“Bullshit,” he growls with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t forget I was your boss for six years, Cassie. I can still tell when you’re lying.”
My knees feel weak, reminding me of how I always felt when I was around Jenson in the past. Insecure, rushed, scared of screwing up. I hated that girl. I’m not that girl anymore.
“I’m not discussing anything with you.” I attempt to free myself again only to have him yank me backward, causing my shoulder to fall into his chest. Out of the corner of my eye, I see all three of Max’s brothers stand in unison.
Jenson’s breath is hot in my ear when he rasps, “If you fuck this deal up for me because of one of your little panic attacks, I’ll make sure you never work in the industry ever again.”
His comment shocks me in the most unexpected way. Instead of breaking my will down further and causing my anxiety to flare up like it would have in the past, I actually throw my head back and laugh.
Jenson’s nostrils flare with irritation, and I notice Max’s brothers all staring at me in confusion.
“Cozy, you good?” Wyatt eyes me seriously, gifting me his very coveted words as his chin drops like a tiger waiting for the signal to attack.
“I’m great, Wyatt,” I answer as a euphoric sense of power settles over me. The strength and confidence I’ve regained since leaving the corporate world washes over me, and I take a cleansing breath at that wonderful realization.
I glance down at my ex-boss’s clammy hand still gripping me like he thinks he has an ounce of power over me. My eyes lift to his as I harden my glare. I push his chest hard enough that he has to take a step back and release my arm. “Jenson, I couldn’t give a flying fuck what you tell anyone in the industry about me. I’ve got a bright future making beautiful wooden cocks that I’m sure look nothing like yours.”
The corner of his mouth tips up into a sleazy smile eliciting the exact opposite reaction I was hoping for. Typical narcissist. His eyes fall to my chest as he leans in close, his hand cupping my hip when he says, “If I knew you sucked CEO cock, I might have offered mine up. I don’t mind being a chubby chaser every once in a while.”
Heat rushes through my body, setting my face on fire. I don’t think, I just react. I barely hear Paisley gasp as I rear my hand back, ready to slap him with everything I have.
My hand swipes the air in front of him as strong arms band around my waist, hauling me back against a rock-hard body.
“Touch her ever again, and it will be the last thing you fucking do,” Max growls, his neck veins bulging angrily as he shoves Jenson in the chest, causing him to fall back into his chair. His hand reaches back to hold me behind him as his body vibrates with rage.
My heart thunders in my chest watching Max react so violently for me. It’s part shocking, part inspiring, but mostly, it’s terrifying. This is Max’s future business partner, and he just…went off on him.
Jenson gapes up at us, his eyes a mixture of horror, anger, and humiliation. His nostrils flare as he sputters, “We were just talking, Max.”
“She is mine,” he seethes, the veins in his neck bulging angrily. “And you don’t speak to her, touch her, or even look at her ever again.” Max turns and slides his fingers into my hand, his eyes pools of darkness that I’ve never seen before as he states firmly, “I’m driving you home now.”
The car ride is painfully silent all the way from Denver to Boulder. Max’s knuckles are white on the steering wheel as his body vibrates with anger. Meanwhile, I’m over here, trying to figure out how the hell I can crawl out of this vehicle and go back in time.
Back in time to before I agreed to the date with Max, before I agreed to bang it out with him, before I wanted him to kiss me. Hell, I’d like to go back in time and never walk into that boardroom and interview for that job. All of this was a mistake. What started off as a favor to my sister and a way for me to dip my toe back into the real world has quickly turned into a nightmare of epic real-world proportions.
Max almost got in a fight with Jenson tonight…over me. This is the man whose company he is merging with, and he just literally threatened him…because of me.
I don’t know how I feel about that…other than terrified. And guilty and a million other emotions that I’m currently drowning in, and my doggy paddle isn’t enough to save myself this time.
What have we been doing these past few weeks? How did we get this deep in whatever this is and not connect these very significant dots?