Uncertain if I should read them now or later, Zach makes the decision for me by getting to work on his laptop, paying me no mind.Okay, then.For the most part I’m able to follow along although I’ll never understand why lawyers can’t use plain language.
“I don’t have any changes.”I sign the papers and hand them to him.
He slips the documents into a file folder before turning his attention to me.“There’s one more thing.”A grim pall stretches across his features.“We looked into Joel Hummel.”He pauses, letting that tidbit sink in, and it isn’t lost on me that he’s able to rattle off my landlord’s name without so much as a glance at his computer or a file.The bane of my existence has landed on Zachary Rothwell’s radar, one very powerful and wealthy man.That can only mean one thing.He’s discovered something concerning.
“And?”Fear and anxiety course through my veins.
“He’s done this before.Harassed another tenant.”
7
Zach
“What do you mean?”She pales hearing Joel Hummel makes it a habit to harass his tenants, and she doesn’t even know the worst of it.
After meeting Paige, I initiated an investigation into her landlord.Tamara, the lawyer I assigned to this, advised against it, stating it would be a waste of time and money.She was wrong.
“He did something similar a few years ago to his tenant at the time.”I spare her the details.Joel Hummel is a sick fuck.“Unfortunately, she didn’t press charges.”
“What do you mean?”She runs a shaky hand through her hair and worries that bottom lip of hers.
I sweep my gaze over her pretty lips and my balls tighten.Fuck.Now is not the time to be thinking with my dick—she’s scared.
“The woman didn’t report his violation.Like you, he came in without consent and she terminated her agreement.She didn’t go to the police or the housing agency or anything like that.”I’ve oversimplified the incident, but I don’t want to worry her any more than she already is.
“If there’s no record, how did you find out about this?”
Pretty and smart.
Even distressed, she’s keeping up and catching all that I’m not saying.I like this woman.She’ll do just fine with the board.Some of them might try to eat her alive, but she can handle them.
“My investigators are good.”
“Was it the same house?”
“No.It wasn’t.Don’t stress about this.The papers will be sent by registered mail tomorrow.”I tap the file folder where she scrawled her signature not too long ago.She nods but isn’t fully convinced of my reassurances.“Now the dress.”I abruptly change the subject, walking over to the mirrored wall.
Unbeknownst to her, a closet is hidden behind the wall and she tracks my movements as I hit a spot twice and a door pops open.I lift out the black garment bag and she walks over to join me.
“Is that…” She points to the designer name, speechless as I nod and hook the bag on the back of the door before unzipping it.
She’s enraptured by the reveal and I never anticipated enjoying this as much as I am.I pull back the garment bag and she gasps at the ruby strapless mermaid gown.
“Oh my.”Her fingers tremble against her mouth and her other hand touches the fabric of the gown.“This is too much.I can’t accept it.”
Her eyes glisten with a watery sheen.I’ve given gowns, jewelry, hell I’ve even gifted a car once, to other women and none of them reacted like Paige.And in turn, none of it was as thrilling for me as the look on her face.
Awestruck.
“Stop right there.This is a gift for my…” I stall on what to say next.
Girlfriend is too immature of a word and not accurate, even if this isn’t real.And significant other or partner suggests something weightier and she might read too much into it.And lovers?We aren’t nor will we be.Yet the thought of her naked beneath me makes my dick twitch.It’s purely physical and not hard to grasp—well, it’s hard, but not difficult to fathom my interest in having sex with Paige.She’s a beautiful woman.
“Business partner.”She smiles stiffly.“It really is beautiful.”There’s a wistful quality to her voice as her eyes wander back to the dress and she adoringly trails her hand down the front of the rich red fabric.“It might not fit me.”
“Trust me, it will.It’s haute couture and custom made.”
We stare at each other and something foreign and noteworthy passes between us just as there is a loud rapping at the door followed by Donovan Wilkes barging into my office.
