Raquel is at her desk, fingers flying across the keyboard, and from here it looks like she’s copying and pasting files into emails, sending them on quicker than I can even emotionally process what’s happening.
“What the fuck?" Hope dashes over to the desk and grabs Raquel, yanking her backward and away from the desk. But the bitch isn’t going down without a fight. She turns and tackles Hope, and together, they go down in a tangle of arms and legs and squeals as hair is pulled and slaps are exchanged.
While she's distracted, I head over to her desk to see if I can work out what she was doing, and sure enough, the sent emails contain files on all the properties that Neighpalm Clubs and Resorts is looking at for future investment.
Right then, three things happen. Their yelling gets louder, and Jaxon’s door flies open before he storms out then stops, stunned and slack-jawed. At the same time, the elevator opens, and two security guards step out. Also momentarily frozen, they leap quickly into action when Jaxon shouts, “What the hell is going on?”
The burly guards separate the two women who are still spitting insults at each other. Neither of them has come out unscathed. Hope has a red handprint across her cheek, her hair is askew, and her top three buttons are ripped off. Raquel is similarly disheveled and has lipstick smeared across her face while her shirt is missing an entire sleeve. Bright red drops of blood drip from her nose, splattering on the pristine white of the ruined blouse. Hope must have gotten a solid punch in, so I’d call that a win.Definitely bestie material. I can’t fault Holden’s taste in friends; I need a girl like this on my side.I’m also hit with another spike of worry and maybe even the tiniest bit of fear at the idea of using any info Hope gives me to manipulate the siblings. If this is a taste of how fiercely she’ll defend them, or at least their businesses, the risk might not be worth the reward.
“Raquel was emailing company intel to someone,” Hope tells Jaxon, her breath wheezing out as she lowers herself into Raquel’s vacated office chair, the security guard no longer restraining her.
The other woman struggles against her restraints but doesn't deny the accusations, sneering at Jaxon instead. “I said you would regret this.”
Jaxon shakes his head, much less fazed than I would be. “Well, you must have really wanted those assault charges, and now we’re going to add corporate sabotage to them too.” Her face pales as she realizes how much trouble she’s in now.
Jaxon turns to the unoccupied guard. “Please call the police and advise them of the situation. Then secure Miss Wells until they arrive and store her computer somewhere for evidence. Let me know when they arrive, and I’ll come and speak to them.”
The guards take away a still screaming Raquel, and Jaxon turns an accusing eye to Hope and me.
“Well, you didn't want a PR nightmare, so I suggest you clean up and get yourself together so you can deal with this mess.” His tone is cold, and there is no warmth in his eyes. Hope hangs her head in shame, but a wave of rage flows up my spine. How dare he speak to her like that when she was trying to save his business! It was his fault in the first place. There he goes again, blaming another woman for his problems.
“How about a ‘thank you, Hope’?” I snarl at him.
She whips her head in my directions and whispers, “Don't,” but I ignore her.
“If it wasn't for her, you would’ve had no idea that Raquel had done that. You were arrogant enough to send her out here on her own and not supervise her departure, so that’s on you. Nowyoucan do damage control. Work out who she sent it to and how to fix it.” By now, I’ve stepped up into his personal space, and that seductively spicy scent of his brings back vivid enough memories that my brain threatens to misfire, but I don't back down. I’m tapping my pointed finger against his chest in anger now.
“You don't get to talk to her like that and treat her like she’s at fault. If anything, this is all on you, buddy, for not being able to keep it in your pants. It isnotokay for you to project your anger at one specific woman onto Hope, or anyone else for that matter.” Okay, so maybe I didn’t have to throw that last part in, but that makes it no less true.
I’m so close to him now I can feel his breath on my face, and if I just leaned in a little more, I could mash my mouth against his. My body almost does move, involuntarily craving the feel of his lips against mine once more. My nipples are rock hard inside my bra as they lightly brush against his chest, and I pray he doesn't notice. His nostrils flare as his eyes sparkle with a dangerous light, and instead of taking a step back, he looks about to move closer. But another noise from Hope has me pulling away. Shaking myself out of my anger-induced lusty fog, I grab her gently by the arm and walk her toward the elevators.
“Where do you think you’re going?” the growly voice asks from behind us.
“I’m going to find Nana, and we’re going to help Hope clean up, and then she’s going home for the rest of the day. Delegate this shit to someone else in her department.Asshole.”That last word was muttered under my breath, but I guess not quietly enough. Hope snorts slightly but doesn't say a word, and neither does said asshole behind me. He must realize that it wouldn't be safe to push me right now. As we step into the elevator and turn to face him, I can see in his eyes that this confrontation isn’t over; it's only been delayed. But I’m not scared.Bring it, asshole.
Chapter Sixteen
Jaxon
As the elevator door closes, I look around at the aftermath of the altercation. Sheets of paper are strewn across the room, and the computer is on the floor, the screen blank and cracked. One of them must have knocked it off the desk during the tussle. I can’t believe she did this, risking everything just for some petty revenge. Now she’s going to find herself with a whole heap of legal worries. God, why didn’t I listen to Dad and stay away from an office relationship?Because Harlow’s right, and you’re an asshole who creates your own problems,a voice in my head jeers. Shaking my head, I pull my cell out of my pocket and call the IT department.
“It’s Jaxon. Can you send someone up here? I need a computer and some specific emails looked at to see if we can determine where they went. We’ve had a security breach.” Once I have assurances that someone will be here right away, I hang up and shove my phone back in my pocket, my hands running through my hair as I blow out a deep breath.
Inhaling again in an attempt to settle my mind, I catch the lingering scent of Harlow, and my cock twitches inside my pants. My anger drains away as I remember the words she threw at me. Jesus, she’s right. I fucked up. Turning on my heel, I stalk back to my office, picking up the phone and dialing HR.
“It’s Jaxon. I need a new PA, preferably someone older and married. Or a man.”
The person on the other end snorts but assures me they’ll get right on it.Wait until Jacinta hears about this one. It’s probably a good thing that Hope already got a few swings in.Smashing the phone back into its cradle, I lean back in my chair, swinging it to face out the window and instantly regretting it. Across from me is a giant image of a half-naked Harlow rolling around on a bed with Alex and some other guy. Instantly, my anger rises again, and I clench my jaw, not allowing the growl that I feel inside to come out.
Why do I do these things to myself? I let women sink their hooks into me, and it’s always the ones who want nothing more than my name, my money, my company. They don’t wantme, not really. If I’m being completely honest with myself, Harlow was one of the first women who ignited a spark in me. Sure, women think I’m attractive, but it’s been so long since that first impression wasn’t “helped” by my identity. When I met Harlow, she had no idea who I was. I think I have to admit that I believe that now. She could have been mine, all mine, and we could have been on our way to building something good, yet I let my sister get into my mind.
It’s all fucked up, and I just keep making it worse. I can’t stop these knee-jerk reactions that have been ingrained in my mind, to pull back and become cold the second I feel like someone might be more interested in what I can get them than who I am. Maybe I’m just doomed to be stuck in this endless loop of suspicion and scorned women, my sister and Nana as my only consistent female companions.Fuck, that’s depressing.
My eyes scan the golden skin covered in colorful tattoos. The sexy full sleeve that drew my attention in the first place as well as the others scattered across her body are captivating. But the one that has me intrigued is just in the crease of her underwear. I can see a cute little penguin peeking out and curse my behavior because I could have been tracing that penguin with my tongue. Instead, I’m sitting here with a hard dick, and Harlow is angry at me once again. How am I going to make this better?
Picking up the phone again, I press the button for Kai’s cell.
“Hey, bro, what’s up?” Kai’s permanently cheerful voice comes through the speaker loud and clear. I roll my eyes at his sunny disposition, but a smile forms on my lips. That’s one thing I’ve always begrudgingly appreciated about Kai; he never fails to make a bad day better.
