lives around. Even partied with us. This girl can drink some fucking whiskey.”
“I had to keep up with you.”
“Yeah, babe, you did. But our singer has turned into a fucking pussy since he got married, and our drummer is sticking it to his assistant.” Jude threw his arm around Beck. “It’s just me and this fucking wanker now.”
I giggled, missing these guys.
“Her girly squeal is absolutely delicious, isn’t it? You sticking it to her? I give it a week before you’re balls deep inside of her.”
My face turned fifty shades of red—Jude had no filter.
Ever.
Beck joined in. “I want in on that bet.”
“Five k on him sinking into her before the week is over.”
“A week?” Jude scolded. “Her ass has gotten bigger. I give it two days. Max.”
This was a reoccurring thing between them. They were always betting each other on stupid shit.
In less than two strides, Julian tugged me into his side.
My heart pounded so hard, I prayed he couldn’t feel it against his abrupt, dominating hold. The simple touch of his arms around me had me weak in the knees and my body stiffening. I wasn’t expecting him to do that in front of them.
What is he doing?
“If she’d give me half the chance, I’d make her mine tonight.”
My breath hitched. Not only could he feel my hesitation, but he could also read my mind.
I tried to step away from him, but he wouldn’t let me. Holding onto me tighter. Thinking quick on my feet, I turned around in his arms and set my hand on his chest, trying to make it look like there wasn’t anything going on between us.
There wasn’t.
Was there?
The last thing I wanted was for Jude and Beck to start rumors and people thinking we were anything besides professional with each other.
Using the best enthusiasm I could muster in the awkward situation, I announced, “Boys, get ready to invest in a sure thing. Someone is going to be making a huge announcement next week.” I winked at them while Julian tensed, abruptly letting me go, and I instantly felt the loss of his touch.
Autumn, stop.
After I said goodbye to the guys, Julian wasn’t happy.
When was he ever happy?
In a stern tone, he ordered everyone at the bar to leave us. Thank God it was only his employees and not his guests.
Why was he pissed? Was it because of how they’d treated me or—
“Why would you share that private information with them?”
I guess that answered my question. Why was I disappointed?
Before I could give it too much thought, he sneered, “I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
My eyes snapped to his. “Stop treating me like I’m an employee. I don’t answer to you.”
“Actually, you do.”
“Listen, you condescending asshole. I didn’t say anything.
I hinted. So before you go crazy, I’m fully aware insider trading is illegal, but I’m simply doing my job, and they’re going to be the best marketing you can get.
Jude and Beck are going to tell people, those people are going to tell other people, and so on and so on.
We want people talking, rumors like this are your best friend.
By the time you actually announce, thousands of people are going to be chomping at the bit for you.
What you should be saying is thank you.”
Everything happened so fast. One second we were arguing, the next he roughly gripped onto the back of my neck and tugged me close to his mouth.
My breathing hitched.
“I don’t like to be taken by surprise. Everything and anything gets approved by me first, understood?”
I tried to shove him away, but it was no use. He didn’t budge.
In a dark, heady tone, he rasped, “Next time you’re a bad girl, you’ll give me your panties and face the wall with your legs spread, or I could throw you over my lap instead.”
“Julian!”
“Yeah, sweetheart, you’ll scream my name just like that, except it’s going to be from me spanking your ass raw to teach you a lesson you won’t soon forget.”
I shoved him again. “Fuck you.”
The next thing I knew, he spun my body and pinned my chest to the bar where I couldn’t move. I huffed out a breath, instantly realizing I was at his mercy, and for a brief second, I thought there was no way he was going to do this. I was a grown-ass woman for fuck’s sake.
“What the—”
He didn’t hesitate.
SLAP.
Walloping my ass so hard, I instantaneously stood on the tips of my toes in my already six-inch stiletto heels.
“You rat bastard! Don’t you fucking dar—”
“Talk back to me one more time, and I’ll lift your dress, pull down your panties, and slap your bare ass instead.”
My ass burned, and my pussy throbbed. I wanted to raise hell, although I wasn’t an idiot. He’d follow through on his threat.
“Now,” he bit. “Am I making myself clear?”
Going against all my instincts, I reluctantly agreed, “Yes.”
“Great.” He let me go, and there was no wavering on my part. I spun around with my hand shooting straight toward his face, but he caught it mid-air.
Holding onto my wrist, he yanked me toward him. “While we’re on the topic of you being a very bad girl, I also highly suggest you make damn sure your future encounters with men don’t provoke me again. You won’t like me when I’m angry.”
I jerked my hand away. “I don’t like you right now.”
“Prove it,” he challenged all in one breath. “Spread your legs and show me you’re not wet.”
I glared at him. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you? Tell me, Julian, what are you trying to accomplish here? What do you want from me?”
He stepped toward me, and I stepped back, putting my hand up.
“I thought you wanted to know what I wanted. I was just about to show you.”
“I won’t sleep with you. If this is about sex, I’m not fucking you.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I have no problem doing all the fucking.”
I pushed him as hard as I could, and he didn’t move an inch. He was a cement block, fueling my fury like he was nothing more than the gasoline to my flames.
“So this is about sex? We’re long past that.
I’m here as your publicist—nothing more, nothing less.
You need to get that through your thick, stubborn skull.
I’ll tell you this, though… I find it hilarious I spent most of my teenage years trying to get you to notice me, and I’ve gone from the girl you didn’t want, to the one you can’t have. How’s that for irony?”
“I always wanted you, kid.”
“You had a shitty way of showing it. But come on, you can’t be that hard up for someone to ride your cock, Julian. Just call Katie or whatever bimbo you have on speed dial. You never had a problem parading your hookups around me before, so why stop now?”
“If you’re going to bring up the past, then I insist we talk about you and me and forget about the rest.”
“How convenient. There is no you and me, and there never was.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. I’m not playing your little games, Autumn.”
“You’re not playing my little games?” I repeated, offended. “Holy shit! You’re the king of playing games!”
“I’m not that man anymore.”
“And I’m just supposed to believe you? After everything you did to me?”
“If I could go back, I wouldn’t change a damn thing. I made something of myself. I wasn’t the man you needed then, but I am now.”
“Now? After all this time? Do you actually think I’m just going to jump into your arms like nothing ever happened?
You have no idea what I went through after you left!
It took me years to mend my broken heart and the damage you did to my brother and parents.
My family and I were devastated, not to mention worried sick about you for years!
We didn’t know where you were or what you were doing.
You didn’t call, write, or text—fucking nothing!
You didn’t do anything but disappear on us!
After everything they did for you, that’s how you repaid them?
! You’re nothing but a selfish prick with control issues, Mr. Locke, so get off your high horse.
You’re not getting a damn thing from me!
” I sidestepped him to leave. “We’re done here! ”
He grabbed my arm, making me face him again. “We’re not done until I say we are.” Looking deep into my eyes, he reminded, “You’re my number one girl, remember?”
“How could I forget? It was just another lie you told me.”
“No.” He shook his head. “You know that’s not true. I never lied to you. It’s why I pushed you away to begin with. I couldn’t lie to you.”
“You could bold-face lie to me right now, and I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. You’re a businessman. You have people believe what you want them to. It’s why you’re so successful. Trust me, you spent years practicing on me.”
“You want a confession?” he challenged, getting close to my face. His eyes were in a craze. “I’ll give you a fucking confession. The only times I ever lied to you was when I told you I fucked someone else.”
I didn’t just jerk back, I stumbled. “What?”
“You heard me. I didn’t fuck anyone at Christian’s bachelor party.”
“But … Christian… No way. He said you did, and everyone that was there said you went into the bedroom with the stripper.”
“I let them believe that.”
“Why?”
“Your brother was getting suspicious of us, kid.”
He was?
I opened my mouth to reply, but I couldn’t get my lips to move.
“You were never just a fuck. I told you that to make you hate me.”
“Well, mission accomplished. Why would you want me to hate you?”
“It was the only way I could leave you.”
I promised myself I wouldn’t go down this road with him. Bringing up the past wouldn’t change what he did, what he put me through.
Our memories became nightmares.
My love that became hate.
It. Ruined. Me.
He ruined me.
That fateful day he shattered my heart and then walked away, leaving me to pick up the pieces of what was left in his wake.
I desperately tried to focus on all the pain he’d caused, not wanting to care about his lies and truths.
Yet there I was hanging on by a thread, anxiously awaiting his next words.
“And the only other time I’ve ever lied to you...”
I never expected what he admitted next, and it felt as though I was holding my breath.
With the utmost sincere expression on his face, he declared, “Was when I told you I didn’t love you.”