The Dirty Series 1(17)

I should have gone home with Jax last night.

Really, in the scheme of things, what did I have to lose?

Everything, the voice in the back of my head pipes up. As much as I hate it, it’s true. Getting involved with Jax Hunter on any level would be a huge mistake. He’s got the future of Basiqué in his hands, and if it doesn’t work out, it’ll be a disaster. And Sandra—she’d feel totally betrayed if that news got back to her.

“I’m sorry, Carl,” I say, wiping beads of sweat from my forehead. Everything is an effort this morning. “I went to a party yesterday. Took it out of me.”

Carl’s eyes are full of concern. See? I remind myself. This is exactly why you shouldn’t spend time on men like that. It throws you off your game.

“Should we call it a day?” he asks, and the kindness in his voice pisses me off and makes me want to cry at the same time.

“No.” I rack my brain for a solution. I don’t want to give up on the workout, but the thought of circling Carl, raising my hands to fight, seems impossible. “If I pay extra, will you go for a jog with me instead?”

He shakes his head, an incredulous look on his face. “Sure, Cate…but it might be best if you went home and got some sleep. I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you look like you need it.”

I summon every possible ounce of positivity and shove the disappointment deep down into my chest, where it doesn’t show, and give Carl a huge smile. “Three miles, Carl. I can sleep when I’m dead.”



Between the run and the hottest shower imaginable, I’ve mostly regained my grip on life by the time I’m striding through the offices at Basiqué, right on time. The after-effects from being with Jax Hunter and going to that party might have made me drag during the workout, but at work I’m a goddamn all-star. Nothing will interfere with my job performance.

That’s what I’m telling myself when I reach the T intersection and start to turn toward Sandra’s office suite, only to run straight into one of the two movers heading toward the exit at high speed.

No one is supposed to be here yet.

“Woah!” one of them shouts. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s…it’s all right.” I’m lucky I wasn’t carrying a coffee. “What’s going on?” I can’t believe something of this magnitude is happening in the office and I wasn’t aware of it. Is Sandra…?

“The boss is moving in,” the second one says simply. “We’re getting a huge bonus for a rush job. Speaking of—” He taps his partner on the shoulder and they sidestep me, rushing away.

I stand there with my mouth hanging open, for once looking in the opposite direction. The office suite there is used for board meetings and sits empty most of the time.

At least, it did before right now.

People are scurrying around in the suite, carrying cardboard boxes. The two men I just saw in the hallway obviously dropped off some piece of furniture. The boss is moving in. What does that mean?

I’m still standing there when Jax Hunter himself steps into the hall.

He doesn’t see me. His attention is focused inside the main part of the suite. I see his mouth moving as he answers a question.

My entire body is suffused with heat—then ice-cold fear.

Basiqué just became a war zone.





Chapter Thirteen





Jax



I sense Cate’s presence the moment I step into the hallway, and I purposefully linger over telling one of my assistants where, specifically, I want her to display my family photos behind my desk. Let her see me. Let her get the full effect.

When I turn to face her, I see that she’s frozen in mid-step, her cheeks a vibrant shade of pink and her mouth half open in an expression that’s so goddamn inviting it takes every ounce of self-control I have in my body not to close the gap between us and take her face in my hands and…

“Mr. Hunter, when the movers get back up here, where do you want them to put the sofa?”

“By the windows, with the two chairs.”

By the time I look up from speaking to the assistant, Cate’s gone. Fleeing down the hall, probably. I wish I’d had the chance to watch her leave. I have plans for her, though, so I’m sure I’ll get another opportunity.

It’s early for me to be here, but I wanted to get all the setup started before Sarzó tried to stand in my way. Since the woman isn’t due to be in until 8:30, I’ve left plenty of time.

At 8:35 exactly, I leave my office suite and make my way down the hall to the twin suite at the opposite end.

The doors to Sarzó’s inner office are open, and Cate stands near the desk, notepad in hand, listening to her boss reel off a list of tasks for her to complete. Her face is completely neutral, even though Sarzó’s tone would have sent me over the edge a long time ago. Both women look up as I cross the carpeted floor and drop into the seat opposite Sarzó. “Hello, Ms. Sarzó. Cate.”