Page 25 of Lies You Told
Jax: Good. I want her to trust me.
Jacob C: I’ll see you later.
My assistant looks up from her screen as I walk back into the office, a confused look on her face. I’m sure I looked like a crazy person running out of here half an hour ago, and now I’m walking back in all cool and collected.
Lunch gets delivered, and I lock myself away. I know until I hear from Chloe, I’m going to be distracted. I’m on the phone with another client when my assistant walks in and puts a coffee on my desk, along with a post-it note.
Partner meeting in 30 minutes
I nod my head as she leaves. I’ve grown as a man. Six months ago, I’d look at my assistant's ass as she left my office. Now, I only have eyes for one woman who has a great body.
Imiss working with Bryan and wish he’d return to New York. Then I wouldn’t be playing spy on my own. Fucking Bryan owes me big time for this. I mean, I see his thought process. Being the new guy, it's easier for me to keep my eyes on shit. But they already don’t trust me. I understand the reasoning, but I still do not love being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Of course, all of that falls away just as the meeting is getting way off-topic, and I’m getting bored. My screen lights up, and one rule for partner meetings is that phones have to go on silent. I see an unknown number and can already feel the smile tugging at the side of my mouth.
Unknown: Okay. I’ll meet you. I can meet either tomorrow night or Sunday.
Unknown: It's Chloe, by the way.
Unknown: I bet you get a ton of unknown numbers off girls.
Unknown: Ladies!
Unknown: Who am I kidding? I was right the first time.
The last message almost makes me laugh, but I manage to hold it in! I forgot how much Chloe babbles when she gets flustered about something. If her messages tell me anything, it’s that I make her nervous. I hope it’s because she feels the pull between us and not because she is scared of me.
I never want Chloe to feel scared of me or like she can’t tell me anything ever again.
16
CHLOE
“You’re so fucking cute.”
I glare at Kate, who is fast becoming a close friend. This glare has scared many men over the years, making them nervous and wish they weren’t on the opposing side. Kate Ashley, not so much. She seems to think it’s funny. I’m glad she’s not handling me with kid gloves. She’s treating me the way she would have done, whether what happened in the lobby happened or not.
Kate raises her perfectly arched eyebrows at me, telling me, without even opening her mouth, that she’s not impressed by my glare. It seems Kate has a look of her own she uses. We burst out laughing.
“Are you finished?” I ask, putting my phone back on the table. She’s been hounding me for over an hour to be a ‘big girl’ and message Jaxson.
“Pass me your phone. I want to see how awkward you are with him.”
Rude!
I smile as I hand it over. I hardly know her, but I’m already comfortable enough to hand over my phone with little to no coaxing willingly.
“Oh, my God.” She laughs, looking at the screen.
“He makes me awkward. I’m not like this at the office.”
She gives me a weak smile. “Well, you’re a boss-bitch, and you don’t want to let them see you weak, or you know they will pounce. Jax knew you when you were young and growing into the woman you are now. You have less to prove to him, and he already knows how awesome you are.”
“Thanks, but I'm not worried. I know I’m a better lawyer than most of the guys on my floor. I hope none of them saw the drama back there.”
“That’s the right attitude.” She takes another bite of food. “So, what was that look between you and Jax all about?”
“We’re going to have a long overdue conversation.”
