Sugar

“Am I being mean? I was in the middle of a business meeting when you called. I dropped everything to check on you. The moment I realized you were upset and this was serious, I came here. Do you know why? Because that’s the arrangement. I take care of you, and you keep the drama to a minimum. This isn’t me being mean, Avery. This is me checking on my investment and deciding if it’s time to cut my losses. You know what I want. I’ve made my wishes crystal clear. But before you say another word, you better be damn sure you know what you want, because the minute this is over, that’s the end. It isn’t cheap to skip the emotional bullshit, but I damn well paid for the right.”

He’d never spoken to me in such a harsh way before. All at once, I felt cheap and replaceable. I couldn’t do it anymore.

“How long do I have until you rent the apartment? I can disappear with little notice if you want to show it to potential tenants. But I need to know how long I have to find a new home.”

His jaw ticked and his nostrils flared. “You’re making a mistake.” Pivoting, he snatched his coat off the chair and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

I flinched and shut my eyes, grateful Noah was at work and not around to witness Micah’s exit.

40

Noah

“See this shot here?” I zoomed in on the bottom of the mountain, showing the jumper at a new angle. “We want more like that.”

“Got it.” Steve marked down the file location and removed the thumb drive from the computer. “I’ll check the other feed to see if we have more like that.”

“Good.” We both stilled as voices carried. “What the hell is that?”

Steve frowned and I went to the door. Lucy came bustling down the hall. It was the first time I saw her since last night.

“Lucy, what’s all that—”

“I’m going to find out.” She kept moving down the hall, back in her sensible shoes and glasses.

The shouting continued, so I followed, as did Steve. Lucy made it to the end of the hall first, and her voice was that of a grade school principal’s.

“Just who do you think you are coming in here and abusing our staff? If you have an issue, you can take it up with me or Mr. Wolfe. Leave the receptionist alone.”

I turned the corner and came up short as Lucy stood toe to toe with none other than Micah. He glanced down at Lucy and did a double take. “You.”

This guy was becoming a royal pain in my ass. “What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped.

He pulled his scowl from Lucy and glared at me. “I need to speak to you in private.”

When he stabbed a finger in my direction, Lucy scoffed. “I’m almost certain this man doesn’t have an appointment, Noah.”

“I don’t need an appointment.”

“Everyone needs—”

“It’s fine, Lucy.” She was like a tiny little guard dog.

Micah lowered his gaze and sneered at her.

“Oh, God, don’t do that,” Steve muttered. “She’ll kill you.”

Lucy huffed out a breath, her fists screwed into her hips as she let him by. Micah’s head twisted, never breaking eye contact with her as he passed. Only when he was standing in front of me did he ask, “Is there a private place we can talk?”

“Follow me.” I wanted him out of my building as fast as possible, so I turned into the first empty conference room. “Talk.”

He shut the door. “What are your intentions with Avery?”

“I intend to keep you as far removed from our relationship as possible, including my motives. Next question.”

“Do you love her?”

“None of your damn business.”

He flashed his teeth and growled, “Do you see this as a long term thing, or are you just trying to get into her pants?”

Already got into her pants, and it was definitely leading to long term. But fuck him for acting like he had a right to that information.

“Look, I don’t know how you found out where I work or what made you assume you were entitled to personal details about my life, but my relationship with Avery has nothing to do with you.”

“You sure about that, boss?”

“I’m not your fucking boss.”

“Yeah, well I’m hers, and I’m not leaving until I know what you want with her.”

I drew back, appalled, and needing a moment to react. “Do you hear yourself? You’re her boss? Do you know how pathetic that sounds? You pay her to act interested in you. Do you think she’d spend any time with you if money wasn’t involved? It’s all a fucking act. You don’t know a thing about her, but I do, and it drives you crazy because I didn’t have to pay a penny for her time.”