Not waiting for his unwanted escort, Cole started back toward the elevator ahead of Henry and hopped inside when the doors split. He was pushing thirty minutes late and he had no idea how long the meeting was supposed to run. Please let it be an hour at least, he pleaded to himself and any divine being that would listen. As the car made its ascent, both passengers rode in silence. Cole was never really one for small talk, and he certainly had nothing to say to Henry. Nothing that should be said out loud, at least.
Once on twelve, Henry took the lead. “This way.”
Cole stepped out and stopped, taking in the view in complete awe. The whole open expanse was constructed solely from glass to allow for lots of sunlight, complete with a view of a lush outdoor garden that appeared to run along the perimeter. It was breathtaking. A sight certainly designed to wow any client who considered hiring the talent of Jacobson-Wright Contracting.
“Don’t you think you’re late enough?” Cole hadn’t realized his feet had stopped moving until Henry barked unnecessary sarcasm his way. Clearing his throat and shooting a glare back, he followed the office assistant to a large conference room.
Robert was sitting at the far head of a long, rectangular glass table. Eight other suits occupied both sides. Cole’s gaze landed on Shaun, who stood next to his uncle in front of a whiteboard displaying one of his sketches. Today’s attire consisted of a slender camel-brown skirt that stopped at the knees, where a small strip of leg bridged the gap between it and a pair of black boots. Above the skirt, her curves were strategically outlined by a black v-neck sweater that looked soft to the touch. Her hair completed the “office sex-ecutive” look, swept up in some type of ornate twist, and her eyes sparkled sans glasses. Cole couldn’t peel his own eyes away.
“Thank you for making an appearance, Mr. Jacobson.” She placed her hands on her hips, and the rest of the employees sitting at the table turned to look at him. “Maybe next time we’ll schedule our staff meeting at an hour that better suits you.” She glanced sideways at Robert, who wore a matching sneer of disapproval, before returning to glower at him.
Biting back the desire to answer the callout with unsuitable candor, Cole apologized and found an empty chair at his end of the table. Of all the times for him to screw up again, this one had to be in front of Robert. He cursed to himself. Nice first impression with his new colleagues. Then, to add insult, Shaun just had to shine the spotlight on him. She had impeccable timing.
Cole sat back, unable to stop recalling the images that had popped up on his laptop screen the previous evening when he had been doing a bit of recon work on his boss. Every picture he had found showed her on the arm of some handsome celebu-brat, attending high-profile events all over the country, until the last few recent ones, which linked her to the up-and-coming model–actress Olivia Stiles. The two together were breathtaking, and each of the society rags had some scandalous spin on their matchup. One of the more clever headlines read, “Will Daddy Morebucks, Preston Wentworth Wright, orphan his Annie after finding out she’s a lesbian?” The tabloids were cruel. Cole almost felt sorry for her.
Robert had been right; she did date from both gender pools. Many of the men were linked to her father in some way, though – at least that was what the articles had implied. He tried not to think about what looking at all those pictures did to him, confusing him about his own feelings. None of them had been anywhere near TMZ degradation, a show Jake had made Cole watch on more than one occasion, claiming it was his guilty pleasure. Shaun carried herself with dignity and class. Never caught spewing her drunk guts into a planter or getting out of a car with her legs at an unfortunate angle, she was always impeccably dressed, eclipsing whoever was lucky enough to be pictured with her.
“Cole?” The deep baritone of his uncle’s voice jolted him back into the meeting. Shaun was now sitting in the seat next to Robert. She dropped her pen after jotting something down and glanced in his direction as well. Cole sifted through his memory, piecing together the bits he had caught while his mind had wandered, and recovered as best as possible.
“I can have the final sketches to you by tomorrow morning.” Cole knew the feat would be near impossible. However, he already resembled the company idiot. Even if it meant sleeping in his office, his pride meant he couldn’t risk looking like he was on the receiving end of corporate nepotism. Especially since nothing could have been further from the truth.
“Good. I will expect it by eight a.m., then.”
Cole met Shaun’s eyes and saw a touch of concern in their depths, but he returned his gaze to the notepad on the table in front of him. What he really wanted to do was get up and leave this whole goddamn place behind. Robert and Shaun could sort out their power issues without his cock or his immediate future floundering in the balance.
Robert began to close the meeting, much to Cole’s relief, but Shaun interrupted before his uncle could finish. “I don’t really think we need the final sketches just yet. Myles already expressed his satisfaction with Cole’s work. In fact, Cole and I are meeting with him later today.” She kept her expression neutral. “I think we should wait to see what he has to say before we go through the trouble of drawing up anything final. And considering that Cole is working by hand, I don’t want him to waste the effort.”
Robert adjusted his tie, and Cole covered his mouth with his hand to hide a threatening smirk. Apparently Shaun had never received the memo regarding how his uncle preferred complete agreement with all things Robert. That was, if people expected to keep their jobs. Cole admired the balls that she apparently hid beneath that tight little skirt of hers. She might be young and beautiful, but she was also a fucking firecracker. No wonder she ruffled Robert’s feathers so much.
“I think we’ve discussed enough for today.” Robert rose from his chair, not acknowledging the override by Shaun. Cole could see the hidden anger that only someone who knew his uncle well enough would recognize. A female version of Henry stood as well and followed his uncle out of the conference room like a lapdog.
Shaun got up from her chair next and addressed the uncomfortably silent audience. “Great work, everyone. I’ll be on six for most of the day if anyone needs anything.” She forced a tight smile, and Henry flew to her side to clean up the papers in front of her. Her gaze wandered to Cole, who stared back in wonder, before she exited.
He jumped up and went in pursuit of the walking, talking female dichotomy. He noticed Violet in the corner by the door, and she grinned and started to say something. Cole shot a hand up. “One minute, Vi. I need to ask Ms. Wright something important.”
“Sure,” she squeaked in reply.
“Why did you do that?” Cole blurted once he was clear of the conference room, having jogged the short distance toward Shaun to catch up.
She stopped in front of the elevator, seeming not all that surprised that he’d followed her out. She pressed the call button and looked over at him. “Do what?”
Cole rested a hand on the wall beside the elevator door, blocking the view of anyone behind him. “You pretty much make me feel like crap when I show up late, which I’ll admit I did have coming, but when my uncle decides to make an example out of me, you lay your neck out knowing it would piss him off.”
Her shoulders lifted slightly. “Robert was being ridiculous.” She reached forward and pressed the button repeatedly this time, as if the arcade-like rapid fire would make the car come faster. “Besides, I’m your boss and you’re on my team, not his. It’s my job to set you up for success. If you fail, I look bad, not him.” The doors parted and she stepped inside, turning to face him. “Going down?”
The thoughts that scrolled through his mind at her question were surely grounds for immediate termination. He even raked a heated gaze down her body before he could stop himself. Clenching his fists in an attempt to stop all his blood from flowing south, he took a step back. In a low drawl, he managed his answer. “Not yet, but soon.”
Shaun raised an eyebrow, and a slow curve of understand
ing moved over her cherry pout. Her hazel eyes smoldered with an intense fire that made Cole’s skin tingle. Mutual intrigue indeed. The doors closed, cutting off the magnetic connection that left Cole wanting more.
Running a hand through his hair, he spun on his heels, remembering the notebook and pen that he’d left and the apology that Violet deserved. He started back to the conference room to retrieve his things when Robert’s assistant stepped into his path.
“Mr. Jacobson would like to see you in his office. Now.”
CHAPTER 7
“Sit down.” Cole entered Robert’s office, and the assistant closed the door behind him, adding to the ominous mood of the last-minute meeting. The interior of the ridiculously massive space shared the brushed chrome and smoked glass of the outside of the building. The view of the lush garden atrium stood in complete contrast with the austere chill of the office. The exterior wall looked out onto the mid-morning cityscape of Mason. A god’s view. Robert sat on his leather throne in front of a large chrome desk, scrutinizing every move Cole made.
“Let me guess: you want the restaurant sketches on your desk in the morning, regardless of what Shaun said? Fine.” Cole plopped down into one of the chairs opposite his uncle, tired of his position as a pawn in the partners’ chess match.
“I don’t give a shit about the restaurant account,” Robert sneered, a new unfiltered anger flickering in his steel-gray gaze. Cole had been right. He had not appreciated the public override by Shaun in the slightest. “I have something else for you to work on.” He tapped a finger on a file that lay atop his desk. Cole took the folder and sat back, looking over the contents closely. Recognition blazed through his veins. It was the bed and breakfast file Shaun had given him, but instead contained photocopies of everything, including her notes.
“I don’t understand.” Being partners in the same firm, Cole would have expected Robert and Shaun to share files without cause for suspicion, but something felt off. “I have all this already.”
“If you look more closely, you will see my notes. You are to proceed with the account under my direction.”
“Why?”
“That should be the least of your concerns.” Robert reclined in his chair, the evil gleam in his eye returning with a vengeance. “I expect to have the preliminary proposal drawn up to my specifications by tomorrow morning. I’m meeting with Mr. Richards in the afternoon to address his concerns about not receiving the attention he expects on such a project.” Mr. Richards sounded like an asshole to Cole, running to Robert like a child runs to his mother when he doesn’t get his way.
“But I’ve only had the original file since yesterday.” Robert appeared to have no concept of time when it came to something he wanted.
“The account has been in Shaun’s possession for far too long. Her team is weak.” Robert made an aggressive peck at an invisible speck of lint that had dared park on his sleeve.
Cole couldn’t keep up. “If you really felt that way, then why go to the trouble to put me on her team at all? Why didn’t you just bring me here to work for you?”
“You’re not here to ask questions, Cole. Just do as I say.” Cole could see the hint of a flush work its way up his uncle’s throat.
“This is bullshit.” Cole wasn’t sure why he was so eager to spring to Shaun’s defense. Maybe what she had said earlier about believing they would fail as a team still resonated with him. He was on her team regardless of his uncle’s motivations and took issue with being called weak.
“You best remember who exactly you’re working for, nephew. And who has the power to give you the one thing you truly want.” Robert spoke through gritted teeth. He managed to keep himself contained, although Cole could see the irritation bubbling beneath the spray-tanned facade.
“And what is that?”
“The deed to Jacobson’s. The loan is far from being reconciled, but I’m willing to consider it paid in full if you follow through with our deal until its discussed completion.”
Cole’s gut clenched. His uncle dangled the lumber company like a pork chop in front of a starving dog, just enough out of reach to be absolute torture. The business meant nothing to Robert and everything to Cole, making the whole scenario even more excruciating.
“And if I don’t?” His mouth went dry from those four words. A small part of him knew the answer. An even smaller fraction held out hope that he was wrong. That his uncle would crack a smile on that marble face of his and say something like, “Would I do that to my own flesh and blood?” Only he didn’t.
“Don’t ask a question you can’t handle the answer to, Cole.”
Cole shoved through the door leading out to the stairwell, too worked up to wait for the elevator or risk having company for the ride down while he dreamed of choking the life from his uncle. Robert had backed him into a corner with two choices, knowing which Cole would most likely take. He gripped the stair railing with one hand and inhaled the cool, musty air. The metal whimpered and rocked beneath his angry strength. Letting go, he started his descent with the impostor file burning a deceitful hole underneath his arm. How easy it would be to just keep going past six. Toss the piece of shit folder in the trash where it belonged. Never look back. But what would he have to return to? Nothing. He had no doubt Robert would make sure of that.
His foot touched down on the landing of eight, and Cole paused at the sound of two voices entering the stairwell below. He glanced over the railing and froze at the sight of Shaun and her ex two floors down. He didn’t risk moving, not wanting to make the slightest sound and draw their attention. He glanced at the door beside him and thought about giving them the privacy they appeared to be looking for, but curiosity cemented his shoes in place.
“Why are you here, Liv?” Shaun barked once the stairwell door slammed shut. Cole cringed at the harsh tone in her voice, having experienced its razor edge himself only twenty minutes before.
“Why do you think? You won’t return any of my calls. Your doorman treats me like some fucking stalker.” Shaun paced the small square of space, obviously uncomfortable, while Olivia tracked her movements from a stationary spot in front of the exit. “You can’t just shut me out like this, Shaun. I need you.”
“You need me?” Shaun released a sharp, bitter laugh. “You know, there was a time when I wanted that to be true. When I found myself so infatuated with the beautiful Olivia Stiles. Enough to overlook the one-sided aspect of our relationship.” Cole stared down, captivated by the sliver of weakness Shaun had laid bare. “I have faith that you will find someone more connected than I, Liv, and then our fling will be nothing more than a distant memory.”
Shaun started to push past her for the door, but Olivia didn’t budge. The intensity between the two women seemed to swallow up the air around them. Cole knew he should go and let them hash their shit out alone, but he still couldn’t convince his feet to move. Maybe he wanted Shaun to absolve him from taking Robert up on his offer. If he could bear witness to the cruel bitch his uncle painted her to be, then maybe the guilt polluting his conscience would dissipate. But so far Shaun remained in control of her emotions. Cole wondered if anything could blow the lid off her always reserved disposition.
Olivia reached a hand up to cradle Shaun’s face, gliding her pink-polished thumb over cherry-stained lips. The gesture so tender. So intimate.
Shaun didn’t move. She stared back, her expression cold and unyielding. Olivia forged on, desperate and without pride, bringing her other hand up to frame the face of her lost lover. The space between the two women shrank while two sets of eyes remained open. Olivia’s approach was slow and unsure before she slanted her mouth over Shaun’s.
Seemingly unresponsive, Shaun stood there, eyes still open. “Kiss me. Please,” Olivia whispered against an unmoving grimace, urging her lover to participate. Shaun’s hazel eyes closed, and two sets of lips began to dance to a hungry tempo, nipping and sucking.
Cole gripped the railing to aid his unsteady feet. A sharp, jealous pain pie
rced his chest, although his body ignited at the sight of the beautiful women locked in an erotic embrace.
Shaun grasped Olivia’s delicate wrists and lightly shoved her back. “I can’t, Liv.” Cole could sense the internal struggle in his boss’s strained voice. She wanted her ex, that much was evident from his vantage point, but she was battling her desire to give in.
“Please,” Olivia pleaded. “Don’t shut me out like this. I’ll do anything. I’ll beg if that’s what you want.” She lowered herself to her bare knees, her skirt not long enough to shield her smooth skin from the bite of the concrete. “You always liked it when I begged.”
Shaun cuffed Olivia’s forearm in her hand and attempted to pull the woman back to her feet. “Get up, Liv. You’ll ruin your shoes.”
“Fuck my shoes,” Olivia replied, skimming her unhindered hand under the hem of Shaun’s skirt. Shaun’s eyes glittered down at Olivia, granting one last attempt to sway her from her decision to leave. A clear demonstration of the balance of power between the two women, the power that Shaun wielded in all aspects of her life. She undid Olivia’s hair, and blonde curls rained down on bare, delicate shoulders.
Cole bit his lip, obstructing the curse on the tip of his tongue from breaking free. Shaun stepped backwards and braced herself against the wall. Olivia followed on her knees. The sound of high-priced heels scuffing the floor ricocheted off the metal and cement. His boss was now partially hidden behind the flight of stairs between them, so Cole did what any self-respecting man would do in the same situation: he craned his neck over the railing. Clamping down on the growing ache in his gut, he fully intended to watch whatever might unfold, although some primal part deep down wanted to be the one giving her pleasure.
Drawn Through You Page 5
