“You’re quiet.”
“I have to go… I have a lot to do.” I stand, gathering my things when Wesley commands I sit.
“What’s wrong? You didn’t want Emerson and me to meet alone, so I thought you’d be happy. More time for you to talk with the girls about your boyfriend back home,” he snaps, insulting me.
This isn’t the time nor the place to have another argument. My head is pounding and on the verge of a migraine with the work that stems from the meeting. Not to mention the emotional game of tennis we watched being played between Wesley and Emerson.
I really want to be alone and call Mama. Speak to her, ease my stress, if only for a few minutes.
“I was put on the spot. I need to go, Wesley.”
“You think I’m stupid?”
“What? No…”
Wesley’s laughter is filled with sarcasm, and his rocking back-and-forth on the chair is starting to irritate me.
“So why don’t I believe your excuse? I don’t have time for games, Milana. Tell me what I did wrong, so I can fix it.”
It’s my turn to laugh, this time unable to hide my annoyance. “Tell you what you did wrong, so you can fix it? Maybe you didn’t do anything wrong. Maybe the problem is me. I said yes to being your girlfriend, and I basically have no damn clue who you are aside from what I’ve read online.” I take a breath, then unleash, “I mean… did you have anything to do with the drowning? What about the old man you hit? Where is he, and why didn’t you serve more time? And that Farrah woman… did you hit her? Who was that the other night who wanted you to fuck her up the ass? God, Wesley… so many questions, and it’s not me to be like this, but I can’t fucking concentrate when I’m around you. Then your cell goes off, and it’s probably women wanting a booty call.” I squeeze my eyebrows together. “God only knows what you do when I’m not around.” I take deep breaths while in mid-panic attack mode. My chest is incredibly tight and unforgiving.
“Shhh… calm down, okay?” He lowers his tone, peeping outside the glass to see if anyone’s walking by. “I can answer all your questions, just not here. If that’s your bottom line if you really want to know everything about who’s sleeping in your bed at night… I will answer your questions.”
“You will?” I ask, maybe too eagerly though relieved as well.
“Yes,” he responds. Though he’s quick to add, “Because then I can ask you questions.”
“Me?”
“I’m not the only mystery, Milana. The only difference is that when I Google Milana Milenov, I get a picture of a girl graduating from Anchorage Business School, and that’s it.”
I smile, finding him kinda cute knowing he Googled me. I finally manage to look him in the eye and allow my body to feel him over me. This force is powerful, everything I felt before this a distant memory.
“Dinner, my place at seven sharp,” he demands with a smirk.
“Deal… but I have a ton of work to do so I can’t stay.”
“No deal. You’re staying over. If you have to go to New York next week, I want you every moment I can have you.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Rich.”
He grins, sexily playing with his jaw. “About that, call me Mr. Rich one more time, and I’ll bend you over right here, right now, and fuck you till you have no choice but to scream Mr. Rich.”
He knows exactly how to get to me.
Wearing a devious grin on his handsome face, he exits the room leaving me alone to think about his powerful proposition.
He did it, again.
Made me go from hating him to wanting him in one single heartbeat.
Inside my office, I fire up my laptop and take a deep breath. My mind’s an unorganized mess, and with everything going on, I need to get into shape and start prioritizing.
So, I spend the next hour syncing my diary with Emerson’s, making calls and confirming all our travel arrangements. Charlie’s already emailed both of us a ton of legal documents that make sense given my limited experience, but nevertheless, this is going to be a long-winded battle.
By the time I peel myself away from my inbox, it’s just after five, and the office is surprisingly vacant. Today felt like the longest day of my life and with my laptop shut down and bag packed, I balance everything in my hands to only have my cell scare the shit out of me as it rings.
My heart races, and without thinking, I answer.