“The hell I’m going to do that,” he retorts, shaking his head in disbelief. “You can’t get rid of me, so don’t even bother. Why the hell would I give you everything I’ve worked for? Do everyone a favor and leave the past in the fucking past.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Jaxon sneers, narrowing his eyes. I jump at the venom in his voice. “This company was my father’s life. You were too busy fucking his wife to do your job back then. Maybe what I should do is tell the police everything I know about that night.”
“You think you’re the only one who knows things, Murphy? I know plenty that could ruin you.” He pauses and lets out a low chuckle. “You want a war, Murphy? You’ve fucking got one.”
My heart pounds. Is that was this is about? Ryan sleeping with Jaxon’s mother? No, it has to be more than that. What did Ryan do to him that would make Jaxon willing to go to any lengths to ruin Ryan?
Jaxon steps back and takes my hand, briskly strolling past the crowd that has gathered. We walk outside, the cold air hitting my face as he marches me over to the car.
“Have you ever ruined someone’s life, Charlotte? Completely undone everything they’ve worked hard to build? Crushed them so all that remains is a hapless shell of the person they used to be?”
His voice is so cold it sends shivers down my spine. What the hell is wrong with this guy? I shake my head, my eyes wide, and he laughs.
“No? Well, you’re about to help me do just that.”
Chapter 9
Jaxon
She hasn’t said a word the whole drive home, and I wonder if I’ve scared her off. I’ve been living in my hell and been crazy all my life, so I never really know how it looks from the outside. I know my mission and it all seems perfectly clear, but Charlotte doesn’t—and won’t. She knows nothing of why I’m doing this. To her I must seem like a sociopath with no concern for anyone but myself.
When she walks back into the living room carrying her small metallic suitcase, I think I’ve got my answer. It never occurred to me that she might leave, because frankly, women don’t leave me. Just the thought of her doing something against my wishes is enough to make my blood boil.
When we left the function, I could see she was struggling with what had happened, but I assumed she’d get over it. In the scheme of all the things I’ve done to get what I want, tonight was nothing. Hell, I caused more trouble in school for a decent grade.
; Tonight was a small taste of what’s to come, just enough to get Ryan’s guard up. I thought Charlotte could handle it. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe she isn’t the woman I need her to be. If that’s the case, it’s best I find out now, before she’s dragged deeper into my hell.
“Going somewhere?” I ask pointedly, raising my eyebrows. She stares back at me, her expression hard, but not hard enough to hide the fear. All I see is a scared little girl who has yet to understand how harsh the world can be. Sometimes life is cruel. If she’s been fortunate enough to avoid that until now, then good for her¸ but eventually life is going to completely fuck her up. Better I prepare her for that than some other asshole.
“You said I’m off Friday till Sunday. I’d like to spend it at my apartment.” Her tone is defensive. I stand up and walk over to the doorway where she stands. She tenses as I close in on her, her knuckles going white as her fingers tighten around the handle of her suitcase. I smirk, narrowing my eyes as I reach out and touch her neck, my fingers running over the tiny goosebumps that have formed on her soft skin.
She gasps as I bring her closer to me. Her ear is against my mouth as I whisper the words to her. I speak with determination and authority, my eyes locking onto hers.
“You’re not going anywhere, Charlotte.”
Because I know if she leaves this house she won’t be coming back, and although I don’t want to admit it to myself, I don’t want her to go. I frown, struggling to understand what that means.
“But you said…”
“I say many things. The only thing you need to remember is I am in charge.” My voice fills the open space of the room, echoing through the high ceilings. She winces, and for a second I feel bad. “You’ll get your time off when I say you do, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispers back. I feel the soft weight of a tear hitting my shoulder, soaking through the fabric. I pull away, just enough so I can lift her chin. She exhales as my lips press against hers in a soft, sensual kiss. Her fear and my ability to intimidate her excite me. I press my body against hers, my erection growing harder with every moment of contact.
“I have a few things to organize, but I’d like to see you after I’m done,” I say in a softer, friendlier tone.
A small smile spreads across her lips as she relaxes. “Are you asking me or telling me?” Any hint of the emotion she showed a moment ago is gone.
“I’m asking you,” I begin, my lips twitching into a grin. “But if that fails, I have no issues telling you what to do. You do work for me, after all.”
“Then I guess I’ll see you later.” She hesitates, looking up at me. “Am I free to go now?”
I nod and watch as she pulls away from me, going back through the doorway that leads to her room. I have no idea what she’s thinking, and to be honest, I don’t really care right now. I have more important things on my mind, like bringing down Ryan. The one thing in my life that has become an obsession, that I will go to any lengths to accomplish, no matter the price I have to pay. It will be worth it to see this to the end.
I need her to do what I ask and not question it. I won’t let myself be distracted by seeing her as anything other than a means to an end, because if I did that, I know I’d be risking everything.
I slam my office door closed behind me, lock it, and then check once again that it is indeed locked. I’m scrupulous about my privacy. Walking over to the far wall, I gently ease the expensive piece of framed artwork from the wall, revealing the safe that sits behind it.