Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
JAMISON
There’s got to be a way to take Hunter down.
I enter my office with revenge on my mind and find Melanie lounging in the chair next to my desk, swinging her crossed leg up and down.
“Hey, Mel. I’m thinking you should just move your desk in here.”
“You think they’d let me?” She doesn’t look up to greet me. She just continues to pick at her nails.
“I don’t know, but you’re in here enough.”
“With Jonah and Hunter out of the building this week, we could give it a shot and see if anyone notices.” She stands and rests her palms on my desk as she leans toward me. “Should we do it?”
“Hunter already wants to cancel my contract. I don’t need to add to his list of reasons to do it.” I toss my phone on the desk.
“Oh. I don’t want that to happen, so maybe there’s a way around it.” She glances down at my desk to consider something.
I need to find out some dirt on the guy. If he found out information about me, I can find some about him .
My mind is made up. The battle is on, and I vow to destroy Hunter. There’s no way a guy like him is that clean. From my research, I know his private investigator is Joe Ison.
Maybe he’s open to being a double agent.
On second thought, I don’t want Hunter to know I’m digging into his dealings. I’d much rather see him go down in a surprise attack. The shock would be more satisfying.
Now if I can figure out a way to get Dori to take a pregnancy test, I could relax and focus on work.
Melanie turns my phone so it’s facing her. “Dori said you and he were trying to rebuild your friendship, so maybe we could ask Hunter to let us share an office in a show of good faith.”
“Hunter won’t be showing me any good faith unless it’s faith in his efforts to get rid of me once and for all.”
“I thought you two were working things out. You’re making it sound like you’re in a dire situation.” She takes my phone and returns to sit in the chair. “Something doesn’t smell right.”
“You could say that.” I pull my chair out and sit. “Everything is a mess.”
“Tell me what’s going on.” She raises her chin toward the ceiling and folds her arms across her chest. “And I want the truth or else it’s the silent treatment from here on out.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Mel, I don’t think you could ever be silent.”
My phone vibrates and illuminates in her hand. She peeks at it, and then her eyes go wide.
“It appears you have a message from someone by the name of Julie.” Mel’s head pops up. “Who’s Julie?”
A zap of guilt squeezes me. Sometimes my impulsive decisions are destructive as fuck.
“No one. Can I have my phone back now?” I reach over my desk and gesture for Mel to give it back.
She holds it to her chest. “Nope. Not until I get the scoop. I need to know these things so when the rumor mill takes another round, I’ll know if it’s true or not.”
“Not only do you have zero filter, but you also lack personal boundaries. Someone should teach you a lesson.” I hold my unamused gaze with hers.
Her eyes round in mischief. “Oh, that reminds me.”
Knowing exactly where her mind went, I roll my eyes. “No, Melanie. We won’t be discussing my kinks today or any other day. You’ll have to take that up with Dori.”
Melanie shrugs. “Oh, well. Can’t blame a girl for trying. Now, let’s get back to Julie. What’s her story?”
“Since you won’t leave me alone until I tell you, she’s a woman I went out with a few weeks ago. There’s no story there. Sorry to burst your bubble.”
“That was right after you got back from Denver.”
My stomach twists with shame. “Yeah, so?”
“You and Dori had just spent all that time together. It surprises me you went out on a date.”
“It was an impulsive decision. Nothing happened, and that text you’re looking at is the first time I’ve heard from Julie since. Can I have my phone now?” I throw my open hand on my desk and motion for Mel to give it back.
She taps my screen to open my message. “Let me see what she wants. Then I’ll let you have it.”
“It doesn’t matter what she wants. I’m not going to respond to her.” I stand and round my desk.
She brings my phone close to her again. “You’re not getting this back until I know everything.”
“Mel, I have a ton of work to do and I don’t have a lot of patience right now. Give me my phone.” I try to snag it out of her hands.
She jerks away and slips it down her tucked-in blouse. “We can do this all day. Tell me what I want to know and you can have it back.”
I huff a frustrated breath and place my hands on my hips. “ Do you know how juvenile this is? You are worse than a child.”
“I don’t claim to be mature. I don’t care what people think about my filter or my boundaries. All I care about is my friend, so sit down and explain it to me before I go to Dori and rat you out.” She tilts her head as her eyebrows rise, daring me to test her.
I know better than that, so I rest against my desk and fold my arms over my chest. Maybe explaining to Mel won’t be that big of a deal.
“Julie’s a woman I met on a dating app. I went out with her once. I wasn’t interested in her, but I was trying to forget my heartbreak.”
Mel gasps. “Jami, why?”
“After hearing Dori and Hunter proclaim their love for each other, I thought I deserved a few nights out. There’s no scoop to give you, Melanie. Erase the message if you want. It makes no difference to me.”
She studies me for a minute and then reaches down her shirt to retrieve my phone. “Before I give this back to you, I need clarification.”
“About?”
“You said you thought you deserved a few nights out, but you told me you only went out with Julie once. Your story has some holes in it.”
My arms fall to my sides and I spin around. I grasp the edge of my desk and hold in my scream.
“I don’t know how Dori puts up with you. You’ve got to be the most incorrigible woman I’ve ever met.” I push off the desk and go back to my chair.
“It’s not difficult to understand. When I want intel, I get it. You know this about me and you still hang out with me. That tells me it doesn’t bother you that much.” Mel taps my screen. “What’s your code to open this?”
“Absolutely not. I am not giving you the code to my phone.”
“Then I’ll assume you’re hiding something.”
Lauren and our issues screech into my mind. I lower my head so I don’t have to look at Melanie.
All Hunter’s threats stack before me. It’s enough to make me sick. I have to get my shit together, but this situation with Dori’s consuming me.
“What is it, Jami?” Melanie’s tone switches and echoes with genuine concern.
“Nothing.”
“I’ve only known you for a short time, but even I can tell whatever you just thought about is anything but nothing. What are you hiding?” She leans forward and hands me my phone.
I take it back and erase Julie’s message without reading it. “I’m just dealing with a lot. This thing with Dori has me on the verge of a mental breakdown.”
“What thing with Dori?” Mel rests her arms on her legs, giving me her full attention.
“Her being sick. Her being with Hunter. Everything has me thinking about her nonstop.”
“I’m taking Dori to the doctor tomorrow, which should be a relief. As far as her being with Hunter, she’s not with him. They’re talking and seeing where things go.”
“I thought they were back together.”
“No. She’s still hung up on you, so I don’t see it going anywhere with him.” Mel replaces her usual rough-around-the-edges energy with a gentler one.
I take the opportunity and use it to my advantage. “Have you talked to Dori much? I mean, about her and me?”
“Sure, we talk all the time. She’s in the office today if that makes you feel better. I’m not sure she’s feeling well, but she made it in because she has division meetings to run.”
I nod and glance down. At least Dori’s not so sick she can’t make it in .
Mel cuts in on my thoughts. “Dori was a mess when you shut her out. I think it made her realize she could lose you.”
“Well, it wasn’t enough for her to want to be with me.”
Mel takes a second to consider something. “I’ll tell you something if you promise not to tell her.”
“I’m much better at keeping secrets than you, so give it to me.”
“You were right when you told Dori she keeps you as a backup plan. I didn’t believe that initially, but I see her doing that with you and Hunter. When you called her on it, she had to look hard at it.”
“Whatever good that did.”
“You shut her out and I think it scared her.” Pausing, Melanie shakes her head. She glances away and then back at me. “If Dori comes looking for a relationship with you, it’ll be the last time.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Mel shrugs. “She still thinks you run hot or cold, and I can see where she’s coming from, but how she always picks the other guy can’t be denied. It’s a fact and she knows it. I think it’s finally hitting her that she can’t do this to you anymore.”
I stand and meander to the window. “It’s not all her fault. I have plenty of things I need to take accountability for, but I’ve never picked anyone over her. I don’t think I ever will.”
“So this ends in a fairy tale, or she’ll be the one who got away. Any woman you date after will always come in second place.” Melanie joins me at my side. “I don’t envy the woman who comes after Dori.”
“You say that like you know she won’t choose me.” I turn to Mel, nearly losing my breath from the iron foot kicking me in the gut.
She places her hand on my shoulder. “If the past has taught you anything, I wouldn’t hold your breath.”
I swallow hard. Melanie’s right. Dori’s never picked me. Even if she’s pregnant, she could leave me for some other guy once she’s settled into motherhood. I have no claim on her.
That thought sends me directly into panic mode. I can’t lose her or my baby if she’s pregnant. No fucking way will I stand by and watch that happen.
My eyes penetrate Melanie’s. “It’s time she picks me, so I’m going to need your help.”
I thought I’d see Dori today, but between her meetings and all my own demands, I keep missing her. When I text, she responds with a one-word answer.
My stomach keeps growling, and I’m snapping at everything and everyone. Not to mention, I’m worried sick about her.
I enter the lobby of my building and stride toward the elevators. As I pass the sitting area, a familiar face catches my attention. My eyes round as I almost fall over in shock.
“Aiden, what the fuck?” My smile takes over as I give him a manly hug. “What are you doing here?”
“I used my medical leave and finally made a visit out to see you.”
“It’s about time. Let’s get upstairs and you can fill me in.” I grab his bag and gesture to the elevators. “I’m surprised they gave you medical clearance.”
He glances over his shoulder like he’s watching out for someone, then follows. “I got discharged from the hospital a week ago and feel fine. I’ve passed all their tests, so I was given the go-ahead to come out here.”
“I’m happy you did. Since you have your bag, I’ll assume you’re taking me up on my offer of staying with me anytime you want.” I press the elevator call button .
“You nailed it. I’m only able to stay a couple of days, so I figured I’d get to spend more time with you if I just stayed at your place.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” The doors slide open and we get on the elevator. “I take it your haircut isn’t something you picked out on purpose.”
He runs his hand over the top of his head. “I needed to make it even, so the buzz cut won.”
“Are you completely healed from the attack?”
“I have some residual medical issues. With the exception of being sensitive to light and loud noises, I am generally in good health.
“Any idea who did it?”
He shakes his head. “The agency is still working on it.”
I nod. “Hopefully, they’ll catch the asshole.”
The elevator opens to my floor. We get out and go to my place. I set him up in the main-level guest room.
We meet back in my kitchen after we’ve changed our clothes. He climbs onto one of the stools at my center island as I rummage through the refrigerator.
I turn, shutting the fridge as I do. “Unless you want cold cuts and cheese, we’re going to need to order in or go out for dinner.”
“Let’s surprise Dori and then go out. She should be getting home soon.” He picks up his phone and checks something.
The thought of seeing her when he’s there and all that’s going on between us causes me to recoil. I lower my head as I try to figure out how to get out of it.
“What’s with the look, Jamison?” He straightens his back like he’s ready to square off with me.
First off, he never calls me Jamison. Next, he knows me too well. I’m not sure how I’m going to get out of this. I turn and grab a bottle of whiskey to escape his glare.
“She’s been sick, so I thought it wouldn’t be a good idea. But I wasn’t being considerate. You’re her brother, and she’ll want to see you. After this drink, let’s get going.” I take two glasses off the shelf.
His presence is a slap in the face I didn’t need, telling me how many people are affected by my one night with her. It takes out all the good and leaves only the sinfulness of it. No matter how great that night was, the aftershocks will be devastating no matter how it turns out.
Aiden eyes narrow. “She didn’t mention she didn’t feel well. But then again, our messages were quick and short.”
“She was busy today.”
His posture gets rigid. “I’m calling you on your bullshit. When I brought her up, the look on your face was a lot more than being concerned about her being sick. I’m getting a distinct feeling you and I are about to have it out.”
I do something that normally would be shitty, but in this case, I think even Dori would agree with it.
“Come on, Aiden. Any look I had was probably because I think your sister has lost her mind.”
“What has she done this time?”
I pour some whiskey into our glasses and slide him his drink. “You can have this, right?”
He nods and takes it from me.
I take a swig of mine and swallow the guilt from my lie right along with it. “She’s still spending time with her boss. If you ask me, it’s a recipe for disaster. I think the stress is getting to her.”
“Why do you say that?”
I huff a laugh. “Well, the most glaring reason is that her contract states that she’s not to date anyone in the business. Can you imagine what would happen to her if the board finds out she’s sleeping with the boss?”
The color in Aiden’s face drains. Maybe I should’ve left that out, but I hate the thought of her and Hunter, so I feel a little justified .
He pins me with a stare. “You’re fucking with me, right?”
“Wish I was, but no. It’s in there. I think the stress is what’s making her sick.”
Yes, I threw that in to take him down a completely different path. He can’t have any suspicions she’s pregnant.
Even if he would assume it was Hunter’s, it would wreck Dori because he would go hard on her. He knows how to get her to cave. He dominates their arguments so she wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Jami, I say it’s time I get to the bottom of this. Get your keys and let's go surprise my notorious, reckless little sister.”
I rock from one foot to the other, knowing Dori and I will struggle with Aiden around. I finish my whiskey with my heart accelerating.
Just as I do, my phone vibrates. I pick it up and see the message. My blood drains and I’m instantly cold as dread takes over.
I drop my head back and glare at the ceiling. “Fucking hell. This is the last thing I want to deal with now.”