My strings fell at my feet when he professed…

  “Especially, to me.”

  Four

  Adrian

  Now: One week later

  “Holy shit!” Paige shouted as her hand flew to her heart. “How the hell did you get into my apartment?”

  I hadn’t seen her since the party, not for lack of trying.

  Setting down the file I was holding, I informed, “I own the building.”

  She jerked back. “Since when?”

  “For the last two years.”

  “How did I not know this?”

  “I’m a silent partner.”

  “Of course, I would move into the complex you own.” Instantlyfurious, she slammed the door behind her. “That still doesn’t give you the right to break into my apartment! I could have you arrested!”

  “If you would answer my calls, texts, or emails then I wouldn’t have broken into your home. This is the consequence of your stubbornness.”

  “Oh, so this is my fault? It shouldn’t surprise me that you’re still not taking any accountability for the bullshit you put me through.”

  “Paige,” I stressed in a stern tone. “I’m not here to talk about the past. I’m only here to discuss our future.”

  “I already told you I’m not working for you. What other future do we need to discuss other than that, Adrian?”

  Leaning forward, I didn’t hesitate in stating, “The one where you’re moving in with me.”

  She didn’t just jerk back, she stumbled, hitting her body against the door. Never expecting me to declare that to her.

  “You can’t be serious.”

  As soon as I learned about her current situation, I drove straight to her apartment. There was no doubt in my mind about what I had to do. I was there for one reason and one reason alone, to get her ass out of this place and into mine.

  The expression on her face reminded me of all the times I’d pissed her off throughout the years, making my cock twitch. I wasn’t leaving here without her. Hostile takeovers were my forte. She didn’t stand a chance against me. This wasn’t a fight I’d lose. No matter how mad she’d be, I’d drag her out of here kicking and screaming if I had to.

  Nodding to the chair beside me in her dining room, I ordered, “Take a seat, Cherry.”

  “Oh, no! You do not get to trespass into my home and then bark orders at me, Adrian. Who the fuck do you think you are?”

  “I’m the man who’s going to teach you some goddamn manners if you don’t sit your ass down now!”

  “Teach me some manners?” She angrily shook her head. “Are you for real?”

  “Cherry—”

  “I told you not to call me that!”

  “You’re going to hear what I have to say whether you want to or not.”

  “I want you to leave.”

  “Paige…”

  “Don’t use that tone with me, asshole. It doesn’t work anymore. You have absolutely no effect on me.”

  While she continued to scowl, I did the only thing I could do. It was always my go-to move. This wasn’t the first time she played this card, and I proved her wrong with every try. Paige may act big and tough, but beneath it all she is still my shy girl who was afraid of the dark. I was the only man who knew her inside and out, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t proud as fuck she was trying to remain strong when it came to me.

  Except, I was always her biggest weakness and greatest strength.

  While leaning back against my seat, I deviously smiled. Not saying a word, I allowed my predatory regard to do all the work for me. It went from her captivating hazel eyes to her pouty lips. Slowly, I began rubbing my thumb over my mouth. She was clearly squirming as my gaze wandered over her incredible body.

  However, I didn’t give a fuck that I was making her uncomfortable. She wanted to go to war, I’d come out guns blazing. I never stopped rubbing my fingers over my mouth as her gaze followed the movement of my hand, causing her lips to purse as she watched my every move.

  My heady gaze trailed down her neck toward her tits, which were on full display, just waiting to be freed from her tight sports bra, right down to her narrow, tiny waist. I immediately envisioned all the times I gripped onto her hips, thrusting my cock deep inside her sweet pussy.

  Narrowing my eyes, I continued my visual assault down to her slender thighs, wanting to bury my face between them. My cock jerked at the mere thought of sucking her clit into my mouth.

  Her skin flushed.

  Her legs fidgeted.

  Her body completely reacted to my greedy perusal.

  Paige might claim she didn’t feel anything for me, but her body and pussy were telling a much different story.

  “Stop looking at me like that.”

  “I thought I didn’t affect you?”

  “You don’t.”

  “Cherry, I know what you look like when you’re wet. And right now, I’d bet your panties are fucking drenched.”

  She scoffed in disgust, immediately covering her body by crossing her arms over her chest. “You truly are a shameless bastard, Adrian.”

  “I’ve been called worse. There’s no need to be shy, I’ve already tasted every inch of you.”

  “I’m not talking about how you used to take advantage of me.”

  “Was I taking advantage of you when you were begging me to fuck you from behind?”

  Her chest rose and fell with each deliberate word I spoke.

  Not holding back in the least, I added, “I’ve made you come so many fucking times I can still taste you on my tongue.”

  “You know most people don’t—”

  “I’m not most people.”

  “You’re right. You’ve got some brass balls coming here and demanding anything from me.”

  “You would know, Cherry. How many times do you think you’ve sucked my brass balls into your mouth?”

  “Ugh! A good man would have at least started with an apology before barking orders. You should be begging me for my forgiveness for what you put me through.”

  Looking deep into her eyes, I confirmed, “I’d do it again if I had to.”

  She grimaced, quickly recovering. “Of course you would. In the end, you got what you wanted.”

  “If that were true, you’d still be in my bed.”

  “Your bed?” She bit out the words. “Thanks for reminding me what I meant to you.”

  “Your cherry belongs to me, Paige, and a man never forgets that.”

  “I’m done with this argument.”

  “Great. Now be my good girl and go pack.”

  “What is this ridiculous notion of me moving in with you? You’re truly delusional. Why on earth would I do that? You’re not making any sense, even for you.”

  Ignoring her questions, I simply stated, “Fine. Don’t pack. I’ll just buy you a whole new wardrobe. You know, with clothes that actually cover your body.”

  “What’s it going to take for you to leave?”

  “For hell to freeze over.”

  “I can’t believe you. Don’t you think this is a little much just to get me to work for you?”

  “There’s more to it than that and you know it.”

  “I know nothing. I never did. Your games are all I know.”

  “The only thing I ever played with was your pussy. Now sit your ass down.”

  “You think you can speak to me like that and I’ll obey your every command?”

  “Paige, stop baiting me or you won’t like me when I’m angry.”

  “I don’t like you right now.”

  “Cherry, I’m a very busy man. All you’re doing is wasting my time.”

  “Good. I hope you choke on your time.”

  Wanting to further piss her off for my own amusement, I reminded her, “Like you used to choke on my cock?”

  “Oh. My. God!”

  “Now those are words I’m familiar with.”

  “If you don’t leave. I’m calling the cops.”

  “Call them, Paige. It’s probably best I meet them.”

  “Once again, you’re not making any sense.”

  Unable to hold back any longer, I snarled, “I will once you sit your ass down!”

  She could see it in my eyes, I wasn’t backing down. Finally she was fully aware I wasn’t leaving. Mumbling under her breath, she sat in the chair parallel to me, which was the furthest seat away. There we were, at opposite ends of her rectangular, wooden table.

  “Happy now?”

  “Why would I be happy with what I learned this evening?”

  Her gaze shifted to my suit jacket as I pulled out the file, I brought with me. I slid it across the table, and it stopped right in front of her eyes.

  “What’s this?”

  “Open it and find out.”

  She did and in a matter of a few seconds, the reality of her life was blatantly staring her in the face.

  With an anxious expression, she met my eyes. “How did you get this?”

  “How I found out is irrelevant.”

  “Adrian…”

  Without wasting any more time, I spoke with conviction…

  “Paige, when exactly were you going to tell me about your fucking stalker?”

  Five

  Adrian

  “Adrian,” she said with a clenched jaw. “How do you know about this?”

  The mere thought of someone stalking Paige made me see nothing but red.

  Bright. Fucking. Red.

  I couldn’t believe this was happening to her and she had yet to say one word about it. She should have told me the second she saw me sitting at her dining room table. Conscious of why I was there to begin with. Paige knew me like no one else ever had. Some part of her had to realize why I was there. Breaking and entering her dorm was one of my specialties. Paige had always been a stubborn little brat.

  Her first mistake was to think I’d be ignored.

  Especially, by her.

  Her composure mirrored mine as she continued to search for her answers instead of responding to mine. From the moment I found out about her stalker, I drove straight to her apartment. I wasn’t going to let another minute roll by with her life in danger.

  The longer I sat there with her indifference toward what was happening with this son of a bitch, the angrier I became thinking about how this motherfucker could have hurt her more than he already was.

  My thoughts raced.

  My hands fisted.

  I resisted the urge to hit something.

  My temper wasn’t anything that changed throughout the years. If anything, it only got worse the older I became. Fighting was always second nature to me. It didn’t matter how many times I got in trouble at school or with my family. It gave me a sense of control in a moment when someone was trying to steal it from me.

  For years, fighting was my source of adrenaline. It was a vicious cycle I reveled in, savoring every second of it while I could. Fighting was my outlet, an act that allowed me to take out the frustrations I’d gathered over the years.

  It wasn’t normal by any means. I knew how fucked it was. Now that I was older, I used a punching bag instead of someone’s face. Sometimes I hit that bag three or four times a day, depending on how much pressure was on me that day to get the job done.

  It was why I usually stayed at the same penthouses all over the world. They’d accommodate my needs for a punching bag in my suite. It was how I stayed on top in an industry where everyone was trying to take me down.

  One by one, my irrational thoughts of what could have happened to Paige bled into each other. There was no way in hell she wasn’t moving in with me. Now more than ever, she needed my protection. Her safety wasn’t something I ever took lightly.

  After all, I was the man who made sure every cock all through high school and college didn’t come in her direction. For what felt like the longest time, she hated me for it. But the truth was, she fucking adored it.

  In my final attempt to create some sort of bridge between us, I replied to her question, “I had my PI investigate you.”

  “Wow,” she breathed out. Completely unhinged. “You have a lot of nerve. Why are you having me investigated?”

  “What choice did you give me?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Typically, when someone ignores your calls, texts, and emails it means they want nothing to do with you.”

  “You and I both know I’m not made like that.”

  “Yeah, it’s just one of your never ending bad qualities. Not only did you break into my home, but you’re also invading my privacy? What the fuck?”

  “Enough with the dramatics, Cherry. How long have you had a stalker?”

  “It’s none of your business.”

  “I’m making it my business. Now answer my question before I lose the last bit of patience I have with you.”

  “With me?” she exclaimed. “You think this is my fault? I didn’t ask for a stalker, Adrian.”

  “Up until three months ago you didn’t do a damn thing about it, so I’ll ask you again, when did it begin?”

  “I thought it would go away.”

  Although I didn’t show it, I was blown away by her response. “You think a stalker is just going to disappear? You’re smarter than that. Why didn’t you report this to the authorities sooner?”

  “I already told you. I thought it would go away.”

  “How long, Paige?”

  “I’ll only tell you if you stop using that tone with me.”

  “Paige…”

  “Yes! That one!”

  Taking a deep breath to compose myself, I questioned again more calmly. “How long, Cherry?”

  “Give or take a year.”

  I glared at her and she simply shrugged.

  Trying to remain in control of my emotions, I followed up with, “Do you have any idea who could be stalking you?”

  She shook her head.

  “And Belle? Your mom? Do they know about this?”

  “No.”

  “Paige—”

  “I didn’t want them to worry about me, okay?”

  “And Cade?”

  “What about him? I haven’t spoken to him for as long as I haven’t talked to you. Why would I—”

  “Because no matter what, you’ll always be fucking family!”

  She grimaced, bowing her head.

  “Why didn’t you come to me?”

  “Come to you?” Her brows pinched together, raising her eyes to me. “Why would I ask you for help? I haven’t seen or spoken to you in ten years.”

  “It doesn’t matter if you hadn’t in fifty fucking years. When it comes to your safety, you know I’d do anything to protect you.”

  She opened her mouth, but the intense expression on my face was enough to render her speechless.

  “Your safety is the only that matters now.”

  “They don’t have enough evidence to find the person who’s stalking you. Whoever it is isn’t going to stop until they get what they want.”

  “I don’t even know what that is.”

  “It’s you.”

  She considered it for a moment. “If that were true. Why haven’t they done—”

  “You call the letters, the photos of you sleeping, the pictures of you at work, at the grocery store, at the fucking park, nothing!? They know where you live, what kind of car you drive, where you work out, they know your every step. The gifts and the phone calls. The list goes on and on about how much they know you to hurt you or get to you.”

  I could see it in her eyes, I was getting through to her. Slamming the nail in the coffin, I warned, “You want to know what happens next? I’ll be the first to tell you. You’re either going to get kidnapped or you’re going to end up in a body bag! Do you understand me?”

  “You’re scaring me!”

  “It’s about fucking time someone does! I’m not leaving here without you. We can do this the hard way, which involves me dragging you out of here kicking and screaming if I have to. Or we can do this the easy way where you go and pack your bags like my good girl.”

  “I’m not your anything. I never was. All you’re doing is reminding me of how much I hate when you boss me around.”

  “But look what it’s done for your perspective, at least you’re recognizing I’m always in control.”

  “What are you going to do, huh? The cops don’t even know who’s doing this to me. Why would you?”

  “Because I have all the money and resources to find this motherfucker and put them behind bars where they belong.”

  She deeply sighed.

  “I know this is a lot to take in.”

  “You’re a lot to take in!” She abruptly stood. “Up until a week ago, I hadn’t seen or spoken to you in ten years and now you’re swooping in here like you’re suddenly Prince Charming and I’m expected to swoon. Well newsflash, asshole. I still hate you.”

  “Are you willing to bet your life on it?”

  “I can protect myself.”

  “Is that right?” Stating yet another fact, I added, “You’re afraid of the dark, Cherry.”

  “I’m not anymore.”

  “Bullshit.” I gestured to the room. “There’re night lights all over your apartment.”

  “Oh my God! Can you not be perceptive for once in your life?”

  “Let’s face it, Paige. You need me as much as I need you.”

  “Is this what this is about? You’re just playing hero because you want me to be your EA?”

  “Don’t insult me, Paige. You know me better than that.”

  “I don’t know you at all.”

  “Well then, you’re going to get to know me really fucking quickly. Since you won’t be leaving my side.”

  “Great. I get stalked and now I’m getting punished for it.”

  “You can look at it anyway you want. I don’t care what it takes for you to move in with me. Bottom line, you’re packing your bags and leaving with me.”

  Her eyes rimmed with fresh tears she was desperately trying to hold back. The last thing I wanted to do was terrify her.

  But the truth can be a brutal bitch like that.

  Six

  Adrian

  Wanting to give her a bit of reassurance, I stated another fact, “You’re the best person to fill the role of my executive assistant. This is killing two birds with one stone. I need you for six months and I’m willing to pay top dollar for you.” I nodded to the file. “Just look at the contract in there for you.”