Some of it was instinctual.
Bred.
Learned.
Most of it was bullshit.
“I’m just saying…” he clarified. “That was a hell of a takeover.”
“I’m just saying,” I mocked in a condescending tone. “If I wanted your opinion, I’d ask for it.”
“I—”
I didn’t give him a chance to reply, grabbing the folder sitting in front of me, and I got right down to business. It was time to go over the numbers, the logistics, and everything in between.
All while my hand…
Was back on Paige’s thigh.
Paige
I couldn’t believe what just happened.
For the next hour, I sat there shocked and dismayed, trying to process everything that occurred in such a short amount of time. The last two days were one thing after another. I couldn’t keep up with the turn of events any longer.
Adrian’s hand never left my leg. Slowly, he rubbed my bare flesh from the slit in my pencil shirt. Back and forth, he caressed my thigh like he’d done hundreds of times. I told myself I didn’t want to feel his touch securing me, but I did.
It helped with the unease rising in the core of my body. Despite being overwhelmed, I relaxed from his touch.
Waiting for my time to come.
Once the meeting was over and the room was clear, I stood, needing some space he was adamant about not allowing me.
“Cherry—”
“No!” I bit. “You can’t keep doing this to me!”
“And what is that exactly?”
“Playing hero!”
“I’m not playing, Paige.”
“What happened to you?”
“In reference to what?”
“To everything! Look at you! I don’t even recognize you anymore. How could you do that to him?”
“It was easy.”
I gasped. “You had no right! He never did anything to you.”
“You’re right. What he did to you was enough.”
“That’s not fair! You can’t just come barge your way into my life and wreak havoc in it.”
“He deserved it.”
“How do you know? You don’t know him.”
“I know more than you do.”
“Are you listening to yourself? Because you’re sure as hell not listening to me.”
He stood and I raised my arms to stop his descent. Cocking his head to the side in amusement, he stepped forward as I stepped back.
“Let me tell you about your daddy.”
Two steps forward and back.
“He’s been embezzling money from his own company. Instead of reporting him to the police, I decided to fire him. I only did that for you. If it were anyone else, they’d be behind bars already.”
Four more strides forward and back.
“Adrian…” I shook my head, hanging on by a thread.
“He’s been underpaying and overworking his entire staff for years. I hate to break it to you, Paige, but the piece of shit had it coming.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make.”
“Actually, it was.”
Several steps forward and back until my body hit the glass window behind me.
Shit.
“I don’t even know what I signed. I could have just signed my life away to you, Adrian”
He caged me in with his arms around my head. “Would that be so bad?”
“It’d be my worst nightmare.”
“Cherry.” He grinned. “When someone does something nice for you, a thank you would suffice.”
“I’m not thanking you for that. I don’t want to run my father’s company.”
“You don’t have to. My team can handle it for you.”
“That just ties me to you. Was that your plan all along?”
“No.”
“Sure seems like it to me.”
“When are you going to start giving me the benefit of the doubt?”
“Depends. How many more stunts do you still have up your sleeve?”
He leaned forward, getting close to my lips. “I know it may not seem that way, but I didn’t do this for anyone but you.”
“I never asked for this.”
He shared, “I spent years overhearing you cry to Cade about your father and his lack of responsibility for you. That’s not something a man like me can forget, Paige. If you hadn’t been here today, I would have found a way to give you his company after I took it over. This has nothing to do with me. It’s all for you.”
I shook my head, dumbfounded. “Jesus, Adrian. I don’t even know what to say.”
“How about you start with a thank you? I just made you a very rich woman.”
“Money means nothing to me.”
“How about the look on his face? That has to mean something.”
I sucked in my bottom lip. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t satisfied with my father getting what he deserved.
“I can see it in your eyes, Cherry. I know you’re pleased with me.”
I tried to look away but he gripped my chin, bringing my gaze back to him.
“I made you a promise and I intend to keep it. After your contract is up and I find your stalker, I’ll leave you alone and stay out of your life.”
I winced. I couldn’t help it.
Seizing my moment of weakness, he simply stated, “But that doesn’t mean you won’t beg me to stay.”
And I had to wonder was…