Jackie turned to see Antonio leaning against the doorframe, all 6’4, 250 pounds of him. Antonio was a massive, imposing presence, and not just because of his size. He had that way about him. He was having that effect on Jackie now.
“I swear you keep popping up like a zit,” sighed Jackie. “What do you want?”
Antonio eased into the room and closed the door. Jackie felt like a rabbit trapped in a cage. “You ran out the boardroom before I could talk to you,” he said.
“Were you ever going to tell me that you were coming to Atlanta? That Elite and AMW would be merging? That we would be working for the same firm?”
“I swear, Miles, you can never let me get a word in edgewise.” Antonio ran a hand down his face. “I tried to tell you at your cookout, but instead of having an adult conversation, you threw beans at me. By the way, that’ll be sixty-seven dollars for the dry cleaning.”
“Put it on my tab,” Jackie said dryly. She leaned against the edge of her desk. “This isn’t going to work. I can’t work here with you. Either you go or…nah, you gotta go!”
Antonio loosened the last button of his suit jacket. The damned suit looked sewnontohim. He had impeccable taste in clothing, just like her. “Jackie, it’s not like I’m going to be your boss. I’ll be your teammate. Think about all the deals we could close together. It could be fun.”
Jackie rolled her eyes. “Or all the deals you’re going to steal from me.”
“Jesus, Jackie! How many times do I have to explain that I’m not trying to steal anyone or anything from you? I’m just trying to make the merger go as smoothly as possible. That’s it.”
“If you say so,” Jackie retorted. “Just make sure that’s all it is.”
“Look,” Antonio pressed his hand against his broad chest. “I promise I’m going to stay in my lane.”
“You have a tendency to swerve into mine.” Jackie wasn’t going to be charmed easily by Antonio’s promises. Or the way those well-manicured fingers flexed against his chest. Nope. Not at all. “I haven’t forgotten the shit you pulled with PJ.”
“Listen, Jackie—” Antonio rubbed the back of his neck.
“There’s no excuse for being a backstabbing bastard. But why should I expect anything different from you?”
“Yo, what does that even mean?”
Jackie hesitated. Maybe she should finally let him have it for what he did ten years ago. Instead, she deflected. “Maybe I’ll just take my clients and go. Start my own firm.”
“You could do that,” Antonio chuckled. “So, you’re going to pull a Jerry McGuire?”
“Think I can’t make it on my own?”
“I’m not saying you couldn’t. It would just be tough. You know the Elite name carries a lot of weight, and it’ll be even stronger with the AMW merger.”
Jackie frowned. She refused to admit that she’d had those same thoughts. “And the name Jackie Miles carries a lot of weight too.”
“You and I can take this firm to the next level, Lucky.”
Jackie pointed a finger at him. “Don’t call me that.”
Antonio smirked, showing off that deep dimple, and Jackie despised the way it made her melt. A fine Black man with dimples was just unfair.
“Then what should I call you?” he asked. “Ms. Miles? Jackie? Jacqueline…”
The way Antonio said her full name in that deep baritone made her nipples hard. Her body stiffened as Antonio came close to her, closing the space between them. Her throat felt like sandpaper. “Just…not that.”
“But Lucky fits you so well.” Antonio put a finger under Jackie’s chin, forcing her to look into his smoldering brown eyes. “C’mon Lucky, we work well together, remember?”
Jackie felt heat tickling the nape of her neck. She was sure the air was on full blast in the building, but she could feel herself starting to sweat. “Ant, I…”
Just then, the door of her office flew open. Jackie and Antonio stepped back as Calvin entered unannounced.
“Ms. Miles, there’s been a change to your lunch appointment and…oh…should I reschedule?” Calvin looked between Jackie and Antonio, one well-plucked brow raised.
“Do you want to get fired today, Chuck?” Jackie snapped. “You just don’t come into my office unannounced!”
