I ushered Valerie towards the front doors, and like a fucking coward, I didn’t look back.
Once we made it out to the sidewalk, I made sure Valerie was safe back inside her town car and just stood there looking as it drove off.
I didn’t know what to do.
I wanted to run back inside and explain everything to Quinn, but I had a feeling she wouldn’t receive me right now. I knew she was pissed, and I knew it wasn’t necessarily over me. Valerie’s silent digs at Avery and the unknowing jab to Isabella, no doubt, had her fuming.
I needed to eat. Maybe if I actually went to lunch, it’d give me time to figure out what I was going to do and give Quinn time to call down long enough to listen to me.
I started walking towards Aunt Stella’s Café deciding just to pick up a quick lunch sandwich. If I was going to torture myself with anxiety, I might as well do it on a full stomach and in a classy, quaint, little café.
Because I was pretty sure I was fucked.
Chapter 12
Lust: Because enough is enough already!
Chase~
As soon as I entered SMA, I knew I needed to find Quinn. This whole thing was becoming the mess she predicted it could become, but I didn’t care.
As I was quietly eating my lunch and predicting my demise, I realized she had to own up to some of the Valerie disaster. Quinn’s the one who insisted on keeping our relationship a secret and I felt like I was left with no choice but to respect that and honor her request. Had that stipulation not been a part of our agreement, I could have told Valerie I had a girlfriend and I could have introduced Quinn as said girlfriend.
So, she couldn’t be mad at me, right?
Either way, I was on my way to her office to find out. And I didn’t care what a second appearance to her office looked like.
As I made my way towards another showdown, I saw a crowd of employees making their way to the opposing elevator and Quinn was one of them. She had a couple of folders and a binder pressed against her chest, and that’s when I noticed everyone looked pretty much the same. Finally spotting Angela Jackson, I realized they were probably going into a financial meeting. And as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t pull her away. That’d definitely raise a few eyebrows, so I did the next best thing.
I went in search of Ace.
I found her at her desk like the good, dedicated employee that she was. She didn’t even bother looking up when my shadow fell over her. “We need to talk, Ace?”
She stopped typing and finally looked up giving me her attention. “Do we now?”
I glanced around taking in our surroundings and then I leaned towards her and whisper yelled, “Yes, we need to talk! Come on, Ace, how mad is she?”
She cocked her head at me. “Are you seriously suggesting that I would betray my best friend by giving you an unfair advantage in her standoff with you? Are you suggesting I would be disloyal like that?”
“Don’t fuck with me, Avery.”
She let out a deep sigh. “I can’t, Chase. If you guys were in a serious relationship, it’d be different, but you’re not. You guys just barely started sleeping together yesterday, and not to be insensitive, boyfriends and girlfriends break up all the time. Just because you’re dating, it doesn’t mean you guys are serious about one another.”
“That’s not fair, Ace. People get divorced all the time too, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t take their vows or marriages seriously.”
She had the grace to flush. “Okay, point taken, Chase. But that still doesn’t change anything. I care about you, but I’ll always side with Quinn, just like I expect you’ll always side with Nicholas, if it came down to it.”
I ran a fingertip down her scar. “Not always, Ace. I have no problem telling Sav if he’s wrong.”
She grabbed my hand that I ran down her face and kissed the inside of my palm. “Thank you, Chase. That means a lot. But let’s be serious here. That client was all over you. How would you feel if it had been some guy all over Q?”
I rolled my eyes. “I know that, Avery. That’s why I’m begging here.”
“Okay, all I can tell you is that I’m not even really sure if she’s upset about your…uh, friendliness with that woman or not. She was just really going off about how Valerie was rude to me and her comment about Julian. Q took it as a personal attack on us and you know how she gets if someone talks crap about us.”
“I plan on talking to Julez and Nick about Valerie later today. Her attitude towards you was uncalled for, but I need to speak with the guys before I tell her to go fuck herself,” I informed her, wanting her to know that I didn’t appreciate Valerie’s comments anymore than they did.
She let out a soft laugh. “Nonsense, Chase. There’s no need for all that. Who cares what she thinks of me? I certainly don’t care.”
“Not the point, Ace. No one comes before you, Iz or Q. No one.”
The corner of her lip lifted. “Her meeting is only for an hour. She should be done by three.”
I grabbed her face and kissed her smack dab on her beautiful face. “You’re an angel, Ace.” I was halfway down the aisle before a thought occurred to me. “That kiss didn’t happen, Avery,” I hollered back before she told Nick and he murdered me.
I got to Nick’s office, and because The Good Lord really did love me, Julian was already sitting on the couch. I strode in, immediately interrupting their conversation. “I’m going to terminate our business dealings with Valerie Stratton.”
Julian’s brows went up. “Okay.”
I told you. Julian’s loyalty was golden.
“Any particular reason why? Aside the obvious that she wants to get into your pants and she’s evil, of course,” Nick inquired.
“Uh…you guys might want a drink for this,” I warned.
“Out with it, Chase,” Julian had no patience for dramatic flair.
I let out a breath and recited the entire encounter with Valerie earlier. The second I mentioned Avery’s name, Julian got up off the couch and stood off to the side of Nick’s desk. He, no doubt, thought there might be a chance he’d have to restrain Nick.
“Fuck that cunt,” Nick fumed.
“I’ll pull all her finances and have them ready for you by Monday. We’re just closing out the third quarter, so we should be able to make a clean cut,” Julian threw in.
Nick looked like he was going to pop a vein. “Sorry, Sav, I probably should have told her to go eat a dick when-”
He sighed. “No. No, it’s okay. One, I don’t think telling her to go eat a dick is much of an insult to her, and second, we’re still professionals.”
Julian snorted. “I’m still a professional. I don’t even want to know how many times or in how many janitor closets you two have fucked Quinn and Avery. I think ‘professional’ left the station long ago, boys.”
Nick pointed his finger at Julian like it had the power to do him harm. “That’s bullshit, Julez. The only reason you’re still a professional is because Isabella doesn’t work for us. If she did, you’d be a co-defendant in harassment court right along with me and Chase, so don’t give me that shit.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “While that may be true, she doesn’t work for us, so my comment is still a very accurate one.”
“You know what? You can go eat a dick,” Nick instructed.
“Okay, okay. Are we in agreement then to ditch that bitch?” I asked. They both looked at me like I was high on crack. “Okay, just double checking.”
Julian headed for the door. “I’ll go start gathering her shit now.”
I jumped up out of the chair. “Hold on, Julez. I need a little favor from you.”
I needed to hit Quinn with my ninja skills.
Quinn~
I was heading back to my office from our financial meeting and I found that I was still irritated by the encounter with Valerie Stratton.
You know…of the Every-Greene Strattons.
Yeah…that stupid bitch.
I knew the rich tended to b
e snide and condescending, but I didn’t think she’d have nerve to comment on the fiancé of one of the richest men in the state. Hell, the country. Well, I mean…I wasn’t sure how many billionaires were walking around in the U.S., but still…
And, then, the delicious Julian? I almost gouged her eyes out for that alone. I was absolutely positive Iz would have wanted me to. And as standoffish as Julian was, I was sure he would have wanted me to, as well.
But if I’m being totally honest with myself, I wanted to really break every bone in the hand she had on Chase’s chest. I wanted to pull it back until it snapped at her wrist and then I wanted to use her floppy hand to slap her across her own face with it.
I was turning down the hallway towards my office when Julian appeared out of nowhere grabbing me by my arm. “Ms. Erickson, I have a special project I was hoping you could assist me with.”
I turned around in surprise as Olivia’s voice reached me from behind. “Oh, Mr. Moretti, I can assist you in anything you need. I’m sure Quinn is super busy with all that she needs to cover for our next meeting.” I didn’t even know she was right behind me.
I swallowed as Julian turned around and arched one intimidating brow at her. “So are you saying that you have nothing to do, Ms. Candor?”
She immediately started to stammer, “N...no…no, that’s not what I meant at all. I just didn’t want Quinn to feel overwhelmed.” The twit smiled at Julian. “I’m just trying to be a team player.”
Julian’s mouth tightened and I knew he wasn’t buying it. “Well, while the offer is greatly appreciated, this special project is…uh, a specialized opportunity that I believe only Ms. Erickson is capable of handling. In fact, I’m certain of it.”
I could see Olivia outwardly bristle. “Well, my offer still stands if she needs any help.”
“She won’t,” Julian said, as he turned his back on her, effectively dismissing her and dragging me further down the hallway by my arm.
Julian was so tall and his strides so long, I had to struggle to keep up his pace. “Julian what are you doing? Where are-”
He pulled open an executive visitor’s office door and pushed me into the room, shutting and locking the door behind him.
What the fuck?
“I thought it might look a little too suspicious if I went looking for you three times in one day.”
I whirled around to find Chase leaning up against the empty desk with his arms folded across his chest. “And so you told Julian to kidnap me?”
“What else was I supposed to do?”
I set my papers down on the little decorative counter table just to the right of the door and threw my hands up in exasperation. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe pick up the phone and call me if you need to discuss business.”
“What if what I want to discuss isn’t business related?” he countered.
He could not be serious. “Then I suggest you wait until after work hours to discuss any personal issues you may have.”
He snorted, actually snorted at that. “Yeah, right. So you can spend the next two hours stewing and getting lost in your own head? Nah, I’ll take my chances with Julian kidnapping you.”
“Stewing?” I stalked over to stand right in front of him. “Do not come at me like my anger is not justified, Chase. That fucking bitch had no right to talk down to Avery like that. None! And then to speak about Julian like he’s on the menu? Fuck that, fuck her and fuck you for implying that I’m overreacting.”
He moved so quickly, I didn’t know what he was about until I felt the vice grip he had on my arm and hauled me up against him. He was standing at his full height as he bored down on me. “Be very careful how you talk me to, Quinn. I’ll give you all the room you need to exorcize your demons and let your temper run until it loses gas. But I will not stand for you cussing me, do you understand?”
I knew my eyes were shooting fire, as I said, “Because I’ve never cussed at you before? Are you for real?”
“That was before we started dating, Quinn. Our relationship status changed a lot and with that comes how we will speak to one another. I don’t care how angry you are at me; you will never cuss me because I will never cuss you.”
“You’re seriously saying we can’t cuss while we fight? Are you high?!”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. You can motherfuck all you want. What you can’t do is call me a motherfucker, tell me to fuck off or go to hell.”
I stood there in shock. He was fucking serious. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Understand this, if nothing else Quinn; our relationship is going to be one of respect, and that includes when we’re fighting.”
“And where exactly is this insistence of respect when you’re coming into my office telling me to suck your dick, Chase?”
I could see the tick in his jaw. I bet he was grinding the shit out of his teeth. “Make no mistake, the respect is there, Quinn. It’s in how I’m giving you what you want by keeping our relationship a secret. It’s in how I fuck you like a hot, little slut because I know that’s how you like to be taken.” He leaned down further in my face. “But I’m making sure all the filthy fucking things I do to you are done behind closed doors. It’s in how after I cum all over your perfect fucking face, you’re still able to hold your head up high because no one else is the wiser.”
“Chase...”
He wouldn’t let me finish. “I have every intention of doing the most wicked, unnatural and depraved things to your body in the days, months, years to fucking come, Quinn. But I will always treat you with the upmost respect while I’m doing it. Always.”
I knew I needed to rein it in. I knew I was being a bitch and I knew why. I looked into his blazing baby blues and came clean. “I hated seeing her hands on you, Chase.”
His entire body relaxed, including his hold on my arm. “I know, babe. Trust me when I say I didn’t like it there either, but I’ve never really gave much thought to innocent flirting before-”
“Chase, there is nothing innocent about that woman,” I interrupted.
He gifted me with a small smile as he said, “True. But by innocent I meant I’d never sleep with a client. I’d never risk SMA’s reputation for sex. Hell, I’d never risk it for anything period…well, except for you. So, when I say innocent flirting, I mean, I flatter them, they flatter me and everyone leaves feeling a little bit giddy and carefree.” He took my face into his hands. “No one knows you’re my girlfriend because you don’t want them to know, Q, not me. You can’t want to keep this a secret, but then get upset because someone starts flirting with a man they think is single.”
I knew he was right and I hated it. I was trying to have my cake and eat it too and it was unfair to him. I knew women were going to continue to hit on him as long as everyone thought he didn’t have a girlfriend, but I just wasn’t ready to announce our relationship to the world. How humiliating would it be if the entire building knew and then we broke up?
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll figure it out.”
His brow furrowed. “Figure what out?”
“How to be someone’s secret girlfriend,” I laughed. “I’ve never had a boyfriend before, so like you, I’m winging this too.”
He stayed silent for a good couple of minutes before he spoke. “I meant what I said earlier, Quinn. I’m the man in this relationship and I expect you to treat me with a fair amount of respect. The same I show you, understand?”
I nodded. “I’ll try, but I can’t promise it’ll happen overnight, Chase. I normally don’t suppress what I feel or what I say.”
“I know, but it’s important to me that we treat each other with respect.” His eyes were holding mine and I knew he was being serious. This was an important issue for him.
“Can I ask you something?”
He let go of my face and leaned back against the desk. “Anything.”
“Why me?”
“The truth?”
“Always.”
“Because you’re
everything everybody else is not.”
I shook my head. “Meaning?”
Chase reached out and pulled me to him, turning me around so he could wrap his arms around my body. It felt so good to lean back up against him and just let him hold me in his arms. “It was your looks that first caught my eye. I stood in that VIP room and couldn’t stop from staring down at you with the girls. And even though Iz and Ace are beautiful in their own right, it was you I needed to know. It was you that pulled me.”
“You guys could have had your pick of any woman in that club that night, or hell, any other night,” I pointed out.
“And we did. We picked you guys.” He tightened his hold on me. “But when you finally spoke and everything that came out of your mouth was direct and unfiltered, I couldn’t get enough. Since I’m the one who deals mostly with the clients, I get fake people kissing my ass all the damn time. Almost everyone I meet wants something from me and there you were, not giving a fuck that I was your boss, or that I had money or even that your friends liked my friends. You weren’t going to just fall into my bed because you were neither impressed nor stupid. You can’t imagine how refreshing that is, babe. You’re real and I know I won’t ever have to wonder where I stand with you. No matter what you’re feeling for me, whether it be hate, love, anger, frustration…it doesn’t matter. You won’t have any problem letting me know and I love that.”
He was being honest, so it only felt right for me to be as well. “I’m a lot to deal with sometimes, Chase. Not everyone is equipped to deal with the circus inside my head.”
“I don’t want to change you, Q. I can handle crazy as long as I’m the only one handling it.” He cleared his throat a little. “I can deal with a lot, babe, but cheating isn’t one of them.”
“Same goes, Chase.”
He turned me around in his arms. “Quinn, being inside you is unlike anything I have ever experienced before in my life. Believe me when I tell you, I want to live inside you, Q. I have to admit, though, your unpredictability makes me nervous.”
Chasing Quinn Page 15