[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.I’m searching Google for the cab service I used last night, but I don’t even know their name.I never asked and I didn’t pay attention.Had he swiped my credit card, I could view my online statement to see the billing name but I don’t even have that.My phone beeps indicating a text message.I peek at it and it’s from that unknown number.Jackson.Car will pick U up in 5.B rdy.I sigh, and snicker at the same time.Jackson Bentley and text messaging just don’t add up.He’s so refined and debonair, yet he texts like a kid.I close my computer and grab my keys to lock up.By the time I am on the sidewalk out front, the limo has pulled up.Oh no.Not the limo again.I hope Tim doesn’t see me getting out of it at the building, in fact.I hope I beat him to the office so he doesn’t realize my car has been there all night.The driver gets out and walks around to my side, opening my door.I slide in and bump into a hard, warm body.“Good morning, Alexandra.” He says, but not happily.In fact, he looks angry.“Umm, hi.Thanks for picking me up.I wasn’t sure how I was going to get to the office today.” I respond as if nothing is amuck.He mumbled something, but I couldn’t understand what he said and I don’t ask him to repeat it.Right now, I am as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.I know my tail is about to be squashed, but I don’t know when, so I sit in silence drinking in his manly sent.He smells freshly showered and clean.A light spicy cologne and his hair is even still damp, but messy as if he has been running his fingers through it.Did I say I hate silence earlier? Well, I do.And you could hear a pin drop in this car.The only sounds are of the tires swooshing along the road and the low rumble of the engine.We come to a stop suddenly and I glance out the window.Traffic.Great.“Why did you leave without telling me, Alexandra? I would have taken you home if that was what you really wanted.” He finally breaks the silence.“I didn’t have clothes for work, and I needed to get home.You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn’t want to wake you.” I reply.He sighs, “You’re running and I don’t like it.Don’t run from me again, Ally.” Gosh he confuses me.First it’sAlexandra,then it’sAlly.“Maybe I don’t like being chased, Mr.Bentley.” I snarl back at him.“Not chasing, Ally.Pursuing.There’s a difference.” He says.“Po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe, Jackson.It’s the same thing.I don’t think we should continue this.this.whatever it is, this game of cat and mouse.It’s disrupting my life and causing problems at work.I’m not wealthy like you, so I can’t afford to be unemployed.If we continue thisthing,then I am going to lose my job.I’m making a choice here, and whateverthisis,” I wave my hand between us, “is over.”“See, that’s your problem Ally.You think too much.I watched your face last night when we made love, you weren’t thinking then, you were just feeling.That’s what you’ve been missing in your life.Feeling.”“Don’t you dare tell me what I have been missing! YOU DON’T KNOW ME! You know nothing about me.”“I know you’ve been hurt before, Ally.Tell me.Who sucked all the life out of you and drained your self-esteem? Who damaged you?” He asks.“I don’t owe you any explanations, Jackson.It is what it is and I’ve dealt with it the best way I know how.Now, are we going to talk about the project so I have something to tell Tim? Because if I don’t, all hell will break loose.”“Ha ha ha, old Tim.Well, he’ll be fine.And he’ll get his update.Here.” He reaches into his briefcase and hands me a document.“Just give him the signed contract.That will be all he needs to know.You and your team will need to be at my office Friday after lunch with your designs.Then work can begin next week.I trust you, Ally.I know your creation will be amazing, just like you.” He says.Amazing.That’s the second time he’s used that word with me and I still don’t understand it.How can he judge me when he doesn’t know me? He doesn’t know what I’ve been through.What does he see that I don’t? I don’t have time to answer those questions because the limo has pulled up at the office.I look through the dark tinted windows and don’t see anyone from work on the sidewalk.“I’ll get this contract to Tim and we will see you Friday.Thank you for.this, “I wave the contract in the air “and for the ride.” I quickly exit the car, allowing the driver to close the door behind me.I don’t look back as I enter the double doors to my building and rush to the elevators.Chapter 12I swear, this elevator trip to my floor is going too quick.Before I know it, the doors are opening and I am standing in the lobby.I glance at my watch and realize I am actually ten minutes early, so the receptionist isn’t even here yet.Good.Maybe Tim won’t be either.I make my way through the doors and around to my cubicle, which is thankfully empty
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]