Chapter 17
Hunter
T his week has been the longest week of my life. I’ve tried my best to avoid Jade. I slipped up in her office when I called her Tink. I let myself think of her as the woman I met six months ago, not my employee. I was in a trance. Watching her in that meeting was eye opening. She’s incredible. Ann was right. We need her here. Bright will benefit from her skills. All that fire in her eyes was intoxicating, and I know for a fact she could lead this company. Her statement of wanting my job is no dream, it will be a reality for her, so I can’t get in her way. Therefore, I left her alone. She’s already so far under my skin that I know if I let myself see her more than necessary, I won’t be able to stop myself from claiming her, and that won’t end well for either of us.
It’s now Saturday night, and I’m sitting with Deacon and Leo. I had to get out of my house. It’s too quiet, and I don’t do too well drinking on my own; that’s when I do something stupid. Deacon’s been one of my best friends since Harvard. He came over from the UK to study law for a year and we’ve kept in touch. He now works for the Ministry of Defense and is an amazing dad to his little girl. He’s raised her all on his own, and it breaks my heart just thinking about it. But that’s a story for another day.
Our server gives me a strange look as she approaches the table, almost like she thinks she knows me. “Do you know her?” I ask Leo once she walks away to get our order.
“No, man. Never met her before in my life and I definitely would’ve remembered that face. She’s stunning.”
“And those legs of hers seem to go on forever.” Deacon points out.
They aren’t wrong. And on any normal night, I probably would’ve flirted with her, but my headspace is full. Full of a petite blonde, intelligent pixie.
“Still can’t get Jade out of your head, can you?”
“What makes you say that?”
“The fact that you’ve a face like ‘someone shit on your chips’.” Leo attempts a fake British accent, and I have to roll my eyes. “As the Brits would say, might have given me a clue.” He grins over at me as he continues. “Seriously man I’ve not seen you so wrapped up in your head over a woman before.”
“Jade? Who’s Jade?” Deacon pipes up.
“You’ve not filled him in? Oh, the shame. Jade, his new, sexy as fuck associate is his little Tinkerbell.” Leo fills Deacon in.
“Well, shit.” Deacon, who’s one grumpy bastard at the best of times, smiles. In fact, he has a full on shit eating grin on his face.
“Oh, fuck you guys. Go to hell.”
Our server comes back with our drinks: Macallan scotch neat. I take a look at her again to see if I can place her, but come up with nothing. She gives me a tight smile and then turns to serve the table next to us.
Looking into my glass, running the amber liquid around the sides, I sigh and then take a sip. “So, yes, Jade’s Tink. She happens to be my new associate, just as beautiful as I remember and just as captivating.” I side eye Leo. “My head’s a mess because of her, like this asshole says. I’ve avoided her all week. Just couldn’t bring myself to even send her a damn email let alone see her. I’ve dealt with her PA all week, getting him to pass notes to her like some kind of teenager. I don’t trust myself. I—fuck, I wanted to kiss her so badly the other day and say fuck the consequences.”
“And those consequences would be?” Deacon questions, his brow knitting together.
“Look, if we didn’t work out, which-–knowing my track record, it wouldn’t—we’d have to try and work together and she’s wanted this job forever. It’s not like I could leave, it’s my family’s fucking company. And would she cope working with me? I can’t do that to her. Plus, I know how office romances can go, especially when one of them is the boss. I don't want anyone to think she only got her position because of me.”
“We’ll get to the boss-employee situation in a moment, but what makes you think it wouldn’t work? You’ve said it yourself. You're done fucking around. You want to have a relationship,” Deacon muses as he rubs his chiseled jaw, his green eyes narrowing.
“I know, but I just don’t know how to be in a relationship. I would mess up somehow and Jade… she’s too pure for someone like me. I’d ruin her and not in a fun way.”
“Don’t hate me for saying this, but she isn’t Chloe.”
“I know, Leo,” I grit out, feeling like I’ve been punched in the gut at hearing her name again.
“All I’m saying is, eventually, you need to let someone in. They won’t all hurt you.”
“He’s right, shit that felt wrong agreeing with this clown.” Deacon grimaces as he signals the server for another round.
“You can talk..” Gripping my tumbler tightly, I urge the memories back down. Of how much Chloe hurt me and the scars she left.
Deacon nods, and I instantly regret my outburst. “Sorry man, that was uncalled for.”
“Forget it.” He shrugs as he focuses intently on the drinks menu in front of him.
“Look, just be your amazing, charming self and ask her out. And if she shuts you down, move on.” Leo shrugs like it’s no big deal.
Staring into my now empty glass, I think over my options. Could I really be happy? Let someone in again? Would she even want to try? But that moment in her office I could see the goosebumps on her arms, the quickness in her breath, she’s still affected by me. These thoughts have been rolling around my head all week, and I know I need a plan. The billionaire businessman in me is setting out a plan to get my girl and keep her.
“There he is, the man who knows what he wants and how he’s going to get it. That fire in your eyes man, you’re not backing down, are you?” Leo leans forward in his seat.
“Nope, she’s mine. Even if she doesn’t know it yet. That woman was made for me and only me. And I’m going to claim what’s mine. But I need to do this right. She needs to have the time to shine in the office.”
“Well then Romeo... Let her sparkle.” Leo wiggles his fingers.
“Jesus, you’re fucking corny. Where the hell do you come up with this shit?”
“Your sister.”
“What the fuck?” I glare at my best friend.
Leo and Deacon howl with laughter. “Calm down, Stone. I overheard her talking to Grace about her wanting a man to allow her to sparkle or some shit when I visited the New York office the other week.” Leo exclaims, but there is something in his eyes that I’m not sure I like.
As I leave the bar a few hours later, I feel lighter, and maybe a little bit drunk. I'd be lost without those two. In their messed up ways, they make everything better. I pull out my phone and open up a new text thread.
Hunter - Just checking in to see how your first week went.
Tink - Sorry, who is this?
She doesn’t have your number, asshole. You got hers off her paperwork. You’re a HR issue waiting to happen.
Hunter - Max.
Clearly I’m drunker than I thought.
Tink - Oh
Tink - Thought you didn’t have my number?
Hunter - Hunter gave it to me.
Yep, I’m wasted. Eight glasses of scotch was not my best plan. At least I think it was eight, it could’ve been more. I lost count after Deacon gave the server his black AMEX.
Hunter - Full disclosure I got it from your paperwork, you know, for emergencies.
Tink - And at midnight on a Saturday night is an emergency?
Hunter - It seemed like it at the time.
Tink - You’re insane.
Hunter - And also a little drunk
Tink - Oh, so this is a drunk text emergency? I don’t think your new employee should be your booty call.
Hunter - It’s not a booty call, I just had the urge to speak to you. You’ve been avoiding me.
Tink - I’ve been very busy, as I’m sure you have been. Although not too busy to pass love notes with my PA.
Of course she noticed. You’re a child, Hunter Stone.
Hunter - It’s because I can’t trust myself around you, Tink.
The little dots appear and disappear. She doesn’t reply for the longest time, and I start to regret sending that message. Just as I’m getting into bed, a message finally comes through.
Tink - I can’t trust myself around you either.