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Chapter 12
“Emma, is there something wrong with your food?”
I’m not paying attention to him and pushing the grilled chicken in my Caesar salad around. I’m troubled by his constant push for me to work for him. I want to get a position on my merits, not that I’m fucking the boss.
“I thought about it, and I don’t think I should work for you. I should stay at my position at Scarborough.”
Jordan looks up from his lunch of cold poached salmon and purses his lips. I can only imagine what he’s going to say.
“I think it’s a mistake for you not to come over from Scarborough.”
“Is it so terrible that we’re not together all the time? That I don’t work for you?”
“Emma, you already work for me.”
“Huh?”
He puts his fork down and gives me his full attention, “I’m majority owner in Scarborough. Robert was having some issues raising funds for another project. He came to me and asked for my help. We made a deal that I would give him the money if he would give me the controlling share of the publishing company. Once he pays back the loan with below-market interest, he will receive his controlling ownership back.”
I frown at him and raise my voice, “Why didn’t you tell me this before we started to date? Did you know who I was before you met me at the club?”
“I knew of you. As a businessman, I like to know my employees. I went through everyone’s file upon majority ownership.”
“You knew what I looked like then. A picture was taken of me when I was hired and put in my file.”
“I did, and yes, it was in your file.”
“Did you seek me out, Jordan? Or did you recognize me from my picture?”
“Why are you getting so upset?”
“I want to know if you found me purely by accident, or you followed me.”
“I didn’t follow you. I have an interest in Haze. I was there to check out Nathaniel. Dino told me about him, and I wanted to see if he would be a good fit for my other clubs.”
“Oh, and yet another piece of information you neglected to tell me. How much more shit am I going to find out that you’ve been hiding from me?”
“Emma, please. You don’t understand.”
“What don’t I understand? That you’ve been following me? How long?”
“I wasn’t following you. It was a coincidence that we met at Haze. Christ, I’m not a stalker for fuck’s sake.”
“That’s exactly what it looks like. You speak of coincidence, but it all fits. You took ownership of Scarborough; then, you meet me in Haze, a place you also own. To top it off, you’re courting my roommate for a job? Was that your plan? Get to me through Nathaniel? He’s dealt with a lot of shit in his life. He doesn’t need to be duped.”
“I was doing no such thing. I didn’t know Nate was your roommate. Dino hired him.”
I leave my lunch and stand up to head to the bedroom. I grab my purse and phone then go to the elevator, punching the down button.
“You’re going to leave? Why?” Jordan yells.
“You haven’t been honest with me. This is all a bunch of bullshit. You’ve been drawing me in from the beginning. Did you think I was too stupid to figure it out?”
“Emma, please don’t go. I need you.”
“You’re just going to have to fight your demons by yourself. I can’t be with someone who isn’t honest and forthright. I don’t think I can stay at Scarborough.”
“You can’t quit because I own the place. I don’t run it, Nicky does.”
