19

19
Jake couldn’t respond and that was the exact moment that I knew he had done something. I was so annoyed that I couldn’t stop myself from hanging up the phone. He tried to call back but I ignored his calls and finally switched off my phone when they became too frequent. I knew he wouldn’t risk coming to the office especially since my father wasn’t around so I had a few hours to figure out what exactly I wanted to do.
By the end of the workday, I was more furious than before I started. A part of me was happy that Jake had come to my defense but I was annoyed that he did it even after I asked him not to. Yes, Charles was an asshole but I worked with him and Jake had unknowingly caused more problems for me.
I got home fully prepared to just strip and lie naked in bed but I was taken aback when I saw Jake standing in my living room. His hair was messy as if he ran his hands through it one too many times and the top buttons of his shirt were undone. He looked worried and when he saw me, he stood to his feet. He reached out for me but I took a step back.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “Where is Alana? You shouldn’t be here?”
“Alana already went home. She was leaving when I arrived. I told her that I wanted to drop something off for your father. Can you sit down so we can talk?” I stayed standing and crossed my hands over my chest. “I know you’re upset but I didn’t do anything that would tie him to you. He won’t get fired for what I found. I could have done much worse.”
“Is that the argument you’re going with?” I cut him off and he went silent. “It isn’t about what you could or could not have done. It is about the fact that you did it even after I told you not to.”
“Hayley,” he reached out for me and even though I pulled back, he still grabbed my shoulders. “I don’t think you understand so let me make this clear. Since the moment I put my hands on you, you were mine. Fuck, you were mine long before that. It is my duty to protect you whether you like it or not. I am not going to apologize for that.”
“This is work, Jake, you have no idea how hard it is for me already. I have to work twice as hard to prove myself because I am a woman and because I am my father’s daughter. They already think I did something and I like to handle my problems by myself. I can do it.”
“I know you can, that doesn’t mean that I won’t do it,” I opened my mouth to protest but he cut me off. “Look, the way I see it, I don’t feel sorry about it and if you think deep down, you aren’t really upset about it either. So, you can either drag this argument out but it still ends up with you losing and in my arms or we can skip the argument and get to the part where I tell you I’ve made dinner for us.”
I was taken aback by the last part of his sentence. “You did?’
“Of course, I can serve us while you get changed.”
It was at that moment that I realized that I was still in my work clothes. Dinner sounded amazing so I wasted no time in getting undressed and taking a long shower. Once I felt fresh again, I settled for a baggy shirt that stopped at the middle of my thighs and shorts underneath. I tied my hair into a messy bun and made my way downstairs where the smell of food had filled up the entire room.
“You are amazing, do you know that?” I mumbled aloud as I grabbed the nearest plate of food. Jake just smiled and pulled me into his side.
“Do you want to tell me about your day?” he asked and I frowned which made him laugh. “Okay then, what do you want to talk about?”
“Did you find out anything about my dad?” I asked and he reluctantly shook his head. “I’m just very worried about him. He has never acted like this before. I don’t even know who to call anymore. He didn’t even tell me where he was going, he just got up and disappeared.”
“I tried to ask him but he told me that he couldn’t explain it. Maybe he met someone new and is worried about how you would react.”
“If my dad met someone new, he wouldn’t be traveling every other day. He would want to keep it low-key especially so that no one gets a wind of it. This is something more and I know it is something important or else he wouldn’t treat it like this.”
“Your dad is an adult, Hayley, he can handle himself. If it makes you feel any better, I always have men following him at all times.”
My brows furrowed. “I thought he didn’t like bodyguards. He said the two of you almost fought before he agreed to the two that he currently has.”
“He did, but then again, I know how stubborn your father is. He is my friend and he earned my protection without asking for it. He has no less than four guards on him at all times.”
“Do you do that for people often?” I asked and he shook his head. Another question hung on the tip of my tongue but I was unsure of whether or not I should ask it. I hesitated for a second before blurting it out. “What about me?”
“What about you, Hayley?”
“Did I earn your protection or did my father ask for it?”
“He asked, but he didn’t need to, you’ve always had my protection, more so now than before.”
I raised a brow. “How many men do you have on me?”
“More than you would want to know,” he mumbled and I opened my mouth to ask the exact number when he kissed me. it was a deep and heady kiss that had my toes curling and had me itching to climb over him and finish it somewhere else but he pulled back before I could deepen it. “You ask too many questions.”
“I’m curious,” the words came out as a breathy whisper and I knew that was his aim when he smirked to himself. “I hate you, Jake.”
“You wish you did.”
We sat there eating in silence and I couldn’t help but realize after a few minutes that it was one of the most intimate things that we had done. I hadn’t realized how much I needed company until he came. I would have been all alone in the large house thinking about my father but somehow Jake had anticipated my needs before I did and he had presented himself to be available. It was one amazing thing about him and as we did the dishes together, I couldn’t help but realize just how wonderful it was that he was mine and I could freely touch him.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked as he dried off the last of the dishes and I shrugged. “I can see the wheels in your head turning, Hayley, what is it?”
“I’m just glad that you’re here,” I said finally and he smiled.
“I always will be,” his phone rang at that exact moment but he never took his eyes off me. “Ignore it.”
He leaned down to kiss me and all thoughts were forgotten, at least until his phone rang again. He broke off the kiss with a scowl on his face and reached out for his phone which was lying on the counter. I saw a confused look cross his face but he swiped right on the screen.
“Ryker’s personal line, how can I help you?” as soon as he heard the voice on the other side, his business mask cracked and was replaced with care. “Michael, slow down, I don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Is that my dad?” I mouthed and he nodded.
“What are you talking about? Whose phone are you using?” I couldn’t hear what my father was saying and Jake wasn’t putting it on speaker despite me mouthing for him to do it. “Send me your location, I’m coming to get you.”
He hung up immediately and I was standing there waiting. “What is going on?”
“I can’t explain now but I have to go,” he placed a quick kiss on my forehead and started to leave but I grabbed his arm. “Please, Hayley, just trust me on this one. I have to go.”
“Are you going to explain when you come back?”
“I can’t,” he slowly extracted his hand from my hold. “I’m sorry, baby, I promise you will understand soon.”
He didn’t even give me a chance to form a response before he was out of the house.