Page 24 of Lies You Told
JAX
When Mike called, telling me that Kate and Chloe had run into trouble at Chloe’s firm, something told me it was related to Blake. I wasn’t wrong. I’m ready to go in all guns blazing until I see Chloe poking Blake in the chest. He looks pissed, and I swear if he lays one finger on her.
I stand back, and a couple of minutes later, Mike and Jacob also get here, stopping beside me.
“There she is,” Jacob says with a smirk, pulling at his lips.
Blake sees us, and I’m glad he’s not completely stupid. He keeps his eyes on me until Chloe turns around.
Chloe turns, then looks at me, a confused expression on her face. She has no fucking idea about my feelings for her. But she’s going to find out real soon. I’m done standing on the sidelines.
Mike and Josh head over to Kate and Chloe, and for a moment, I can’t move. My feet feel like they’re stuck in cement. I stop to look at her for a moment. Her cheeks pink a little. But she does the same thing I do. We stare at each other from opposite sides of the lobby of her firm's building.
Blake moves away from her and walks my way, stopping in front of me.
A hurt look falls over her face for a second. If I weren’t as zoned in on her as I am, I’d have missed the look on her face. The mask falls into place again, but she doesn’t look as stoic as usual, like she’s trying to rein in the persona she has with most people–except Kate, it would seem–that of Ice Queen.
He stands in front of me, and I punch him in the stomach, pulling him up as he groans, falling forwards slightly. I’m not usually a violent man. I usually hit back with my words. But Blake is bringing the worst out of me. Is it Blake? Or is this newfound need I have taken over my body and mind to protect someone I should have protected over a decade ago?
I put my lips to his ear. “I warned you to stay away from her.” Nobody could mistake the venom in my voice.
Blake stumbles away from me, and I don’t look back at him. My eyes lock in on Chloe as she sees the whole thing. She bites her bottom lip. I wish she wouldn’t do that because it's having an effect on me; she wouldn’t appreciate. If she knew the thoughts and dreams I’ve been having of her of late, she’d run and never look back. Leaving Blake on the floor, I stride over to Chloe, who is still standing where she was. She rubs her legs together, and I wish we were alone. She’s turned on. I can see it in her eyes.
I stand in front of her and put my hands in my pocket. I don’t want her to see my knuckles, which are still tender from my fight with Blake last night.
“I hope you’ve got a good lawyer,” she says, more as a statement than a question.
“He won’t say anything,” I say, confidence oozing out of my pores.
Then Chloe shocks me more than she ever has before. She puts her arms around me and whispers in my ear. “Thank you.” With those two words, she guts me.
I keep my hands in my pocket, even though all I want to do is wrap my arms around her and hold her. She probably needs that more than anything.
Just as quickly as the hug happens, she pulls away, her face even more flushed.
“It was long overdue,” I said, meaning every single word.
Her eyes bug out of her head. Realization hits her at what I’ve just said.
Kate, Mike, and Jacob have moved a little further back than where they were a moment ago. Mike is on his phone while Kate keeps her eye on us. Her face is neutral, as if she’s trying to observe us together.
“I think we need a real talk, Chloe. A long overdue talk.”
She lowers her head. It amazes me how naturally submissive she is when I’m around her. Unless we’re in a boardroom, she has her game face on.
“I…”
“Chloe, please. I need to clear the air.”
“Okay. I was going to say I think that’s a good idea. But Kate and I have a work meeting. Call my office and leave your number with my assistant.”
I laugh, reaching into my jacket pocket. I pull out a business card and hand it over to her. “Let me know when you’re free.” I walk off, leaving my friends before I turn around. “Chloe, I expect to hear from you today.” I use my ‘Dom’ voice on her.
It has the desired effect as she swallows. I feel her eyes on me as I walk towards the glass revolving doors and out onto the busy New York street.
The walk back to my office was filled with thoughts of Chloe and that aroused look on her face as I walked away. It took Jacob way longer to message me back than I’d thought.
Jacob C: She seems open to working with you.
