CHAPTER 45
JORDAN
I PUSHED AWAY MY WORK AND STOOD UP FOR THE UPTEENTH TIME.
I dug my hands into my hair as I paced the full length of my study and scrubbed my hands over my face roughly. What the fuck was wrong with me? I’d never had a problem concentrating.
There’d been a time when all I could do was focus on work. Now it seemed like I could do anything but. The figures swam in my vision and I couldn’t get them to stay steady no matter how hard I tried. My mind kept wandering back to the only thing it seemed I had no problem focusing on. Or should I say, the only person?
Melanie. I hated what she did to me. I hated the loss of control I almost always experienced around her. I hated the strong wave of jealousy and possessiveness that almost made me double over when she agreed to go on a date when just minutes ago she’d looked like she was about to kiss me. I hated the fact that I’d wanted that kiss, craved it even.
I hated that it had soured my mood when she didn’t. I hated that I’d walked out in anger., Most of all I hated how I couldn’t get her out of my fucking mind. Then she’d come down the stairs in that sexy little dress and I could barely restrain the side of me that wanted to yank her towards me and cover her up so no one else but me would set their sights on those curves and that perky butt.
1 felt drawn to her like a moth to a flame, like Icarus flying too close to the sun, and I knew she’d burn me badly if I continued like this. We still didn’t know everything there was to know about her, I was sure of it.
Blaine had brushed me off when I mentioned it tonight, saying we all had our secrets and therefore shouldn’t judge her for keeping hers. Which was true, but at the same time, other than it being my business to know everything about my employees, I was already too deep in, too addicted to stop now.
I needed to solve the puzzle that was Melanie. It was the only way I could think of to break out of this spell, this hold she’d had on me from day one. I should’ve suspected something was up when Blaine had asked me for Melanie’s size, but I’d been too caught up in work.
He’d picked the perfect time.
Maybe I could’ve given him the wrong size, or said I didn’t know so he’d be delayed for some time.
And here I was, looking for petty ways to sabotage my best friend. I let out a long sigh and stopped pacing. Briefly, I wondered what they were up to now.
Dinner, if I knew Blaine- which I did- then a romantic walk down to their next destination, which would probably involve sugar high and lots of alcohol.
I sat down at my desk again, pushing away the image of Melanie in that red dress and concentrating. I had a ton of paperwork that I hadn’t been able to get to, which was why I was working from home. The majority of those seemed to be complaints from my other companies across the world.
At least Melanie had done a good job sorting them out- even though at first she’d insisted that England started with an I and Australia with an O- as soon as she’d gotten back from her leave. Dios, it had been such a relief getting rid of Marco.
I’ll admit the boy was talented, but there was this creepy way he stared at my lips when I was talking that made me wonder if Blaine was right about him wanting to… I couldn’t even complete the thought.
Besides, I’d missed her. She handled her job in a very unethical way, but she always got it done. And she always managed to find loopholes in every one of my rules, and always with that slightly mocking smile. I’d had more cause to smile in the last two months than I’ve had in two years.
Deciding there was no way I could focus on work with all the swirling thoughts in my head, I shut down my system and left the study, locking it behind me. There was no sign of Lauren and Imelda and I was grateful for that. There was a time I cared for her, but that time was long past. Despite her peaches and cream outlook, she had a mean streak.
I wouldn’t have cared about the mean- hell, I’ve got plenty of it
myself I could almost swear she had psychopathic tendencies. The last thing I needed was a crazy, and not in a good way, lady. I snagged one of the cupcakes and opted to take a walk around the grounds of my property.
I haven’t done that in a while, or had the time to attend to any domestic needs so the walk would help me see what needed to be fixed, upgraded or repaired while hopefully also clearing my head.
Setting
CHAPTER 43
The wind had a bite to it, I noted as I stepped out. Melanie was going to be cold in that dress. I hoped Blaine gave her his jaket. I needed to stop. I ate the cupcake as I started my walk around the perimeter and made my first mental note to give the gardener a raise.
The hedges were pleasantly trimmed and the flowers were bursting with color. I stopped to look at a particularly beautiful rose bush in bloom and fingered one of the petals.
Lauren liked roses. I should pick some for her and place it in the kitchen like I used to. There were so many things I’ve neglected lately due to the constant drama that’s been happening and it was high time I got back to them.
After hunting up a pair of garden scissors, I crouched down in the light of the lampposts and started to snip rose after rose at the stems, carefully to avoid the thorns.
Despite my care I was still pricked once or twice but I paid it no heed. When I was done, I gathered them up and walked back into the house, heading straight to the kitchen.
I set them next to the sink and got to work removing thorn after thorn then rinsing them off. I found a vase and had just filled it halfway with water when my phone rang.
I frowned at the unknown number. Only a handful of people had my private contact and all of theirs were saved up. Nevertheless, I answered the call “Yes?”
“Mr. Alonso?” the voice was mechanical and distorted.
“Speaking” I was instantly on guard.
There was a laugh, “You think you’re so untouchable, but I’ve got you exactly where I want you“.
Another threat call; they were never–ending. I was bored already. Idly I checked the time and wondered what Blaine and Melanie were doing. It was getting late.
“I see. I suppose you want something then I said.
“Actually, I have some things you would want. Or rather, some people“.
My back went up, “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I currently have the pleasure of the company of Blaine Daniels and Melanie Hayes, and if you want them back you have to listen very carefully.”
My blood ran hot as I gripped the edge of the sink. Blaine. Melanie “What do you want?”
“Are you willing to listen?”
Having no other choice, I listened.
