20. James
James
I can’t stop the constant stream of memories flying through my mind even though Alex’s message makes me lean towards the side of her not knowing anything.
Billionaire swindled out of large settlement from ex-fiancé. Sources say she black mailed Mr. Edward, but those claims have not been confirmed.
Ex-fiancé backs Mr. Edward into large pay-out to keep quiet about breakup. What was he hiding?
“We’re here, James.” I look towards the mirror at the sound of Thomas’s voice. Those eyes have seen me through a lot of tough moments. He knows how hard this is for me.
I climb out of the SUV and walk to the stairs of Alex’s building. I knock softly on her door. I can hear her feet pad across the floor as she makes her way to me. I need to get her to move into my place as soon as she’s willing. This apartment doesn’t give her much privacy.
The door slowly cracks open, and I see one dark brown eye peek at me before she swings it all the way open.
“Oh my God. You came.” She rushes into my arms and squeezes me.
I wrap my arms around her and walk her backward. “I’m here. It’s freezing out, so you need to stay inside.” I kick the door closed behind us. “What happened?”
She refuses to look at me while she speed-dumps everything that happened when Taylor came over. By the time she tells me he threw a vase at her, I’m ready to go beat the shit out of him. She takes a breath then tilts her head back to look at me. “Say something.”
“I’m going to kill him,” I say calmly.
Alex slaps my chest. “Don’t you dare. He’s not worth it.”
I rub a hand down my face. “Well, I’m not going to sit and do nothing. You’re getting a new door, so you can actually see who’s here.”
“You can not buy me a new door.” She throws her hands on her hips.
I pull her back against my body and slide my hands up her back. “Okay, then you’ll come move in with me so I know you’re safe.”
Alex’s eyes bulge like a cartoon character’s. “What! How do you make that big of a leap?”
I cup her adorable face in my hands. “You’re mine. I want you safe. There is no large leap.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “Mine.”
“Okay, cave man.” She scrunches her nose at me, but she can’t hide her lips pulling up in the corners.
“You like it.”
“Maybe,” she says as she lays her head on my chest. “What are we going to do?”
I sigh. “We are going to go to my apartment together. Then I will have a bunch of meetings in the morning, while you stay safe.” I spin her towards the hallway and give her a tap on the ass.
She yelps and glances over her shoulder.
“Go pack a bag. With clothing you can wear outside of the bedroom included.”
“Ugh. That wasn’t my fault!” she says as she pads off to her bedroom.
I pull out my phone and send a group text to Alester and Ryder.
James: We have a problem. Taylor came after Alex and threatened her.
Ryder: Fuck.
Alester: So she’s not in on it with him then. We need to have a meeting with Collins and Sons.
James: I need to go to Family Farms before that.
Ryder: What about Taylor?
James: I’ll handle him.
Alester: I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Ryder: Yeahhhh that could end in jail time or a lawsuit.
James: What the fuck am I supposed to do? Let him attack her and get away with it?
Alester: I have a plan, but I can’t put it over chat. Talk tomorrow an hour before the meeting.
James: Fine.
I stuff my phone in my pocket just as Alex comes back into the hall holding a small duffle bag. I frown. “Is that going to be enough stuff?”
She rolls her eyes at me then pats my chest when she reaches me. “Don’t worry, big guy. If I move in, eventually, you’ll need a truck to get it all. This is just temporary.” She winks and goes to the door.
“That’s what you think, babe. You’re never going to want to leave once I have you.
” She stands at the door with her mouth open.
I slowly prowl up to her and use the tip of my finger to lift her chin while my other hand slides the bag off her shoulder and onto mine.
“I’ll take that, love.” I wait in the hall for her to lock up then take her hand in mine as we walk out of the building.
Alex squeezes my hand. “I can carry my own bag, you know.”
I look down at her cute face. I don’t know how I ever thought she could have anything to do with Taylor. Even if it was brief. “I know you can . That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?” she asks.
I pull open the door to the rear seat of the SUV waiting out front and help her get settled. I grab the seatbelt and drag it slowly across her chest, making sure I lean into her until my mouth is hovering above hers. Her eyes dilate in anticipation.
“I told you. I love taking care of you. I want to do it all.” I click the belt into the holder then slide my hand up under her chin and through her hair before I press my lips to hers.
Her soft hum vibrates through me as I slip my tongue into her mouth.
She melts under my touch as I devour her right in the back seat.
I pull back with one last kiss and take in her lust-filled eyes. “We will continue this at my place.”
“What—” Her eyes shift to the front seat, finally taking in Thomas, who’s staring out the windshield. Red travels up her neck to her cheeks. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry, Thomas.”
“Nothing to be sorry for, Ms. Alex.”
I chuckle and close her door before I jog around the SUV to the opposite side and slide into the seat next to her.
Alex leans close to my ear. “You’re a bad influence.”
“You like it.” I thread my fingers through hers. Thomas pulls out of the parking lot and heads towards my apartment. Alex rests her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes. I will protect this woman with everything I have.
It doesn’t take long before we are pulling into the parking garage attached to my building since it’s only a few blocks away from Alex’s place. “Thanks, Thomas,” I say. “You can head home. We shouldn’t need you the rest of the night.”
“I’ll leave my phone on in case something pops up.” Thomas gets out of the vehicle and opens my door.
I pick up Alex’s duffle bag, climb out of the SUV, and pat Thomas’s shoulder. “What would we do without you?”
Thomas shrugs. “Probably nothing good.” He chuckles. “Have a good night and take care of your girl. I’ll be a call away if you need me.”
“Will do.” I open Alex’s door and take her hand. “Time to explore your new home.” I wink at her. “You can change whatever you want.”
Her giggle is music to my ears. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I barely decorate my own apartment.”
A nervous energy travels up my spine as we get to the elevator. I pull out the penthouse key and slide it into the slot so the button will take us all the way up. Alester and Ryder are the only ones with an extra key.
I should probably make Alex one now too.
Well, that’s if she doesn’t freak out after seeing my place.
My hands are getting clammy. It’s like I’m back in grade school, about to ask out a pretty girl.
But it’s Alex, the girl of my dreams, and me worrying she’s going to leave after she sees a glimpse of my real life.
“This is a fancy apartment building. I’ve never seen an elevator require a key before, but it makes it a lot more secure than my building with no elevator or external lock,” she says.
I turn towards her and watch her trail a finger over the gold railing lining the inside.
I choose to not say anything as the elevator dings and the doors slide open revealing a small entryway with another door.
The marble flooring with gold lines woven throughout are a stark contrast to my black dress shoes and Alex’s fuzzy winter boots.
“Wow,” she whispers. A bead of sweat drips down my back as I unlock the front door.
“It’s just an apartment,” I try to reassure her as I swing the door open.
She hesitantly steps through the doorway, shedding her coat and shoes, before wandering farther in.
Her eyes are wide as she takes in the modern open concept living space.
Gleaming black countertops line the kitchen with a white floor throughout with grey accents.
I bought a large maroon couch to break up the dull colors and to hide spills when Ryder comes over with food.
I watch Alex wander through the kitchen and into the living room. She stops in front of the projector TV lining an entire wall in front of the couch.
“Say something,” I whisper behind her.
The silence is killing me. She spins towards me with a smirk. “The Edward Corporation must pay really well to set you up in this place.”
“It does okay. I didn’t want to opt for this building, but Ryder insisted.” The relief of her not yelling at me is consuming.
“Wait. Ryder lives with you?” She glances over her shoulder like he’s hiding behind her. I can’t help but laugh.
“God, no. But he and Alester do live on the next floor down…and he has a key. He sometimes pops in uninvited.” She nods, then nearly jumps out of her skin when the front door bangs open.
As if he was summoned, Ryder’s voice echoes through the main living area.
“Yo! I brought pizza! Let’s watch the race.
” Ryder walks through the entryway towards the living room where we are standing and stops.
He’s in sweatpants and a sweater, his hair sticking in every direction.
“Oh. Didn’t know you had company.” Ryder shakes off his confusion and continues towards us.
“I have plenty of pizza, so don’t worry.
I’ll just squeeze past you to my seat there.
” I turn to the side, so he doesn’t dump the three boxes of firestone pizza he's barely keeping control of and watch as he plants himself in the center of the large sectional.
He carefully places each box in their own spot on the table in front of him, then opens them all before taking a slice and settling back.
I run a hand through my hair. “Uh, Ryder. What are you doing here? ”