Chapter 6
Sutton
His hair was slicked back in an old-Hollywood way, and he had on yet another bespoke three-piece suit.
I imagined he had a full wall of a walk-in closet lined with them, probably color coded.
Jagger Langston looked every inch the powerful CEO he was, and my mouth went instantly dry.
His eyes scanned the interns seated around the table, and when they landed on me, the slightest hint of a smirk curled his lip.
“Good morning.” He nodded. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Your timing is actually perfect.” Ellie smiled. “Each mentor gave an introduction, and we just finished up with the last person. So, if you’re ready, the floor is yours.”
I’d listened to everything the mentors had said so far, but suddenly I sat up a little taller, eagerly awaiting what this mysterious man might have to say.
He took a step forward. “Good morning and welcome. My name is Jagger Langston, and I founded Apex seven years ago. I started this mentorship program because I remember what it felt like to be overlooked, to be young and full of fire but have no idea what to do with it or where to aim.” He smirked.
“Or in my case, to aim at the wrong place and get yourself into trouble.”
Everyone chuckled, and he continued. “My mentorship program was a little different than this one—mine was in the United States Marines—but the three principles you’ll learn here are the same.
” He counted on his fingers. “One, you’ll be trusted with responsibility, even though you’ll think you’re not ready.
That will teach you confidence and the power of your voice.
Two, you’ll learn to value your team members.
Right now, many of you are looking at the people sitting around the table as your competitors, but they’re not.
They are your best resources. And three, you’ll learn strategic thinking.
You’ll see how small decisions can impact the bigger picture and learn firsthand why it’s important to have a long-term goal and make sure that each initiative you engage in is a step toward achieving that goal.
“I started this program six years ago and acted as one of the mentors,” he added after a moment.
“The following year, I was traveling a lot, so I took a step back. I’ve been meaning to participate again, but something always comes up.
So when this fell into my lap two hours ago, I took it as a sign.
” He looked over at me and held my eyes.
“In a world full of distractions, sometimes we’re redirected and forced to focus on what we’re meant to see. ”
Then Jagger looked away as if he hadn’t just rocked my world.
He went on for probably another ten minutes, but I was stuck on his introduction.
Did he think I was what he’s meant to see?
Or was I reading into what he’d said, hearing something innocent the way I wanted to hear it?
Either way, my whole body was still buzzing when he finished.
“Thank you, Jagger,” Ellie said. “If you don’t mind, would you also share your hobbies with everyone? I play a little game where the interns have to guess who they’ve been matched with. The winner gets a fun prize.”
He nodded. “Of course. I pretty much like anything outdoors. I’m an avid snowboarder, master scuba diver, and I love to travel.” His eyes moved back to me. “I guess you could say I’m adventurous—the kind that always takes the dare over the truth.”
DARE. My eyes widened, and I sucked in a sharp breath that was so audible, I had to cover it up with a fake cough.
Jagger smiled at the interns sitting on the other side of the table, but the look on his face was unmistakable. The mention of dare was definitely not a coincidence. And I’d forgotten about our similar hobbies. That’s what had gotten us matched up to begin with. My heart started to pound.
Ellie told us all to write down who we thought each intern’s mentor might be, and then she announced the pairs.
I got three out of the first four right, and then it was down to just me and one other unassigned intern—who happened to have gone to the same college as Jagger.
But Jack hadn’t been matched up yet either.
So it could go either way. Anxiety pulsed through me as I waited for Ellie to announce the next pairing.
I wasn’t sure whether I was nervous that Jagger might be my mentor or that he might not be.
“Ben,” Ellie said, “your mentor will be Jack Gallo.”
***
“Have a seat.” Jagger gestured to the guest chairs on the other side of his desk. “I need to speak to my assistant for a moment.”
He stepped out of his office, leaving me to look around.
Tall windows showcased the New York City skyline.
I bet it was amazing at night. There was a conference table to the left with eight chairs around it, and the right side of the room held a more intimate seating section with a couch and two matching upholstered chairs.
Built-in bookshelves lined the wall behind the desk.
I leaned forward for a closer examination of those.
Four of the six shelves were packed with books.
I perused the titles with interest. What someone reads can tell you a lot about the person.
Jagger’s were mostly nonfiction—bestsellers about Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, books about coding and the stock market, nothing uniquely personal.
The shelves above held some awards and framed photos—one of him in a cap and gown, standing with a woman I thought might be his mother, one of him surrounded by people as he rang the bell at NASDAQ, and another of a woman with her arms around two little girls.
But the one I spent the most time checking out was of him in military fatigues.
He was smiling, his arms stretched out around a group of six men.
He looked different, younger and with short, buzzed hair, but there was no mistaking those striking blue eyes and the sharp cut of his jawline.
Next to it was a small framed photo of a little boy wearing only a diaper and a military combat helmet that was five sizes too big for his head.
I picked it up to look for resemblance, wondering if it was him, but there was none.
Jagger came back into the office, shutting the door behind him.
He shrugged his suit jacket off and swung it over the back of his chair before sitting.
He unbuttoned the cuffs of his crisp, white dress shirt and began to roll up the sleeves.
My eyes found unexpected lines of black and gray ink wrapped around muscular forearms. I didn’t even realize I was staring until his voice startled me.
“Most are from the military.”
My eyes jumped to meet his. “Hmmm?”
“You were looking at my tattoos.”
Yes, but only because they’re attached to the sexy arms. “Sorry. I’m not sure why, but I guess I didn’t expect you to have any.”
He flashed a hint of a smile. “Expectations usually lead to disappointment, Ms. Holland.”
“Not in this case.” Oh, Jesus Christ. Did I really just say that?
Jagger raised a brow. “Good to know.”
I shook my head. “Sorry. That was inappropriate.”
“I appreciate candor.” He tilted his head. “Do you?”
“Yes, very much.”
“Good.” He smiled. “So let’s both be candid for a moment, shall we?”
“Oh-kay…”
“There’s an attraction here.” He motioned with two fingers back and forth. “Between us.”
I blinked a few times before shifting my focus over his shoulder to the framed picture of the little boy with the helmet.
“Look at me, Sutton,” he said sternly. “Eyes over here.”
I adjusted my gaze to meet his.
“Thank you. As I was saying, there’s an attraction here. Perhaps if we acknowledge it, it will be easier to deal with each other over the next few months. The cat-and-mouse game doesn’t work as well when you take the mystery out of the chase.”
Jagger was clearly waiting for me to speak. But I was at a loss for words. “I’m not sure how to respond.”
“With honesty. Are you attracted to me?”
My cheeks heated. But Jagger’s stare didn’t relent, and I wound up looking away again.
“I’m about ten seconds away from coming around to that side of the desk and pulling my chair right next to yours so you can’t avoid me, Sutton. If you don’t want that, you might want to redirect your attention right now.”
My eyes jumped back to his, and the jerk flashed a triumphant smile. “Good. Perhaps I should go first? I’m very attracted to you. I was from the first time I saw your photo, but there’s something more here. Do you agree?”
It felt like he could read my mind with the way he was looking at me, so I had no choice but to be honest. I nodded.
“Excellent.” He smiled. “Now, that wasn’t so difficult, was it?”
“Maybe not from where you’re sitting.”
“That’s a very good point. I’m in a position of power, and while that’s the way I prefer things normally, you technically work for me, and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.
So at any time, if you’d like me to recuse myself from being your mentor, just say the word, and I’ll have someone else assigned.
I’ll tell Ellie it turns out I’m too busy. Understood?”
I nodded.
“Would you like to end this now and have someone else assigned as your mentor?”
I shook my head.
“Good. Then let’s get back to business. We met under very different circumstances, outside of work, and we’re attracted to each other. But for obvious reasons, nothing should come of it. How am I doing? Are you in agreement so far?”
I swallowed. “Yes, I work for you.”
Jagger’s eyes gleamed. “That wasn’t the reason I was referring to. I wouldn’t give two shits if that were the only obstacle.”
“Then…what?”
“We have different needs.”
“What do you need?”
His eyes narrowed. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
I swallowed and nodded.