Tantalizing in Stilettos
Page 13
“The not so great Griffin Styles about to throw it all away for some ass. Don’t forget, I’m your boss. You need to watch how you talk to me.”
“My boss, my ass. It’s time to come to brass tacks.”
“Before you open your mouth, you want to make sure tits and ass down there is worth it.”
It wasn’t even a question. “Believe me, she’s worth it.”
21
Jaggar finished in Advertising only to realize that she'd left her badge on her desk. When she went back to the office, there was no sign of Griffin or Ryan. But when she pushed open the side door that led up to the balcony on their floor, she could hear them arguing and her name featured heavily.
What she should do was head back down. They had stuff to work out and at the end of the day, she’d known this day was coming. Known that Griffin was going to have to tell Ryan eventually. They really should have already done the HR thing. But she'd been too terrified of this whole thing not working with them.
Why the hell would they be fighting about her? She knew that eventually everything about their relationship would come to light, but it’s not like she was forcing Griffin to be with her.
She strained to better hear what they were saying. “Your thing with her, let it go man. I care about her. I want to be with her.”
Ryan’s laugh was harsh. “She's ruined fucking everything. You were great with Tanya. This chick shows up and then all of a sudden you can't fucking focus. You can't concentrate. Your career hung in the balance. I saw the opportunity you didn't and I stepped ahead. I fucking had to right the ship.”
“Right the ship? You’re not living my life. I don't need you driving me. I don't understand what Tanya, or Jaggar, even have to do with you.”
“You don’t get it. You’re fucking Griffin Styles and you threw that shit away. You don't deserve it.”
Something twisted in Jaggar’s gut. Ryan sounded obsessed.
“I’ve worked hard for everything I have, Ryan. Why does my life matter so much to you?”
“Because it should have been mine. In college, all everyone ever saw was you. You skated on fucking everything. Chicks, the papers, classes, your father, hell, the gift of Club Prestige. You get everything and you don't deserve it. And then, I set it all up for you and you throw it all away. Like a fucking moron.”
She could hear the concern lacing Griffin’s voice. “Dude, I never asked to have certain advantages. But don't act like I didn't work for shit. At the end of the day, I had the kind of career I wanted with integrity. You cut corners to get ahead at any cost and it shows. Everyone knows it. I want to be great. I want to be deserving of the Styles name. I need to have integrity and you don't have any.”
Ryan’s voice was loud and clear even through the door. “So that's what you think this is? Integrity? You thinking with your dick is integrity? That woman is going to bring you down. Every time I talk to Tanya, I steer her back to you. She’s who you should be with.”
“You talk to Tanya?”
Ryan laughed. “You think you gave it to her so good that she still pines for you? We stayed friends after you broke her heart. Whenever she starts to let you go, I bring her right back around. You two together make a good brand. I’m driving this train. But oh no, you have tits and ass on the brain and won’t pull the trigger there. She’s who you should be with.”
“You’re fucked in the head. What the hell has Jaggar ever done to you anyway? What is your deal with her? So what, she didn't want to suck your dick the moment she met you. Grow up. You and I are done.”
“Is that what she told you? You gave up Tanya for her. From the moment she got here, she’s been coming between us. How’d you like to know I fucked her? At the Welcome to TVN mixer when she was hired. Right outside the bathroom. I fucked her so good.”
Jaggar’s stomach clenched and the taste of bile threatened. Oh God, oh God, oh God. Was that what he’d told everyone happened? That she’d slept with him? She’d gone to HR after he’d mauled her in that hallway, but they’d never done anything.
She wanted to scream, to run out onto the balcony and fight. But no, her feet stayed rooted to the spot. Would Griffin believe him?
When Griffin spoke, his voice was low with a hint of menace. “You’re a fucking liar.”
“You know I’m telling you the truth. Come on. She’s got you pussy whipped. You think I don't know the reason you don't want to be on the Collins story is because of her?
“You know that’s her mother.”
“Dude, I practically gift wrapped that story for you and tucked it onto your lap. Except Jaggar’s already taken up too much real estate there.”
“Shut the fuck up or I will shut you up.”
She couldn’t listen to anymore. She charged through the door unsure of what she meant to do but she was not going to let Ryan get away with it. Not this time.
"You are a fucking liar. He cornered me by that bathroom, stuck his hand up my skirt said that if I wanted my career to move forward I was gonna do him.” She glared at him. “Your balls still hurt after that one?”
“You bitch,” Ryan ground out.
Griffin turned and stared at her for one full second.
Like that HR manager, he might not believe her. The woman had told her that it wouldn’t get her anywhere to make up stories. She hadn't known the HR manager at the time was screwing Ryan. And she eventually resigned after they broke up. She’d learned quickly that to survive here she needed to play by Ryan’s rules.
Her gaze drifted to Griffin. Would he still love her?
Griffin’s gaze held a flare of fire then he was rounding on Ryan. He hit him once. The connection of his fist to Ryan’s face made a loud pop sound. Then Griffin hit him again. And again.
“Griffin, stop. I want to hurt him, but you can’t. I’m going to do what I should have done the first time and go to the police. I don't want you in trouble for killing him.”
Griffin stared at Ryan for a minute, and then let him sag to the ground. In two strides, he had his arms around her. “I’m sorry. I’ve been an asshole. I should have told you about the interview.”
“I should've told you. I'm sorry. I said something to HR back then but they didn't believe me. And I thought you wouldn’t believe me.
“Stop. I believe you. I should have seen this coming. I should have done something. This is my fault. I thought he was my friend. But he was something else.”
“Griffin, what he said about Tanya … ” Her voice trailed.
He shook his head. “She and I were good on paper. But Ryan’s fucked with her too. I’ll see what I can do to get her help. But I belong with you.”
She glanced at him. “What now?”
“First, we’re calling the cops. I promise you you’re not the only one he’s hurt. I’ll call the executives in the morning. For once I’m going to pull every string I can. He won’t be here come Monday. I don't care what kind of deal I have to make with the devil.”
“You don't have to do that for me.”
“Yes, I do. You tried to tell me, and I wasn't listening hard enough. That’s my fault. I love you. And I want to be with you. You deserve someone wholeheartedly in your corner. Let me be that.”
A tear escaped and she swiped it away with the back of her hand. “Griffin, what did I do to deserve you?”
“Called me on my shit.” He grinned.
“That I did. I love you.”
“Good. I love you, too. And I plan on doing it for a while so it helps if you're on board.”
Epilogue
“I'm Griffin Styles.”
“And I’m Jaggar Jakes and we’d like to say thank you and have a good night.”
Jaggar breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t thought she would be able to handle a story on her mother. But it hadn’t been the fluff piece her mother had anticipated. And that had been all Griffin’s doing. The fall of an icon, he’d called it. The executives had loved the new angle.
He’d wanted a
hard investigative piece on her. It had been easier for Jaggar to take an emotional step back. Of course, her mother had wanted Jaggar to do the interview, and she’d pitched a fit when she hadn't gotten her way.
Once they were back in the dressing room, Griffin wasted no time sliding his lips over hers. “You okay?”
“Yeah, it feels pretty good actually. I was never allowed to talk about my father. To know that he hadn’t just abandoned me was a relief.”
Through the course of research, they’d found all the letters her father had written her, up until his death. It hadn’t taken much research actually, Bianca had been more than happy to show off the letters Jaggar’s father had written to their daughter. She thought it would prove that she’d been a good mother, shielding her daughter from all of that pain. But quite the opposite.
Her father had wanted her. And her mother had lied. For all those years. “I can let all that go now. I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself.”
The Ryan situation had resolved itself quickly. Turned out Griffin didn't need to pull any strings. Once she’d filed another claim and gone to the police, several other women had come out with allegations of sexual harassment and assault. He’d been gone within the week.
“You don't mind sharing the show with me?” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“I mean you're okay as partners go.” She giggled as he tickled her. “Okay, okay, you’re the best.” She sobered as he held her for a moment. “Seriously though. You don’t regret not having your own show?”
“Maybe some day, but we make a good team. I thought it was what I wanted. But what I want is to be here every day with you.”
“Good. Because this is where I plan to be.”
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Tantalizing in Stilettos
COPYRIGHT © 2016 by Nana Malone
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Cover Art by Minx Malone
Edited by Daisy Cakes Editing
Proof Editing by Leah Guinan
Published in the United States of America
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Nana Malone’s love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since.
With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters. Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, Nana, meantime works out her drama, passion and sass with fict
ional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.
The books in her series have been on multiple Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble bestseller lists as well as the iTunes Breakout Books list and most notably the USA Today Bestseller list.
Until that ninja job comes through, you’ll find Nana working hard on additional books for her series as well as other fun, sassy romances for characters that won’t leave her alone. And if she’s not working or hiding in the closet reading, she’s acting out scenes for her husband, daughter and puppy in sunny San Diego.
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