Page 4 of Whatever It Takes

“I know.” Jameson shrugs. “But I want to. I was just about to head down the street for a coffee. Can I buy you a muffin to help cheer you up?” His bright blue eyes sparkle as little crinkles appear at the edges. He’s clean-shaven and blond, but it’s the lighthearted energy that surrounds him that’s so different from what I’m used to.

I could kill a few minutes while I wait for the rideshare.

I nod, shoving my hair behind my ear. “Sure, why not?”

“Perfect,” he purrs, holding out his arm and gesturing for me to go first as the elevator doors open.

Damn.

He is smooth.

Chapter Two

Easton

Three Months Later

There’s no doubt I’m a spiteful son of a bitch under the best of circumstances. I watched Briar’s reaction to the car backfiring the day she first came into Shadow Security. For whatever reason, I couldn’t get it out of my head. Before she sat down in my office, I had already made the choice to hire her.

Calder hadn’t even had the chance to bring her up from the first floor when I sent an office-wide text, clarifying that everyone should keep their distance, because Briar was mine.

Oh yes, Jameson knew I wanted her.

He went after her, anyway.

That was when I decided he would pay. It’s taken several months to set my plan in motion, but I’m nothing if not committed.

When I want something, I make it mine.

It’s that fucking simple.

And I want that doe-eyed little omega almost more than I want my next breath. I’ve studied her closely over the last fewmonths, attempting to gauge how to make her as entranced with me as I am with her.

It’s a shame that she only seems to tolerate me as a necessity of keeping her job. Not that I’ve put my best foot forwardyet.

Every woman I’ve blinked twice at has reciprocated perceived interest, and by that, I mean I could have had them eating out of the palm of my hand within days.

IfI cared enough to bother, that is.

I tried a much softer approach with sweet Briar the first few times we interacted. Only, she barely spared me a second glance.

I believe it may have hurt my feelings. No, I would have to experience emotion for her tohurt my feelings.It appears it’s my pride she damaged, and that’s far more dangerous for the little omega than anything else she could have done.

That, and the fact she intrigues me.

Intrigue leads to obsession.

Obsession to possession.

I don’t make the rules of how my system works.

Briar frowns, leaning against the kitchen counter as she watches Jameson flirt with the bubbly new neighbor. I’m sure the tenderhearted omega has convinced herself that he’s merely being a polite host.

He’s not.

I hired Steffanie for a specific purpose. She’s making four times a day what she was as a sex worker, and her only directive is to get Jameson into bed.

I’m not a monster.

---