“Give us a minute. Fran, could you pause the presentation for five minutes? This is a misunderstanding I will resolve, and then we’ll get back to the numbers.”
Fran, ever the professional, takes me at my word. I like it when people obey me without question, and everyone immediately packs up their things and leaves.
In less than a minute, the room is empty.
The door to the conference room closes, and I eye the drop-dead gorgeous redhead for a second time.
Christ, what an intro.
“Alright,” I say coldly, leaning further back in my chair. “You’ve got my attention, Miss…”
“Jenson. Jax Jenson.”
“What’s your full name? There’s no way your mother christened you ‘Jax’.” I ask, and she raises an eyebrow before frowning at me. She didn’t like that.
“My mother didn’t christen me at all. It’s Jacqueline Jenson,” she mutters, “but no one calls me that.”
“Alright,Jacqueline, considering that you just fucked up an important meeting, I will call you whatever the hell I want. Now, explain why I shouldn’t have you tossed out on that perfect little ass of yours and sue Sterling House for breach of contract?”
Chapter 7
Jax
Ialready knew I was in over my head, but this is something else.
I expected fireworks, or even to be tackled by a security guard, not this mountain of a man looking at me like I’m there to follow his orders.
And how is he better looking in person than he is in a professional headshot?
I keep my hands on my hips so he can’t see how badly they’re shaking. What the hell was I thinking? I feel like the walls are closing in around me.
His workplace is nothing like I expected, either. I thought it would be dark and gloomy like the nightclubs he runs, but this is an executive suite. There’s a slide deck on the TV screen, and he’s sitting there in an expensive suit like he owns the world.
I fight the urge to turn around and walk out.What is with that stare?I swear I’ve never seen eyes quite like his before. They are insanely blue, like a tropical lagoon or a sapphire.
And why am I unable to look away from him?
“Did you hear me?” he asks. His voice is low and gruff, and there is no discernible expression on his face. In my mind’s eye, I can see myself standing before him like a deer in theheadlights, looking just as terrified as I feel, trying to match his overwhelming dominance.
“Yes, I heard you,” I say, standing up a little straighter. “You haven’t even seen my ass yet, so you can’t possibly know that it’s perfect.”
He doesn’t smile. His eyebrow twitching is the only outward sign that he’s even heard me.
“You’re from Sterling House?” he asks.
“I am.”
“Then I ask again, why should I not sue them for breach of contract? I specifically asked them to be discreet, and you’ve just marched in here like a hooker demanding?—”
“Excuse me?” I growl, taking a step toward him. “If I’m ahooker,I’m the best hooker you’ve ever seen, asshole. And if your security is so lax that I can just walk in here without an appointment, that’s your problem, not mine.”
There’s something in his eyes that shimmers now, like a beast awakening in the dark. He sits forward, buttoning up his jacket as he rises from his chair.
“Is that right?” he asks. “You’ve got a mouth on you; I’ll give you that. Not only has Pippa sent someone presumptuous and rude, but you’re also the opposite of what I asked for.”
“Oh yeah?” I say, seething at the audacity. “Well, what did you ask for?”
“You don’t know?” he murmurs and reaches into his pocket. “I think I’ll have a little chat with Pippa before we move any further with this discussion.”
