Chapter 12: Book An Appointment

Elizabeth’s POV:

I took another step back when Jaxon stepped out of the car and approached me. He stopped right in front of me, and I felt my heart pounding—why was I so nervous? It wasn’t my fault that I couldn’t see him at Voltex. It was all Naya’s fault.

“Uhm…” I muttered since he didn’t say anything and just stood there, staring at me. “I came to Voltex, and…” I wasn’t even done talking when he walked past me, his sharp tone interrupting me.

“Come along.”

I quickly followed after him as he headed upstairs. When we reached his bedroom, I stopped by the door. Jaxon loosened his tie and glanced at me with a frown.

“Come in.”

My gaze dropped to the floor. I didn’t want to step into his bedroom again. The only way I escaped last time was because he went to the bathroom. No, I didn’t want to be in any enclosed space with him.

“Ahh!” I screamed when he grabbed my hand, pulled me in, and pinned me to the wall. My chest heaved as I breathed heavily, staring up at Jaxon.

He pinned my hands above my head with his left hand, towering over me like a predator.

“What… what are you doing?”

I flinched when his right hand rested on my waist.

“I’m your husband. Why do you flinch at my touch?” he asked with an amused smile. I bit my lower lip and shook my head.

“Talk,” his tone sharpened. I knew he would only get angrier if I didn’t reply.

“I don’t want you to touch me.”

I didn’t know where I got the courage from, but I told him the truth. Surprisingly, my words didn’t seem to offend him—his smile grew wider.

“You have to be useful to me in one way, don’t you think so, bride?”

What did he mean by that?

He leaned in closer, his breath fanning my face. My breaths grew louder as I pressed myself tighter against the wall, wishing it would swallow me whole.

“What is it going to be?” he asked. His breath smelled amazing, like he’d just had a pack of mints. It was only now, with him this close, that I noticed his dark brown eyes—just like cacao.

“Talk,” he ordered again. I swallowed hard, trying to free my hands from his grip.

“I am useful,” I blurted out, and he nodded. His right hand moved from my waist and rested on my stomach.

“Where? Office? Or bed?”

“Office. I’m very useful at the office,” I blurted out quickly, not giving myself time to consider the second option. “I did come to the office, I promise.”

He finally stood tall and released my hands. I stayed frozen in place, not daring to move.

“You did?” he smirked, his lips curling into a mocking smile. “I thought you left to have fun with your 'brother-in-law'.”

Brother-in-law? A sharp pain pierced my heart. The way he called Talon my brother-in-law felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over me.

It was as if I’d suddenly been jolted back to reality—to the fact that I was married to Talon’s brother. Talon and I… would never happen.

My eyes stung, but I blinked hard, trying not to let the tears spill in front of him.

“Say it. Who is Talon to you?”

I shook my head as the tears finally came crashing down. I didn’t ask to marry Jaxon, and I couldn’t accept Talon as my brother-in-law. They couldn’t hurt me this much. Did I really have to give up on the man I love as well?

Jaxon slammed his hand against the wall just beside my head, and my eyes widened in disbelief.

“Say it, Elizabeth.”

His voice was low, but I could tell he was trying hard to restrain his anger. I sniffled, desperately trying to stop the tears.

“He… he is my brother-in-law,” I choked out. The words felt like daggers to my heart. How had I just realized that my hidden crush on Talon would remain hidden forever? Now, he and I were impossible.

“Good.”

Jaxon took a few steps away from me and turned his back.

“You let some low-lives chase you out of the company. You really let me down,” he chuckled bitterly.

“You have two days to use that same entrance and find your way to my office. If not… we’ll find a different way for you to be useful.” He glanced at me over his shoulder with a grin.

“Do you have anything to say to me, bride?”

I quickly shook my head in denial.

“Words, Elizabeth. Use words.”

“No… I don’t have anything to say.”

“Are you sure?” He fully turned toward me, his gaze lingering on my face. “Don’t you wish to tell me where you went with your brother-in-law?”

“I…” I waved my purse and phone at him. “I went to retrieve my stuff from the inn.”

“Mistake number two, Elizabeth.”

Huh? I’d already made two mistakes? What was the first one? Oh God, I felt like I was sitting in the principal’s office being scolded about my suspension from school.

“You need something, you come to me. Only me.”

What did he even mean by that? He knew so well that this wasn’t a marriage of choice or love, so why was he trying so hard to control and impose on my life? I didn’t need anything from him.

“I don’t need anything from you,” I said.

He chuckled, as if my words were a joke. What did he take me for?

He walked into his changing room, and I took it as an opportunity to quickly rush to my bedroom, which was down the corridor—the same corridor as Jaxon’s bedroom. So yeah, it wasn’t exactly safe.

I got inside, closed the door, and locked it. I didn’t want him walking in like he did this morning.

“My life is ruined,” I groaned, jumping onto the bed and burying my face in the pillow.

“Ahh!” I screamed into it and kicked my legs in frustration.

“Calm down, Beth,” I muttered to myself, flipping onto my back and staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling.

“If I show him I’m useful at the office, then he won’t bother trying to test the second option.” Just thinking about the second option had me sweating profusely.

All I had to do was get past the receptionist and find my way to the president’s office. But I didn’t even know which floor his office was on. And although the receptionist was pretty nice, I didn’t think she’d let me see the president without an appointment.

“Oh yes, maybe I should book an appointment!” I jumped up in excitement.

Why didn’t this idea come to mind earlier?