33. Salt
THIRTY-THREE
SALT
Her ex-husband really hated me, and unfortunately, I got off on that.
Especially since now he couldn’t get rid of me.
I sat in his office with him and Scott. He didn’t know that Pepper sent me pictures of her pussy, or that I’d fucked her nonstop over the last few days. We’d been in some sort of feral frenzy, and I was starting to think that Pepper’s sexual appetite outpaced my own.
We were the perfect match.
Jeff leaned forward to adjust a picture frame on his desk of him with a woman and a little girl. They looked happy, which I didn’t think was a bad thing.
Scott handed me a water bottle as he sat down, glancing at Jeff. “Sure you want to be here? I can walk him through everything.”
“Yep,” Jeff said tightly. “Just going to listen while I work on plans for the LA awards. Pepper still won’t let me bring Ally next week.”
Next week? I made a mental note to ask Pepper about that. Not that she had to tell me when she was going out of town. We were still so new. But also… I did want to know if she was leaving.
“Jeff,” Scott sighed. “You gotta stop, man.”
Jeff was a lot different when Pepper wasn’t in the room, I realized. Meaner? More two-faced.
I looked directly at him. “Why don’t you like Pepper?”
Jeff glowered. “Who says I don’t like Pepper?”
“Okay,” Scott interjected. “This is not professional?—”
“It’s pretty clear you don’t like her. Or me, for that matter.” I was pushing it. I knew that, and yet I couldn’t stop myself from continuing. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“You sure about that?”
I cocked my head, holding his unwavering gaze.
Did he know?
Did he know about Pepper and I?
“Salt,” Scott cut in. “Let’s go to my office.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Jeff didn’t say another word as we got up and left. Scott sighed once we were out of earshot. “Beefing with him isn’t a good idea,” Scott warned under his breath.
We went into his office and he shut the door.
“Can I ask you something?” Scott said, gesturing to a chair.
I took it. “Sure.”
“Is this what you want?”
My brows shot up. “Do you mean… what do you mean exactly?”
“Everything.”
He was being vague. I knew that, but there was no way to discern what he was insinuating. His poker face was too good.
“It’s everything I want,” I said. “I love music.”
“And you want Rosethorn? You don’t have an agent or a lawyer. It’s good practice to have both of those before signing contracts.”
“I can get a lawyer,” I said. “Although, you are a lawyer.”
Scott chuckled. “I’m Rosethorn’s lawyer.”
“Are you trying to take advantage of me?” I asked.
“No, not intentionally. And this company is good.”
“How long have you worked here?” I asked.
“Four years,” he said. “Pepper hired me after the company acquired some big names. She’s the best.”
“And Jeff?”
Scott gave me a flat look. “I’m not at liberty to say. Let’s get into everything, but like I said, a lawyer isn’t a bad idea. Don’t rush into any of this, kid. It’s big stuff, and I’m nice enough to tell you that.”
“Thanks,” I muttered.
We spent the next hour going over contracts. Scott was fine. He was straight forward. He answered all of my questions about insurance, advances, and expectations. Pepper had prepared me well over the last couple days, and while I trusted her, she’d been clear not to trust everyone in the company. To ask questions, even though it was her label.
I could see why she hired Scott, though. He was patient and even gave me a couple of lawyer recommendations once I admitted I didn’t really know anyone. Nancy probably would have, but it was easier to go through Scott.
The hour flew by, and I was handed over to Lee and Kendra, who I liked a lot more. The two of them were way more relaxed and I liked the ideas they had. We spent an hour going over marketing plans and where I could grow, what I wanted my image to be like.
All of it was a whirlwind.
It was exciting. It was exactly what I wanted. And while I was very focused on the tasks at hand, I couldn’t help but think about Pepper.
Everyone but Jeff respected her. The way they spoke about her when she wasn’t in the room was entirely different from the way he did, and it made me wonder just how long he’d been talking about her that way.
It infuriated me.
By the time the last meeting ended, everyone was packing up to leave for the day. Lee walked me to the elevators and I got on, but slid back out the doors without him noticing.
Pepper’s office was across the floor. I sent her a quick text message that I was coming towards her, and slowed as I approached the doorway, hearing Jeff’s voice.
“I don’t want to sign him. I don’t like him, Pepper.”
“Jeff,” she sighed. “What is going on with you?”
“With me? What about you? You’re letting yourself go and we have a huge awards ceremony next week. What happened to you getting Botox? And?—”
“Stop,” she snapped. Are you fucking kidding me? My fury bubbled to the surface, but she continued. “You do not speak to me that way anymore. We are not married. You have got to stop behaving this way.”
“I’m just being honest with you,” he said. “Everyone thinks he’s not a good fit for Rosethorn.”
“I don’t think so. In fact, I think he’s the perfect fit. For years, my decisions are what have guided this company to success. Or have you forgotten that?”
“I’m the one who gave you the money for it.”
“Yes, and you’ve paid yourself back for the investment tenfold. If you ever speak to me again the way you did earlier in front of a client or in front of our employees, I will eject you from your position.”
“You bitch?—”
I immediately filled the doorway and knocked the frame. Jeff spun around, his eyes widening slightly.
“Didn’t you leave?” he snapped.
“Not yet,” I said cooly. “But you’re on your way out, aren’t you?”
Jeff straightened his spine and scoffed, looking from me to Pepper and back again. She wouldn’t look at me, her expression unreadable.
He shook his head, but pushed past me, pausing. “You’re making a mistake, Pepper. A big fucking mistake.”
I watched him go, and then stepped into the office.
“Shut the door,” she whispered.
I pulled it closed, turning the lock silently.
She was stressed, and I felt guilty. I pressed my lips together as I rounded her desk and reached for her.
“Not here,” she said, moving out of my grip.
“Pepper,” I said softly. “The door is locked. They’re leaving for the day. Let me hold you.”
Her hands were planted on the desk. She turned to face me, tears swimming in her eyes. “Why me?” she asked. “Out of everyone you could have, why me?”
“Are we really back on that?” I asked. “After everything we’ve done together this week?”
“Yes, because this is insane !” she exclaimed. “This is crazy, Salt. We’re crazy. Am I just a quick fuck? Because?—”
“Stop,” I interjected, reaching for her. I caught her wrists, but she looked away, her eyes glassy. “Pepper,” I whispered. “I want you .”
“I’m a mess,” she said, her tone going cold. “I’m so much older than you. Didn't you hear him? About needing facial work. And I have silver?—”
“No,” I said. “He’s wrong. I think you’re beautiful. If you wanted to change things about your body, I’d support you, but I love everything about you the way you are. He’s wrong, Pepper.”
“I’m the CEO of this company, and everyone expects me to be perfect.”
“You don’t have to be perfect with me,” I said. “I don’t want you to be perfect.”
She shook her head, barely hearing me. “He’s not wrong. He’s not?—”
“Did he always used to talk to you like that?” I asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Fuck. I hated him even more.
“He’s stupid,” I said simply. “He’s jealous. When you’re not in the room, everyone else speaks of you so highly. They respect you. They think you’re great, despite what he says”
“But he knows the real me.”
“No,” I said sternly. “No, he doesn’t. And he never deserved to be with you. And he no longer has any control over you, Pepper. You don’t belong to him anymore. You never did.”
“You shouldn’t want me,” she said. “You could be doing all of this with anyone else?—”
“I don’t want anyone else,” I growled. “Pepper, I want you . How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“I don’t need words.”
My mouth felt dry. She finally looked up at me.
“You need me to show you,” I said softly.
“Yes.”
“Here?”
“Yes.”
“Now?”
“Now,” she whispered.
“You need to be reminded.”
“Yes,” she murmured. “Please. Because I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
If that’s what it took, I’d do anything.
I’d spend the rest of my life touching her, worshiping her, and reminding her that she was mine.