“Making something clear to you. I want your full attention for it.”
I waved at the doors. “That’s a little dramatic.”
“You told me before you don’t belong to anyone, right?” He raised an eyebrow.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Right.”
“Then I never want to hear another man try to metaphorically piss all over you in front of me again.”
“You’re being ridiculous. You want me to call him out?” I widened my eyes when he didn’t immediately shoot down the idea. “You know how painful that would be for everyone?”
“You and making everyone feel at ease,” he mumbled under his breath before crowding me up against the wall and breathing into my ear. “I don’t care whether it makes my whole office uncomfortable, Victory. I don’t enjoy hearing a man imply that about you. I’m not proud to say it just about nearly killed me to not fire him on the spot. If you’re worried about making someone feel uncomfortable, know that I’m twisted up inside listening to him being an asshole.”
“Phantom,” I smoothed his chest, trying to calm him. I saw his anger for what it was. He didn’t like the disrespect Steve put out there. I didn’t either. “I made it pretty clear that no watch was left at my place. I’m done with him and he knows it. And for the record, I never slept with him. There’s nothing left for him to say. So, he won’t do it again.”
“No. He won’t. Because I’m coming to realize if you belong to anyone other than yourself, it’s me. You better realize it fast too. I will remove anyone from our lives who claims otherwise.”
I brushed my fingers over his jawline, soothing away the tension and anger. “Okay, Phantom.”
He leaned toward the buttons and swiped his FOB. Then, instead of pressing the lobby, he pressed the underground parking button. He stepped away from me and cleared his throat. “I’m driving. My vehicle’s in the garage.”
I folded my hands together, not sure where we stood but sure it wasn’t on the same ground we’d stood before. “Don’t you have work to attend to?”
He pointedly slid his phone from his pant pocket and turned it off. “You’ve got my full attention.”
“Oh.” I leaned against the elevator railing, and my hands gripped it like it would help stabilize my spiraling feelings. “I don’t need it. I could work too.”
“You also mentioned you’re concerned people won't respect you in the office if we’re in a relationship.”
Even with the admission he’d just made, I still felt that way. “I just think that we aren’t sure this relationship will work out. We aren’t even sure if this is a relationship. So, I don’t think everyone needs to know about it. And by everyone, I sort of mean no one. No one needs to know.”
He rubbed the shadow of stubble on his chin. “Interesting approach, Pix. What do you expect me to tell my family then?”
“Will they ask?”
He chuckled. “Someone will ask, woman. You think I bring all the women I sleep with home for Thanksgiving?”
I cleared my throat and the frustration at hearing about the other women he slept with away. Watching the doors, I said, “I’m Brey’s friend. We’ll just go with that.” The elevator doors opened, and he lifted his chin as he held the doors open for me. The blue in his eyes was deep, dark, and masked any emotion he felt toward my words.
My heart galloped faster than a horse chasing a damn dream. And maybe I was chasing one too. But Jett didn’t dismiss my idea. He didn’t want to claim me as his.
The moment in my apartment a few days ago had been a fluke and his anger in this elevator was just jealousy. Even so, there was a whisper of hope in the back of my mind that wished it could be real.
“I’m this way.” He turned left, and we walked down the row of luxury cars on sleek cement.
“I’ve never been down here.”
“It’s pretty absurd in Chicago. Having a car is inefficient.”
“And yet you do,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
He pressed a button on his keychain and a black F-150 truck chirped in front of us. The ground clearance was ridiculous and the wheels were so big, it took up more than one parking slot.
My mouth dropped. “You’re kidding me, right?”
“About what?” He rounded to the passenger side and opened my door.
“This is grotesquely extravagant.” I scrunched my nose and walked over, ready to get in. “Why would you have this big ass truck in the middle of Chicago where you can’t even fit into a damn parking spot?”