“You can look at it anyway you want. I don’t care what it takes for you to move in with me. Bottom line, you’re packing your bags and leaving with me.”
Her eyes rimmed with fresh tears she was desperately trying to hold back. The last thing I wanted to do was terrify her.
But the truth can be a brutal bitch like that.
Six
Adrian
Wanting to give her a bit of reassurance, I stated another fact, “You’re the best person to fill the role of my executive assistant. This is killing two birds with one stone. I need you for six months and I’m willing to pay top dollar for you.” I nodded to the file. “Just look at the contract in there for you.”
When she saw the boldly printed figure, her stare widened. “A million dollars?” She locked stares with me. “You can’t be serious.”
“That’s almost a hundred and seventy thousand dollars a month.”
“So now you’re trying to buy my affection? It won’t change the reality that I hate you, Adrian.”
“Cherry, are you repeating that for my benefit or yours?”
“How do you think I’m going to be able to work for you when I can’t stand you? Let me remind you that nothing has ever worked between us. Why would it now?”
“The past does not affect on our future.”
“Our future? Those are fighting words.”
“I’m not the same man I was back then.”
“A tiger doesn’t change its stripes. Nothing has changed between us. It doesn’t matter how many years pass by. You’re still Cade’s brother and you always will be.”
“Cade has nothing to do with this.”
“He wouldn’t be happy if he knew that you’re propositioning me to live with you.”
“He doesn’t have to know.”
“Oh wow!” she emphasized. “I guess old habits die hard, huh?”
“It has nothing to do with that. He has his own family to worry about. He doesn’t need to—”
“Family?”
“Yeah,” I rasped. “He’s married to Hayley. They have two kids.”
She hid back a smile. “I always loved her for him. How old are his kids?”
“Johnathan is three and…”
She sensed my hesitation. “What?”
“They have a little girl who just turned one.” I paused, allowing my words to sink in before I shared, “You want to know why Cade wouldn’t have a problem with me protecting you?”
She zeroed in on me, hanging on my every word.
“His baby girl’s name is Paige.”
She sucked in a breath, closing her eyes. “Jesus, Adrian. This is all too much.”
“I’m not here to hurt you, Cherry.”
“All you’ve ever done is hurt me.”
“I know.”
With tears in her eyes, she peered up at me through her lashes and it broke my heart in the same way it always did. I hated seeing her cry. However, I was usually the one who was causing her tears. The times I actually allowed my mind to contemplate the past and what I did to her, were some of the darkest moments of my life.
This wasn’t the place nor time to discuss what I did or didn’t do. For the next six months, I’d have the opportunity to make up for all the blatant lies I had to tell her.
“I lost everything because of you.” She spoke softly. “I can’t believe you still have the audacity to sit there and act like I didn’t.”
“I’m not pretending to be anything I’m not. I know what I did to you, and I have to live with that.”
Neither one of us said a word for I don’t know how long. Until finally, I broke the silence.
“Your life is in danger, Paige. If something were to happen to you…” I faltered, unable to express the rest. Changing the subject, I affirmed, “You stepping into the role of my executive assistant will keep you by my side every day.”
“What if I said no? Would you still be playing the hero?”
“Don’t lie to yourself, Cherry. I’d do anything for you.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“This has nothing to do with us.”
“That’s so easy for you to say. I wasn’t the one who used you.”
I didn’t have anyone to blame but myself for why she continued repeating that. I deserved it and more. I’d take whatever she’d spew at me as long as it kept her safe.
Instead of insisting she was wrong, I spoke the truth. “At the end of the day, you’re one hell of an assistant. I’m damn proud of the career you’ve built for yourself. Now I need you, Cherry. And we both know I never need anyone.”
“If I move in with you. Where exactly is that?”
“I mostly live in and out of penthouse hotels, but I’m due downtown tomorrow. We’ll start there.”
“And then?”
“You’ll get a full itinerary of where I have to be for the next six months.”
“Why six months?”
“It’s all the time I have.”
“For what?”
Again, I spoke with conviction, “To divide and fucking conquer.”
—Paige—
I couldn’t believe I was actually considering his proposition, but what other choice did I have? As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. It was only a matter of time until my stalker made their identity known or made their move. I honestly had no clue who this person could be. I didn’t date a lot. I had no time for that. My career kept me busy.