Page 9 of Roots of the Wicked

Chapter Five

Jax

Absently, I raised my phone to my ear, but my mind remained on the proposal I was writing for a new contract I was in the process of securing.

“Yes.” I answered, pinning the phone between my neck and shoulder.

“You have a visitor,” Lulu, one of my engineers informed me.

What was she talking about? We rarely had visitors because we went to most of our clients.

“Who is it?” I asked, but she didn’t have to provide an answer, because Chase stood at my door. My phone fell into the cradle just as she was saying his name. Everything about him screamed sexy as he filled up the space around him.

“Umm, what are you doing here Chase?”

“ Hello Jax. I was in the neighborhood and just thought I’d stop by and say hi.”

Bullshit!

After the elevator scene, one of us was destined to give in to the fiery temptations that had been stirred. I cast my glanced around him to see if a camera crew had followed him in.

“Don’t worry, my driver has become a pro at shaking the media. I made sure they didn’t follow me.”

Drinking in the dark smoothness of his features couldn’t be helped because his sex appeal had its own zip code. He casually leaned against the door frame, impeccably dressed in dark gray slacks, and a light blue silk button up, as his suit jacket lay draped over his arm.

“What are you doing here?” I asked a second time.

“I made you an offer, you never gave me a reply.”

The daring gleam in his eyes was hard to miss. I didn’t know if he was talking about the job offer he proposed, or me. Truthfully, he could have been talking about both, but the amount of hot passion he bought with him into my office space, was as potent as the sight of him.

“It’s only been five days. How long do I have to think about it?”

He finally stepped in, placing his jacket across the back of the chair in front of me, and held his tie in place as he stepped around the chair and sat down. His body filled the black guest chair, making it appear small as he stretched his long legs out before him.

“For you, there is no time limit, but I tend to be impatient when it comes to getting what I want.”

Now, I knew he wasn’t talking about the job. I didn’t think he cared if I took it or not. He was interested in me and showing up at my office had proven it.

“So, how is it that I haven’t run into you for eight months. I’m aware that there’s work you can do remotely, but how often do you visit Swift Capital?”

My eyes narrowed and lingered on him before I answered. “I don’t get out to Swift but once or twice a month, and during those times, I’m usually running tests and conducting inspections to make certain my engineers are doing good work. Most times, I’m here securing more business, writing proposals, or doing background work that keeps the company going.”

He studied the interior of my office, taking in the tight space. My desk and chair, the chair he sat in, the framed picture of a dark-purple flowery clematis vine hanging on the wall behind me, and a large table of computer equipment that took up a third of my office. There were no spectacular views permeating the area, but it was stylized with modern contemporary furnishings and made me feel at home.

“Before now, I had only seen you once by chance, but I’ve heard good things about you, your company, and your impeccable work ethic.”

“Thank you,” I said. An odd silence sat between us, my mind plunged in an unusual state of uncertainty of where to take the conversation.

“You’ve been asking about me? May I ask why?” I knew why but wanted to hear him admit it first.

“Yes, I have. You’re an intriguing mystery I’d like to solve.”

His words left me dazed. The obscene amount of burning passion between us filled the room and threatened to suffocate me. I could hear myself breathing. We sat in the moment, allowing the vibrant flow of our connection to sink in.

“Are you dating anyone Jax?”

He didn’t beat around the bush, an aspect of him that I appreciated, although it threw me off.

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