Chapter 29
NATALIE
Iwas in a shit mood. I slept worse than Hudson did.
All night I kept thinking I heard a noise.
Then I would psych myself out and think someone was in the house.
Not someone—Trey. I didn’t even know if he was that kind of a man.
It just had me freaked out. I couldn’t explain why, but the man raised every red flag.
I filled my to-go mug with coffee and screwed on the lid while yawning.
I hoped like hell Trey decided I was too much of a bitch to work with.
I really hoped he would just quit. Hudson said he expected some of the guys not to make it.
I would root for all the others, but not this one.
I didn’t know how I could possibly see the man every day and not feel my skin crawl.
After a lot of internal debate all damn night, I was certain I wasn’t overreacting.
I wasn’t misreading what he was saying or doing.
He could claim that all he wanted, but no.
It was bullshit. He wasn’t flirting in a flattering way.
He was too pushy and aggressive. I had no doubt in my mind the man knew exactly what he was doing.
His so-called attempts to be nice were insulting.
For his sake, I hoped he stayed away from me today.
Assuming he showed up. I didn’t want to deal with him.
I didn’t want to have him look my way. I would not be working in the shop today if he was there.
I was going to stay in my office or on the sales floor.
Hell, maybe I would get a customer that wanted me to take them out for a test run.
I could do it now. It would be the perfect excuse to leave the office.
I pushed on my sunglasses and headed out the door with my bag slung over my shoulder. It was a decent day, which was nice. I didn’t think I could handle a cool, dreary day. I needed the sunlight and the positivity it brought.
When I walked through the door, Hux was already there with one of the guys who was working as a salesman. “Good morning,” Hux greeted with a smile.
“Yep,” I muttered and walked right on by him.
I kicked open my office door and dropped my things on my desk. “Good morning,” I heard Hudson say.
“Is it?” I snapped. “Please, do tell me what’s good about it.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Everything okay?”
“Fine.”
“Did you sleep okay?” he questioned.
“Just peachy,” I said in a tight voice.
I shrugged out of the light jacket I had worn and hung it on a hook before sitting down. “Can you close my door?” I asked. “I have a lot of work to get done and I don’t want to hear all the stuff out there.”
“Can I get you anything?” he asked. “More coffee?”
“No.”
“Alright,” he said. He closed the door and left me alone.
I blew out a breath and turned on the computer. I could hear the men beyond the door talking and laughing. I was glad they were having a good time. I couldn’t pinpoint Trey’s voice. It didn’t mean he wasn’t out there. There was a knock on my door a second before it opened.
I turned and shot Hux a dirty look. “Why bother knocking if you’re going to let yourself in?”
“Retract the claws,” he said and stepped inside. He closed the door behind him before taking a seat in one of the chairs.
“What?” I asked.
“What’s wrong with you?” he questioned.
“Nothing. I’m trying to work.”
“Nat, what’s wrong?” he asked. “Did Hudson do something? Did you guys talk last night?”
“No.” I didn’t want to be a bitch to him. He had done nothing wrong. I blew out a breath. “I’m fine. I’m just worried about getting all of this done.”
“Getting all of what done?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I said.
“What happened?” he asked again.
I should have known Hux would know something was off. We knew each other far too well for me to try and pretend there was nothing wrong. “It’s nothing,” I said.
“Is your mom okay?” he asked.
“Mom is fine,” I said.
“Okay,” he said, nodding. “Then what. What is going on?”
“It was a weird night,” I admitted.
“Last night? I thought you were going to work late?”
“I did,” I said. “You guys left one of Hudson’s little projects.”
“His project?”
“That guy.” I gestured. “Trey. I don’t know his last name. You guys left him to work late in the shop.”
“Yes,” he said, nodding. “Why? What’s the problem?”
“Nothing. Never mind. I’m fine. I want to get this design finished.”
“Tell me, Nat,” he said. “Did something happen?”
“I don’t like the guy,” I replied. “I would prefer not to be left alone in the shop with him again.”
“Did he do something?” he asked. His voice was a deep growl. “What happened?”
“Nothing. I just don’t want to be around him.”
“Natalie, you can tell me right now, or I’m going to go find him and drag his ass in here. Depending on what he tells me, I might throw him off the dock.”
“It’s nothing. I just don’t like him. He makes me very uncomfortable.
He is—I don’t know—aggressive. He first hit on me at Teresa’s party.
He wanted me to do a shot. I told him no, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
I did a couple shots hoping he would leave me alone.
Last night, he was very pushy. I don’t want to be around him. ”
“Did he touch you?” he asked.
“No.” I shook my head. “He just tried to get in my space. He was trying to intimidate me. He wanted to go out for a drink. I told him no, but he just wouldn’t take no for an answer.
When I got irritated, he got rude. He tried to make me think I was being a bitch, like I was arrogant in thinking he wanted anything to do with me.
It was very uncomfortable, and I do not want to be around him.
I can’t say exactly what it is about him, but I don’t like him, Hux. ”
“Okay,” he said, nodding. “Did he imply anything? Was there any kind of harassing?”
I sighed and shook my head. “No. All night long I tried to understand what’s wrong with me.
He wanted to walk me home, but I shut it down.
I didn’t want him to know where I lived.
I was a total freak. I walked around the block and then went in through the back door.
I kept all the lights off because I was worried he would find out where I lived.
Yes, I felt like a total freak. I told myself I was reading into the situation and it was nothing more than casual flirting.
But, Hux, I don’t think so. It didn’t feel flattering.
He sat right here on the edge of my desk.
I wanted to leave but his legs were stretched out. I felt trapped.”
“I’ll handle this,” he said. “That’s bullshit. Did he threaten you?”
“No.” I shook my head. “He didn’t. That’s why this feels so off.
His words were fine. There was nothing that was technically wrong with what he was saying.
It was the body language. It was his eyes.
I don’t think he is really interested in me.
Honestly, I don’t know if he was just fucking with me or if he actually wants me in bed.
It’s a total psychological game. I don’t like it.
I don’t want to be around him. He can work in the shop, but he needs to stay away from me. ”
“He didn’t threaten you? Hurt you?”
“No,” I answered.
“I’ll take care of him,” he said.
“Wait, what are you going to do?” I asked suddenly worried. “I don’t want to make it a big thing.”
“It is a big thing,” he said. “You’re hiding in your office because you don’t feel safe.”
“I’m not afraid of him while you’re all here,” I told him.
“That’s not the point,” he said. “This is your business. You don’t have to work with anyone you don’t want to.
No one gets to make you feel like shit. Fuck that.
I’m not going to let him get away with that.
I made it very clear to Hudson this little experiment was just an experiment.
You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.
That includes being around someone that has decided to fuck with you. ”
“He told me he did time,” I said. “I don’t know if he said it to intimidate me or what. When I got upset, he laughed and made it seem like I was uptight and judgy. I’m not judgy. I know these guys have all had some rough days. I don’t judge them, but he doesn’t get to use his past as a weapon.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Hux agreed. “It’s okay.
You did nothing wrong. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.
If I wasn’t so damn drunk that night, I could have stopped it.
I’m going to kick Hudson’s ass. This is on him.
He’s supposed to be keeping an eye on them.
That was our deal. I was afraid something like this would happen.
What are we going to do if this happens to a client? ”
“I don’t think it’s fair to paint them all with the same brush,” I said. “Even Hudson said he knew they wouldn’t all make it. I don’t want to ruin this for him. He needs to know he’s doing something good for people. He needs to feel valuable.”
“He is, but this is not the way for him to feel better,” Hux muttered. “He can get a cat or a dog if he needs the warm and fuzzies. I’m not sacrificing you so he feels good.”
I was very happy to have him sticking up for me, but I didn’t want to cause drama between the brothers. Hudson was already in a fragile position. I knew he didn’t feel quite tethered to Camden. None of us wanted him to drift away. “Maybe I should talk to him,” I suggested.
“No. I’m dealing with this. I know you were never all that thrilled with this idea to begin with. I should have listened to you. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I said. “It’s one guy. The others have been doing well and we are making some good progress in the shop.”
“You don’t have to soothe this,” he said. “You did nothing wrong. I’m going to handle it. Stay here until I tell you it’s safe to come out.”
“Safe?” I questioned.
“You know what I mean. There’s no reason for you to see the guy. We’re going to get rid of him. I don’t want him getting the chance to say two words to you. He has nothing more to say. Period. He’s done. I’ll be back.”
“Don’t be mad,” I called out.
He glanced over his shoulder. He was definitely mad.
He slammed my door closed. I sat at my desk and tried to process the situation.
I hoped this didn’t hurt Hudson. He was probably going to be furious with me for telling Hux.
I knew how important this experiment was to Hudson.
I doubted there was any way to weed out the bad ones.
Anyone could put on a good show and pretend to be something they weren’t.
I didn’t want Hudson to think this one guy meant his program was a failure.
I debated finding Hux and telling him to just wait. I wanted to give it a minute and rethink my opinions on Trey. I didn’t. I reminded myself of all the things I had mulled over and contemplated the night before.
Trey had to go.