CHAPTER 21

While everything that happened for the past week between Reeves, Stephen, Daisy, and I, was interesting, I couldn’t deny that some of it was immature and uncalled for, mainly because my money was involved. My plan had been working steadily and Lord, I could swear that Reeves likes me, but I had to go ahead and teach him a lesson which ended with him picking the wrong side and making me out to be the bad guy. Reeves didn’t talk to me. He still didn’t want to talk to me, but I would make him talk to me. It wasn’t a hard task. I had the cards in my hands, and that was left was for me to play them right.

I let out a sigh, looking at my PC of incomplete work. Of course, all my thinking had cost me my will to work. I couldn’t quite concentrate, and I hated the fact that I couldn’t get work done all because I gave one man the authority to toy with me.

“Melanie!” the deep frustrated voice jolted me out of my reverie.

“Jesus Christ! If you’re at work, stay at work for goodness’ sake!” I stared at Jared Stone like he grew a new pair of eyes on his face.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t yell at me in such manner, SIR,” I forced a smile as I spoke; placing much emphasis on the ‘sir’ so he’d know I was mocking him.

“Well Melanie, I don’t like to yell at you too, but it seems like something is up with you and it has been affecting your work,” Jared said, pulling a chair out to sit as he spoke, exaggerating his gestures as he did, which did nothing but irritate me the more I looked at him.

“You see, before my father handed over this position to me, he spoke really highly of you. He told me you are the best in the city, and I should do everything in my power to make you stay here and work for the company. Oftentimes I wondered why my father said the things he said about you, and then I’d look at you work and be convinced, thinking you’re worth the hype my father—”

The only problem I had with Jared was that he talked a lot. If my work spoke for me, then why the hell was he here? I blocked him out, while thinking of ways I could get what I wanted from Reeves: his heart AND his money. Don’t get me wrong, I needed his heart to get his money.

Often, when the wives of the men I took from got in contact with me, the first question they asked was, “What do you want from him?” To which I replied, “His money.” It was nothing else for me, mainly because I couldn’t stand being broke. It just wasn’t my thing. The thrill I had gotten from being offered everything I needed by men and spending the money they gave me was therapeutic. It felt like I didn’t need anything else, just money and more money to spend and spoil myself.

I knew that these men didn’t owe me a thing because this was money, they worked their asses for—well, except a few politicians who stole money. Hell, even those politicians worked off their asses to come up with ways to steal the money. What I’m saying is, these men didn’t owe me a dime, and maybe feeling entitled to their money is wrong and whatnot, but the thing is, I don’t care. It’s just the way I am wired, and I can’t help it. I see a potential rich man, lure him to me, and if he takes the bait, then he has to spend the entire month or months paying for my efforts. It is my mode of survival, and it has worked well for me.

I didn’t feel bad or apologetic towards anyone I took from. I tried to, but it just never felt right, and I guess we have Stephen to thank for that. The man amped my desire to take money from rich men who looked like they didn’t have anything to do with it. Stephen blew my horns out of proportion. He hated it when I thanked him for getting me stuff, and he warned me several times to never say ‘thank you’ to him until I got used to it. He told me I deserved anything I wanted because a pretty girl like me deserved the world. If I said I wanted it, then men should do everything in their power to give it to me. I used those words as my life’s motto, and it backfired on him quite well because I took a lot from him, until we had to cut ties.

“Melanie? Were you even listening to me?” Jared was still here? I thought he would’ve gotten the memo that I didn’t care about all the trash he had to say to me and leave.

“Mm-hmm.” I pressed my lips together.

“Mr. Stone, I’d really love to go on with this conversation, but I have some important things to do right now that costs a lot,” I looked from him to the door of my office with a small smile playing on my lips. It was the politest way I could tell him to get the fuck out of my office.

“You see? This is what I was just saying. You don’t even stay in your office to work again. It’s like a strenuous task for you. Half of the time, you’re outside the building, doing only God knows what,” he complained, throwing his hands over his head in… frustration? When did it become this serious?

“Mr. Stone, I have a question I’d like you to answer honestly,” I stood up from my seat, walking around to the annoyed man. He nodded at my question and gulped hard at my presence, sinking deeper into the seat he was on as he kept his eyes steady on me.

“If your answer is positive, I’d walk out of this office right now to go do my business and we’re not going to have this conversation again,” I spoke slowly like I was speaking to five years old; the man nodded like one.

“Do I or do I not get my work done at the appointed time, and most times before the appointed time?” I smirked, leaning towards him as I spoke.

“You do,” Jared let out a breath that I guess he was holding.

“That’s all,” I smiled at the man, grabbed my purse, and walked sassily out of my office, leaving the man there to think of what he did. Men never seemed to get the memo; they could never win against me, not while I had a functioning brain.

I pulled out my phone to call Reeves to tell him I was on my way to his office, and I just wanted to talk. Reeves was quiet for a while, and when he took in a breath and was about to talk, I hung up. I got into my car and drove happily to see him, because I had a plan, I knew what to say to get him to listen to me and believe me; not that he’d have any choice than to listen and believe me.

For the first time since I started going to Reeves’s office, River let me in without any hostility. The man even had a smile on his face when he saw me. Reeves on the other hand, had a scowl on his face like he couldn’t wait to be done with my shit. Well, me too. I can’t wait to be done with your arrogant ass too.

Reeves was not seated on his ‘throne’ for a change. No, this time, he sat on the big sofa, the same sofa I had claimed the first time I set my foot in his office. I liked the change though, he didn’t know it, but it was going to make my job easier.

Reeves took in a sharp breath as his eyes roamed around my body, taking in my perfection. He ran his fingers through his hair a couple times then took out a band from his pants, taking it up to his hair to pack it. I could swear this man knew what he was doing. The sleeves of the white dress shirt he had on, was rolled up, and he had a few loose buttons, innocently teasing me with the perfection that is his chest. He had kept his eyes on me while he put his hair in a low ponytail, making the innocent task very sexual, too sexual.

“You wanted to talk,” Reeves finally talked, letting the words roll out of his tongue like he didn’t say them.

“Good afternoon to you too, Reeves. And yes, I’d love to sit before I start talking,” I smiled wildly, but it was fake. Reeves took in another deep breath, I’m guessing to calm him down; because I may have been the one that initiated the meeting, but I wasn’t going to let him treat me in a way that was wrong; like I was trash.

“I want us to take a mature route to end this thing, so I’d prefer it if you drop your attitude outside,” I pressed my lips together.

“Fine,”

“First of all, I’d like to apologize. I didn’t mean to act like that and I sure as hell didn’t want you to see me that way, I’m sorry,” I started, sitting closely beside him as I did.

“I’d like to clear the air about Stephen, because your misunderstanding of him is what caused all this,” I threw my hands in the air, and watched his face. Reeves cleared his throat, which was the indication that I was right. He had been jealous, strongly jealous if I may add.

“Stephen is the only friend I have. I know it sounds depressing, but Stephen was the only one who understood my character while in high school. My relationship with him is nothing short from pure friendship. I know what you saw at my apartment might suggest otherwise, but it was really nothing. Stephen and I wanted you to get jealous, to confirm if you really liked me or not,” it wasn’t entirely a lie, but I didn’t want to mention that wrench’s name like at all.

“The thing is Stephen has been rooting for you since the first time he saw you at the restaurant that afternoon, when I was having lunch with him and you came over to our table,” I inserted a small laugh. I didn’t miss the shadow of smile that appeared on Reeves face, even if it was for a split second; I was getting through to him already.

Now here goes nothing. This was the last part of my act, the part that was going to take his mind off what had happen for the past week. I took in a deep breath and placed my right hand on Reeves’s thigh.

“I hate it, I hate that you’re mad at me, and I hate that you didn’t believe me when I said I liked you. It shows that you didn’t trust me at all,” my voice was small, and blinked a lot, sniffing for maximum effect. I looked down, making sure he thought I was about to start crying.

Reeves raised my face with his thumb and index fingers on my chin, so I was looking directly.

“I’m sorry for everything,” Reeves apologized and before I could celebrate my victory, with the little victory dance I prepared in my head, Reeves placed his lips on mine