Funny to think, I'd been just as naïve as the rest of them. Like an idiot, I'd actually believed that working for him would be my ultimate dream job. I loved country music. I loved the thought of meeting the artists up close and personal. Cripes, I even loved that smile of his, until I realized that he only used it when he wanted something.
I felt my gaze narrow. "No, the cat doesn't have my tongue. I'm just wondering what you want."
He gave another chuckle. "Who says I want anything?"
"Well, you're here, aren't you?" I glanced toward the nearby bank of elevators. When the building's receptionist had called to inform me that I had a visitor, I'd been skeptical right from the get-go.
I'd been living in Florida for only two weeks, and I had no local friends other than Cassidy. Plus, I hadn't been working here long to have any appointments.
At first, I'd been nearly certain that the receptionist had meant to call someone else. But then, when she gave me Bryce's name, I practically flew from my desk in order to head off whatever trouble he was bringing with him.
After all, we hadn't parted on the best of terms.
And yet, he was still smiling. "The truth is," he drawled, "I'm here to make you an offer."
I eyed him with suspicion. "What kind of offer?"
His grin widened. "Your old job back."
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. "Oh, please. You're kidding, right?"
His smile faded. "What makes you say that?"
"Because you fired me."
"Eh, moment of weakness." He shrugged. "You said some things, I said some things…"
This was true. We'd both said things that I'd be embarrassed to repeat. And yet, I couldn’t regret what I'd told him in the end. Maybe I'd done most of the cussing, but he'd said some things that were truly scary, including his final parting shot. "Leave now, and I'll make sure you never work in this town again."
At the memory, I lifted in my chin. Hah! I wasn't in that town. I was in this town – in a different state, a different market, and in a totally different kind of business.
By some miracle, I'd actually landed on my feet – no thanks to him. I gave a bitter scoff. "Speaking of 'saying things', thanks so much for the reference."
His brow furrowed. "What reference?"
As if he didn't know. "When Jax Bishop called you last Sunday, you told him all kinds of awful things – things that weren't even true."
"Aw come on," he said. "They weren't that awful."
I was glaring now. "You called me temperamental."
"Yeah, well…"
"And a pain in the ass."
He reached up to tug at his tie. "I'm not sure I put it that way."
"And," I said, "scary."
At this, he gave a weak chuckle. "You want the truth? You're lookin' a little scary now."
The five weeks I'd worked for him had been five of the most miserable weeks of my life. I didn't mind the hard work or long hours. And I didn't even mind all of the menial tasks. But I did mind that I almost never got a day off, not even when I was sick or had an emergency.
To think, I'd even worked the day I'd gotten food poisoning from that godawful salmon that he'd insisted I try. The salmon had come from the fridge in his office. Looking back, I was probably just his personal guinea pig to see if the salmon had gone bad.
And just for the record, it had, bigtime.
My stomach roiled at the memory.
In front of me, Bryce edged closer and said, "You feelin' okay? You're looking a little green around the gills."
Gills? Did salmon have gills? I didn't even want to speculate. With a little shudder, I said, "I'm fine. But I think you should leave."
He frowned. "But you haven't heard my offer."
"Yes. I have." I straightened. "My old job? I don't want it."
"Then how about a promotion?"
Now, I was staring. Just two weeks ago, he'd been all too willing to see me gone. Now, he wanted me back?
It made no sense.
Abruptly, I asked, "And what are you doing here, anyway?"
He glanced around. "I figured this was the best place to talk."
This was just like him, too. Obviously, he didn't care one whit that by coming here of all places, he might be jeopardizing my new job. On top of that, he was totally missing the point.
"I don't mean here in the lobby," I said. "I mean here in Florida."
"Recruiting trip."
At least this made sense. He did that sometimes – flew out to wherever in hopes of signing a new act. Talk about bad luck. I mean, what were the odds that he'd be recruiting someone here, where I now lived?
Regardless, I'd heard enough. "Well, good luck with that," I said, turning away.
A hand on my arm made me stop. When I turned to look, Bryce said, "In case you missed it, you're the one I’m recruiting."
"What?"
He looked away and mumbled, "I miss you."
I was staring again. I didn't even know what he meant. There had never been anything romantic between us, and as far as friendship, there was less than nothing there.
But if this was just a job thing, why would he phrase it like that?
Now, I didn't know what to say.
I looked down to my arm. He was still holding on. I didn't like it. His hand was cold, and his grip was just a little too tight. I gave my arm a quick tug.
He didn't let go. "I flew a long way," he said. "So it seems to me, the least you can do is listen."
I gave a hard scoff. "And the least you can do is—"
From behind me, a familiar male voice said, "Fuck off."
At this, I almost groaned out loud. I whirled to look. Sure enough, there was Jaden, standing within arm's reach. Where on Earth had he come from?
It took me a moment to realize that my arm was now free. I turned back to Bryce, who even now, was summoning up his heartiest smile. He looked to Jaden and said, "And you are…?"
Jaden didn't smile back. In a low voice, he said, "The guy who's gonna toss you out on your ass."
Suddenly, Bryce wasn't smiling anymore. "Now, listen here–"
"No," Jaden said. "You listen." He flicked his head toward the front entrance. "Get out."
"But—"
"Now."
Bryce gave a shaky laugh. "Or what?"
Now, Jaden did smile. The smile was cold and predatory, even as his voice remained eerily calm. "Stick around and find out."
I looked from Jaden to Bryce and back again. One was my current boss. One was my former boss. I wasn't friendly with either one of them. And yet, I found myself edging just a little bit closer to Jaden.
It made me feel funny, like I was letting him fight this battle on my behalf. But then I remembered that Jaden wasn't the chivalrous type. Even with the truck thing, he'd flat-out told me that he'd done it for himself, and not for me.
Was this for him, too?
Probably.
And really, I couldn’t blame him. This was his company. We were standing in his lobby. And I was his assistant – unless Bryce ended up getting me fired, that is.
I gave Bryce a pleading look. "Listen, you really should leave."
He said, "I will if you consider my offer."
Damn it.
This wasn't the place to be discussing it. Still, I needed to set him straight once and for all. Through gritted teeth, I said, "I'm not interested, just like I told you, okay?"
"So, you still got my number?"
"Yeah, but —"
"So gimme a call when you're free. We'll do dinner, have a talk. What time do you get off work?"
See, this was the thing about Bryce. He never took no for an answer. This was fine enough when he was trying to recruit a new act. But it wasn't fine now. I had a new job and a new boss, who, even now, was watching us with an expression that made me just a little bit nervous.
I leaned closer to Bryce and practically hissed, "I don't want dinner."
"Drinks then?"
Oh, for God's sak
e.
Abruptly, Jaden's voice cut through the noise. "Listen. Asshole. She's mine. Not yours. So get the fuck out."
I whirled to face him. She's mine? If I weren't so distressed, I might've rolled my eyes. But this was no eye-rolling matter. I couldn't afford to lose this job.
And knowing Bryce, that's exactly what he was gunning for.
I'd seen the way he negotiated. He played dirty – not in a rough-and-tumble sort of way, but in a slick, sneaky sort of way.
My worst fears were confirmed when Bryce said to me, "Or better yet, lemme give you a ride. We'll talk in the car."
I turned and gave Jaden another nervous glance, only to feel myself pause. Now, he was smiling for real.
I felt my brow wrinkle in new confusion. What the heck?
As I watched, Jaden looked to Bryce and asked in a friendly sort of way, "So, where'd you park?"
Bryce glanced toward the lobby's main double doors. "In the garage. Why?"
Obviously, he meant the massive multi-level parking garage that was attached to the building. It was the same place I'd parked – just like everyone else who worked here.
Jaden gave a slow nod. "Good choice." He was still smiling. "You know what? Let's you and me talk."
Bryce replied, "About what?"
"Let's call it…" Jaden paused as if thinking. "…a negotiation."
At this, Bryce perked up. He loved to negotiate. "Oh yeah?"
"Sure, why not?" Jaden moved forward and wrapped an arm over Bryce's shoulder, buddy style. "C'mon, I'll walk you out."
Bryce gave Jaden a sideways glance. With the difference in their heights, he had to crane his neck to do it. But soon, even this was impossible as Jaden yanked him closer saying, "Good thing you stopped by."
"Oh yeah?" Bryce gulped. "Why's that?"
"Always better to talk in person, right?"
Now, Bryce was decidedly off-kilter, with his head mashed against Jaden's shoulder and his legs struggling to find their footing.
As I watched, Jaden turned and began guiding Bryce toward the side exit.
Bryce was saying, "But that's not the way I came in."
"Shortcut," Jaden replied.
"But—"
"I insist," Jaden said, moving faster now.
Unsure what else to do, I scrambled after them. "You know what?" I forced a laugh. "I'm sure Bryce can find his own way out."
Jaden paused and slowly turned to look over his unoccupied shoulder. His gaze met mine, and I stifled a shiver.
He wasn't smiling anymore. "I'll see you in the office."
"Wait, what?"
"Upstairs."
"But—"
"Five minutes," he said. "See you then."
Next to him, Bryce croaked out, "You know what? I think she's right." He gave a nervous chuckle. "And, uh, I've got another appointment, so…"
Ignoring this, Jaden began moving again, yanking Bryce along with him as he made for the emergency exit – the one that led to a narrow stairwell before opening out into the garage.
An alarm sounded as Jaden pushed open the door and gave Bryce a good shove. I heard myself gasp. The last thing I saw was Bryce, poking his head around the doorway, only to be yanked out of sight by a large hand, gripping his Texas tie.
And then, they were gone.
The door swung shut behind them, and the alarm grew silent. I was left staring at nothing of interest as my fellow employees milled past me, heading toward the main doors.
I stood motionless, watching the spot where I'd last seen them. I was seriously tempted to scramble out after them, but I'd seen that last look – the one Jaden had given me just before heading out the door.
If I valued my job, I'd do exactly what he said.
I did value my job, and more to the point, a part of me – a very small and petty part of me – wanted to snicker at Bryce's undignified departure.
Was I a bad person?
Maybe.
Still, I stood there for another long moment, wondering if they'd ever reappear.
They didn't.
So I did the only thing I could do – I returned to my office to wait.
For what, I didn't know.
But knowing Jaden, it wouldn't be dull.
Chapter 26
I spent the next half-hour pacing up and down the executive suite. As I moved, I kept glancing at my watch. So much for returning in five minutes.
It felt like forever before Jaden finally strolled in, looking like he didn't have a care in the world.
I stopped in my tracks. "What happened?"
"With what?"
As if he didn't know. "With Bryce."
"You saw what happened," Jaden said. "I walked him to the garage, end of story."
I didn't believe that for one minute. "Yeah, but I didn't see all of it."
"Eh, you weren't missing much."
"But you were gone thirty minutes."
"So?"
"So you said you'd be back in five."
"Yeah, well, I made a stop on the way back."
"Where?"
His only reply was a long, silent look. From the set of his mouth, it was easy to guess what he was thinking. Just who worked for who around here?
I cleared my throat. "I’m just curious, that's all."
"Alright," he said. "I stopped at Accounting."
That sounded harmless enough, but that wasn't what I was desperate to know. "So…" I bit my lip. "…what happened down there?"
"Not much." Jaden's mouth twitched like he just might smile. "They gave me the new sales figures, had some cake from Rhonda's party…"
"What?"
"Chocolate," he said, "since you look so curious."
I wasn't curious. I was frustrated. I didn't even know who Rhonda was or why she'd have a cake. A birthday? A promotion? A welcome back from wherever?
I had no idea. I was so distracted, I couldn’t even care. I felt my jaw clench. From the look on Jaden's face, he knew exactly what he was doing.
He was messing with me.
As usual.
Through gritted teeth, I said, "I meant, what happened with Bryce?"
"You already asked that." There was no trace of a smile now. "And I answered." With that, he strode past me, heading toward his own office.
I turned and scrambled after him. "But wait, I've got something to say."
He stopped and turned around. "Yeah, what?"
I froze. Now that I had his attention, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to tell him. I wasn't even sure what he deserved.
A thank you?
Or a kick in the pants?
Under any other circumstance, I might've told him that I didn't need anyone to stick up for me, that I could've handled Bryce on my own, and that Jaden should've minded his own business.
That very last point was the sticky one. This was Jaden's business, literally.
Reluctantly, I asked, "Am I in trouble?"
"No. But you're gonna be."
I stiffened. "Why?"
He glanced down at his watch. "Because I've got plans at six."
I glanced at my own watch. It was 5:50. Still, I couldn’t seem to let the subject go. "I just meant, am I in trouble for the Bryce thing? For the fact that he came here, I mean." Before Jaden could reply, I quickly added, "And just so you know, I didn't invite him here."
"You think I don’t know that?"
"Actually, I don't know what you know."
"I know he had his hand on you." Jaden's gaze darkened. "And I know you didn't like it."
He was right. I hadn't. I especially hadn't liked that Bryce had refused to let go when I'd tried to pull away. Still, there was something I needed to know. "You didn't hurt him or anything, did you?"
Jaden gave me a hard look. "What if I did?"
I swallowed. "So you did?"
"That's not what I said."
"But you implied it."
"Yeah? And you didn't answer my question. So I'll repeat it." Speaking very clearly, he said, "W
hat if I did?"
By now, I was practically chewing on my bottom lip. "Well…" I stammered, trying to collect my thoughts. "…I guess on some level, I wish he would've just left on his own."
"Yeah, but he didn't. So then what?"
"I, well..."
"Wish I'd minded my own business?"
"I don’t know," I admitted.
"Yes, you do."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you didn't want me to let it go."
The objection came automatically. "I did, too."
"Oh yeah? Then why didn't you stop me?"
"From what?"
"From showing him the door."
I tried to laugh. "You didn't show him. You dragged him."
"Yeah? And you made no move to stop it."
I almost scoffed out loud. "Are you serious?" I made a point of looking Jaden up and down, taking in his broad shoulders and considerable height, especially compared to me. And then, I forced a laugh. "As if I could."
"Meaning?"
"I'm just saying, you're a lot bigger than I am."
"Yeah. I am, which is why I handled it. And I'll tell you something else. You were glad I showed up."
Now, I did scoff. "I was not." This was actually true. I'd been horrified to see him, mostly because I dreaded the thought of getting fired. And yet, there was a part of me that, yes, might've been the teeniest bit relieved.
But I had no idea how to say this, or even if I should, so I gave a useless shrug and said nothing else.
Jaden gave me a penetrating look. "And you wanna know how I know that?"
"How?"
"Because I've seen you in action."
"What does that mean?"
"It means, you don't give two shits about provoking someone twice your size."
I sputtered, "What?"
"You know it. And I know it. So don’t give me that story and think I'll buy it." He gave a low scoff. "I can smell bullshit a mile away."
"Oh yeah? Well maybe you're forgetting something."
"What's that?" he said.
"You're my boss."
"So?"
"So, it's not like I'm gonna be all rude or anything."
His eyebrows lifted, but he made no reply. He didn't have to. We both knew what he was thinking. Technically, I was being at least a little rude now. But that was hardly the point.
I tried again. "I don't mean now," I clarified. "I meant in the lobby. Like, what was I supposed to do? Tell you to butt out? Follow you into the garage? Try to 'rescue' him?" I forced another laugh. "I can just imagine."
One Bad Idea: A Billionaire Loathing-to-Love Romance Page 11
