by J. L. Beck
“Maggie…” Every time he said my name it caused my stomach to revolt. He was just as sinister now as he was in High School.
“Yes.” I said between clenched teeth, my face turned away from him. I hadn’t ever truly hated anyone in my entire life, but Roger was the exception. If he was dying in a burning building I would sit and watch. Maybe even bring stuff to make smores.
“We all know why you took a job here. It’s not as if you truly care for the company, but more so what it can do for you.” I took in a deep breath, the room seemly growing smaller as air filled my lungs only to be released like a deflated balloon a moment later. Breathe. Deep breaths.
“That…” Was that true? I had never admitted to such a thing. Sweat formed on my palms. I hated feeling as if I was trapped without an escape route.
“Don’t even say it’s not true when we both know that it is. You took this job for that fucking crippled kid.”
Crippled kid… Don’t make him eat his words. Kill him with kindness.
”He had a name.” I forced the words from my mouth. I didn’t want to talk about him. His death wasn’t fair to anyone, not his family, me, or him.
“Whatever, his name doesn’t matter. Not anymore at least. What does is the fact that you took a job working for me, yet it seems as if you would much rather not be here most days?” I could hear his foot steps across the marble flooring, my heart beat rising with every step.
“I love my job…” I lied, trying not to stutter over my words. I hated my job, but I hated Roger and what he reminded me of more. Hurt. Pain.
A deep robust laugh filled the room, “That is the biggest fucking lie I have ever heard.” His hot breath was on the back of my neck. I should’ve turned around, I should’ve told him to leave me alone.
“Fine. I’m here for him, and one day I will be on the team that helps find a cure for the cancer that he had. He wasn’t just crippled Roger. He was sick. He was dying.” I smarted off, openly admitting my faults as I turned around to face him not realizing how close he truly was to me. I took a wobbly step back wanting to separate us, my legs feeling like jelly.
Roger’s hand reached out and gripped my chin hard, pulling my face into his. There was a sick fire in his eyes, one that said he would hurt me if he had too. Men like him weren’t afraid of someone like me getting in there way.
“You think that you have everyone fooled. That no one will discover you for what you really are.” He was seething.
What was he talking about? I hadn’t ever tried to dissect what Roger had to say simply because he was wrong most, if not all the time. His motives were always to protect his empire, or to make others suffer. He was out to benefit no one but himself.
“I have no one fooled.” I gritted out, the hold he had on my jaw growing tighter. I winced, as his fingers dug deeper into my skin. His face leaned into mine as his eyes lingered on my lips before raising to my own. He wanted to kiss me. I knew it, I felt it in his stare, and his touch. He wanted me, but he knew he could never have me. No one could, because I was taken. Even with him no longer here, he still lived and breathed in me… in my heart, and I would not betray him with his enemy.
“Your right… You have no one fooled simply because they can see through your ulterior motives. Watch your back Maggie, you might find more than just a knife in it.”
He released me, shoving me away from him. His threat lingering in my mind long after I had got my footing and walked out of his office. Rubbing at my jaw, I attempted to not draw attention to myself. That would only make it worse.
Instead I went to my desk and kept myself busy, looking at various articles about Diesel’s cancer. He had a rare brain tumor, stage four at the time of his death. It was inoperable, meaning there was nothing that they could do to save him. They had given him months to live, which turned into years. Many said it was a miracle that he had held on for as long as he did. I felt that there was always something else lingering under the surface. A hidden reasoning, or answer.
My fingers pounded on the keys for hours, doing my research as I did every day. This wasn’t my job, I was to shuffle papers in and out of Roger;s office. I was basically his assistant without the title or pay raise. My plan was to get into the labs and out of the office. There was nothing here for me, and having been here for six months I hadn’t discovered much of anything. PGI’s database was locked down tighter than Fort Knox. Codes were needed for just about everything and I wasn’t so desperate for answers that I would sleep with someone, or lie, and cheat to get them. I had to do this the right way.
“Maggie.” Kandace said in a motherly tone. I looked up from my keyboard giving her a look that said I’m working, go away.
“Kandace.”
“I saw you come out of Roger’s office earlier. Is everything okay?” Kandace had always been concerned with my relationship with Roger. He bullied me in school, and just when I thought I would be able to get away from him here I was working under him.
“Yeah, just typical shit that he puts me through. I can never just go into his office and give him his daily spreadsheets.” I kept my voice hushed. There were office rats all around us. People that would turn around and tell him anything, and everything that took place out on the floor. They thought it would gain them more money, or freedom. Some did it just because they wanted too.
“You were rubbing at your face when you came out. Don’t lie to me and tell me it’s nothing Maggie. If he’s fucking with you again then I will find out, and do something about it.”
I smiled to myself. God, how I had been blessed with such a great friend. Someone that would kick any and every one’s ass if I asked her too.
“It’s nothing. At least nothing different than the norm. You know why I’m here Kandace. I want to get into the labs and see what kind of cures, and drugs they’re coming up with.” I whispered to her, my eyes scanning the room. One would think moving up in the company would be something relatively normal. Something that could easily be talked about in the work place. Except it wasn’t. At least not here. Moving up to a new position was never something that was openly discussed, if you moved up you just simply disappeared.
Any promotion in the company was top secret. If you ever made it out of this sector of the building then you knew something that no one else did. I had to make it happen. I had to find out what was going on. If not for the families that were suffering with death, grief, and loss, then for Diesel.
“It’s been seven years. Seven years Maggie. It’s time to move on. It’s time to let it go. He died. He’s not coming back, and if you keep thinking like you are, it’s going to get you killed.”
Kandace’s concern was cute, but completely unneeded. I had it all under control. Maybe if I kept telling myself that it would start to feel that way.
“He might be dead, but I made him a promise. I told him that I would try and help find a cure for his cancer. I wasn’t lying to him seven years ago, and I’m not going back on my word now. I understand your concerns, but I’m not doing anything wrong.”
The look of shock on her face astounded me. Did she really feel as if what I was doing was wrong? That wanting to stand by my word was wrong?
“Davis.” Roger’s angry voice met our ears. Everyone turned to see what the issue was, including myself.
“Sir…” Davis stumbled over his words, as he got into a standing position pushing from his desk as if he had just been told to jump. What the fuck is going on?
“Why don’t you tell the rest of the staff what happens when you try and make a fool of this company? Of the company my father spent years building from the ground up.” There was a glint of something I had never seen in Roger’s eyes. A need for blood—for death.
“Sir… Can we talk about—“Davis tried adding, but it did no good. Roger waved in security as his hand landed on Davis’ shoulder.
“No we cannot talk about this. Once it’s found out that you’re here for yourself and not the company, then it becomes a problem.
You made us believe you had the company’s best interest at heart, but you didn’t. So, that means you lied and I don’t do well with liars. We’re a team Davis, but you aren’t a team player. If we all did whatever we wanted, for whatever reason this company wouldn’t be what it is. Let alone even exist.”
“I promise it won’t happen again…” Davis pleaded. Sweat beading on his forehead as he clasped his hands together.
“I know it won’t Davis, and neither will any of these people make the same mistake as you. Listen up, this is what happens to you when you disobey this company. When you think that you can use it for your own benefits.” Every word that came out of Roger’s mouth was spat directly at me. His eyes drilled into mine as the guards came in pulling Davis from the room as if he never meant a damn thing to them.
With a smile Roger walked away… His eyes, and threat still ringing in my ears. For once it was starting to hit me. The good of doing this might not outweigh the bad.
Kandace was right.
I could very well be signing my own death certificate.
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Read on for the first few chapters of
Worth the Chase
Worth The Chase
Book 1 of The Worth It Series
By Best Selling Author J.L. Beck
Chapter One-Gia
Chapter One
Gia
I remember the very first time I laid eyes on him. My eyes lingered against his hard body, across his broad shoulders, and finally up to his handsome face. He had a body made for gripping, his abs were lick worthy and on full display for the entire female population of Auburn University, and believe me they were all looking.
His eyes were a gun metal blue. Dark, and full of pent up energy ready to be unleashed on anyone who got in his way. His chin was covered lightly with a dusting of stubble, his nose straight, his teeth white and his hair had that just screwed sway to it. He looked like a GQ model. It was no wonder everyone including myself lusted after him.
“Gia. Focus on this shit in front of you. I’m here to tutor you, not have you check out my brother.” Chance, Chase’s twin brother scolded me. My cheeks warmed in embarrassment as I brought my eyes back down to my notebook and away from Chase and the blonde that was stuck against him like glue.
The sun was shining through the trees and down onto us, as the summer temps continued to rise. We were laying out on the front lawn of the campus, working on Advanced Biology. I needed to be focusing on cell splitting and not removing my panties and allowing that asshole access to my…
“Gia?” Chance said my name again pulling me from my thoughts. At least I wasn’t being yelled at for staring at his brother this time.
“What?” I answered, lifting my face to meet his angry stare. Chance was gorgeous too, I mean after all they were twins. He had the same body as his brother, except his eyes were green and he had a softness to him that Chase didn’t exhibit. Oh and let’s not forget, you could actually look at him without him being an asshole solely because you glanced at him. He wasn’t full of himself like his other half.
“You need to focus. It doesn’t matter if you’re not looking at him I can tell that you’re thinking about him which is the same fucking thing.” Chance’s voice was full of frustration. My mouth started to gape open all on its own. Shocked that Chance had come out about it so meanly, I closed my Bio book and grabbed my notebook. I didn’t know what to say. It was impossible to concentrate with Chase around. Attempting to “focus” with him around was like elementary school all over again. The only difference being I was a senior at college this time around, and needed to get my shit together so I could graduate with a degree that mattered.
I had fought for my chance to go to college, I had begged and pleaded for a chance at this life and I needed to stay on track. Even if being off track sounded so much more fun at this point and time.
“Focusing would be easier if he wasn’t everywhere you were..” I growled, narrowing my eyes on him. It wasn’t Chance’s fault that he had to bring Chase all over the place like he was a toddler. Chase just had a habit of causing problems, and Chance had a habit of making sure he stayed out of trouble.
“I see you’re finally done with the princess.” Chase butted in as he walked up, the blonde missing from his arm as I picked myself up off the grass. His voice was all gruff, his posture confident as if he was telling everyone I’m better than you. Shaking my head, I raised an eyebrow at Chance showing him that this is exactly what I meant when I said it was hard to focus. My temper always flared when he came around, and before I could stop myself I was speaking.
“You know my name is Gia. Use it, or don’t refer to me at all.” I sneered. He was gorgeous, and a delectable specimen but the second he opened his mouth I wanted to stab him in the eye with a fork.
I did want him though, that I can’t deny but I wanted him for one thing, and one thing only. I wanted to know if he was just as good in bed as the rest of the girls on campus said he was. Aside from that I didn’t want to listen to him speak once.
He tilted his head sideways at me, “Wow. I just heard Chance have to remind you not to stare. Seems someone was a bit distracted.” He mocked with a smile on his lips, one that kind of made me go weak in the knees, but at the same time made me want to throat punch him. Of course he would change the subject. He was good at dismissing the things he didn’t want to hear, or that didn’t work in his favor.
If he thought I was going to play into his hand, he was wrong. I turned on my heel away from him fully intent on heading back to my dorm. I had to be moved out in a month for fall classes which meant that I would be on the womanhunt for a new apartment with my best friend, Taylor who would be a freshmen this year.
“Wait… We need to meet up and go over the lab tests that you’ll be tested on this year one last time.” Chance’s voice stopped me from walking away which caused me to turn back around, and face Chase who was now wearing a shit eating grin.
Hate him for all that he’s worth, I told myself. Don’t look at him like a piece of cake that you want to devour. No, look at him like he’s the reason you need to work off fifteen hundred more calories. He’s the cake. Don’t touch the cake. Don’t think about the cake.
I swallowed the saliva that had started to form in my mouth just as a caught a glimpse of Chase smiling again out the corner of my eye. A dribble of sweat dripped down his abs, and my mouth popped wide open. What were we talking about?
“Let’s meet up this weekend. Chase is having a party off campus, but maybe you can come over anyways and we can work on it?” Chance asked for what I assumed the second time, his eyebrow raised in questioning.
I bite my lip and nodded my head yes. I was going to have major whiplash after today’s meeting. I knew there was no way that I could handle going over to Chase and Chance’s house, apartment, mansion or whatever the hell they lived in to study. I would have to cancel.
“Alright, we’ll talk then. I’ll text you the time.” Chance responded as he bent down to pick up his books and papers, placing them in his bag. I gave Chase one more once over and then walked away, wondering what the fuck it was that I was doing. I had no reason to be lusting after someone like him. He was as far from the safe zone as it got. His demeanor alone caused my heartbeat to go into overdrive and my body to feel alive, as if I hadn’t been truly living this whole time.
I knew better than to associate myself with him, he had bad written all over him. For God’s sake my father was an FBI Agent! If he heard half the shit that I did away from home he would probably force me to move back home and finish my last year of college being locked away in my childhood room. Coming to a halt and squeezing my eyes shut, I took in a breath. Ugh, Gia just calm your tits. He will never find out, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. I told myself as I opened my eyes and continued my walk across the campus. I was just about where I needed to be when my phone started ringing extremely fucking loud.
“
Fuck.” I huffed, struggling to pull the slim device from the pocket of my shorts. Taylor’s name showed across the screen, and excitement filled my belly as I pressed the answer key.
“I’m so excited to see you!” She squealed into the phone. This was her first year of college, a time where growing was something that she would truly experience. I was glad that I would be that one true friend here for her when she needed it the most. I didn’t have that my first year, hell I barely had that now, but in a few weeks we both would have something we’ve been missing since I left for college.
“I’m pretty sure, that I’m way more excited. I have to start packing up my stuff at the dorm this week.” I confessed. I hated packing, anything that involved moving was something that I was against.
“Oh speaking of, I found a condo for rent. I’m going to call the number on Craigslist first thing Monday. Hopefully we can rent it. Its close to campus, and they’re offering the lower rooms in the basement. Two bedrooms with spacious closets, one bathroom, and our own laundry room. We’ll have to share the kitchen and living room with them though.” A smile formed on my face, as I crossed the grass to my dorm room. I slid my key into the lock gaining access into the building as Taylor filled me in.
“You’ve sure done your research. That sounds amazing, the only issue is price.” I hated to be the bearer of bad news but I wanted to be realistic.
“They only want eight hundred a month.” She sounded just as shocked as I felt, so much so that I almost tripped walking up the first flight of stairs.
“Well shit. Then it’s a given, as long as everything checks out and they aren’t some serial killers then of course we’ll take it.” My voice bounced off the empty hall walls as I jogged up another flight of stairs keeping my eyes focused on every step as to make sure I didn’t actually trip.
“Yes, you bet your ass we will. I have to go though, but we’ll talk later..” I could hear her moving around her bedroom, and the low speaking of a male voice calling her name.
