Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
GATSBY
I mean, this happened in their parking lot. Security should take care of the problem, right? When I reach the entrance, the glass doors slide open.
“Welcome to MarkTech,” a female voice comes out of the speakers on the roof. “Please approach the digital directory next to the elevator bank and call the party you’re trying to reach, have a great day.”
When I step inside, I notice there’s a reception area without a receptionist. The directory is on the wall as the voice-over indicated. There’s a phone next to it. I search for Maia’s name. She’s not there, but the fifth floor says executive offices.
I push the elevator button. It doesn’t light or…
is it broken? I poke it several times, nothing.
That’s when I read the bottom line on the directory.
We have to call the department we’re visiting so they’ll grant access to the elevator.
I’m all about technology, but shouldn’t they hire a person to greet the visitors?
Who designed this fucked-up system?
Who do I call? Security isn’t listed here. Why isn’t Maia in here? If I could recall her assistant’s name, that’d be helpful. There has to be another way inside the building.
I search around to see if there’s a stairwell. It’s on the left side of the elevator bank. I wiggle the handle, and the fucking door is open. So much for having a secure elevator. I should talk to Maia about this. Maybe I’ll do that right after we discuss my car.
When I reach the top, I’m transported to a cozy living room or a coffee shop.
This place screams Maia. It even has some landscape pictures and pillows.
She loves her pillows—a lot. There’s no one here, just a comfortable place with a few desks, and at the end of the hallway, there’s a closed door—the only entry in the entire area.
I knock a couple of times and wait.
“It’s open.”
I wiggle the handle, push the door, and step inside. Maia’s here, sitting behind the desk, staring at one of her multiple screens.
“Hello, darling, I’m home.”
She jolts, her eyes widen and then narrow when she realizes it’s me. “What are you doing here?”
I applaud. “That’s one of your best pieces of art. Using my car as your canvas was fucked up, but if there were a cow exhibit, I’d show it proudly.”
She presses her lips tightly, fighting a smile.
“What do you have to say for yourself, Maia?”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You ruined my car.”
She grins.
She fucking grins with satisfaction.
“I gave it a charming personality.”
“My car looks like a cow.”
“You could call her Betty Moo.”
I narrow my gaze and come closer to her desk. “Did you fuck with my coding too?”
“What?”
“I had an issue with an upgrade this week that kept me away from the West Coast. I almost lost a client. Did you do that too?”
She shakes her head. “Nope, but that sounds like a brilliant idea. Maybe next time I’ll do that. I could break into your system and switch the algorithm of Rencontrer.”
“You wouldn’t dare to do that.”
“Why not?”
“You wouldn’t mess with real love stories.”
“Romance is dead. That application is a bunch of lies.”
I cross my arms and raise an eyebrow. “Really, you don’t believe in it? Not even when we have over ten thousand matches.”
“Is that how you find your one-night stands?” The bitterness and anger in her voice constrict my chest.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her that’s why I invented Hook. I don’t, though, because I think this is the part of my visit where I need to grovel. “I’m sorry.”
She crosses her arms and leans back. “For?”
“Monday. I should’ve respected your boundaries. I never intended to harm you—or make you feel unsafe. I just…I’m too protective of my siblings.”
She nods and stands up. I can’t help but watch her hips sway as she walks toward the door. She opens it wide and waves her hand as if telling me to leave. “I withdrew the offer to Haux. You can leave.”
I could, but this hasn’t fixed anything. I start with the easiest, the twins’ company. “They’re pissed at me.”
“Who?”
“Hux and Cory,” I mumble, unsure of how to talk to her. She’s not the same girl I dated fourteen years ago.
It just hit me that I don’t know her at all. We’re two different people. Do I still love her? Yes, but I’m not in love with this version of Maia.
“If you could give them another chance,” I plead.
She shakes her head. “I prefer not to mix business with…you and your family.”
“You’ve been mixing business with me for years. Did you forget that you’re trying to snatch 59PM from me? I heard you have a meeting with them this Tuesday.”
“Rumors,” she mumbles.
“Please, Maia, can we just sit down and talk?”
“There’s nothing to discuss.”
“Can we stop this war?”
She bursts into laughter. “You’re… I don’t even know how to describe you.”
“I’m charming. If I recall, I’m your favorite person,” I say, walking closer to her.
Maia moves away from the door. “Please leave.”
“Not until we talk.”
“I’m not interested.”
I step closer to her. She retreats.
“L-leave.” She swallows hard, taking yet another step back until her back is pressed against the wall.
I’m close to her.
So close.
I put my hands on each side of her shoulders.
I lower my lips.
They linger above hers.
I can feel her shallow breathing. “Tell me to stop.”
She doesn’t say a word. Her eyes burn with desire.
Lust.
I dare to slide my hand through her curly hair, letting her soft dark curls fall through my fingers as I lean forward. My other hand grabs her hip. I lick my lips as our shared gaze locks before I slant my mouth to hers. Within seconds, I’m on fire, combusting as I kiss her without restraint.
My heart rate quickens as everything around us ceases to matter anymore.
My tongue sweeps across hers, and her arms wrap around my neck as we deepen the kiss. She’s just as eager to explore my mouth as I am to explore hers. It’s been too long. Too long without this, her touch, her caress. Our tongues dance a soft waltz before switching to a passionate tango.
Her hands travel up and down my back while mine lower down to her perfect ass, pulling her body closer to mine.
I hold her tightly.
She kisses me with the same intensity.
And we’re finally melting back into us.
She feels boneless in my arms as we share the same breath, the same beat, and the same soul.
This is everything I ever needed.
Maia.
My Maia.
The taste of her lips.
The warmth of her breath.
The sound of her moans.
Her heart, beating close to mine.
Us, souls burning with desire.
“No,” she says, pushing me.
“I won’t let you do it again,” she says between shallow breaths, her eyes burning with anger and fear.
Why is she afraid of me? “What did I do?”