Conflict of Interest

by A. M. Kusi

  “Thanks,” she said, taking the coffee and muffin from him. She took a sip, never complaining, no matter what he brought her. She was easy to please. Would that be true in bed too?

  Business. He forced his mind back to thinking about Active Zone as he walked into the room. That was the reason they were there, and if he blew this job because he was distracted, he could kiss his career goodbye.

  “Sure. Listen, Harper, we need to talk.”

  She took a seat on the couch facing him as she peeled back the wrapper from the muffin and took a bite.

  “We can’t do this. You and me, we would never work in a million years. I need to stay focused on the company. We can’t ever let it become more.”

  “Fine,” she said, taking another sip of her coffee.

  “Fine? That’s it?” he asked in disbelief. He was expecting more of a fight than this. Where was the forward vixen from last night?

  “You said ‘no.’ What else do you want me to say?”

  He hesitated for a moment, stunned that she was letting it go that easily. Maybe a part of him had hoped she would put up a fight. Maybe he didn’t mean as much to her as he thought he did.

  After they drove to the meeting in silence, they were greeted by the top three executives of the company: the complex manager, the CEO, and the owner. Jax listened intently to what the men had to say, noticing that the complex manager seemed to pay Harper extra close attention. Jax looked around, seeing some differences between Active Zone and the adventure complex they had visited on Sunday together.

  They’d ended their day early. And Harper had convinced him that they needed to go back to the hotel to change and return as customers to get the full experience and collect as much data as they could before making any suggestions.

  “It’s one thing to take a tour, and an entirely different thing to experience it firsthand. This is why we did Sunday at the competitor’s,” she’d argued.

  Jax had given in. What she’d said made sense after all. If Sunday wasn’t for research purposes, that would have made it a date, and he could not have that.

  The stark difference between Active Zone and its competitor was the giant indoor paintball course. Harper decided they should start there first. The complex manager insisted he come along to help them get set up.

  “You want to be shot at by me?” Jax asked, slipping on the mask to protect his face.

  Harper smiled. “There is my masked man.” Only the two of them would get her meaning. “I don’t plan on getting shot at all. I’ll be too busy doing the shooting.” She put her hands on her hips.

  “What color balls would you like?” the complex manager, Todd, asked.

  “Hmm…” Harper bit her lip, seeming to hold something back. But it only lasted a second before she continued, “I think Mr. Harris here will take blue balls.”

  Jax coughed, feeling embarrassed that Harper would make such a sexual joke in front of a client.

  She quickly recovered. “Pink for me. Mr. Harris thinks pink is for girls and blue for boys. Since this is boy versus woman, I think it’s only fair.” She took the loaded paintball gun from Todd and walked into the course before he followed.

  “She is quite the firecracker,” Todd said, his eyes following Harper’s ass.

  “You have no idea,” Jax said, taking the gun with the blue balls from the counter.

  Chapter 13

  Jax walked into the paintball course that had a variety of colors splattered along the walls and various barriers. He heard the noise of an air gun going off behind him, and before he could turn to face it, a sharp stinging sensation radiated from where he’d been shot in the upper back. He didn’t have to see it to know it was pink.

  He ducked quickly to avoid the onslaught of paintballs Harper was sending his way. He looked around the corner. She was perched in the top of a wooden tree house-type of building like a sniper. He saw a flicker of yellow behind her and he knew she had the flag up there that he was supposed to capture.

  A blast of pink covered his vision as he dove back behind the wall he was hiding behind. A shot to the face mask. Jax smiled. She wasn’t going to make this easy, but his victory would be that much sweeter.

  He crawled as quickly as he could, from behind the wall over to a barrel, staying low to the ground. Shots from her gun rang out, just before a sting radiated in his calf. Those little colored balls hurt more than he’d thought they would. He was going to be covered with bruises.

  Jax looked around, finding another place he could get to for cover on his way to the ladder of the tree house.

  He had a strategy, and if she kept shooting the way she was now, it would work in his favor. He saw a thin board that stood erect fifteen feet from where he was. He made a dash for it, peppering shots her way as he ran. Once he was relatively safe behind the board, he searched out his next move.

  He heard three rounds shot in succession before he jumped up from the pain emanating from his backside. “You shot me in the ass!” he hollered as he ran for the tree house.

  He could hear her laughing so hard she missed several shots she took at him, attempting to protect her tower as he ducked and ran. She grabbed the yellow flag in one hand and aimed with her other. Jax got to the bottom of the ladder, in plain sight of her gun. She shot down at him, screeching with what seemed like nervous excitement that he had managed to get so close.

  Jax protected the top of his head by looking straight at her as he climbed up. Pink paint covered his vision so he used his hands to feel the ladder rungs as he climbed as quickly as he could to the top.

  Harper must have realized the paint on his mask was not a deterrent, as she started aiming for his hands. Jax felt like he was being pelted with little rocks, each stinging a little more than the last, the closer he got to the top.

  “Ow! You are going to get it when I get up there,” he roared.

  She responded with another nervous scream.

  “Surrender now and I will have mercy on you.”

  “Never!” Harper challenged, and then he heard it. The empty click. The hollow sound of air being shot without the sting of a pink paintball to follow.

  She was out of ammo.

  Jax smiled and pulled his mask off, throwing it onto the floor next to her feet. He made it to the top of the stairs and saw her cowering next to an open panel of wall. Jax aimed the paintball gun towards her with one hand, while holding his other hand open. “Hand me the flag. Surrender and I will have mercy on you.”

  Harper set her gun on the ground in an act of surrender.

  “You look good in pink,” she teased just as she jumped out the open partition.

  Jax held his breath, afraid she had just jumped the twenty feet onto the ground, until he saw the metal pole that she had used to slide to the ground safely with the flag. She was slick, this one. He shot off a few rounds, blue paint exploding where it hit her leg as she started running towards the barrels for cover.

  He held the pole and slid down, then ran to catch up to her. He grabbed her waist and pulled her down after him, landing on top of her. He pinned her, caging her in. She laughed uncontrollably, trying to catch her breath.

  “Surrender the flag!” he cried.

  “Never! I will give up my life before I surrender this!” she joked. His body pressed against hers, his grip on her wrists painting her expression with arousal as her eyes darkened.

  He got an idea and left his gun on the ground while he tickled her. She erupted in laughter. “Stop!”

  Jax stopped the tickling, but kept her hands pinned above her head. “You have something you want to say?”

  “Okay, okay, it’s yours. I give up.”

  He smiled triumphantly and stood, putting the flag and gun in one hand while helping Harper to her feet with his other.

  They walked out the exit where Todd was waiting.

 
“You gave him one hell of a time. Have you played before? You were a good shot,” Todd said to Harper.

  “I was on a paintball league in college.”

  Jax’s mouth fell open. “Seriously?”

  She looked at him, smiling as if she had won. “See? There is a lot about me you don’t know, Jax.”

  “Why are you so happy after losing?” he asked.

  “Because you are bright pink, and I only got shot once. I think we both know who the real winner is.” She winked.

  Jax looked at his body, seeing that he was in fact covered in pink paint. He looked over to see one spot of blue on her leg. He might have won the game, but he’d sure lost the fight.

  Todd laughed. “With that back shot, she owned you before you’d even stepped onto the field.”

  And Jax knew he was right; Harper owned him—in a hell of a lot more ways than one.

  ***

  The next few days went by fast with meetings, and learning every intricate detail of the business. Harper asked several questions, and felt like she was contributing as well as learning. They had dinner together some nights at the hotel, or at nearby restaurants when they had the energy. She could tell Jax tried to keep from being alone with her as much as possible. And she understood why.

  She saw it the moment he had given in at the hot tub. Her triumph was marred by the fact that Jax had had a few drinks in him, making him more pliable. He would’ve regretted their beautiful connection, and she knew what it was like to resent someone for taking advantage of your weakness. She wouldn’t do that to him. When he decided to give in to whatever was growing between them, he would have to do it sober.

  In their last meeting on Friday, Jax and Harper were supposed to present their ideas to Todd, the CEO, and the owner in a formal meeting. She thought that updating the signing of wavers into a tablet system like their competitor was a good idea. She mentioned the tube return, saving guests the headache of having to tote the cumbersome inflatables up flights of stairs. Marketing the paintball, and extending it to include an obstacle course offering for both indoor and outdoor fun was her biggest idea. The businessmen seemed to really like those plans, especially Todd.

  Jax suggested extending their hours and offering incentives on lower traffic times to get more of a customer base. Like having special times for families with kids under seven to have free rein of different activities. And marketing packages for wedding parties and clients interested in training for special obstacle races, maybe even hosting their own annual obstacle course, since they were gaining popularity.

  After the meeting was over, Jax and Harper collected the paperwork of the signed deal the owner had approved. She was excited and ready to celebrate.

  “Hey, Miss Parker,” Todd said, as he walked up to her with his megawatt smile.

  She met his blue eyes, “Harper, please.”

  “Harper, can I buy you dinner tonight? Unless you have other plans?” he asked, glancing towards Jaxton, making his intentions clear.

  She looked at Jaxton too, wondering for a second if he was going to speak up. The truth was, she didn’t have a boyfriend and Jax had made it clear he didn’t want to develop anything between them.

  Harper turned to look at Todd. “Dinner sounds great.”

  Jax ground his teeth, annoyance hardening his features.

  “Pick you up in the lobby of your hotel at seven?” Todd asked.

  “See you then.” She smiled.

  Jax walked out the door after shaking hands one more time with the owner and CEO. Harper gathered her things and said goodbye, taking her time to catch up to Jax in the rental car. She could tell he was angry, but he also had no claim on her. That was what he wanted after all.

  He was silent until they got to the hotel. He opened his car door and slammed it shut harder than he needed to. Harper didn’t bother to hurry up to catch him. She had done nothing wrong.

  Taking her time, she caught the next elevator to her room. She stripped naked and turned the shower on.

  A knock at her door interrupted her before she could get into the running hot water. She grabbed her silk bathrobe and secured the tie around her waist. Peeking out the peephole, Jax stood outside seeming like he might blow steam out his ears at any moment. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

  Jax pushed it open farther, and let himself in before slamming it closed. “What the hell are you doing?”

  She shut the door and put her hands on her hips defensively. “Getting ready to go out to dinner.”

  “Do you think it’s a good idea to screw one of your father’s business associates and clients?”

  Harper’s mouth dropped open and she narrowed her eyes at him before she snapped, “How dare you assume that? It’s just dinner with a colleague.”

  He rubbed his clenched jaw. “Why would I assume anything else, when that’s how you were with me after one drink at the masquerade ball. I wonder what a whole dinner will get Todd.” Jax said his name like it was a poisonous bug he wanted to squash.

  “How dare you, Jaxton! Is that what you think of me?” Harper’s eyes stung with unshed tears. She was hurt by his insinuation. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, Jaxton Harris. You have no right. You don’t own me. You didn’t want me, remember? You made that very clear.”

  “Only because my job and other relationships make it impossible. It isn’t jealousy. I have every right to be protective on behalf of your brother and dad. If it was a guy you could really date that would be one thing, but this guy is a tonight kind of guy, not a tomorrow one.”

  Her eyes stung with tears of yet another rejection. She did not want to cry in front of him, proving just how young and naive he thought she was. Harper’s face grew hot, and she knew she needed to get him out of there before she burst into tears. “I am so sick of hearing your excuses, Jaxton. I am exhausted of trying to convince you to see me as anything other than a little sister and daughter. I am also a woman who has her own thoughts, her own opinions, and her own needs. For the record, I have never had a one-night stand; you would have been my first. Apparently, that matters to you, and you have a double standard for yourself. You are one of the men who think it’s okay for you to sleep with whoever you want, but judge women who do the same.”

  She would show him just how much of a woman she was. Harper untied the silk robe she was wearing and let it slip off her shoulders and drop to the floor. She stood completely naked in front of Jax, who she could tell was using every last bit of self-control to restrain himself. She searched his eyes for any sign that he was going to give in to what they both wanted. She saw none. “Well I am a woman, and this is my body to do with whatever I want and whomever I wish!”

  She saw him struggle to keep his eyes on hers, but his strength failed him, and he took in every inch she laid bare before him. She searched his eyes, hoping to find what she wanted so badly. But all she saw was rejection.

  She had literally stood naked in front of the man and he’d refused her. Harper turned and got into the shower, emotionally drained and defeated.

  After she heard him leave her room, she allowed herself to cry silently under the steady stream of water.

  That was the end of that. She was done with Jaxton Harris. She needed to date, and a nice-looking guy was just the thing to kick-start the process. After all, Isa had told her that the best way to get over one guy, was under another.

  She finished showering and started getting ready for her dinner date. Harper picked out a form-fitting black dress and the black, red-heeled shoes that her mother had given her for her birthday last year. She blow-dried her wavy hair, pinning a few strands behind her ear. The dress was strapless and showed off her curves and cleavage in a way that made her feel professional and sexy at the same time.

  Tonight, she was going to let loose and have fun.

  Chapter 14

  Jax had f
elt on top of the world when they’d closed the deal with Active Zone and he couldn’t wait to celebrate with Harper. He had thought that maybe they would go out and find a decent place to go clubbing or something. Before he had gotten the chance to suggest anything, Todd had made a beeline for Harper. When she’d looked at him, almost seeking permission, he had remained silent. What could he have said? Don’t go out with him, but I can’t be what you want either? She deserved better than him, and certainly better than Todd.

  Later at the hotel, Jax had seen the pained look in her eyes as she’d waited for his response, naked and vulnerable. He’d watched the light fade in her eyes as she’d turned to walk into the bathroom, closing the door behind her before she’d got into the shower.

  He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but he didn’t want her to go out with another man. He couldn’t have her, and everything was a jumbled, frantic, tangled mess inside his head. He wanted her so goddamn much, but he couldn’t risk everything he had worked so hard and so long for.

  He remembered vividly how her warm softness had felt against his hardness. The way she’d moaned when his hands had explored every hidden place on her body as his eyes had raked down her delectable bare skin before they’d made their desire-drunken ascent back to hers.

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. He needed to make a decision, and he needed whiskey.

  The sound of Harper’s door closing jolted Jax as he imagined her leaving for her date.

  He was shaking, emotionally conflicted. Rage cinched and burned in his chest. He wanted to punch something—or someone, like Todd. Harper was right; he was jealous. If it wasn’t Simon, or Todd, it would be someone else. His emotional response to Harper was out of control. If he didn’t do something about it soon, he could derail his whole life and all his plans. Avoiding her was obviously not working, so maybe he should give in. Fear tangled with desire. Maybe they could get whatever this was out of their systems and eventually move on without ruining any of his other relationships. The plan was inevitably flawed with delusions of grandeur. Warnings and apprehension gnarled and clawed at his insides. The beast in him was afraid of the illumination under the bright sunlight that was Harper; of what she would force him to reveal.