Bought by the Boss

I snort. “If we thought we were up against some small-time firm we’d go easier on the deal.” Sounds like something smart and dirty Jackson would do. “It’s not a bad strategy.”

“Perhaps not.” Thomas grins. “Lucky for us it didn’t work.”

I nod in agreement but I’m lost in my thoughts, unable to speak. I absorb what Thomas has told me, the world slowing around me.

Jackson was on the other side of this deal. Aria had to know that. Sure, I could focus on the fact that she never told me when I mentioned the deal to her. I also don’t give two fucks about that.

However, there is something I do care about.

Over breakfast on Saturday with Aria, I had unknowingly given Aria the information she needed to close the Bakker deal for Jackson. She knew what we were going in with. She could have used that to her advantage to get Jackson the deal. “A quick thing before you go,” I say to Thomas, hands pressed flat against my desk. “Do you know the stipulations of Keller’s offer?”

“A cash deal,” Thomas reports. “Half a million more than our deal.”

“Nothing about employees?”

Thomas shakes his head. “Not that I’m aware of. That was your secret arsenal and damn, didn’t it work nicely.”

It did but I’m not thinking about Bakker right now in all this. Or Jackson. Aria, she’s all I’m thinking about.

Thomas slaps the doorframe. “I’ll get on the phone with Norcross now and get them in for the meeting.”

“Excellent. Thank you, Thomas.”

I watch him stride down the hallway through the glass walls, and glance at Mallory’s desk. She’s got her head down, focused on whatever task she’s doing. While I’ve never discussed Aria with Mallory, I almost wish I did now. She knows Aria better than anyone, and I don’t want to overstep. I don’t want to force her like Jackson had poisoned her. But I don’t want to put Mallory in that position either. She’s already being quiet with me today, telling me that Aria filled Mallory in on all that transpired this weekend. Perhaps Aria even shared her feelings, though I suspect she kept what Jackson had done a secret. Aria’s too loyal to share something so private about someone else.

Conflicted about what to do next, I rise from my seat and move to the bank of windows, staring off in the distance at the mountains. When I returned from Santa Monica, the world seemed different, changed now that I’d experienced what life with Aria would be like.

I didn’t want to choose for her.

I wanted her to come to me.

The thing is, I’m done waiting.

Aria

Later that evening, after quite possibly the longest day of work that I’ve ever had to endure, I’m doing what any normal woman does when life is in the crapper. I’ve got mindless television on and a large bowl of potato chips in my hands. I haven’t even made a dent into the mound of deliciousness when my doorbell rings. I’m off my couch in an instant, whisking the front door open not a second later, still holding my bowl of chips, expecting to find Jackson.

That’s not who I find.

Dressed in his fine black tailored suit with a dark red tie, Liam’s gaze roams my face, a frown marring his. “You’ve been crying.”

It’s a statement, not a question, and Liam is obviously not happy about my tears.

My head hurts too much to take the road of gentleness. “Why are you here?” I ask bluntly.

Liam’s eyes widen, seemingly I’m surprising him. Soon enough calmness and confidence replaces the shock. “Your loyalty has shifted to me.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t come for you when I heard Jackson represented the Pioneer Group?”

“Of course, I knew you’d come,” I whisper, emotion clawing at my throat. Because maybe I want that. Maybe I don’t want to be alone anymore. “But just because I made that choice doesn’t mean I have to feel good about it. And I don’t.”

Liam’s brows draw together, expression thoughtful, while he keeps a careful distance, studying me intently. “So, is that what’s upsetting you? You feel guilty?”

I know he wants to understand. Hell, even I want to understand everything that happened today but my mind is spinning, the world unsteady beneath my feet. “If only it was that simple,” I say to the both of us.

Liam exhales a heavy breath, softening his expression. “Aria, do not go through all this alone. You don’t have to. I’m here. Tel

l me what’s wrong, and I’ll do whatever I can to help fix it.”

I don’t know if it’s what he said, the strength and meaning behind his words, or how he looks at me, like he’d run through flames for me, that hits me straight in the heart, but that’s exactly what happens. He’s what I need. I draw in a deep breath then suddenly everything I’ve been holding in all day comes out in a blubbering mess. “Everything is all fucked up.”