“You better try. Or you will end up losing more than you think you have.”
I bit my lip and handed our waitress some cash as she walked up. When Brey tried to add more money, I stopped her. “You got last lunch.” Then I turned to the waitress. “Keep the change.”
We headed back to Stonewood Tower, and I slid into my chair, prepared to make a few calls for the next hour.
My desktop pinged just as I scooted my chair forward.
Jett: Ready to head out?
Me: It’s pretty early. I was going to make a few more calls to prepare for the holiday weekend.
Jett: They can wait. Everyone’s checked out anyway.
Me: That go for the whole office?
Jett: Leave it to you to try get everyone an extra half day off.
Me: People want to give thanks for their families and enjoy their company now. Like you said, everyone’s already checked out.
I waited for a response but didn’t get one. I looked up to the man’s office but like the Phantom he was, the windows were dimmed.
I opened an e-mail and pulled my colorful ponytail over my shoulder. I worked the strands into a braid as I thought over a response to the e-mail Bob had sent me. We needed to smooth the waters with the FDA if we wanted Levvetor to gain any traction but I didn’t know how to do that when they were blatantly choosing to back a different company.
Gloria’s voice sounded over the office’s built-in speakers. “On behalf of Stonewood Enterprises, I’d like to thank you all for your hard work this month. We’ve done some outstanding work. To avoid holiday traffic and spend as much time with our families as possible, please take the rest of the day off and enjoy the long weekend. Again, thank you.”
“Are you ready?” His deep voice rumbled low from behind me.
I jumped. “Jesus, Jett.” I glanced across my desk to see Steve scrutinizing me. “I’m sorry. Mr. Stonewood. You scared me.”
“Mr. Stone—” His eyes flicked to Steve’s desk, then his smile curved across his face, slow and calculating. “You’re referring to me as Mr. Stonewood now, Victory?”
I shot up from my chair, alarm bells silently ringing from his look. We needed to exit the building now before people found out I was sleeping with the boss. People, yes, but more specifically, Steve.
“Of course.” I grabbed my bag and motioned toward the elevator. “You were going to give me a ride to see Brey and Jax over the holiday, right?”
“Was I?” Jett asked, walking much slower than I wanted him to. “I was under the impression I was giving you a ride to my family’s house so you could meet them.”
I laughed, but it came out high and strained. I turned to Steve. “Tell your family I said hi and happy Thanksgiving.”
“Uh, yeah. Sure,” he replied, studying me as if I’d grown horns. Then, a smile so slimy slid across his face as I saw the pieces of the puzzle fall into place for him. “Vick, did I mention I might have left my watch at your place on Halloween night?”
I saw his comment for what it was, a blatant pissing contest, one where he got to insinuate that he’d placed a flag down on me before a Stonewood.
Both Jett and I tensed, my muscles coiled to attack him for such an asinine move. “No, you didn’t mention it because that was about a month ago and I can assure you that you didn’t leave it there. Goodbye, Stevie.”
Thankfully, Jett followed me as I stomped to the elevator and didn’t say a word as we stepped in. I pressed the lobby button repeatedly until the doors closed. As soon as they did, I turned on him. “Are you trying to make it everyone’s business that I’m sleeping with you?”
“I don’t really care one way or the other,” he answered, completely unfazed by the annoyance in my voice.
“Well, I do.” I poked at his large shoulder. “You can’t just start acting like we’re intimate. People are already suspicious.”
“Suspicious? Or territorial? Seems Stevie wants to make it known that he slept with you.”
“Oh, please. Who cares if he’s doing that? It’s not like he actually wants to be with me. It’s only about impressing you or being the bigger man. If people think we’re dating,that’sa larger issue. The team is starting to trust me, and I want their trust. I like the career I’ve started here. I have more respect than I’ve ever had anywhere else.”
Jett moved forward and swiped his FOB before pressing a red button. The elevator slowed to a stop.
“What are you doing?” I pushed the lobby floor button again but the elevator didn’t move.