The Billionaire Affair (In Too Deep)

Chapter 31

JEREMIAH

“Idon’t know about you, but I’m more than ready to call it a day. Are you done yet?” The sun was setting by the time I walked back into Stephanie’s office. She was sitting behind her desk, looking tired but gorgeous silhouetted by the orange glow coming in from outside.

I watched her for a moment while her attention was diverted as she tidied up her workspace and shut down her computer. Man, she was beautiful. Any man who couldn’t see it was blind. Her thick hair was pulled back today, falling in a dark wave down her back.

She moved with graceful purpose, using a soft cloth to wipe her desk after moving her paper tray to the side. Looking up when she was done as the hum of her computer died, signaling it was powered down, she smiled.

Stephanie nodded, reaching down to get her purse. “I was just starting to wonder if you were planning on sleeping here tonight.”

“Not tonight.” I winked. All-nighters weren’t unheard of for me, but I wouldn’t be pulling one tonight. Trying not to stare as she rose from her chair and smoothed her skin-tight skirt, I moved to stand in her open door and motioned her through it. “Your chariot awaits.”

Her brows pulled together before she gave me a surprised smile. “And they said chivalry was dead.”

“It isn’t,” I said. “It’s just grown a pair. It doesn’t show up everywhere anymore.”

“And that means what, exactly?” she asked, frowning slightly as she walked out the door. I shut it behind me, following her to the elevator. A few people waved at her, their eyes growing wide when they saw it was me walking behind her.

I returned their waves cheerfully. My father believed in reigning with an iron fist of terror, I didn’t share his views on leadership, but it was a slow ship to turn. “It means not everyone appreciates chivalry anymore, so men stop bothering sometimes.”

“Okay?” She squinted, looking at me from the corner of her eye as we waited side by side for the elevator car to arrive. “I’m still not getting it.”

“Boys are supposed to be raised to be gentlemen, right?”

“Right,” she agreed as the doors slid open in front of us. “Supposed to be.”

I hit the button for the garage floor I was parked on and turned my head to face her. “Most of us have some of those traits hidden inside of us. It’s hardwired into our DNA, being the protector and all that shit.”

She rolled her pretty eyes, a small smile hiking up one corner of her lips. “All that shit? And you’re giving a speech about chivalry?”

“Hear me out,” I said. I had no idea where this was coming from, but something inside me wanted her to know that despite everything she might think she knew about me, I could also be a good guy. So long as she never asked the tabloids about it.

“I’m waiting with baited breath.”

“Right, it’s hardwired into our DNA. You see a girl getting cold, you offer her your jacket. Or you know you’re supposed to.”

“But you’re cold too so you keep your jacket?” She chuckled.

I shook my head. “Nope. You offer it to a few girls. Some of them keep it, even though it’s your favorite jacket. They never offer to return it. Others look at you like you think they’re incapable of keeping themselves warm and get all offended. Eventually, you stop offering.”

“You’re saying chivalry is dying because girls are killing it?” Her chin lowered to her chest, fight returning to her eyes.

I shrugged. “In some cases, sure. In others, because it’s just not worth it. Like with the jacket thing.”

“Your mind works in strange ways, Jeremiah Williams,” she said, frowning. “Just because some girls keep the jacket doesn’t mean we all will. I wouldn’t.”

Which is why you are worth it. “True, but think about when I offered to drive you home this morning, your first reaction was to get defensive about my offer.”

“Because you said ‘it wouldn’t do’ for me to take public transportation. It sounds patronizing.” The elevator came to a stop on the parking level where my car was, and we got out.

Pointing in the direction of my car, I told her, “That’s exactly the point. I was offering because I wanted to keep you safe. You were harassed in my office by my ex-secretary. It’s my responsibility to ensure a safe working environment for you. I wasn’t being patronizing. I was being practical.”

“Maybe you should think about your delivery.” She followed me to my new toy parked in the corner.

“Maybe I should, but maybe you should think about why your first instinct was to get defensive. I wasn’t trying to patronize you, or anyone else. I know you can get yourself home safely. I simply want to help.”

“I already agreed to let you drive me home.” She stopped next to my car when I hit the button on the key fob, causing its red lights to flash as it unlocked. “This is yours?”