Page 23 of Lies You Told
“Okay, all that sounds good. A client has just walked into my office. I'll speak to you later.”
Kate and I spend the next hour going through all the club contracts. Kate had a lawyer she used for the initial opening of the club, but she wanted someone she could trust, someone who had only her interest. Not that Mike would do that, but Kate definitely comes better off if they dissolve the business. According to Kate, Mike’s been with the same firm for years, and she wanted someone she trusted as much as he does.
She leaves them with me, and I tell her I’ll get a courier to get them back to the club before the end of the week. Jacob will know what to do with them.
We’re walking through the lobby of the building, our purses and jackets going through the x-ray machine, when I see a face I’ve not seen in years. My ex, Blake. He looks like shit and looks like he’s got a broken nose. His eyes are bruised, and a white bandage is taped to his nose.
“Your a fucking bitch Chloe,” he shouts. Not caring who hears him.
I look around, checking that nobody from my office, or even worse, my boss, is in sight. I want the lobby floor to open up and eat me up.
The security guys are on him in seconds. “Do you know this man, Ms. Lawson?”
“Unfortunately.”
Kate has her phone out of her purse. But my attention is on Blake.
“Blake, what the hell do you want?” I whisper, anger in my tone, hoping he takes the hint that I need him to stop shouting. This is my place of work, for crying out loud. I drag him to the side so we’re no longer in the middle of the lobby where everyone can see us.
“Why the hell did you have to bring up old shit?”
“I don’t know what you're talking about. We haven’t seen each other in nearly a decade, Blake.”
“How does Jax suddenly know what happened?”
Nausea comes over me.
“He’s been digging around. My boss found out. They’ve forced me to take a leave of absence. Some of my cases are under review. Funny how I was in line for a promotion before Jax started sticking his nose in business that doesn’t involve him.”
Fuck! I knew Jaxson took it badly. I didn’t think he’d… I look over my shoulder and see Kate is close by on her phone. There’s not a doubt in my mind she was filling Mike in. That makes me feel better somehow.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, remembering he was droning on before Kate distracted me.
“He broke my nose last night.”
Jax did that! Why would he suddenly become so territorial after finding out all this shit?
“Jax did that?” I try hard but fail to show how ‘not’ impressed I am at that. He’s the first guy other than Greyson to stand up for me. I wasn’t able to stand up for myself back then. I was too scared. I mean, I had a good reason to be scared and worried. The one person I did tell didn’t believe me. It makes telling and confiding in people difficult after that.
Kate puts her phone in her purse and stands behind me. I feel better knowing Mike and probably Jacob will be making their way here. Is it wrong that a part of me wishes Jax was on his way, too? These dreams I keep having staring him as the main attraction is messing with my head.
I was planning on finishing work early, for the first time since I got promoted, for the social at the club with the other submissives. I need to get home and my safe place away from here.
“Blake, what did you think was going to happen coming in here like this?” I say, standing a little straighter. Now the initial confusion of the situation leaves me and the pissed off-ness of it all coming to the forefront. For the first time in my life, I feel confident enough to stand up for myself, knowing Kate will have my back. I poke him in the chest, my adrenalin the most powerful thing about me at the moment.
“When did you and Jax become friends?”
I laugh. “We’re not.”
“You sure about that?” He looks over my shoulder.
I turn to follow his line of sight and see Jax running through the front door, Mike and Jacob right behind him. Kate laughs behind me.
Jax sees us immediately and heads right for us. Striding across the marble floor like he owns the place. It shouldn’t turn me on as much as it does. But he’s dominating the space, making all my submissive lady parts come to life.
“For fuck's sake,” I whisper.
15
