3. Joe
CHAPTER 3
Joe
The sound of the elevator doors opening has my gut tightening. Christ. it's been three days since Hazel started working for me and I'm about to lose my fucking mind. The woman is gorgeous, sexy as fuck, and so damn sweet. Those big smiles and fluttering lashes lets me know that she wants me. I don't fuck around where I work, that's a huge fucking no, no.
"Morning, Joe," she greets me as she sticks her head around my slightly ajar office door. "Did Mrs. Irvine contact you yet?" she asks with a bright smile.
I stare at the invitation on my desk, the one that I received on my way out of my house this morning. I owe Hazel a bonus that's for sure. "I did, she had this," I say, lifting the invite up. "Courier this morning. Great work, Hazel." I'm now officially invited to the next charity event that's taking place in three weeks time. I have a plus one and Hazel will be coming with me, she knows a fucking lot about the distilling world, she's worked there for summers and knows a lot of the ins and outs about the politics that happen.
She pushes the door open and saunters over to me, she's wearing a tight fucking pencil skirt that clings to her legs and hips with every movement that she makes. "Excellent," she breathes as she perches on the edge of my desk. "Now I need to get working on the list of potential sellers for you."
I chuckle, this woman is unexpected, but fuck, she's doing me a favor, one that'll allow me to stay in Kentucky and closer to Gabby and Anthony. My grandson is growing up, he's three now and he's amazing, but that's a given seeing who his mom is. My daughter is fucking amazing, she's proven over and over again just how great she is. She's given me more chances than I can count, the chance to be a better man, a grandfather to Anthony. It's a chance I've taken with both hands. Christ, I've made so fucking many mistakes in this life, but Gabby isn't one of them. No, she's my greatest gift.
"Are you ready to be back in Denver this week?" she asks, and I see the hesitancy in her eyes.
"Yeah," I reply as I throw the invitation back on the table.
I need to return to Denver, a problem has risen with one of my men, it'll take a couple of days to sort out. Being back in Denver means seeing Christina again. That's something I'm not fucking looking forward too, I haven't seen her since Anthony was a year old, the fucking bitch pushed him over when he was walking. I've never felt such rage as I did seeing that. The bitch knew that she fucked up and tried to claim it was an accident. Yeah right, the bitch is jealous of the attention that both Gabriella and Anthony get from people, she hates not being the center of attention.
Since Anthony's birthday, I've seen Christina maybe a handful of times. We're separated and she knows it, she's fucking other people—something I couldn't give a fuck about, let her fuck as many people as she wants, as long as she's away from me, I couldn't care less—from what my men have said, she's lording it up in my house, having parties and enjoying herself, she gets pissed if any of the men need access to my home and will pitch a fit. That's also something I need to sort out this week while I'm back in Denver. If the bitch wants to remain in my home, she'll do as she's fucking told and allow my men to do whatever the fuck they're instructed to do.
"You'll be keeping me apprised of what's happening here, Donavan will be here with you so if you need anything, you can go to him, but I expect daily updates."
She gets to her feet, leaning over my desk slightly, the top three buttons of her blouse undone so I'm able to see the black lacy bra she's got on under her top. "That's fine, I'll ensure that I take copious notes while you're gone. Is there anything else?" she asks, her gaze on me.
I raise a brow as I sit backward, crossing my arms over my chest. Does she think I don't know what she is up to? I spotted her interest in me the moment she stepped into the elevator on her very first day. "Now," I say thickly, dropping my voice, I watch as she shivers. "That's a loaded question, wouldn't you say, sweetheart?"
I watch as she takes a couple of death breaths. "Sweetheart?" she questions, her voice soft and breathless.
I rise to my feet, walking around my desk so that I'm standing behind her, my cock thick. Christ, she affects me and there's not a fucking thing that I can do about it. I can't and won't touch her. "Sweetheart," I say against the shell of her ear, loving the sharp intake of breath that she takes. "You're so fucking sweet, so damn pure."
She turns, our faces just inches apart. "Not pure," she tells me, and I grit my teeth. Fuck, I don't need to imagine her with another fucking guy. Hell fucking no. "You're playing with me," she says quietly. "Toying with me. You shouldn't do that."
"Why?" I ask. "You're doing it to me. You think I haven't noticed? The longing glances, the heated looks. I see it all."
Her gaze darts away. "I'm sorry," she says softly. "I didn't?—"
I run my finger along her jaw. "Oh, but you did," I say pointedly. "I'm trying real fucking hard here, Hazel. I don't mess with my staff. Fucking you would be phenomenal, of that I have no doubt, but it's a bad fucking idea."
She nods, a small smirk playing on her lips. "What would your wife say?" she asks, her eyebrow raising inquisitively.
A flash of anger crosses my face at the mention of my wife. "Oh, Sweetheart, you have no idea what you're asking for," I say darkly. "You think you know everything about me? Trust me, you couldn't handle the truth about my life."
Her arrogance only fuels my frustration. "And now you want to know about my wife?" I snarl, stepping closer to her until we are almost nose to nose. "She's the bane of my existence. If I could, I would have slit her throat the moment she told me she wanted our daughter aborted. Hell would freeze over before I let that happen."
Surprise registers on her face as her lips part slightly.
"I hate her," I continue, my voice dripping with venom. "I don't care about her or our marriage. I've slept with countless women while wearing her gold band." I tap my thumb against the cheap metal still adorning my finger. "She knows it too. She's finally come to terms with it and can do whatever the hell she wants, and I won't bat an eye. She doesn't control me anymore." My heart aches at the memories of being under her thumb for far too long.
"So, you'll sleep with anyone who gives you attention?" she says, disgust evident in her tone. "You took vows, Joe. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"It would have meant something if she were someone I cared about," I retort bitterly. "But I've despised her since the day we met."
Understanding dawns on her face as she mumbles, "Oh."
"Believe me, Christina is not even worth considering right now. The real issue we need to deal with is what's going to happen between us?" I say, my voice softening as I take in her flushed cheeks and fluttering eyelashes. "Your jealousy is hot as hell, but I'm trying really hard to be good."
She blinks, the pink in her cheeks deepening. "Why?" she asks, her gaze dropping to my lips for a moment before meeting my eyes once again.
"Why?" I laugh. "I want to rip that fucking skirt from your body, bend you over the desk and fuck you until you're screaming out my name."
She swallows hard, her eyes widening with desire and anticipation. "You're serious?" she whispers, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and desire.
I nod, a smirk playing on my lips. "Absolutely. I've been wanting you since the moment I saw you."
She lets out a shaky breath, her hands reaching up to tug at her skirt nervously. "Joe, we can’t," she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
I reach out, gently grasping her wrist and stopping her from adjusting her clothing. "Trust me, I know that more than anyone. I fuck you, Hazel, and there’s no fucking coming back from it."
She leans closer to me, her breath hot against my face. Christ, she’s too fucking close, my cock is harder than stone and I need to get away before I do something stupid.
“Joe," she whispers, her eyes locked on mine, "Why the hell am I so drawn to you?"
I shove a hand through my hair. Christ. "I don’t know, but you’re not alone. I feel the same way. It's like a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode." My eyes drop to her lips, her tongue slides between them and swipes across her bottom lip. I groan softly, frustration and desire warring within me.
She hesitates for a moment, then leans forward, her lips brushing against mine lightly. My heart beats wildly in my chest, and I can't help but respond, my lips meeting hers with a passion that sends a jolt of electricity through both of us.
Fuck, we shouldn’t be doing this. I pull back despite everything in me protesting against me doing so. I step backward, putting distance between us, if I don’t, I’m going to do exactly what I wanted and fuck her against my desk.
Hazel's eyes are wide with desire, her breath ragged as she watches me back away. She takes a step toward me, her hand reaching out and touching my chest.
"Joe?" she whispers, her voice shaky.
“Don't,” I snarl as I reach for her hands to stop her touching me. She does and I’ll lose it. I won’t be able to hold back if she does.
Her hands drop to her side, and she stares at me with wide eyes which are filled with disappointment.
“I’ve got to go,” I say thickly. “My flight leaves in two hours. I’ll speak to you later.”
I watch as she leaves my office, her head held high, she doesn’t look back and my gut twists. I can’t help but feel as though I’ve fucked up by stopping what could have been the hottest fuck of my life. There’s something about Hazel that makes me fucking crazy, but I need to refocus my attention. I’m building this life for my daughter, not finding a woman to pass the time.
Yet I can’t help but wonder how things would be with her.
What the fuck is going on with me?
“What the fuck are you doing in my house?” Christina snarls as I exit my office. She wasn’t here when I arrived, and I couldn’t give a fuck where the hell she was. I had hoped that I wouldn’t have to see her today. Guess it’s not my lucky day after all.
“My house,” I snarl. “You may be my wife, Christina, but that doesn’t mean this house is yours. I paid for it. It was my money and power that purchased it.”
The anger that shifts in her eyes is swift and heated. “You’re a bastard.”
I smirk, Christ this woman hasn’t learned anything over the years. "And you're a bitch. That’s why your ass is here and I’m over a thousand miles away. I’d rather die than be near you. Then again, I’ll just make it easier and kill you.”
She lunges at me, her nails digging into my arm. I grab her wrists, twisting them behind her back. "I’m a bitch because this is what you’ve made me be," she hisses. "You are a bastard, Joe, you’ve made me into a fucking crazed bitch."
I chuckle darkly. "Whose fault was it that turned me to fucking other women?"
She wrenches out of my hold, her eyes flash with fire as she growls, "And who's fault was it that destroyed our marriage in the first place? Not mine!"
"Our marriage? That’s a fucking crock of bullshit if I ever heard one. You were always the same, Christina, you’ve never changed. Always wanted the money and power." Christ, this woman angers me like no other. "You have always been a bitch, Christina, you never gave a fuck about anyone but yourself. It's always been about you. Where's the woman your father promised me, eh? The woman that was going to stand at my side as I ruled, the one that would bear my children and love me endlessly?" That was the biggest load of crap I'd ever heard. Marrying Christina was something that was meant to help my power and alliances grow, it turns out I didn't need to be tied to her for that to happen. Now I'm saddled with a twisted bitter woman who thinks the world owes her something.
She snorts, her voice shaking with suppressed emotion. "That woman is long gone, Joe. But don't act surprised when you realize you were the one who killed her. You never gave me the chance to be that woman for you. The moment you saw me you hated me on sight. How the hell was I supposed to grow to love someone who looked at me with such hatred, that spoke to me so lowly?"
"It's all down to me, yeah?" I grunt. "Nothing is ever down to you. Tell you what, Christina, I'll sign the divorce papers for you, let you live your life the way you want to. Maybe being alone will have you realize that you're just as fucked up as I am and you're also to blame for this shit show of a marriage."
Her lips twist into a snarl and she stamps her foot, releasing a low growl before turning on her heel, the sound of the front door slamming brings a smile to my face. Fuck, that argument was long overdue.
"That was brutal," Lucas comments as he steps out of my office. "She's deluded, boss."
Since I've been working in Kentucky, Lucas has been the one that's taken over the reins here in Denver. He's done a great job, I'm proud of him and he deserves the recognition he has now.
"Always has been, but I'm done with her fucking bullshit."
It's time to get the divorce papers signed and end this fucked up marriage.
Lucas chuckles. "You'd save yourself a lot of time, money, and hassle if you just off her."
I shake my head, that thought has crossed my mind a fucking lot of times over the course of our marriage. "Unless she does something to my kid or grandkid, she stays alive." But she hurts them, and all bets are off.
My cell buzzes and I glance at the screen. Hazel. Christ, now that's something I have no fucking idea what to do about. Right now, I'm focusing on Denver. I'll figure out what to about Hazel when I get home.