“Yeah. Christine needed me to schedule a very important upcoming show for her as soon as I got back from lunch.” I flashed a fraudulent smile at Brad. “It was nice meeting you, Brad. Thank you so much for your counsel, and I hope your wedding is one to remember.”
Brad smiled back and nodded his head at me. “It was no problem, and it was nice meeting you too. You have a nice day.”
“I will.” I tossed a quick glance at Tyler, trying to keep a straight face. “Thanks for the meal.” I turned and began walking away from the table.
“What? I don’t get a kiss?” I heard Tyler call behind me.
I ignored his question and kept walking out of the restaurant, grateful that he couldn’t see the tears of frustration rolling down my face. My emotions were on a roller coaster, and I needed to get out of the situation before I did something I’d regret.
Tyler
I immediately resisted the urge to jump up and follow Victoria out of the restaurant.
I’ll just end up making things worse if I go after her, I thought, angry that I hadn’t been able to hide the fact that I was having second thoughts about our future business venture.
Telling her how I felt after her jealous reaction would only result in her feeling like she'd been right all along: I was a manwhore who’d say or do anything to get into the next girl’s pants.
“Geez,” Brad said over a mouthful of steak. “She seemed extra pissed when the waitress flirted with you.”
“She was,” I muttered, glancing down at my food. My stomach turned at the sight and I put down my fork. I’d lost my appetite.
“Damn, this steak is as tough as a donkey’s ass. With what this place charges, you would think you’d get better.” Brad gave me a look as he chewed. “How are you two going to last if she gets mad at that? Chicks hitting on you is an everyday occurrence.”
“Her confidence is a little shook up with all the stuff that’s been going down, that’s all. She’s normally pretty feisty. Anyway, I don’t think that’s what she was really upset at, though it didn’t help.”
Braid raised an eyebrow. “What else then?”
I didn’t respond, because Miss Flirty Pants came over to see if we needed anything.
“No thanks,” I said. “We’re fine.” I avoided eye contact with her.
“So tell me what’s going on. You’re not getting away that easily.” Brad pressed.
“I really don’t want to talk about it. I’m pissed enough at myself about it already.”
Brad paused for a moment and wiped around his mouth with a napkin. “Come on, man. Maybe I can help.”
I knew if I didn’t tell him, he’d just keep bugging the shit out of me. “Okay, fine.” I sighed. I quickly outlined to him what I’d promised Victoria.
Brad let out a low whistle when I was finished. “Man, I can’t believe it.”
“Believe what?” I asked, knowing that I was falling into a trap.
“This chick has got you whipped.”
“Oh shut the fuck up. And hey, I’m not the one getting married.”
“Yeah, but I never swore off serious relationships either. I mean, after Candice—”
“Can you not mention her name?” I snapped.
Brad managed to look guilty “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring her up. I know that one’s a tough subject.”
“I’m sure you didn’t,” I said sarcastically. “But really, I know what you mean. I didn’t think I’d ever get back into a real relationship either. But Victoria . . .” I shook my head, looking for the words. “She’s just different. She’s beautiful, smart, headstrong, knows what she wants and—”
“She’s your stepsister.”
“Exactly.”
“I guess that does add a little excitement to it.”
Brad took a swig from his wineglass and shook his head. “This is some crazy shit. The one girl that you finally decide that you actually want to be with winds up being your stepsister. I can’t believe your luck.”
I shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.”
“Ain’t that the fucking truth.” Brad set his wine down and his expression turned serious. “But . . . I gotta ask, and don’t get pissed . . . is she really worth it? I mean, is it worth losing your job over her?”
My immediate impulse was to snap at Brad’s suggestion, but I resisted. The truth was, I didn’t know what anything was anymore. I wasn’t used to dealing with this kind of emotion, and it was messing with my head.
I don’t know how to feel or to think, I thought. I swore I would never be in this position again, worrying about another female and fulfilling her wants, needs and desires, only to be betrayed by her in the end. Yet, here I am, trying to figure out how I can keep my job and keep her all at the same time. And for what?
It was scary, the feelings that Victoria evoked in me. She made me want to be a better man. She made me want to treat her with the respect that she deserved, made me want to be her knight in shining armor. For anyone else, it would have been a godsend. But for me, it was all new, and it both scared me and pissed me off at the same time.
I’ve got to do something about this, I thought. I can’t keep on like this—wanting her but too afraid of being with her.
“Anyway,” I said, changing the subject because I didn’t want to talk about it anymore until I actually had it sorted in my head. “I’m calling my dad’s bluff. I still have my doubts he’ll go through with it, but if he does call a vote to remove me, I want to know my options.”
Brad sat back in his chair and pushed his half-eaten steak away from him. “Well you have a couple of options, but only two make sense.”
“You can fight it in court, but . . .” Brad scratched at the stubble on his jaw, reluctant to continue. After a moment, he sighed and said, “The fact is, to be completely honest with you, Ty, I’m not looking forward to that. It’s just a lose-lose scenario all around. Not to mention with the wedding coming up and Katie’s constant demands to make everything as perfect as possible, the stress of a drawn-out court case will probably put me in an early grave. So that basically leaves you with two options.”
“And what are those?” I asked, curious.
“The first, and I’m just putting it out there, is to end your relationship with Victoria. I know it’s not what you wanted to hear, but that’s option one.”
I couldn’t help myself. “Well aren’t you just fucking useless.”
“I know, I know, I said it’s not what you wanted to hear, but it had to be said. Look, you’re not going to like option two either, but if your feelings for Victoria are real, it has to be done.”
I gave him one of those Did I just smell a fart? puzzled looks.
“You need to have a heart-to-heart with your father.”
Chapter 15
Victoria
The following day on lunch hour, I was sitting at my desk eating a donut. A big, powdered, jelly-filled donut. And I never, ever ate donuts. I was always too worried about gaining a pound. It definitely felt good now, but I’d regret it later. Damn Christine and her giving me self-esteem issues.
But today she could kiss my ass. I didn't give a damn if I gained a pound, because my relationship with Tyler was on the rocks and I was super fucking depressed.
After I left Bixby's, the image of him smiling at the waitress kept flashing in my head, filling me with rage and hurt. At least, that’s what I told myself. In all honesty, I think I was just looking for another reason to be mad. He’d really let me down with his nonchalant attitude.
I should've known he was no good. He just saw me as an interesting conquest. After he got what he wanted from me, I was no longer a priority. All that talk that he would fight our parents on my behalf? Obviously bullshit. He’s just a stubborn asshole that wants to defy authority. That, and he just wanted to make a point to his father that he can do what he wants.
The worst part of it all was that I’d totally humiliated myself and nearly destroyed my career, all on the basis of
Tyler’s false promises.
I’m lucky to still be working, I thought angrily. Thankfully, Christine’s ever-present need to torture me was the only reason I still had a job. I’d come so close to losing everything, all because I lost all rational thought when I was around Tyler. The image in my mind absolutely frightened me.
I definitely dodged a bullet with that one.
A ringing sound caused me to jump. My desk phone.
It's him! I thought angrily, nearly choking on a mouthful of jelly donut. It's that womanizing jerk.
Really, I had no clue if it was him calling, but I convinced myself that it was.
Don’t answer it.
I knew I shouldn't have. I'd ignored his calls to my cell all day. But for some reason, I couldn't help myself. I wanted to let him know that I was pissed off.
I quickly swallowed the rest of my donut, and after a deep breath, I snatched the phone.
I filled my voice with the nastiest venom I could muster. "I don't want to speak to you ever again!"
"Victoria!" my mother's voice snapped.
"Mom," I breathed in shock. At this time in my life, my mother was the last person on earth I wanted to have a conversation with. “What do you want, Mother?”
Her voice rose several octaves. “What do I want? What do I want?! Do you have any idea how much shame you’ve put on this family or how much trouble you’ve caused for me?”
“Seriously, Mom? We haven’t spoken in ages, and this is what you choose to call me about? Like, how was I supposed to know that you were married to Tyler’s father? We don’t even talk!”
She acted as if she didn’t even hear me. “You’ve caused me so much embarrassment, Victoria.”
“You’ll be happy to know that Tyler and I are finished,” I cut in, not willing to listen to any more of my mother’s crap. “He’s a womanizing asshole, so you’d better watch out for James. It probably runs in the family.”
I slammed down the phone.
“The nerve of that woman,” I muttered angrily. How she got a billionaire to ever marry her, I would never know.
“Victoria!” Christine called from her office. “Get in here. NOW.” There was no doubt about it, the witch meant business.
I held in a sigh as I quickly brushed the donut crumbs off of my desk and prepared to go face Christine and muttered, “my life is over.”
Tyler
I should call it off, I thought to myself as I was riding home from work. End it right now and cut my losses.
The way Victoria left the restaurant and had been ignoring my calls said that she was probably considering the same thing.
It’d be for the best, I tried to tell myself. I can’t even think around her. She drives me crazy with lust. I can’t have that. Since Candice, I’ve always been in control.
The fact that I’d sacrifice my position at my own company for a girl I’d only known for a short while? It was insane. My pride was one thing. I hated being told what to do by anyone. It’d always been one of my faults and I’d learned to accept that. But knowing you were fighting a losing battle and continuing to fight anyway—that was plain stupid.
It appeared that Brad wasn’t too keen on any legal battle, and if I put my pride aside, neither was I.
I thought about Brad and the options he laid out for me. Maybe I should just cave in to my dad’s demands, I thought. Let Victoria go and pretend to be what my father wants me to be.
The thought hurt as a sharp pain lanced through my chest. Even the thought of leaving Victoria hurt. I hated it. Fucking hated it. She made me feel weak.
I suddenly had the overpowering urge to see her, to make things right. Feeling that I was making a big mistake, I dug out my cell and speed-dialed her number.
No answer.
It had been the same thing all day.
If I wanted to get a hold of her, I was going to have to be a bit more direct.
"Jonathan," I called to the front of the limo.
"Yes, Master Locklin?"
I ignored his mistake of calling me master again, my mind on Victoria.
"Turn this thing around and take me downtown. There's someone I need to see."
Victoria
"Finally the day is over," I muttered in relief as I grabbed my things. I couldn't wait to go home to my rat hole of an apartment and kick back. My feet were killing me. Walking around in 3-inch heels all day will do that to you.
Too bad I won't have Tyler to rub them for me, I thought sourly. Or have the luxury of relaxing in his loft.
Though I wasn't superficial by any means, that was definitely something I’d miss . . . his beautiful loft, being chauffeured around in a limo, the wining and the dining.
Johnathan was right. Walking out the door and never coming back again would’ve been the best thing I could’ve ever done for myself. I was just too blind to see it until now.
The problem was that my feelings didn’t quite align with what I was trying to tell myself. I felt like I was under a black cloud that was stealing all my sunshine.
"It will pass," I muttered to myself. “Before long, I’ll forget a Tyler Locklin ever existed.”
After making sure everything in Christine’s office was in order, I made my way outside the building.
I’d only gotten two steps out of the front door when a familiar Limo pulled up.
Oh no.
I started to turn away and walk as fast as my sore feet could carry me, but the back door swung open and I went weak in the knees at the sight of Tyler climbing out.
He was dressed in his normal business attire, the outfit most likely costing more than my rent. He had a determined look about him. Even though I was angry as hell, I had to admit—he looked sexy. Fucking hot.
Run, I urged myself. Run and don’t look back. But I couldn’t move. My feet were rooted in place.
“Hey,” Tyler greeted me.
I let out an explosive breath. I was so captivated by the image of him that I’d forgotten to breathe.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, trying to sound as bitchy as possible but failing. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
Even with it being dusk out, I could see the ever-mischievous sparkle in Tyler’s eyes. “You sure about that?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Get lost,” I said, but my words didn’t sound convincing at all.
Tyler chuckled and then his expression became serious just as fast. He gestured at the limo. “Get in,” he growled, his deep voice filling me with dread and excitement all at once.
I hesitated for a moment, my mind filled with turmoil.
You can still walk away.
“Now!” He added. “We need to talk.” My body tingled at the sexy, guttural sound that seemed to promise retribution and pleasure all at once.
Before I knew it, I was moving past him and into the limo, thinking to myself, I’m making a big mistake.
Chapter 16
Victoria
“So this is your office?” I asked in disbelief.
Tyler had brought me to his office, nestled on the top floor of the Armex headquarters. The view, which had wall-long windows, was absolutely spectacular. The skyline twinkled in the background, crowded with hi-rise buildings.
In the middle of the room sat a large, cherry wood desk and a giant-sized leather chair that looked inviting. The chair almost reminded me of a throne.
Made for a King.
The whole room had a luxurious feel. Swanky and high class. I could learn to love working in a place like this, I thought.
The little office Christine had me working in was a dilapidated hovel compared to the splendor before me. Tyler stuck both hands in his pocket and grinned, amused by my awe. “You like it, don’t you?”
I walked over to the glass window and peered out at the breathtaking skyline. “How could I not? It’s stunning.”
“I’m glad you do. It’s the best view in the entire building.” His intense gaze made goosebumps rise on my skin. I averted my eyes back to t
he skyline.
“This is beautiful,’ I breathed.
“Not as beautiful as you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop it.”
“Don’t bait me then.”
That wasn’t my intention in the least. “I wasn’t baiting you.”
God, he makes me want to kill him, I thought, and screw him at the same time.
I turned away from the window and crossed my arms. “I bet you thought that two-bit waitress at Bixby’s was beautiful too.”
Tyler sighed. “Come on. Why are you acting so pissed about that? It was nothing.”
“So did you and Brad find a resolution to our—your problem?” I asked, changing the subject. I didn’t want to keep talking about the waitress. He was right, it was nothing.
Tyler shook his head. “No. In fact, he was pretty useless.” A shadow passed over his face. “Let’s not talk about that right now.”
“Well, I’ve decided not to put in my notice with Christine,” I announced suddenly as I watched for Tyler’s reaction.
He was silent for a moment.
“Why?” he asked finally.
I walked away from the window and circled his office, eyeing all the exquisite details before stopping at the side of his desk. “Because I realize that I’d probably be making a very big mistake. I’m lucky that Christine didn’t fire me. I still don’t quite understand that one. If she had, who knows where I’d be?”
Tyler scowled. “You’d be lucky? You said she treats you like shit, remember?”
“I’d rather be treated like shit than to fall in love with a guy, only to find out that he’ll cheat on me once he’s bored and finds another desperate chick to warm his bed.”
“Is that what you think will happen with us?”
“I know that’s what will happen. Your past speaks for itself, and I ignored everyone’s warning for far too long,” I said firmly. I couldn’t believe what I was saying, and it was hard to keep my legs from trembling. “In fact, I don’t even know why I agreed to come here. You’ve all but told me with your body language that you’re uncomfortable with me quitting my job and coming to work for you anyway.”
Reckless (Bertoli Crime Family #2) Page 26