by S J Abbott
“What do you want?” he growled in her face.
Bella let go of his tie and pushed his back against the chair. “I’m getting to that.”
She started to loosen Aaron’s belt with one hand. Aaron searched behind her for Julie. She was frozen on the couch, holding hands with her mother. He caught her eye, trying to apologize. A tear ran down her cheek as Bella yanked Aaron’s belt from its loops, letting the end whip out and snap behind her, before dragging it back to the space between them. Then she attacked the button and zipper of his pants.
“Now you see,” Bella began again. “This new job of mine isn’t all it was cracked up to be. Turns out that I probably taught Brent more than he ever taught me.” She turned to Julie and her mom. “He was a great student. Not like Aaron here. Aaron likes to have things his way.” She turned back to him, flashing the gun again. “Give me your hands.”
When Aaron complied, Bella set the gun on her thigh and started to wrap the belt around his wrists. “But not tonight. Tonight, we do things my way.”
Aaron heard a small gasp escape Julie’s lips as Bella leaned forward and pressed her bright red lips to Aaron’s, completely engulfing his mouth.
Bella had to be the craziest bitch Julie had ever met. When she’d shown up just as Julie was leaving for work, she’d thought it was strange. But she never could’ve imagined what was about to unfold.
Up until Bella arrived, Julie was proud of herself for how she was handling her emotions as far as Aaron was concerned. She had already decided that a relationship with him wasn’t going to work. She’d had a fabulous time with him the night before, and though she didn’t regret a second of it, she knew it couldn’t happen again. And she’d come to terms with that.
But now … as Bella’s bright red lips attacked Aaron, anger and jealousy flared inside her.
Julie jumped from the couch. “Get. The. Fuck. Off. Him.” She ground the words out through clenched teeth as she stomped across the room and buried a hand in Bella’s hair, taking her by surprise.
Bella frantically tried to grab the gun as Julie yanked her head back, dragging her from Aaron’s lap and ditching her on the floor.
Bella fell with a thud, her skirt riding up to reveal she had nothing on underneath. This only disgusted and enraged Julie further as she stood over Bella and put one foot on her chest. Shifting her weight, Julie dug her heel in, so that Bella would feel it down to her bones.
Bella swatted and clawed at Julie’s legs.
But Julie, blind with rage, didn’t budge. She felt no pain—only wanted to hurt the slut who was threatening her family. And she realized that included Aaron. Even if she wasn’t ready for a relationship with him, she couldn’t deny it … she loved him.
“Mom, untie Aaron,” Julie said before dropping down onto Bella, straddling her chest and pinning her arms to the ground with her knees. She pierced Bella’s gaze with an icy stare. “What do you want, bitch?”
Bella struggled, kicking and twisting in an attempt to free herself from beneath Julie.
“I thought you liked being on your back, under people. Why are you fighting so hard?” Julie asked with a haughty laugh.
Bella quit struggling at Julie’s words. “Money,” she finally spat out.
Aaron came up next to them, the gun in his hand.
“This is over,” Julie barked. “You will not come back to this town. You’ll quit your job. You’ll never have anything to do with Genesis Inc. again, and you will never come near Aaron or anyone else in my family again. Am I clear?”
Bella nodded as best she could from her position on the floor.
“I’m going to stand up now, but you’re not going to move until I say so. Do you understand?”
Bella nodded once more.
Aaron reached down, offering Julie a hand up. And as she got to her feet, Bella sprang into action.
She jumped up and dove for the gun in Aaron’s hand. With no time to think, Julie lunged at Bella. The two collided, tipping over the chair Aaron had been in and sending Julie’s mother crashing to the ground in the process.
Julie and Bella scuffled briefly before Aaron got a hold of Bella. Twisting her arm behind her back, he forced her onto the couch, where he held her.
Julie scrambled over to her mother. “Mom!”
“I’m fine, dear.”
Julie searched her mother for bumps and bruises, praying she wasn’t hurt. Finding nothing emergent, she looked to Aaron who had his phone to his ear. He was speaking to the nine-one-one operator. He locked eyes with Julie. “They’re on their way.”
Julie stood next to her mother’s gurney outside the ambulance. “Please, just check her over again. She’s already experienced enough head trauma. We don’t need any surprises.”
The EMT, whose name tag read Melissa, looked sympathetically at Julie. “I promise we’ve checked thoroughly, and have no reason to believe that she’s suffered any more trauma to the head. Just keep an eye on her, and if you see any significant changes, take her straight to the emergency room.”
“I’m sitting right here, ya know,” Julie’s mom said. “I told you I was fine. Leave this wonderful girl to her job and let her go save someone who needs saving.”
Aaron walked over, putting a hand on Julie’s arm. “Everything okay here?”
Julie nodded. “Yeah. They said mom is fine, and to just keep an eye on her. How is everything over there?” She tilted her head toward the police officer who was tucking Bella into the back of his cruiser.
“Surprisingly well. Once she calmed down and all, she did help a little,” Aaron said as he gently pulled her from her mother’s side. Away from prying ears.
“Oh, really? How’s that?” Julie asked.
“Well, remember the envelope?”
Julie nodded. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that envelope.”
Aaron smiled. “Well, the papers in it were informing me that a lawsuit had been filed by the company Seth, Gideon, and I used to work for. Seth and I have spent the better part of the day trying to sort it out. Gideon actually even went to New York to meet with our attorneys.”
“Okay …” Julie hung onto the word while trying to wrap her head around why he was surprised. “I guess I don’t get what you’re saying.”
Aaron smiled, placing both hands on her hips. “They’re suing because we left and took our products with us. We were big sellers, you know.” He smiled down at her.
She smiled back. “I bet you were. But I’m sure there was a contract and all. You wouldn’t have been able to leave, or you would have been free to. They can’t have been that stupid.”
Aaron pulled her closer. “You’re right. We did have contracts, but they were that stupid. We are free and clear. They’ve found a loophole though. Instead of suing us individually they’re suing the company for copyright infringement.”
Julie thought on what Aaron had said. “Okay. What does Bella have to do with it?”
Aaron shook his head. “Everything.” He loosened his grip on Julie. “She gave them the idea. She explained to them that the way our processes work means that even if our contracts don’t state that they own the sole rights to mold and produce products in our likeness, they still had the original idea to mold and produce them. So now the problem becomes Genesis Inc.’s. It’s actually pretty brilliant.”
Julie nodded. “Are you worried?”
“Not about that.”
“So, you are worried?”
“Not about the lawsuit. Amanda and the rest of Thompson and Freeman have that handled. There’s nothing more for me to do there. Here, on the other hand …”
Julie smiled, pressing herself closer to him. “What about here?” she asked playfully.
“Well, I’m wondering if Bella scared you off, and now you think I’m too much work. She did pull a gun on all of us, after all.”
Julie pushed up onto her tiptoes and planted a short peck on Aaron’s lips. “Actually, I’m thinking the opposite. I think I may have to
thank Bella one day.”
“Oh, really? For what, exactly?”
“For making me realize that I’d be crazy to let you go. For making me realize that I love you.” Julie heard Aaron’s breath catch as she finished. She reached back up, kissing him softly.
Aaron broke the kiss and gazed down into her eyes. “I love you too. I think I always knew I would one day,” he said before moving his lips back to hers, kissing her soundly—intensely—as sirens cried in the background.
Epilogue
Three months later …
“That isn’t going to fit.” Julie laughed as Aaron attempted, for the third time, to push a box of books into the trunk and shut the lid.
“I’m going to make it fit. It’s the last one, and I don’t want to make another trip.” Aaron gave one final shove as he tugged the handle. The door rolled down, past the box, and closed with a thud. He spun around, a huge smile on his face. “Ha! I told you it would fit,” he cried as he scooped Julie into his arms and kissed her. “I can’t wait to get you home.”
“Mom will be there till six, so don’t go getting any crazy ideas.”
“I don’t have crazy ideas. I have sexy ideas,” Aaron said as he lowered her back to the ground, setting her on her feet. Then he swatted her butt playfully. “Come on. Let’s go. Last load.”
Julie climbed into the passenger side of the cab, while Aaron got behind the wheel. He turned the key in the ignition. “Gid and Seth said they’d meet us there.”
Julie laughed. “Good. They can keep Shannon busy while Mom gets ready for work.”
Julie’s mom had continued to improve. She was having more good days than bad at this point. She’d even been able to get a part-time job at the local craft store. She loved being out of the house, and able to care for herself. In fact, Amy was doing so well, she found herself a place in a little retirement community that had medical care on-site. She’d be moving there the following month.
Julie was sad to see her mother go, but Amy had insisted. She wanted to make room for Aaron to move in. She wanted her daughter to be happy—resume her life. And she knew how much Julie loved their little house, and how hard she’d worked for them to be able to keep it.
Before pulling away, Aaron glanced back at the duplex he’d shared with his partners for the past few years. He was the last to leave, as they’d all decided to move on. They’d had a lot of fond memories in that place. But it was time for some other college kids to move in and make their own memories.
As for Aaron’s partners … Seth was now in a small apartment just outside the city, and Gideon had opted for an amazing loft right in the heart of downtown. It was just as flashy as he was.
Aaron thought he’d gotten the best deal though.
A life with Julie.
He shifted the truck into drive and flashed her a smile, picturing the young girl from history class. He’d always known she was the one.
What’s Next
Seth Ellison is quickly realizing that success and wealth don’t guarantee peace. In a short period of time, he’s managed to lose his roommates and alienate his family; all while his business is under attack. He’s tired of the temporary nature of everything in his world. He’s ready for something that will last.
Emma Dixon is a small-town girl, thrown into a big city, looking to prove she can stand on her own two feet. When her new boss assigns her a high-profile client, she finds herself questioning her newly acquired abilities. Thrown together by chance, Emma worries that when the time comes, she won’t be able to separate her growing feelings for her new client from the job.
Will the two of them be able to overcome past issues to make a life together? Or will they continue on, never finding happiness?
9/19/19
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About the Author
SJ Abbott is the spicy alter ego of Sara Jolene who has been writing sweet historical and contemporary novels and novellas for more than 2 years now. Writing under SJ Abbott is to distinguish between genres.
Sara Jolene/ SJ Abbott lives in upstate New York with her husband, two children, and two chocolate labs. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with all things relevant to Irish folklore, Gilmore Girls, and 16th century Britain. Oh, and in her spare time can be found either in a kayak or anywhere in the woods. She holds BA degrees in both English and history, has a profound love of nature, and a deep passion for books. Writing allows her to weave her interests and experiences into new worlds, and she is excited to share those stories with her readers.
www.sarajolene.com
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