Chapter 9 Jessica
Jessica
The room is loud with chatter, and for an introvert, I feel like I’ve done pretty well tonight, even though I’m exhausted and craving my yoga pants.
I’ve met some key people, putting faces to names, and while I would rather be home in my slippers and sweats, eating ice cream, I know that as Donovan’s advisor, stepping up into the industry like this is a requirement, and I want to make him proud.
He’s given me an amazing job, one that I love, and we work so well together. I’m grateful.
I look over my shoulder, spotting Donovan.
I’ve sought him out most of the night, kept count, unintentionally, of every time his gaze landed on me.
We’re orbiting each other, and I have no idea what this is between us, but something is brewing.
Slow, steady heat pools low in my belly every time he enters my line of sight. He sets a girl's heart on fire.
He’s talking with an older gentleman I met earlier.
As they talk, my eyes rove over him. Strong stance.
Confident. He has a whiskey in hand, and I watch the way his fingers wrap around the glass.
His hands are huge, and my palm is still tingling from where we held hands on the way in.
It was entirely inappropriate yet felt completely natural.
I didn’t want to let him go, and by the way I felt his thumb strum my skin, he didn't want to either.
Snapping myself out of my staring, my eyes then canvass the room, seeing every man here watching him, too. Like they’re trying to learn from him or glean some insights that they can’t find anywhere else. They’re just as smitten as the females are, and pride rushes through me.
I hadn’t expected this. This ache. I thought it was a harmless crush.
But I’m not inexperienced enough to miss what’s happening between us.
The tension doesn’t just hum, it's electric. And it’s mutual.
I feel it when he leans in a little too close.
I see it in the way his gaze lingers before sliding away, sharp and reluctant. I feel at ease with him.
But… he’s my boss. I’m merely an advisor, a girl who works with lawn sprinklers on the weekends. A girl whose own parents don’t even want her. I have no idea why a man like Donovan York would.
I feel my cell vibrate, and I pull it out while I have a moment to check it.
Frowning, I see it’s Jimmy, asking me out for lunch.
It’s the third one he’s sent this week. Monday, he was asking how my weekend went.
Wednesday, he was asking me what my favorite flower was, and now, he tells me he wants to ensure that he beats Uncle Bobby to be my lunch date this Saturday.
I think about what Uncle Bobby said, about how he doesn't like Jimmy. But as I see the smiley happy face emoji at the end of his text, I know he’s just being friendly.
I’m sure as soon as he meets a nice girl, all this attention will go away.
“Here she is…”
I turn, smiling as I pocket my phone, ready to greet someone else as Marcus Jasper steps right up to my side. There are a lot of people here, so it’s a little crowded. He steps so close to me, I need to shuffle back, feeling cornered.
“Hi again,” I offer simply.
“So where did Donovan find you?”
My guard comes up immediately. It isn’t necessarily the words he says, although they are straight to the point.
But rather the way he says it. Like Donovan’s name tastes bitter on his tongue.
I also didn’t miss the way he looked at me when we first met.
His eyes trailed down my body and made me shiver, and not in a good way.
“I’ve worked at York Enterprises for a little while now.
” I keep my answer vague. I have all night.
Although I’ve found that most people whom I’ve spoken to tonight haven’t actually talked business with me, but rather have been asking questions about Donovan.
Clearly, his own business contacts want to know more about the man than the business.
It’s a little unsettling and makes me feel empathy for the billionaire who seems to be lonely yet has people pulling him in every direction.
“Was it you who tipped off the media tonight?”
I frown, unsure what he’s getting at.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, the women who usually flock to Donovan are always out to get their photo in the gossip pages. I just assumed you tipped them off to where you are tonight. You know, be the latest woman on his arm.” He takes a sip of his wine, and I frown. Does that actually happen?
“I’m here merely for work.” Because being photographed by the media is my idea of hell.
“And you’re his advisor…?” He raises his eyebrows like he doesn’t believe me. My back straightens, not liking him, my asshole radar pinging.
“That’s right.”
“Advising him on what, exactly?” His innuendo drops thick like tar.
“What exactly are you alluding to, Mr. Jasper?” As introverted as I am, I’m no pushover, and despite my role or the fact that my boss is here somewhere, I’m not going to let any man imply my role is anything more than it is.
“Not alluding to anything, Miss Johnson… but given Donovan hasn’t stopped looking at you all night, I think I know what’s going on here…” Yep, asshole. I knew it.
“I have no idea. Why don’t you tell me what you think you know.” I fold my arms across my chest, ensuring my body language isn’t welcoming.
He huffs a laugh like I amuse him. “It’s clear you’re sleeping together. But Donovan doesn’t usually bring his fuck buddies to these events.”
I was expecting it, yet his words still take me by complete surprise.
“We’re not… together, nor are we… buddies.” Not yet, I think to myself as Marcus now looks at me, a little unsure.
“You know, you're a pretty girl… You don’t have to pretend you know anything about business. If you want more social media followers, I would be more than happy to leak some photos of the two of us… maybe in a compromising position. Those kinds of images get the most attention.”
My blood boils. I can feel steam coming out of my ears. I take a deep, calming breath before I respond.
“Well, given that the stock market over the past two weeks reflected the fact that Jasper Holdings has moved money into various small enterprises out of Vietnam, all of which combined leave a question mark around market collusion. Not to mention, those businesses your company purchased don’t meet anti-slavery laws nor, dare I guess, workplace safety, workplace ethics, or pay equitable wages to staff, probably even employing minors for cents on the dollar an hour.
It seems that perhaps you have your hands full with your own messy situation to worry about whether Donovan or I are ‘fuck buddies.’”
His eyebrows rise as the smarmy smirk he had on his face dips a little.
“I may have underestimated you.”
“Most people do.” My gaze doesn’t move from his. I hold my head high, my jaw tight.
“You better watch yourself, Miss Johnson. This industry can be brutal.” His eyes are not kind as they narrow, and the slight anger I felt moves into fear.
“Is that some kind of threat?” I raise an eyebrow, trying to remain confident, even though I'm dying a little inside.
He grins. “I just want to ensure you have all the facts.”
I swallow hard as my hands grip on to my purse, then I feel a warm hand at my back and a strong arm pull me in. The tension and fear immediately dissipate, and I let go of the breath I was holding.
“You better take a fucking step back,” Donovan growls, keeping his voice low, murder in his eyes.
“Hmmm, coming to her aid just like a knight in shining armor.” Marcus laughs, but I don’t miss that he does exactly what Donovan asks, taking a step back.
“Are you ever not an asshole, Marcus?” Donovan positions himself purposefully between Marcus and me. He isn’t happy, but with a room full of people, there isn’t much he can do.
Marcus looks at him with not an ounce of respect.
“Seems you’ve got yourself a live wire here, Donovan.
She’s talking about things she doesn’t understand; plus, she brought the media along for the ride.
” Marcus lifts his head to the front of the venue, pointing out the small contingent of media that still sit there, waiting. For what, I’ve got no idea.
Donovan stiffens. “I can assure you, she knows what she’s talking about.”
“You may want to keep her on a leash. Wouldn’t want her smart-talking business tongue to get her into trouble.”
“Just because you treat the women in your life like bitches, Marcus, doesn’t mean the rest of us do. I suggest you muzzle yourself and leave my people alone.”
Whoa… who knew business events had so much bite? I can feel the anger rolling off both these men, and as I stand here, I understand that I’m the cause of it.
“We need to go. We have that other appointment…” I jump in quickly, trying to defuse the situation.
When neither of them moves, I step around and grab Donovan’s hand and pull him along as I start walking to the exit.
Unprofessional? Yes. But that’s been our theme all night, so I’m just going with it.
Donovan’s eyes remain glued to Marcus, but he steps away from him slowly, coming with me, and our pace quickens as we head out the door, Gordon already scurrying to open the car door for us.
Donovan continues to scowl, his hand firmly in mine as we dodge more flashing cameras.
I had no idea it would be like this, and I try to calm my racing heart as I slide into the back of the car and Donovan follows me, the two of us remaining quiet until the door closes and we pull away from the curb.
I release a heavy breath. “Well, he’s a piece of work.”
“I could fucking punch him for getting close to you like that. What did he say to you?”
I look at Donovan, who’s still raging, giving him the quick rundown of my conversation. He relaxes and smirks a little as I tell him what I said, word for word, as Gordon drives down the street.
“I shouldn’t have left you alone with him around.”