Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“I just told you. I can’t rush my first time.”
He takes a step back, his body shuddering. “We’re seeing each other again. We’re going to finish this story. When you sassily storm out of here, don’t you dare think it’s the last time.”
“I’m not sassily doing anything. I’m leaving because you can’t control yourself.”
“You’re right,” he says. “You’re irresistible. I’m not ashamed to admit it.”
Is this a pattern of behavior? Has he done this before? Am I just another woman for the CEO to take advantage of?
I leave. In the hallway, despite everything that’s happened, warmth flurries into me. Jacob Jennings just called me irresistible, and we’ve made progress on the story.
That’s something, even if everything else feels like a battle.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Jacob
I’m in my apartment on the armchair with the lamps lit struggling not to think about Madison. I almost let her leave without speaking to her because I knew what I would say.
The second she revealed her virginity, I almost told her everything. I almost told her the reason my hands were behind my back was so I didn’t let the hunger take full hold of me. Her virginity proves my obsession right.
No other man has ever taken her, and no other man will. She belongs to me fully. Nobody else, ever, but it’s not like we left things on good terms. I should’ve kept her in the apartment and convinced her I’m not a user, but the longer I stayed with her, the more I knew my resolve was going to shatter completely. It did toward the end when we kissed. I intended for it to be a civilized goodbye kiss, but I lost control. That’s a habit with Maddie.
I try not to think about Maddie’s mom, Veronica, and what Maddie said about her. She can’t be in love with me. Can’t have a crush on me or think about me in that way. The woman is going to be my mother-in-law one day. Damn, the world is a strange place.
After sitting here for a while, I email the editor who told the journalist to drop the dog-theft story. No matter what else happens between me and Maddie, we’re going to finish our investigation. She’s going to show what an incredible journalist she is.
I’m going to fill with more pride every step of the way, even if it means I have to end a billion-dollar deal.
The next day, I sit in the back of the car with Veronica next to me. Normally, I’ll admit, I don’t pay much attention to my assistants as we drive from meeting to meeting. My thoughts are normally prisoners of the deals we’re making, the moves we’re planning, but I can’t ignore Veronica, not when I can still taste her daughter’s lips.
I texted Maddie this morning, asking if she wanted to be there during my meeting with the editor. A simple, blunt response came back. Yes. That was it. I can’t blame her after letting her storm out of the apartment. I should’ve tried harder to make her see her virginity isn’t a weakness, isn’t a point of shame, isn’t something she should allow to shrink her view of herself.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped by introducing you to my daughter yesterday,” Veronica says softly, looking over at me.
I return the look, searching her face for any sign of interest. I’ve never been great at judging how women feel about me, something Brad has often teased me about.
“Half the women in the city want you, and you never even notice…”
“You didn’t overstep,” I say, and she flinches.
Do I always cause her to flinch like that? I’ve been absentminded, distant, and inattentive to my assistants. I’ve taken them for granted, perhaps, like the douche-lord CEO I never intended to become.
“She seems like a bright young woman,” I go on.
This is a deceptive move, but I can’t outright explain to Veronica how much her daughter means to me. She’d throw the door open, jump out, or kick me out.
“I looked at her website,” I say. “She’s got real talent.”
“Oh, wow, she’ll love that,” Veronica says, with a shaky smile.
Do I frighten you, Veronica? Or is it something else?
“In fact, I offered to help with the dog-theft story,” I say. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” she says without pausing, but then she bites her lip, a gesture that reminds me of Maddie. Except, with Veronica, it doesn’t provoke a swelling of lust, doesn’t send a message hurtling into my mind, telling me to claim her. I can see it for the nerves and insecurity it is.
“But…” Veronica trails off. Behind her, in the car’s window, the city drifts by. I’d normally be on my laptop or my phone right now, tapping away.
“You can say anything you like,” I tell her. “You don’t have to hold anything back.”