My words hung in the air, but I didn’t expect an answer because what could they possibly say? That they’d stop working for me? They weren’t stupid enough to give up the kind of money I paid them. Besides, they’d been by my side for many years. And if their loyalty was tested because I was having sex with Sophie, then I didn’t need that kind of energy around me. Even as the thoughts formed, I feared they’d come to fruition. I could play a hard-ass, but I’d be lost without these guys in my corner, so I prayed they didn’t utter an ultimatum.
“You’re asking for a disaster,” Elton mumbled.
“Let me worry about it,” I replied, gripping my shoulder. “And don’t approach Sophie about any of this. You hear me?”My question was for all of them, but I pointed directly at Trevor, since he was the one who asked her about us before.
None of them definitively answered, but they grumbled before leaving, which was perfect timing because Sophie entered from the opposite door.
She glanced around the room, slowing her steps as she approached, the wrinkling of her forehead displaying her concern.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
I stole a moment before answering. I didn’t want to lie to her, but I also didn’t want to exacerbate a situation that would quickly resolve itself given a bit more time.
“Yeah, it’s fine.” I moved toward her, needing to touch her, but I kept my arms at my sides. She was still in work mode, and I would respect her boundaries. “Can you spend some time on my lower back? It really aches.”
“Sure.” She pointed toward the table “Did any of the guys say anything to you about us?”
“They left right before you came in,” I replied, lying on my front.
“They’re upset, aren’t they?”
“Don’t worry about them. They’ll get over it.”
She withdrew her hands from me and moved back. “Jackson, maybe… maybe we should—”
“Don’t even finish that sentence.” I sat up and reached for her hand. She didn’t pull away. “They’re just concerned I’ll be distracted. But they’re wrong. I’m fine. I’m focused.”
“Are you sure? Because if you need to take a break from us, if you’re reconsidering this,” she said, motioning between us, “I’d understand. I would,” she added, as if trying to convince herself and not me. “Your career should come first, and I don’t want to jeopardize anything.”
I wanted to thank her for thinking of me, but I was slightly offended that she acted as if it wouldn’t affect her in the least if I ended things.
“Please stop worrying. You’re not jeopardizing anything.” I squeezed her hand for reassurance before releasing her.
She quickly nodded, but then she darted her eyes everywhere but at me. I couldn’t shake the feeling something was off. Either she was nervous for some reason, or she wasn’t telling me something.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing.” Her gaze briefly dropped to her feet as her shoulders slumped.
“You’re clearly upset about something. Does it have to do with the guys?”
“No.”
“Is it me?”
Her eyes landed on mine. “No,” she answered convincingly. She remained silent for a moment before adding, “Mitch texted me earlier and told me he’d sign the papers, but only if he could see me first.”
My head twisted vigorously from side to side before a single thought processed. There was no way she could see that man again. I could bet he was either planning to harm her in some way or at the very least manipulate her into doing what he wanted, which was coming back to him. They had history together. How hard would it be for him to convince her they belonged together? I couldn’t risk it. Not for her sake, or for mine. A wave of selfishness pricked every cell in my body as I gently gripped her arms and pulled her into me.
“Listen to me, Sophie. Nothing good will come from you seeing him. Nothing,” I emphasized. “Let your lawyer handle it. Don’t go see him.”
“But he won’t sign the papers unless I meet him.”
“It’s just a tactic, but I think you already know that. He just wants to get you alone to do God only knows what.” I carefully considered my next words, not wanting her to either shut down the conversation or, worse, defend that bastard. “I don’t know much about your relationship with him, but I do know what I saw when he showed up here. And that was that you were scared of him. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re not wrong. But if I don’t give him what he wants, he can drag this out for months, maybe even longer.”
Her response angered me more than I thought it would, instantly reminding me of my mother’s reasoning when it came to my father all those years ago. She’d said it was easier for her to give in than to deal with the consequences.
