My Stepbrother the Ultimate Collection (Five Complete Box Sets)

by Cindy Wilder

  I turned around before he could say anything else and hurried back to the elevator.

  “Have a nice night,” I said. “I'm sorry for my behavior. I'm just really tired. I think it's messing with my head.”

  I mumbled the last part just as the door to the elevator closed. It climbed quietly to my floor. I stepped out into the hallway and walked to my apartment. When I opened the door and looked inside, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It was a very nice apartment, nicer than any other I had seen. I remembered how excited I got when I found out the rent was so reasonable. Everything had worked out perfectly when I had first moved there.

  I dropped my keys by the door, locked up, kicked my flip-flops off, grabbed my phone, and crawled into bed. When I pulled the covers up around me, everything felt cold. The warmth I had felt being in Jay's arms was gone. I was back to reality.

  My mind was spinning. I kept thinking about his tattoos, the fact that he owned the building I lived in, and the name of the building. Maybe I was being a little weird about the guy knowing my apartment floor and my name. He probably did know everyone. Jared was an ass, but he was good when it came to business. That probably was a rule. The guy had most likely been working there a long time. That all made sense. I still couldn't fight the feeling that something wasn't right.

  There was no way I wanted to face Jay in the morning. He was supposed to be at the office for a meeting with the team, and I couldn't do it. I needed a day away from him. I needed time to think. When I picked my phone up, I thought about telling Mr. Daniels I couldn't work on Mr. Blackwell's project anymore. My fingers hovered over the letters in the text to my boss. One day, I thought. I'd give myself one day to think everything through. It was a career changing decision after all. I sent a text anyway. It just wasn't the same one.

  Me: I'm not going to be in tomorrow. I'm not feeling myself and am still awake. The team can go through everything in the meeting. I will contact Mr. Blackwell on Wednesday. Please let him know.

  I swear the man was something else. Did he sleep? My phone buzzed immediately.

  Mr. Daniels: Get some rest. You've all been working very hard on this. I know it's not been easy dealing with Jared. He's a great business man. We've worked a lot together in the past. He's just very passionate about his company.

  Me: Thank you for understanding. I'll see you Wednesday.

  I put the phone on the stand next to my bed and closed my eyes. That was it. I'd had my one night with Jay. He really had remembered me. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. He'd known who I was since our first meeting at that restaurant. The meeting he clearly gave me shit in about how serious and capable I was about being a part of the team that would work on his project. Fuck him, I thought. He'd treated me like crap that day. I'd let him take up space in my head all that time. I was done. I'd had my one night with him. It would have been so much better if he hadn't been built like a damn magazine model with insane muscles. It would have been easier if he'd sucked in bed, but he was even more amazing than he had been before. My memory of our time together didn't do justice to the man I had just spent the night with. I'd wanted one night, and I had gotten it. It was time to move on and get Jay out of mind. He was Jared Blackwell the billionaire. It would be all business from then on. That's what I told myself as I drifted off to sleep.

  There was an annoying buzzing next to my head. It wouldn't fucking stop. I swatted my hand around to kill whatever was flying around me, but it just kept going. It would stop for a few seconds before starting up again. I opened my eyes to take the damn thing out for good. When I looked over at the clock, I realized it was noon. My phone lit up, and I dropped my head back down on my pillow. I didn't want to answer it, but I knew my team was in a meeting with Mr. Blackwell. What if it was Mr. Daniels asking a question? I knew I had to answer it. No matter how pissed I was, I couldn't let the team down. They weren't the ones I was upset with. I turned the screen on to see text messages from Mr. Blackwell himself.

  Jared: Where the fuck are you?

  I looked at the time on the text. He sent it at six o'clock in the morning. The next one was sent just a few minutes later.

  Jared: You fucking left.

  He hadn't sent anymore for a few hours. I guess he thought he'd see me at the meeting. He probably planned on putting me on the spot and to make me look like an ass. Joke was on him. I didn't show up. The rest must have been the ones that woke me up. They had just come through.

  Jared: You're not at work.

  Jared: We had a meeting. The main point of communication for the team isn't here. You're letting the team down.

  I was pissed when I read his last message. Was he really trying to pull that shit on me? I wanted to ignore his messages, but I couldn't do it. He was making me so mad.

  Me: I learn from the best.

  There, I thought. Take that you asshole.

  Jared: What the hell is that supposed to mean?

  I felt bad for the team at work. He was standing in front of them. I was sure of it. My texts most likely didn't help his mood any. It seemed to already suck as it was.

  Me: Think about it for a minute. You're smart. You'll figure it out.

  I knew it was going to piss him off, and I wasn't in the mood for his shit.

  Me: I'm sure Mr. Daniel's let you know that I wouldn't be in today. I told him I'd talk to you tomorrow. I'm taking a sick day. I'll be available in the morning. I have some decisions to make and some things to take care of today. Have a great day, Mr. Blackwell.

  Jared: What decisions? What do you have to take care of?

  Me: Don't be rude and text while you're in a meeting with my team. You wouldn't let them get away with it. They have all worked their asses off for you. Show them some respect. I'll see you tomorrow. I'll be in at nine. Have a good day.

  Jared: This is not over, Tabby.

  Me: Tabitha, sir. I'll see you at nine. Please wait in the lobby, not in my office.

  I opened a drawer and dropped the phone into it. With a huge smile on my face, I went to take a shower. It was time to be the confident, accomplished woman I told him and my parents I would be. I didn't care how bad I felt, I needed to put on a happy face.

  After my shower, I grabbed something small to eat. I threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and quickly got ready for the day. The more I thought about him owning the apartment building, the more questions I had about things. It was a huge building, so there was a chance he didn't even know I lived there. The man owned everything. I mean it. He really did.

  I headed down to the club he owned. One drink would help, I told myself. It was quiet and calm compared to the feel of it at night. There was a different guy behind the bar. I'm not sure why I thought TJ would be there, but I did. The guy that was there was very nice looking. I wasn't about to complain. One drink and I was going to be on my way. Jared was still in the meeting, so I knew there was no chance of running into him for a bit. I ordered, and the guy gave me my drink. Just as I was finishing, TJ walked out from the back. He walked over with a smile on his face.

  “If it isn't Tabitha,” he said. “I've not seen you in here in the middle of the day before. Shouldn't you be working or something?”

  “I should,” I said. “I'm ditching work for the day. I've got some things to think about.”

  “Like what?” he asked.

  “I have this career changing decision to make. It's personal as well. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I've worked my ass off to show a few people I could make something of my life. I'm working with this asshole right now. He could make or break my career. I'm thinking about walking away from it. If I do, he'll crush me. If I don't, he has to potential to crush me in a whole different way.”

  “Wow,” he said. “That can't be an easy decision.”

  The apartment came into my mind again. I had to figure things out. I was sure it was all me being paranoid. Even though I had worked so hard at school and at my job, I still doubted myself. I told myself it was
because my parents didn't believe in me. For years I beat myself up about the fact that Jay even doubted me. I thought maybe that was part of the reason he left. Maybe he thought he deserved better. Seeing all the pictures of the women he spent his time with made me realize I was right. They were all beautiful and much better than me.

  “Can I ask you something?” I asked.

  “Sure,” he said. “Then I have to get to work. My shift starts in five minutes.”

  “Do you live in an apartment or a house?” I asked.

  “I live in an apartment up the street,” he said. “Why?”

  “Do you mind me asking what your rent is?” I asked. “I'm trying to prove to myself that I'm being unreasonable about something.”

  When he told me his rent, my eyes widened and my mouth dropped open.

  “Are you in the damn penthouse or something?” I asked. “My rent's only half of that. I can't imagine what your place looks like.”

  “Are you trying to get me to take you to my apartment?” he asked with a smile. “If so, that's a lame way of asking.”

  “No,” I said. “That's not it at all.”

  I knew my face was probably bright red. TJ let out a laugh that shook his entire body. The man was sexy.

  “I'm just messing with you,” he said. “I better get to work.”

  Then I thought about things. Something wasn't adding up. I felt like a complete freak with what I was about to do. It wasn't like I was an investigator or anything. I wasn't so special that everyone was tiptoeing around me. One call was all I needed to set my mind at ease. I'd prove to myself that there was nothing shady going on. I called out to TJ as he walked away.

  “You have your cell with you?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he answered.

  “Can I use it for a second? I forgot mine and need to call work for a minute,” I said.

  He reached into his back pocket and then handed me his phone.

  “Don't go calling crazy ex boyfriends or anything,” he said. “I don't have time to deal with that shit.”

  I laughed and shook my head at him. Then I quickly looked up the number for the office of Rose Garden Apartments. It was ridiculous. I knew it was. Nobody had to tell me. It was the only way to put my mind at ease. If there was something shady, I knew they would know my name. I had to use a different phone. I'd make the call and be done.

  When the phone rang, a nervous feeling ran through my stomach. The woman answered and I was very professional about it all. I gave a fake name and said I was looking for an apartment on the fourth or fifth floor. She asked specific questions about what I wanted, and I answered everything with my exact apartment in mind. It was just like the call I had when I had gotten my apartment. She was typing away at the computer. I could hear it through the phone. When she spoke again, I felt sick to my stomach. The amount she told me it would cost each month was double what I was paying. It was the same price TJ said he paid each month. I asked her if she was sure. When I told her I was looking for something cheaper and gave her an amount, she was very polite. I could tell she was trying not to laugh. She let me know there wasn't an apartment in the entire building that would come even close to that price.

  I hung up the phone and handed it back to TJ on the other side of the bar.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “I'm not sure,” I said. “I'll see you later.”

  He smiled and nodded as he shoved his phone back into his pocket. I wasn't sure what to do. What the fuck was going on, I wondered? Everything had changed in one night. Before I thought Jay didn't remember me. Then I found out he had known who I was the moment our eyes met at the restaurant for that meeting. It was the first time he knew who I was. That was what he'd said the night before. On the walk back to my apartment, I played the conversation over in my mind.

  “You remember me?” I asked.

  “I could never forget you,” he said.

  “In the restaurant, that first meeting, did you know?” I asked.

  “I knew the second I laid eyes on you,” he said. “That fucker's lucky I didn't break his hand when he touched you.”

  He said he knew the second he laid eyes on me who I was. I guess he didn't say it was the first time he knew. It still didn't explain how the people in his office for the apartment building knew it was me to give a deal too. They wouldn't know that I was going to call.

  When I pulled the door open to the building, there was a different person at the desk. I walked over with a smile plastered on my face.

  “Excuse me,” I said.

  The young man looked up from what he was doing. I hadn't seen him before. Was he new, I wondered? There was no way he would know who I was.

  “Hello,” he said with a smile.

  “Do you know who I am and my apartment number?” I asked.

  “Of course I do,” he said. “You're name is Tabitha Smith.”

  He mumbled my apartment number quietly as someone walked passed us.

  “How do you know that?” I asked. “I've never seen you before.”

  “It's my job,” he answered.

  The door opened and a guy walked in. He lived three apartments down from mine. I looked back at the young guy in front of me.

  “What's his name? What's his apartment number?” I asked.

  The guy in front of me looked nervous. I could see his hand shaking.

  “I can't tell you that,” he said. “That would be against the rules.”

  “Really?” I asked. “I don't think you know his name.”

  “I do,” he said.

  “So, you know that his name is James,” I said. “You know that he lives on the same floor as me.”

  “Of course,” the guy replied.

  “Interesting,” I said.

  “Why is that?” he asked.

  “That's not his name,” I said. “You know specifically who I am. Is that correct?”

  “I really need this job,” he mumbled. “Please don't get me fired.”

  “I won't get you fired as long as you answer a few questions for me,” I said.

  He let out a long breath and nodded.

  “Why do you know exactly who I am? Be honest with me and your job is safe.”

  “Mr. Blackwell hired me directly. He gave me your picture, name, and apartment number. I am supposed to help you with anything you need, but only if you ask for it. I am to treat you better than any other person that lives here. I don't know anything else.”

  “What's your name?” I asked.

  “Jason,” he answered.

  “Do you know Mr. Blackwell?” I asked.

  “Not really,” he said. “He's friends with my father.”

  “He actually has friends,” I said with a laugh. “What's your father's name?”

  “Richard Daniels,” he said.

  I swear I thought I was going to throw up right there. It was like all of my worlds were colliding into one huge mess of a world.

  “Are they good friends?” I asked.

  “I'm not sure,” he said. “I don't live at home. My dad called me and had me go meet Mr. Blackwell when I lost my job. That's all I know. Please don't get me fired. My dad would kill me if I lost my job again.”

  “Your secret is safe with me, Jason,” I said. “I won't say a thing about you to anyone.”

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “It was nice to meet you, Jason,” I said, as I walked over and pushed the button on the elevator.

  When I got to my apartment, I grabbed my phone out of the drawer I had thrown it in. Of course there were missed calls from Jared. I turned my laptop on and started searching for apartments near my job. There were four other buildings. When I called them, the rent was at least double what I was paying. There was nothing even close to what I could afford. What the hell was I going to do? I couldn't live in his building. There was no way. I didn't want special treatment from anyone. It made sense that Jay knew Mr. Daniel's. I had seen them at the club together. That shouldn't have been a
surprise. At least that was okay.

  I shoved my laptop to the side and threw my phone down on the bed. My head hit the pillow, and I fell asleep. It was all too much. He had been out of my life for over four years. There was no way he was going to walk right back in and start running it for me. I'd done just fine alone for that long. I didn't need anyone thinking I needed them. I was doing fine on my own.

  My phone rang, and I jumped. It was him. He wasn't going to let it go. I had to wonder if there was ever anything he didn't get the moment he asked for it. Everyone seemed to be there in a moment's notice for him. He had another thing coming if he expected the same thing from me. I wasn't having it. He could kiss my ass. I didn't care about his money or who he thought he was. I didn't care at all. Not anymore. He was the one that hurt me. It was his turn to have to wait like I did. When a text made the bed vibrate, I decided to read it.

  Jared: This is bullshit. You need to answer your phone right now, Tabby.

  Me: It's Tabitha, sir. I already told you I would meet you tomorrow morning at nine. You must have missed that earlier. Have a good evening.

  Jared: Where are you?

  Me: I'm sure you already know that, sir.

  Jared: What does that mean?

  Me: I'm not an idiot. Please stop treating me like one. Don't you have someone or something you should be doing?

  Jared: I never said you were an idiot. We need to talk.

  Me: No. You gave up your chance to talk over four years ago, Mr. Blackwell. I'm sure you remember that. Maybe you don't. Who knows. I remember it though. I've remembered it every single fucking day since it happened. In case you forgot, I'll refresh your memory. You walked out without a goodbye. You did leave me a new laptop though. I thought that was nice. Now I realize it probably meant nothing to a rich asshole like you. I thought there was something between us. I can't believe I was stupid enough to believe you cared about me. I had no idea I was just another screw. It took me four years to see the truth. I've seen all of the pictures of you with all of your beautiful women. Shit! I've even seen it in person. You haven't given a shit about me for four years. Don't start now.