“Thank you for talking to me,” I say. “I know I’ve said that already, but seriously. You’ve helped me feel better. I’ve really needed this. I’m in a foreign country, and it feels like I’m all alone.”
“You are welcome. And don’t worry, little Jade, Luke will come around. You’ll see. He can run, but he can never hide from his love for you.”
I smile gratefully at him. I do feel a little better. But I know I won’t feel totally better until I am able to get Luke to sit down and actually talk to me. And if I can’t, then that’s on him. That will be his own problem.
I finish my drink and set the empty glass down on the table. “Do you think I should go upstairs now?” I ask my new-found confidant.
Chapter 21
Luke
I pace my bedroom floor restlessly. I was glad the hooker came by when Jade wasn’t around. It wouldn’t have been a pretty sight. But where the fuck is Jade now? I’ve already been to the conference hall, the room upstairs where all the other PA gather to do their clerical work, the swimming pool, the three coffee bars.
Hell, I need a drink.
It’ll help clear my head. I decide to go down to the bar, first. I head out to the elevator, and make my way to the closest drinking hole. I stop mid-step at the entrance of the bar. Carl Magnus at the bar, sitting next to Jade, and too fucking close, damnit. I don’t like this. As I watch in stunned disbelief, the asshole slides an arm around her. My blood starts to boil.
“What the fuck?”
Now I know why she didn’t answer. She’s right here with the guy who was hitting on her the other day.
Mesmerized by the scene unfolding before my eyes I see her laugh at something he says. I don’t know what the hell is so funny, but I do know I’m going to put a stop to this once and for all. I’ve already told this guy to stay away from her.
She smiles at him and says something. He smiles back.
From where I’m standing, they are clearly flirting. I see red. It’s all I see. My fists clench at my sides. She’s my girl. I thought I told this jerk that already. And now here he is. As soon as there’s a little hint of trouble, he comes sniffing around. Who the fuck does he think he is?
I feel sick and angry. All of my muscles are tense, and I’m grinding my teeth into dust. But I can’t calm myself down. I’m seething with jealousy. I take one step, and then another, until I’m standing right by them. My fists are still clenched at my sides.
He is telling her some story.
Both of them are oblivious to me. He mentions Paris, and I know I’m about to punch him. I don’t have time to listen to him telling my girl romantic stories.
“Carl,” I say. I glare at him so he knows that I’m not here to play nice. He’s trying to take what’s mine, and I’m not going to let that happen. He’s stupid if he thinks I’m going to let him take her from me.
He turns and looks at me. “Hey, Luke. Funny thing you’re here.”
“Oh yeah, why’s that?” I ask, feeling even angrier.
“We were just talking about you,” he says.
I look at Jade. She avoids my eyes, and that doesn’t sit right with me. It makes me paranoid. Pain tears through me. Did I do this? Did I push her into the arms of another man?
I turn back to Carl. “You were talking about me? You think you can just sit here with my girl and move in on her because we had an argument?”
“Luke,” Jade says warningly.
I don’t respond to her. I’m too focused on Carl right now. I want to knock his stupid teeth out.
“You’ve got it all wrong,” he says and stands up.
My clenched fist collides with his jaw before he can say anything else. He stumbles back and trips over his bar stool. Carl Magnus doesn’t fall to the floor like a demolished skyscraper, he rights himself, shakes his head and grins at me. That stops me in my tracks and the fact that Jade screamed. I grab her hand and pull her through the lobby. People are running over to make sure that Carl is okay, and I just wish I had knocked him out cold.
“Let go of me!” Jade shouts.
Totally ignoring her, I drag her struggling body into the elevator with me. Someone tries to come in with us and I glare at him. He steps back immediately. The doors close. Finally, we’re alone. I’m vibrating with fury. I can feel my muscles shaking from how tense they are.
Jade looks really angry, too. When the elevator dings, she steps out quickly, trying to leave me behind.