Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
JAMISON
It’s payback time, Hunter, and I can’t wait to welcome you home.
I’m going to demolish him tonight. The click of his front door signals he’s entering his place. I take my cue and start flipping the betting chip in the air and catching it on repeat.
I’m standing behind his bar with two glasses of scotch in front of me. My heart’s pounding out of this world because I’ve never done something so dark in my life. But everyone has their limit and I’m well past mine.
I’ve decided to be on the theatrical side when this all goes down. Kind of like the way he toyed with me the night he laid out all my secrets and has held them over my head ever since.
My eyes stay glued to the opening of his foyer while I continue to use my prop. He comes into view as he slides his phone onto the foyer table. A second later, he notices me behind the bar.
Hunter storms toward me. “How the fuck did you get in here?”
“I suggest you sit down and listen.” I toss the chip in the air and catch it again, eyeing the chair across the bar.
He growls and has murder written all over his face. “I should call the cops and get your ass arrested and then thrown off our team for breaking and entering.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
The chip flips higher this time, so it catches his attention. I want him to realize this is his game we’re playing.
He gets to the edge of the bar and is about to lunge. I grab the chip out of the air and slam it on the counter next to him with enough emphasis that it stops him in his tracks.
He’s huffing air and red in the face. His eyes follow my motion to the chip, and that’s when he sees it.
He steps back and looks like he’s seen a ghost. “Where the fuck did you get that?”
“All in due time, Hunter. Take a seat because we’re going to play a game that you taught me not long ago. It’s time for a rematch.” I motion to the chair across the bar with vengeance streaming from my eyes. “Do you know what game I’m talking about?”
He’s flexed and ready to pounce, trying to calm his breathing as much as he can. It’s evident he’s not used to being on that side of the court.
“What do you want, Jamison?” he asks through gritted teeth.
“I said, sit down so we can finish the tournament. You should know the rules since you created them.” I slide his glass of scotch to the seat across the bar.
He takes a few seconds to search for an out. When he realizes there isn’t one, he stomps to the stool and sits.
He slams his scotch. “Game on, Jamison.”
“I was hoping you’d see it my way.” I knock back my drink. “Would you like another pour? It’s one of the best out there, higher than anything you’d find in a bar.”
His eyes burn into me. “You’re on offense, so I’ll let you decide.”
“In that case, I’ll pour until it’s gone.” I turn around, laughing inside, and take the $3,000 bottle of scotch off the shelf.
I give us both more than two fingers worth because we’re going to need it for this playoff. Otherwise, we might kill each other before we’re through the first round.
He takes his glass from me. “So much for keeping it amicable.”
“It was never amicable. You went too far out of the gate. Once you did that, there was no turning back. Again, you should know this because it is your game we’re playing.” I cock a brow and the veins in his forehead pop.
Oh my, how great retribution feels.
They should bottle it up and sell the shit.
“Get on with it, Stone.”
“Such a spoilsport, Efron. I thought you enjoyed messing with your opponent.” My eyes flicker with satisfaction. “Oh, wait. I forgot. You only like that when you’re the one standing where I am.”
“So far, all I’m seeing is a guy who wants to be murdered.” His eyes shoot flames my way.
I think he is genuinely on the brink of killing me, so my histrionics are done.
“You’ll never believe who I ran into. Care to take a guess?” I rest my hand on the counter as he drives invisible hate spears into me from across the bar.
“The only person I can think of that would give you some leverage would be Isabella. I already know you met with her.”
“Wrong guess, but I’ll tell you for time's sake. I ran into Ava Aldridge.” I tilt my head and send him a questioning look. “Did you know she was in town?”
Hunter’s chest flexes as he pretends to be unbothered. “I try to interact with her as little as possible. So, no. I didn’t know she was in town.”
“It was the damnedest thing. I was coming out of the office the other night and she was walking in. I’m starting to believe in karma.” I laugh with my revenge. “Anyway, enough about that. The point is, I asked her out for dinner. She’s a lovely woman, don’t you think?”
“Quit dragging this out, Jamison. It’s getting boring.”
“Oh, no. You don’t have a say in how this goes down tonight. You already had your turn.” I twist my glass in a circle and train my eyes on him.
He needs to see I mean business because I do—billion-dollar business.
He leans back in his chair, pretending not to care. “What did our conniving little Ava have to say?”
“She was tight-lipped at first, but again, something random happened. Isabella was dining at the same place as us. She stopped by to say hi. You can imagine Ava’s surprise when I introduced her as one of your girlfriends.”
I take a drink and taste vengeance. “Of course, Isabella denied you were together as boyfriend and girlfriend, but the damage was done.”
“How so?”
“Ava was more than willing to talk after Isabella excused herself. I guess she’s getting sick of waiting for you to take her back. You keep promising her you will, so I understand why she gets so upset.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Jamison. She doesn’t want me back.” He shakes his head like I’m an idiot. “She wants the world to believe we’re together until she gets what she really wants.”
“Whatever she wants doesn’t matter. She’s willing to be my ally in the war between you and me.” I pause and let him ruminate on that information for a moment.
We’re in a heated stare, neither of us wanting to give an inch. He’s used to holding out, so I break it.
“You have all my secrets lined up and waiting to drop them on Dori if I don’t follow your rules.”
“You’re right about that. ”
“Here’s the thing. I’m a smart man and calculate everything that could happen given certain circumstances. No matter what I say today, you still have that power over me.” I top off his drink and pour some more for me.
“Then why play this game with me? You know, the second you leave, I’m setting things in motion with Dorothy and she’ll find out everything.”
“Because I have a lot more to share. You’re not on offense yet. Far from it.” I rest back against the counter behind me.
We need space between us for what I’m about to drop on him. He shrugs, telling me he’s waiting to hear what I have to say.
“Here’s what I want.” I tip my chin to the ceiling as if I’m thinking about it.
I bring my stare back to him. “You stop pressuring Dori. Keep things on the up-and-up. Quit having her followed. Stop pressuring her to marry you and just step back. Tell her you want to be friends and nothing more.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Do you know who Ava got in contact with when you sent her off to Europe all those years back?” I rub my hands together like I’m about to eat some delicious pie.
My question hits him like a boulder falling from the sky.
His eyes snap with hate, but he reins it in. “We were young then, Jamison. Anyone she met or talked with isn’t any concern of mine anymore.”
“Hmm. That’s interesting. I can see why you believe they aren’t your problem anymore, but a sly comment to Gerald Dupree might change all that.”
“Meaning?”
“Imagine how a slip regarding how his son looks a lot like the Efron brothers could spur on some doubt.” I slam back my retribution in one swallow.
Hunter’s hand white-knuckles his glass. He definitely wants to kill me, so I better get on with it before he thinks he can get away with it.
“He’s the foreign relations officer on the board, correct?” I wince. “And one of your father’s longtime friends. They’re best friends, if my memory serves me. Isn’t that why his wife was so gracious to tutor you in one of your college courses?”
Hunter’s chest rises and falls as he takes in quick, shallow breaths. He’s about two seconds away from ending my life.
“Here’s the thing, Hunter. You seem to have your own box of secrets tucked away. Yours just happens to be more of a… Jack -in-the-box kind of secret.” I pause for dramatic effect.
I continue after a beat. “Where my indiscretions are forever buried, yours could pop out of that tin can and jump into your life at any moment. It’s kind of frightening if you think about it. I never liked that toy. Did you?”
“Fuck you, Jamison. Lay it all out. I know where you’re going, so let’s get to the bottom line.” He pushes off the chair and comes toward me. Good thing there’s space between us because he’s about to jump over the bar and strangle me.
“You should know better than anyone, Hunter. That’s how lady luck works. One minute, you’re up owning the world. And just like that, she flips you on your head. Your whole world turns upside down and you’re left with nothing.”
“Spell it out. What do you want?”
“I’m going to make this simple and clear. Me versus you. Tit for tat. When all the cards are on the table, it’ll be an equal playing field. Neither one of us will have the upper hand.” I lift the bottle to ask him if he’d like another.
He stiffly nods and slowly returns to his seat. “So we’re renegotiating the agreements.”
“Exactly.” I slide him the bottle. I’ve had enough to get me through the rest of this bloodbath. “I’ll keep what I know about Isabella to myself, and you keep Lauren to yourself. That agreement can stay in place unchanged. It’s the bigger one that needs a lot of work. ”
“Tell me the terms and we’ll take it from there.”
“No more manipulation when it comes to Dori. Quit following her and pressuring her. If she comes to you or me, that’s fine. But neither of us tries to sway her mind. You don’t bash me and I don’t bash you. We leave it all in her court.”
He grinds his teeth. “She’ll know something isn’t right the second I stop pursuing her. She’s smarter than that.”
“Agreed. That’s why you’re going to come up with something that makes her believe you need some space.”
“Like?”
“Maybe there’s a new sponsor you used to date who resurfaces and has caught your attention. Maybe you’re falling for Ava. I don’t know or care what you tell Dori. Just back off and make her believe what you say.”
“And you’ll keep your distance as well?”
“Yes. As you know, Dori and I aren’t on the best terms, so it’s not an issue for me. But for the sake of the agreement, neither of us can pursue her.”
“Fair enough.”
“If she stops by unexpectedly at your house or mine, that’s different because we have no control over that. But until the app is successfully launched, we don’t date her under any circumstances.”
He tilts his head and studies me. “And if I don’t agree, what are the consequences?”
“I’ll give you a list. Number one, anything to do with my past and Aricin, you leave alone. If you don’t, I’ll make sure Jack Dupree finds his way out of his box and back into your life.”
Hunter’s face flashes purple. “What else?”
“Number two, if Aiden finds out about my night with Dori, I’ll make sure your father finds out about your affair with his best friend's wife.”
“Anything more you want to add?” Sarcasm spills from his words .
“Yes, there is. Number three and the nail in the coffin for both of us. If you sabotage my business, I’ll make sure the board finds out how you funded Ava’s lifestyle with the company dollars for all those years.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Why not? I think that’s cause for them to remove you from CEO. Possibly even create a hostile takeover, making Jonah the sole owner.”
Hunter fakes a laugh. “Like I said the night we first made this agreement. You nor I are no better than the other. We just play the game using different strategies.”
“Does that mean we agree to our new arrangements?”
“Yes, we have an agreement.” He places his hand out for me to shake.
I take his hand in mine and squeeze hard. “Deal.”
“Deal.” He pulls back his hand, then his eyes narrow. “One last thing. Where did you get that chip?”
My gaze wanders to the betting marker Ava gave me. I have no idea what it means, but it’s something huge because she had a look of malice in her eyes when she handed it to me. She sinfully smiled when she told me to give it to Hunter.
“Ava gave it to me.” I glance at him. “She said you’ll know what it means.”
He walks over and picks it up. He batons it in between his fingers a few times. Something disturbing slides over his face but then washes away.
He lifts his head to me as if he’s trying to determine if I’m hiding anything. “Did she say where she got it?”
“No. I have no clue what it means or where it came from. But from the looks of it, it’s nothing good.”
He doesn’t say a word. He just stares at me as if he’s trying to find deceit in my eyes.
It’s now that I decide to find out what that chip means, because it has Hunter trembling like a frightened child. I might need the extra leverage in case he pulls something dirty in the future.
“Jamison, I have one more question before you let yourself out. Did you get the FBI involved with any of this? Or did you use your own private investigator?” He eyes me hard as his hand fists the chip like he’s going to die if he loses it.
There’s something both sinister and concerning in his eyes. He’s trying to hide it, but it’s pulsing off him like energy running through a live wire and he can’t hold it in.
I bluff by releasing a sardonic laugh. “Do you think I would get the FBI involved when part of what I want hidden is from one of the agents himself? That would be like handing Aiden a loaded gun pointed at me.”
“But he’s your best friend.” Hunter dials in on me. “I can’t imagine he would come after you.”
“You don’t know him, but if he thought Dori and I got together, he wouldn’t stop until he killed me with his bare hands. So, to answer your question. No, the FBI isn’t involved. I don’t have a death wish.”
He nods with his guard still up.
Smart man.
“You know, Jamison. It’s too bad we fell in love with the same woman because we could’ve ruled the world if we were on the same side.” He tilts his head toward the door. “You know your way out.”
“I warned you I was a worthy opponent. You should’ve listened because I considered you a friend at one point.”
I start to leave and then twist back to him. “Oh, you asked how I got in. I have a photographic memory when it comes to numbers. You should probably change the code to unlock your door.”
“Since you gave me a heads-up on that, I’ll give you one of my own. In the spirit of keeping things equal and all that garbage, you may think Ava’s on your side, but she’s not.”
“Why would you believe that? ”
“This chip proves it. You marched yourself into a different war altogether without knowing it.” He shakes his head as if he feels sorry for me. “Watch your back, Jamison. The woman she works with will be coming for you, and she’s more ruthless than me.”
“Yeah, right. I’m sure she is.”
“Trust me. It won’t be pretty when she gets you. It’ll have nothing to do with the petty things we have on the table. No, it’ll be something that will haunt you for the rest of your life.”
I shrug. “Nah. You know everything about me. I’m not worried.”
“You should be because she’ll laugh as you suffer in the aftermath. She gets off on that shit. There’s no doubt in my mind it’ll happen because she’s done it to me.”
“I’m not concerned.”
“Believe me when I say this. When she finds it, Jamison, she’ll destroy the one thing that will break you to the core. So, good luck, my old friend. I hope you survive her wrath.” He raises his glass and downs it in my honor.
Chills cover my body. I leave with his warning and surprisingly, I believe him. The only problem is I have no idea what war I’m involved in now.
But something tells me I’m going to find out sooner than I wish because when I step out of Hunter’s place, Ava’s coming toward me with daggers flying from her eyes.