Chapter 18
Saffron
I waited outside Tyler’s office, shaking.
He left me hanging dry in the lobby as I crawled up the wall, dying to know his next move.
I tried to call him soon after he ended the call, but he did not pick up my calls.
Then I tried his brother’s phone, but he was out of reach.
Whatever family business he was dealing with, it was still occurring.
Then I did what I had to do: go to his office.
His assistant refused to let me in, even though I had seen Tyler alone for a long period of time.
People filtered in and out of his office plenty of times during the two hours I was in that lobby.
But when the door finally opened and his CFO and his General Counsel came out after a long meeting—Richie smiled at me on the way out so maybe he didn’t think I was to blame—I dashed past them, rushing into Tyler’s office before Matt could stop me.
“You have to let me explain! I didn’t have anything to do with that article.”
“Did Matt let you in? He’s so fired,” Tyler said, anger etched across his features. His body was taut as he stood by his desk, framed by a glittering New York skyline behind the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Is that Saffron?” someone said. I glanced around to find the source of the voice. It was coming from a phone. Sebastian. He wasn’t alone. He was on a call with his brother. I almost retreated, but this was my chance to plead to someone who might listen to me.
“I didn’t do it, Sebastian! You have to believe me!”
“Then who did?” Tyler said, “because the only person who might know about this is dead!”
“Uh… hi Saff,” Sebastian said.
“You call her Saff?” Tyler frowned.
“Why?” Sebastian said. “Is there anything wrong with that?”
“I had no idea that this was the blackmail. I thought it had something to do with emails or whatever.”
“Or whatever.” Tyler raked his hands through his hair. He slammed the desk with both hands. “Do you have any idea what you’ve just done? My trip will come to nothing.”
“We don’t know that yet,” Sebastian said. I was glad he was the voice of reason. Maybe all hope is not lost.
Tyler bent over the desk to shout at his brother. “Massimo hasn’t responded to any of my texts or emails ever since the news broke. You know how he is about rules. He won’t work with us as long as this thing hangs above us. And if another firm scoops him up…”
“There are plenty of fish in the sea,” Sebastian said.
“That’s rich coming from you. You were the one who wanted him so bad. ‘He has prime real estate, Tyler.’ Isn’t that what you used to say?”
“I mean, what can we do? If he can’t weather a minor storm like this, he shouldn’t be working with us anyway.”
“Minor storm. Do you hear yourself? What have they done to my brother? Is it the kid? Is that why they do?”
Sebastian chuckled. “Something like that. She’s been hell, but she’s lovely, so really, I can’t complain. I could cut the vay cay and come and help you out.”
Tyler shook his head. “No need. I’ll turn off the fire over here. You need time with her.”
“Hey! Saff can help! You know Massimo is a family-oriented guy. He would love to know that you’re not a playboy and are actually a decent married man.”
As though he had forgotten I was here, Tyler glanced up at me, a frown marring his gorgeous features. “Fuck no. She caused this.”
“I didn’t,” I cut in.
“So. Let her help.”
Tyler looked at me again. His gaze was harder and more piercing than before. I held it. “Call you later, Seb,” he said and ended the call.
“Think whatever you may think of me, but I would never sabotage a company I am working with. You’re literally the lifeline of my company.
Marble Row was on the brink of bankruptcy until you took our contract.
And that’s not only it. We’ve hired people, and why would I risk their jobs out of some stupid revenge I don’t even care about? Think about it.”
His eyes narrowed. His jaw ticked. That signature note of his. Time seemed to slow down. To this moment. And then he stalked over to me, eating the space between us until he was towering over me. “Whoever did this did it for you. Do you know anyone who would do such a thing?”
“How would that benefit me?”
“I don’t know. How about you show you can use the material you have and harm me where necessary? How about to show you can use it to gain leverage in our divorce? This is not everything, and you know it. You could bleed me dry if you want to.”
I was about to deny it, but I chose a different tack. “What if I help you? Like Seb suggested.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
“Why not? You need help.”
He stepped closer, crowding me. Intimidating me?
Or something else… His nostrils flared. His head bent as his gaze zeroed in on my lips.
I hadn’t worn my usual red lipstick and instead opted for a more natural, clean look and put on plain lip gloss.
He seemed almost fascinated by them. I tipped my head up slightly.
“Let me help you,” I repeated.
As though he were coming out of a trance, he reared his head back and took several steps away from me. Arms akimbo, he said, “Fine. But we'd better get the deal, or it’s over for you.”
“Understood.”
◆◆◆
“You can’t wear that,” Tyler said when I came out of my apartment. He was leaning against his car, looking sleek in chinos, a blue shirt, and tan loafers. The sunglasses completed the spoiled billionaire look. I glanced down at my white tank dress. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Too tight and too short.”
“Come on. It’s slightly below the knee.”
He shrugged. “If you want Massimo to believe that you and I are a decent, happily married couple, looking like a high-class hooker will not help.”
“What should I wear then?”
He marched over to me and took hold of my arm. “I have to do everything myself,” he muttered as he led me back into the apartment building.
“It’s not that bad; you’re exaggerating.”
“Trust me, I am not. Where’s the elevator?”
“Let’s take the stairs,” I said, leading him to the stairwell.
He seemed to hesitate, then he remembered.
He let go of my arm and let me walk in front of him.
I could feel his stare burning my ass as we made it to the stairs.
The intensity became worse with each step.
Yeah, I was regretting the dress too. I could only imagine how it looked from behind.
I could climb a little faster, maybe two at a time, but not in the chunky heels I was wearing.
Luckily, my apartment was on the second floor, and we got there in no time.
Tyler hovered behind me as I opened the door. “So do you always stay on lower floors?”
“Your taunts don’t affect me as much as they did in high school,” I said.
“I was genuinely asking.” He followed me inside, his gaze darting around the tiny studio apartment. I knew what he was thinking even though he said nothing, and it made me feel a little self-conscious.
“Not really. But I prefer them even if I get a not-so-spacious apartment.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Money is tight, as you can see,” I added and went to the bedroom. “What are you doing?”
“Why?” Tyler had followed me there.
“I’m the one who should be asking questions. Like why are you in my bedroom right now?”
“Why is money tight? I’ve been sending you thousands of dollars a month.”
I jerked back in surprise. “Excuse me? I have received nothing of the sort from you. And even if I did, I would have sent it back. I may be lots of things, but I am not desperate for Hawthorne money.”
He folded his arms. “History says otherwise. I’ve been sending monthly payments to you like clockwork. Money that’s more than enough for you to live in a better place than this.”
“Tyler, I don’t know who you’ve been sending money to, but it’s not me. Are you sure you aren’t being scammed by a Nigerian prince?”
His eyes narrowed. Then his mood shifted, and he marched past me and went for the closet. “I’m going to pick the clothes since you can’t do that on your own.”
And just like that, he acted as though he had never brought up the mysterious money. He picked out a maroon maxi dress with a high neckline and threw it on the bed. “That’s more appropriate.” Then he went to the jackets and took out a leather jacket. “Paired with that, I’d say you’re good to go.”
“I’m not wearing that. It’s not my style.”
“Don’t care. We’re not going there for a fun house party.
It’s business. You wear what I say you wear or our deal is done.
” He checked his watch. “You’ve got five minutes.
Any longer and I am coming back in here and dressing you myself.
” He marched out of the bedroom looking like he would make good on his threat. Asshole.
I was done getting dressed in under three minutes, and when I got back to the living room, Tyler had his back to me, staring at my framed certificate, which I had hung on the wall.
“You graduated with honors,” he said without looking at me.
“Surprised I could pull it off?”
“Kinda, yeah.”
“Well, I am not just legs and tits.”
He swiveled around to face me. “That’s a distinct phrase?”
“You don’t remember, do you? Your brother’s twenty-first birthday? Levi, I think. You said that to your friends when one of them wondered if I had a boyfriend.”
He jabbed his chest. “I said that?”
“Of course you forgot.”
He cocked his head. “If I said it, it must have been because I was trying to protect you. Weren’t you like sixteen or seventeen that time?”
“Ah, of course. You weren’t insulting me; you were being a white knight.”
He paused as though he wanted to say something, only to stop himself at the last minute as he raked me with his gaze, then said, “Where’s your ring?”
I pointed at his bare ring finger. “Where’s yours?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold band and flashed it in my face.
“Do I really have to wear one?”
“It would be awkward if we didn’t have them, don’t you think? Worse still if I’m wearing one and you’re not.”