“What is ‘this’ we’re doing?”
“Look,” says Noah, jaw clenching in frustration. “I don’t want to interfere in your sex life. But you’re getting into bed professionally with NBI, and you can’t just ignore the fact that his right hand woman is involved with you.”
My eyes narrow. “You’re not actually implying what I think you are, are you?”
“How well do you really know Jude?”
“Well enough. Definitely well enough for these questions to be uncalled for.”
Noah pauses for a long moment, staring down at the dirt. He kicks a stone near his shoe, then stares back up at me almost pleadingly, like he wishes he could let it go but just can’t bring himself to do it.
“Is there any possibility that she’s sleeping with you to get better terms for NBI on this deal? Or even worse—”
“You are unbelievable,” I snarl. “How dare you insinuate such a thing? Jude’s done nothing to you—”
“That might be true, but if she’s about to do something to my twin, you better believe I’m prepared to do what’s necessary.”
“What’s necessary? Nothing’s necessary! We’ve already discussed this. Jude told me the day she arrived to be careful around Northwood. She’s worked for him for years; she would know.
“This whole concern of yours is a moot point, anyway. He already offered a partnership with me on a call a few days ago.”
“He did?” Noah says, surprised.
“Yeah, he did. It’s pretty much a done deal. Jude did nothing to prevent it. All she’s done is help me from the beginning. So I’m not going to let you attack her character unjustly.”
“I’ll believe it when the ink on the contract has dried. And not a minute before. A lot of deals fall through at the last second.”
I throw up my hands. “Oh, come on. That’s theatrics and you know it.”
Noah rakes his hand through his hair again and says in frustration, “How do you know, though? Can you honestly stand here before me and say with one hundred percent certainty that Jude Shaw isn’t fooling around with you just to ensure this deal goes through and she gets that promotion she’s always wanted? That she won’t do what she needs to do to get it done? She’s the one who chooses to work for a shark. You don’t do that if you have a strong moral character.
“You’re not used to dealing with corporate assholes, but I am. And I’m telling you, this isn’t as clear-cut as you think it is. Maybe she really is just attracted to you. Maybe this really is just an affair or something while she’s here. But something doesn’t smell right. Do you want me to give you the phone numbers of the companies that have gone under because of him? Because I can do that. You can hear it from them yourself. They were bankrupted, Nathan.
“In just a few short weeks, Jude’s going back to Oregon and if she and that boss of hers screw you, you’ll be left with nothing. Maybe even less than nothing, if you still have to pay back that loan from that asshole, Lipton.
“Are you even attempting to protect yourself, your venture? Or are you being your usual self, blindly rushing in and trusting everything will work out in the end? The real world doesn’t work that way. And the real world of business especially doesn’t work that way.”
“I can handle myself,” I snap.
“Yes, I know. But Northwood doesn’t fuck around. Business is life or death to him. He isn’t going to wait for you to catch up, either. I don’t want to see your venture taken from you before you even get a chance to start it.”
I say nothing. What can I say, really? If Noah’s right, what the hell can I do about it? If Northwood tries to fuck me over, I’m neither going to know until it’s too late nor have any way of stopping it, short of not signing the deal. And right now, this deal is all my fledgling company has, apart from forty-odd measly barrels and a huge debt outstanding. It would take months for me to work out a new deal, line up some other distributor willing to take a shot on me.
This whole thing has been unlikely from the start. It was unlikely Jude would pick my product out of the hundreds they get sent all the time, and it was unlikely Northwood would agree to a meeting when I haven’t yet scaled up to a larger production level. I simply don’t gain anything by second guessing it now. I’d prefer to wait until I know for sure that Northwood intends to squeeze me, instead of worrying about it uselessly when I have no evidence it might happen nor have any way to stop it.
And, more than anything, I really don’t want to believe that Jude herself might be in on it.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jude
I’m sitting in Nathan’s kitchen when Northwood calls. I’m not expecting him, and I don’t want to answer. Northwood isn’t one to call just to chat. With barely any time left before I leave Ovid—a reality I’m studiously trying to ignore—what’s the point in calling? I’m still keeping up on my other work. In fact, I’m getting ahead. There’s no reason for him to nag.
This can’t be good.
Unfortunately, I can’t decline the call. “Hi, Charles.”
“Jude, how are you?”
“Great. Nate and I are doing great.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
I tap my pen against the table, waiting for him to continue. When he doesn’t, I say, “So what can I help you with, Charles? Do you need to talk to Nate?”
“It’s pretty late on the East coast, isn’t it? Aren’t you back in Savannah? Is Mr. King there with you?”
Stupid, stupid. Now Northwood’s wondering where the hell I’ve been all this time. Not good. But I’d gnaw off my dominant hand myself before I let him know for sure that I’ve been staying with Nathan.
“Oh, I stayed late in Ovid because Nate’s doing a community testing of Old Abe’s for the community. I wanted to see what they thought of it,” I say, lying outrageously.
Nate has yet to unveil his bourbon to the town. His brothers know, which is to be expected, but to my knowledge, no one else knows. What the hell am I doing, lying to Northwood this horribly? Have I gone right off the deep end? Where’s my good sense?
But it’s too late now.
“I didn’t know Mr. King was at that stage. It was my understanding that few people knew about his label.”
“Yeah, it was news to me as well. Nate said it was time to start spreading the word, though.”
There’s a long pause on the other end, like my boss can sense my abject lies. Because one wasn’t enough; no, I had to pile on more. This is why I always demand to be excluded from the shady shit! I can’t keep my cool!
“Are you sleeping with him?”
“Excuse me? How dare you ask me that?” I gasp. “Sir, that is highly inappropriate.”
“So that’s a yes, then?”
“No, it’s an ‘it’s none of your business.’ Sir.”
“So you deny it, then?”
“Yes,” I snap, not caring about the additional lie. Resentment claws its way up my throat. I’m sick of dealing with this man’s bullshit. The only reason I’m still employed at NBI is because I’m this close to getting everything I want. This close to running my own show. Then I’ll have enough power and responsibility that Northwood will have to leave me the hell alone.
But it’s like the closer I get to obtaining my goal, the harder it is to maintain my respectful facade.
“Well, great,” Northwood says. “Because you always told me you didn’t get involved with men at work.”
“That’s right,” I say through gritted teeth.
“I’m glad we could put that to bed, then.”
“Yes, wonderful.”
“You sound tired, Jude. Is driving from Savannah all the time wearing you thin?”
Is the man baiting me? Does he somehow know that I checked out of my hotel weeks ago and am no longer staying in Savannah? I suppose he could check my company card, but would he really stoop that low? Surely not. Surely I’m just being paranoid.
But then again … I’d never rule anything out with
him.
“I’m making sure everything’s sewn up properly on this deal, sir,” I finally say.
“That’s great to hear, Jude. You know how important this deal is, not only for NBI but for your own promotion, as we’ve discussed before.”
Trust the bastard to dangle it in front of me yet again. “That’s correct, sir.”
“Well, great. I’m glad you remember because you’ve still given me no indication of whether or not Mr. King already has a large quantity of Old Abe’s on hand.”
“I’m not sure what you mean,” I say slowly.
“His stash, Jude. Does he have a secret stash, or does he have as little as it seems?”
I lean back in my chair. So this is what he wants. This is the real reason for the call. Why would he want to know so badly? What difference does it make? It’s not like anyone expects Nathan to have a bunch on hand to ship right away. He’s still really new. How much could he really have already?
I still, a flash of insight hovering just outside my comprehension. The harder I try to grasp it, the farther it flickers away. But I know, instinctively, that it matters, whatever I was about to realize. In vain I try to bring it to mind by sheer force of will, but no dice. Sighing in frustration, I let it go. I’ll figure it out eventually.
“I’ve seen no indication that any ‘stash,’ as you call it, exists.”
“Yes, but have you asked him?”
“No, but—”
“Well, why the hell not? Why the hesitation? When do we ever strike a deal without knowing the available inventory our partner already has? Do you genuinely not know, or are you keeping it from me?”
“I’m not keeping anything from you, sir,” I say through gritted teeth.
He makes a fair point. We should already know something like this. I just haven’t gotten around to asking Nate yet. I suppose it was an oversight on my part, but I haven’t thought to ask until now. How much difference could it really make? Both sides want this deal to go through. But if it manages to get Northwood off my back, then fine. I’ll ask.
Enough screwing around. This is my career. Northwood shouldn’t have to ask me these questions—he should have received the answers days, if not weeks, ago. This promotion has been within reach for years. I’ve more than earned it. Even if I’m feeling some slight misgivings in the final hour about Northwood’s intentions, I’m not going to jeopardize all of that.
And I certainly shouldn’t let one man, even if he gives me the best orgasms of my life, interfere with those plans. Relationships are fleeting. I learned that with my brother. I learned that when our parents never bothered with us. I don’t need to learn it again now.
Whatever this is with Nathan is temporary. My professional dream is not. It’s very real. I need to remind myself of that. Nathan’s certainly not forgotten it. He supplied Northwood with detailed explanations to each question the man had. He’s going for what he wants.
And that’s not me.
Of course Nathan doesn’t want me. Not for anything more than great sex, obviously. Nothing permanent. And while I know something passed between us that day in the orchard, that’s fleeting as well. Simple empathy elicited by our similar losses. Even though I feel like I finally have someone who understands me, I’m not sticking around in Ovid forever. As nice as that might be, it’s not happening.
What I need to do is placate my boss. I don’t need him hopping on a plane to sort this out himself. “I’ll follow up with Nathan about his production levels and get back to you as soon as possible.”
“Great. See that you do. And sooner than later. I know you have a little over a week left in Ovid, but I would prefer to know before I fly back to finish this deal.”
“I understand.”
I’m expecting Northwood to hang up, but instead he says, “I really do need assurances that you’ll do what’s necessary for this deal, Jude.”
“That’s my intention, sir.”
He sighs. “I really hope that’s true. But your attention has been elsewhere this entire time. What’s going on? What’s different? You raved about this company for weeks before we got here, and now that I have you run with it, you’re forgetting things, failing to get the color we need to negotiate this deal properly, and if I didn’t know better, willingly getting distracted by the young man on the other side of the table. It’s not like you.”
“I apologize if I’ve given that impression,” I say, trying not to sound defensive, “there’s just been other work I’ve had to do remotely here while also working on the deal with Nate.”
There’s another pause. Then, “Allow me to be blunt, Miss Shaw.”
“Sure.”
“Wonderful. I’ll put it succinctly. If I find out you’ve been sleeping with Nathan King and therefore putting this deal in jeopardy, I will ruin your professional reputation and destroy his company. Not only will your promotion be nothing but a faded memory, I will ensure you never assume a position of power in this industry. Ever. I will be very, very disappointed. You do not want to be the reason I lose out on a deal.”
“Sir, that’s—” I begin, but the line clicks and he’s already hung up. The bastard.
So is that it, then? The reason he’s so suspicious? He couldn’t possibly know about Nate and me, could he? But why else would he make the threat? It can’t be simple jealousy, but I wouldn’t put that past him, either.
One thing’s for sure, he can never know we’ve already slept together. Multiple times. Even Northwood couldn’t hire any spies all the way out here in Ovid. I can keep this between Nathan and me.
But would I also bet my career on that conviction? Or Nate’s label?
No. Hell no.
This is utter bullshit. What, all the work I did for the man for years means nothing? There aren’t any rules against employees being involved with other employees or clients. I checked the day after we made love in the orchard. Nothing. Zilch. And while I suspect that Northwood is up to something, it can’t just be because he doesn’t want me sleeping with Nathan.
But this doesn’t affect only me. This is Nate’s life, too. Oh, God. He specifically asked me if this would be a problem for Northwood. If it might jeopardize the deal. He made sure, multiple times, that I thought it would be okay. And I told him it was fine.
As much as he likes having sex with me, I know his company is more important to Nathan than some steamy hookup. If I had told him it would be a problem, he wouldn’t have pursued anything further between us. Point blank. Now I’ve gone and screwed it up for both of us.
This is my fault. Entirely my fault. Well, it’s my asshole boss’s fault, really, but I’ve worked for him for years. I should have known better. I should have thought this would be an actual problem and not let my own desire convince me otherwise. It’s unacceptable that I didn’t.
But threatening to throw out the deal because we might be involved together? That’s just petty as fuck. It doesn’t make any sense.
I have to fix this.
Whatever needs to be done, I have to fix it. Not only for my own future, but also for Nathan’s. He doesn’t deserve any of it. Just the idea that I might contribute to the end of his label sickens me. Nathan is a genuinely good person in a way that I could never hope to be. I refuse to let this happen to him.
Somehow, I’m going to stop this. He need never know. He won’t ever regret sleeping with me. What we’ve shared shouldn’t be sullied. It’s special. I know that now. And while it won’t last much longer, I won’t let my shitty boss ruin it before it ends.
Nate’s going to get this distribution deal and never be the wiser.
But then I look up.
Nathan is standing in the doorway.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nathan
Jude’s voice floats down to me as I wearily ascend the steps to my apartment. It’s not terribly late, but it isn’t early for a weeknight, either. More than anything, I want to remove my shoes, pour a healthy glass of Old Abe’s, and spend the rest o
f the night snuggled up with Jude on my couch.
“Sure.”
My ears perk up as I reach for my apartment doorknob. Is she on the phone with someone?
“Sir, that’s—”
Who is she talking to? Jude’s voice sounds stressed, and sure enough, when I enter, she’s frowning down at her phone, eyes narrowed.
Well, hell. I lean against the doorjamb, wondering what happened. Who could put that expression on her face? Who could upset her so badly?
Only one person springs to mind.
Northwood really is an asshole. He must have been a complete bastard just now for her to look like that. She doesn’t deserve to work for such a dick. But as much as I want to, I can’t say anything. We’re not in an actual relationship and Jude is more than capable of looking out for herself.
She looks up, noticing me standing in the doorway. She flinches, ever so slightly, then averts her gaze. What’s that about?
“Who were you talking to?”
She shakes her head. “Oh, nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
“Are you sure? You seem a little upset.”
“Yes, Nate. I’m fine. Really.”
My eyes narrow. She’s still not looking at me. “Was it Northwood? Is everything okay?”
“No, it wasn’t him.” Jude finally meets my gaze. “It was my father, okay? Sorry. Whenever he calls, it ends up pissing me off.”
Her attention slides slightly behind me. Turning to shut the door, I stall for time. While it’s true I’ve only known Jude a few weeks, we’ve been intimate long enough for me to know her. How can I not, when I’ve been as deep inside her as a man can be? The essence of her is imprinted on my brain, my soul. I can’t not know her.
She’s lying to me. Something’s off. From the beginning she’s stated over and over that she’s honest. Never before have I felt that she’s tried to hide something from me.
Until now.
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