Chapter 64
Sienna's heels clicked away down the corridor. The supplier we'd been meeting with had already disappeared into his car, probably relieved to escape the drama.
I stood there on the landing, still shaky from nearly being pushed down the stairs. My heart was hammering.
Julian turned to me. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." I forced a smile. "Used to it by now. Women getting mad at me because of you. You don't need to apologize, Mr. Garrison."
He gave me an awkward laugh. "Yeah. Cleveland all over again, huh?"
Back in Cleveland, Julian's admirers had made my life hell more than once.
He reached up, fingers gentle as he tucked a strand of hair that had gotten tangled in my earring. His touch was careful. Intimate. He was close—too close.
My breath caught.
Then—
A blur of motion. A fist connecting with flesh.
Thud.
Julian doubled over, hands clutching his stomach. The wind that rushed past me carried a scent I knew better than my own.
I spun around.
Adam Sterling stood there, shaking out his fist. Six-foot-three of barely controlled fury in a charcoal suit. His gray-green eyes were cold as winter.
"Jesus Christ, Adam!" I gasped.
He barely glanced at me. His gaze was locked on Julian, who was still bent over, wheezing.
"Broad daylight," Adam said coldly. "Public stairwell. Little too close for a boss and his assistant, don't you think?"
My shock turned to anger. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Those eyes finally found mine. "If I hadn't come, how would I know you were cozying up to other men?"
I turned to Julian, who was still bent over, one hand pressed to his stomach. "I'll drive you back to the office, Mr. Garrison."
Adam's hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. Hard. "What, Garrison can't afford a driver?"
I jerked my arm, trying to break free. "Adam, stop it! What is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me?" His grip didn't loosen. "Why do you keep defending him?"
Julian straightened up, his eyes meeting Adam's with a cold smile. "She's concerned about me. Her boss. That's normal." He paused. "What I want to know is—what gives you the right to care, Mr. Sterling?"
"I'm her boyfriend."
"Really?" Julian's smile turned razor-thin. "That's funny. Because Maya told me she's single."
"She's mine." Adam's hand tightened on my wrist. "And you need to stay the hell away from her."
"Maya's single," Julian repeated slowly. "Which means anyone can pursue her. Including me."
"Do you really think you have a shot?"
"I know I do."
Adam laughed. It wasn't a pleasant sound. "Should I call your father? I'm sure Thomas would love to hear about how his son is sniffing around—"
"Go ahead." Julian cut him off. "Call him. Use him to pressure me. That's all you've got, right? Because if we're competing on even ground, Sterling, you wouldn't stand a chance."
"Even ground?" Adam's voice went soft. Lethal. "Can you afford to lose Garrison Industries? Because that's what you're risking. Your inheritance. Everything."
Julian's expression flickered. For just a second, I saw the hesitation.
Adam smiled. "That's what I thought. For you, it's a choice: Maya or Garrison Industries. You can't have both." He paused. "I don't have that problem. I can have everything I want. Including her."
"Doesn't matter." Julian's voice was steady again. "You could have all the advantages in the world. But if Maya doesn't choose you, then it's all meaningless." He glanced at me. "We work together every day. I see her. Talk to her. I have the advantage. When I take over Garrison Industries, I'm going to marry her."
The words hung in the air.
Then Adam moved.
His hands fisted in Julian's collar, yanking him close. "You want to test me? Keep talking. See what happens."
Julian smiled. Slow and deliberate. "You know what? I do have an advantage over you. I know a secret about Maya. A big secret. And you don't."
Adam's eyes narrowed.
"Want to know?" Julian's gaze slid to me. "Too bad. Maya made me promise not to tell."
Adam's hand shot out.
Crack.
The punch sent Julian sprawling.
"Adam!" I ran forward, dropping to my knees beside Julian. "Are you insane?"
Julian pushed himself up. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"I'm taking you to the hospital—"
"I'm fine."
Before I could argue, Adam grabbed my arm. Hauled me to my feet.
"Let go of me!"
He didn't answer. Just dragged me toward the parking lot, his grip iron-hard.
"Adam! I have to get back to work!"
"No, you don't."
He shoved me into the backseat of his Aston Martin. The door slammed. I heard the locks click.
Then he was climbing in beside me, caging me against the leather seat. One hand on either side of my head. His face inches from mine.
"What secret?" His voice was rough. "What the hell is Garrison talking about?"
I couldn't breathe. His body heat seared through my clothes.
"I don't—"
"Don't lie to me." His eyes searched my face. Dropped to my mouth. "You're blushing. So there is something."
"You're not thinking straight." I pushed at his chest. He didn't budge. "Adam, get off me!"
"Is it something you can tell Garrison but not me?" His jaw clenched. "How close are you two?"
"That's none of your business!"
"Everything about you is my business."
"No, it's not! You have no right! I need to get back to work!"
"You're not going back there. I'm not letting you anywhere near him."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Maybe I am." His weight shifted, pressing closer. "Maybe you drove me crazy."
"I didn't do anything!"
"Didn't you?"
My breath came faster. I could feel every point where our bodies touched.
Claire. He has a girlfriend. Claire.
The thought doused me like ice water.
"Get off." I kicked at him. "Get off!"
He grunted. "Stop moving."
I didn't listen.
"I warned you," he said softly.
Then his mouth was on mine.
Not gentle. Not asking. Taking.
His lips crushed against mine, stealing my breath. The kiss was angry. Desperate. Like he was trying to brand me.
No no no no—
I thrashed. Pushed. Hit his shoulders with my fists.
"Fuck you." My voice broke.
He stilled.
Then I felt it. The wetness on my cheeks.
I'm crying.
"Maya." His thumb came up, brushing my cheekbone. "Baby, don't—"
"Don't touch me!" The sob ripped out of my throat.
More tears came. Hot and fast, blurring my vision.
Adam pulled back. His eyes widened when he saw my face.
"Shit." He reached for the tissue box. Started dabbing at my cheeks. "Hey. Come on. I only kissed you—"
"Only?" I stared at him through the tears. My whole body was shaking. "You have a girlfriend, Adam! You've been lying to me!"
"What—"
"You're rich." I was crying harder now. "You have everything. You could have anyone. Why would you make me think..." I swallowed. "You think I'm the kind of person who would sleep with someone else's boyfriend?"