“I’m on the manifesto,” he says. “If only you’d checked.”
My hackles rise at his smug tone.
“You always did think you were clever,” I hiss, staring at the man in front of me, my body tingling, as the ache in my chest intensifies.
“There was a time when you liked that,” he says.
“That was a lifetime ago, and before I knew better.”
I cringe inwardly. Everything I thought was true has turned out to be a lie.
“You’ve wasted your time. I’ve nothing to say to you,” I add.
If it wasn’t time-critical for me to be at my destination, I’d have the pilot turn us around. Land at the nearest airport and order him off, but I can’t. Somehow, I have a sneaky suspicion he knows that.
“Well then, it’s a good thing I have plenty to say to you. We do have a project to discuss after all.”
Fuck! I’m going to kill Caleb the next time I see him.
I lock eyes with the man opposite me.
“Fine,” I say, sitting back and crossing my arms over my chest, the plane suddenly becoming very warm.
His open gaze meets mine, and the usual fluttering in my belly begins, as it always does when we’re in the same space.
Jax lowers his chin to his chest and rubs at his eyes. When he lowers his hand, his words surprise me.
“Look, can we start again?” The rich timber of his voice startles me, making me catch my breath.
Our eyes lock, and the air almost crackles at the connection.
I clear my throat, curling my fingernails into my palm, but remain silent.
“I was surprised when Caleb told me you’d agreed to me working on the project.”
I inhale, locking my jaw.
I exhale, unfolding my arms and placing my hands flat on the table.
“Let me make one thing perfectly clear,” I say slowly. “This isallmy brother. He lied to you and then set me up. I never agreed to this, I was coerced.”
Jax’s posture doesn’t change.
“I know.”
I incline my head, my brows furrowing.
“If you knew, I?—”
“Don’t understand?” he fills in. “Caleb admitted, after the event, that he’d been a little free and easy with the truth about your agreement. But he also told me he’s put you in an untenable position with your board and felt bad about it.”
Felt bad, my ass. He’d played us both.
“That’s an understatement,” I say. “If I don’t work with you, the project is likely to be shelved indefinitely. There are certain members of the board who are less than favourable to what I’m trying to do.”
Why am I telling him this?
Because you’re out of options!
