Chapter Thirty
JAKE
I spent most of the next week looking over the résumés the recruitment company sent me. I was pleased there were at least two promising candidates on the list. I remembered the crappy applicants they'd sent me when I asked for a CEO months ago. Still, I wasn't chanting, "Victory."
I needed to interview them first, and I didn't have time for that this week, and neither did they.
"You should take it easy," Gabe said. He, Cade, and Spencer had stopped by my office in the evening, trying to corrupt me to go out for drinks with them.
"I am.”
“Yeah, we should give him credit. He's making progress," Spencer said lazily.
"A lot of it," Cade added. "I'm honestly suspicious. Is it our influence?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Gabe replied. "It's all Natalie. Thank God for Grandmother and her instincts."
I pointed at him. "You just wait until she turns that instinct on you."
Gabe instantly grimaced.
Cade burst out laughing. “Grandmother is cooking up something for me. I’m sure of it by the way Grandfather acted.”
Spencer shook his head. "Jake is keeping her occupied."
I shrugged. "Yeah, but only until I find the CEO."
"What will happen afterward?" Spencer asked, sounding serious. "With Natalie, I mean?"
"We haven't discussed that yet."
Cade sat up straighter in his chair. "What do you mean? You're the god of planning."
"Yeah, dude. You've made a five-year plan for the company. You haven't discussed with Natalie what you're going to do once you find the CEO?" Gabe sounded skeptical.
I glowered at him. "No, and I’d appreciate it if you would butt out of our business."
Gabe held up his hands. "As long as you promise to come for a drink with us."
"I am, but Natalie is coming too."
"That sounds fair to us," Gabe said. "We can ask her if Grandmother has any plans for us."
Cade cocked a brow. “That’s irrelevant. Let’s figure out how to help Jake.”
I scoffed. "I don't need your help."
“We’ll be here when you change your mind,” Cade replied easily. He was relentless, but so was I.
We drove in separate cars. I hated to admit my brothers had a point.
I always liked to plan in advance, but when it came to my relationship with Natalie, I had done the exact opposite.
I hadn't even wanted to look to the future because I was enjoying the present so much, but I couldn't postpone the conversation forever.
These past few days, she'd seemed more distant than usual, and I had a hunch it was because of my announcement about searching for the CEO.
As I turned onto the street where her office building was, I realized that wasn’t true. She'd already been in a state when Maddox dropped her off at my grandparents' house last week.
When I got close, searching for a parking space, I immediately noticed something was off. Maddox and Natalie were both outside, and they were fighting with a guy.
What the hell is going on? I parked the car and jumped out of it, joining them.
"What’s this?" I asked.
"Oh, Jake," Natalie said in an exhausted voice. Maddox was completely red in the face. The other guy was looking at me viciously.
"Who are you?" I asked, and then it dawned on me. “Vince. What are you doing here?"
"Vince was leaving," Maddox said in a strained voice.
"No, Vince is not fucking leaving," Vince seethed. "I told you I’m not leaving until Natalie and I have a word—alone.”
"She's already told you she’s not getting back with you, man. Are you insane?" Maddox asked.
"Get the hell out of here. It’s over and has been for months, Vince. I don’t know what else to tell you, but you better leave now. I've already called the police," Natalie said.
Vince jerked his head back. "No, you didn't." The guy was as red as a beet, obviously someone who couldn’t control his rage. And someone who was going to learn how the fuck to stay away from my girl.
"Want to call my bluff? Fine. Then stay and wait around,” Natalie spat.
“This is the second time you've shown up here. And the last. Go now.” Maddox spoke through gritted teeth.
“I have witnesses for both times you showed up here. That’s enough for a restraining order." Natalie nodded to Maddox and me.
Both times? What the fuck is going on? When had Vince shown up, and how did Maddox know about it? More importantly, why didn't I know about it?
"The police are on their way," Natalie continued. "If you believe it or not, that's your problem. And don’t doubt that I'm going to file for a restraining order."
Vince looked at me. "The bitch is probably fucking both of you, just so you know. I wouldn't put it past her."
That was the last thing he said before I got right into his face.
"Never show your face around Natalie again, or a restraining order will be the least of your problems. Do you understand me? Now, unless you want your face to meet my fist, fucking leave." I kept my restraint, but the volume of my voice emphasized my disdain, and the dude got it loud and clear.
For the first time, he cowered. He actually cowered. Then he scurried away just as I noticed Gabe, Spencer, and Cade. I hadn't realized they were here already.
Once we saw Vince get into a car, I turned to Natalie. "Are you okay?"
She was shaking. I put my arms around her shoulders, and she curled into me. "Yes, I am."
"Did you call the police?"
"No, it was a bluff.”
“I asked my assistant to watch out the window. If he hadn't left, she would’ve called the cops," Maddox said.
"When did he come last time?" I asked.
"Last week," Natalie said in a shaky voice.
"When Maddox brought you to my grandparents." Understanding dawned on me. "Why didn't you tell me?"
She just shook her head.
I looked at Maddox. "Why the hell didn't you tell me?"
"Because she asked me not to," he said in a cold voice, "and I respect people's choices."
"You don't keep things from me. Do you understand? Not when it comes to my woman."
"Maybe you earn her trust if you want her to tell you everything."
"Don't you dare talk to me like that," I growled. "You don't know me. You don't know us. You have no right."
"Please don't fight," Natalie pleaded.
"No, let him say whatever he's got on his mind, please. Apparently he's bursting with it," Maddox said.
"What the hell is your problem?"
"I just wanted to keep her safe."
"It's my job to keep her safe." A vein pulsed in my neck.
"Clearly you're shitty at it. You should’ve taken care of that asshole already."
He was right, but that only pissed me off. Keeping Natalie safe was my job, and I failed at it.
"This is none of your business, Maddox. Don't get involved in this."
"I already am, whether you like it or not."
"I don't like it."
"Guys, come on. Don't do this in the street.
You're upsetting Natalie,” Cade said, coming between us.
Gabe and Spencer seemed too stunned to say anything.
"Maddox, why don't you go back to your office, and we'll let the two of them talk it out?
Come on. We'll go up with you, have a drink. Clearly we all need it."
Gabe looked at Natalie. "Should I bring you something? I'm not sure what my brother keeps upstairs. Maybe whiskey?"
Natalie laughed. "No, I don't think I could drink anything right now. God, Maddox. I am so sorry he caused a scene again."
"That's the last thing you should worry about, okay? You should file that restraining order."
"I'll take it from here," I said a little too possessively, because Maddox rounded on me.
"Man, you're impossible.” Looking at Gabe, he asked, “How do you deal with him?"
"He's our brother. Comes with the package."
"Not for me. I'm only a half brother. And I'm done here." He went back into the building. My brothers followed him.
Natalie gasped. "No. Oh God. I didn't want you two to fight, least of all because of me."
"Natalie, come on. Forget about this. How are you feeling? Are you hurt? Tell me." I should've focused on her instead of fighting with Maddox. "You're shaking."
"I’m so annoyed. I can't believe Vince is doing this again, causing trouble where I work. I'm only a temp here, but what would've happened if I weren't? Is he just going to ruin my life all over again every time I get a new job?"
"Not if you get the restraining order," I said.
“I'm filing a request for one as soon as possible.”
"Do you want to go home or at least get in the car?"
"No. I don't want us to leave. I want us to go back upstairs so you and Maddox can patch things up."
I stared at her. She was clearly shaken from Vince's visit, and she cared about me and Maddox?
"Natalie, all I want tonight is to take care of you. I don't give two shits if Maddox never talks to me again."
"No, don't say that, please. You two are starting to finally… This is all my fault." She looked like she was going to burst into tears.
"What are you talking about?"
"You wouldn't have gotten in your fight if I wouldn't have brought my drama with Vince into all of your lives."
"Babe, why didn't you tell me when it happened last time?"
She started crying harder.
"Babe, don't cry. Just tell me how to make this better."
"I don't know," she murmured. "I didn't tell you because I only have you for so little time before you move back to New York. I didn't want us to waste any of it on Vince. He called a couple times and sent me emails. Once he put Post-its on my door. But I didn’t have enough incidents for a restraining order. And after he showed up here last time and I made it clear that I’m not getting back with him, I really thought he wasn’t going to come near me again. God, I'm so stupid."
"No, you're not."
"And now I got you and Maddox into a fight."
"If he wants to fight, that's his issue."
After taking a deep breath, she dried her tears and took a step back.
"No, it's not his issue. It's yours too. He’s your brother. And I know it means a lot to you that you're building a connection with him, even if you don't want to admit it. The last thing I want is for that to fall apart because of me."
"Nothing is falling apart. Babe, let's go home. I'll cook for you. Or let's go to the hotel and order room service."
"No. I want to go home."
"Okay, then let's go."
"Alone."
"What?" I asked, taken aback.
"Alone. I need to be on my own. I just need some time to regroup, Jake. Please?"
"Why? What if Vince shows up there?"
"I'll call the police instantly. I promise. Jake, please."
"What if he's there when you arrive? At least let me drive you there."
"No, I'll take a cab, and if I see him at any point, I'll just wait in the car and call the police."
"You can't be serious. Why do you not want me with you tonight?"
She swallowed hard, putting both hands on her belly. I briefly imagined her announcing that she was pregnant, that we were going to have a baby. Jesus, where did that come from? I had no idea, and yet I desired it so intently that when her next words came out, they felt like a slap in my face.
"Because I want you to stay here and fix things with Maddox. Please, Jake? It would mean so much to me, to your family—Jeannie. Don't ruin your relationship with your brother for a fling."
"This is not a fling, Natalie," I said. "It's not. I love you."
"I love you too. But it doesn't change things, does it? And I told you once that I want to be someone who changes your life for the better, not for the worse."
"Natalie!" It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that this was all a bit dramatic, but I knew that wasn't going to help the situation. Besides, she was visibly hurt. I wanted to be with her tonight. It frustrated me that she pushed me away.
"Look, there's a cab coming now. I'm going to flag it." The next second, she raised her hand, and the damn cab stopped in front of her.
"Natalie, I'll follow you in my car."
"That's not what I want, okay? Fix things with Maddox." The pleading in her eyes was visible, and though I wanted to do what she asked, I didn’t know how to make it up to Maddox when all that was on my mind was my woman. The need to protect her was fierce.
"Doesn't it matter what I want?" I asked.
"Yes, it does," she said. "I just… I can't tonight, okay? Just tonight."
I could see I was getting nowhere with her. Natalie could certainly be stubborn at times, and I didn’t want to be a controlling asshole boyfriend like her ex.
Fuck! I probably was being overprotective. I needed to accept this, even though all my instincts told me to do the opposite.
“Text me when you’re in your house so at least I know you’re safe.”
She got into the car and closed the door behind her before I could add anything else.