“I dare you, sweetheart. It’s been too long since I showed you who I really am. I cannot wait for you to get reacquainted with the asshole version everyone else has been privy to for the past year, partly because of you.” I couldn’t dump all the blame on Lily, though. My father had taken the Worst Dad of the Century trophy, leaving others to eat dust.
“You’re insane!” she yelled in my face.
“That’s rich, coming from a half-naked woman who just broke a monitor and accused a gay, middle-aged woman of having an affair with her fake fiancé.”
“You’re weird. And a smartass. I don’t even like you anymore.” She walked over to the door, made a U-turn, stared at me helplessly, and shook her head. “Tell me how to make it right, and I will.” Her voice cracked around her plea.
“Get out.”
The door slammed in my face, and my eyes immediately traveled to the newsroom through the glass walls. Judith was staring at me, like she wanted my eyes to bleed out the truth of what had happened in my office. But I couldn’t invite her in. Not so soon after kicking Lily out. That would be transparent, downright risky.
I dialed Brianna’s extension and asked her to summon Judith for a one on one rundown meeting in three hours. I asked her to do the same for Kate, Elijah, and James. I had nothing to say to the last three. I just didn’t want it to look suspicious.
I fell into my seat and closed my eyes. A text message dinged on my phone, and I flipped it over to see who it was.
Dan: Your father is at a meeting right now, selling ad space to a Vegas-based marketing company that specializes in condoms, tobacco, gambling equipment, and sex toys. I’m sitting in the same restaurant. They’re talking seven figures.
This deal would be suicide for the LBC brand, and my father knew it. This was a prime example of how far he’d go to sabotage things for me.
Record everything please, I ordered.
It was time to take this matter to the board and bury what was left of my relationship with the man who hated me just a little less than I hated him.
Three meaningless conversations later (Kate was happy to know I’d called the engagement off with Lily; Elijah and I talked baseball; and James tried to give me some fatherly advice about women and relationships, only to be sent out with his tail between his legs.), Judith entered my office.
The minute she walked in, the urge to push her against the door, spread her legs, and fuck her relentlessly burned through my veins, but I settled for an easy smirk.
“Humphry.”
“Sir.”
I was seated behind my desk—something my erection was very grateful for—and I motioned for her to take a seat across from me. She did so obediently, her back straight. I handed her the notebook I’d managed to retrieve from Lily. It was wrinkled as fuck. Jude took it in shaky hands.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“I’ll buy you another one.”
“I don’t want another one. I like this one.”
Fuck. Why did that make me even harder?
She shook her head, sighing. “You wanted to see me?”
“There are a few matters we need to discuss as a result of the unexpected appearance of Miss Davis at the newsroom.” I loosened my tie.
Jude smiled her sweet, innocent smile. “That’s a lovely way of describing a batshit crazy woman who broke a monitor and ruined my notebook, if I ever heard one.”
I smirked. Sat back. Knotted my fingers together. “I sent Brianna to the third floor to get one of James’ stylists to iron Kipling back into shape.”
Her eyes widened, her lower lip poking out. “How did you…?”
“Figured it out.” I waved her off.
Not quite. The mystery had occupied my mind for many long nights. So much so that I’d pieced together every encounter in which she’d mentioned Kipling. She’d had the notebook clutched in her palm in all of them.
Jude looked touched, and I needed her not to be, so I continued. “At any rate, Miss Davis will be in no position to further damage property or harass LBC employees anymore, especially seeing as I terminated our engagement.”
Which was really a nice way of saying we could go back to fucking peacefully without Judith giving me the third degree, just not in so many words.
“Is that why I’m here?” she asked, jutting her chin out. “Because you think I’ll jump back into your bed?”
“And couch. And office door. And fucking public toilet, if I say so.” I shrugged, sitting back and smirking at her.
“You’re wrong, Célian. When I told you I don’t do love, I meant it. But I don’t do casual, either. I need it to mean something. I was with Milton because I’m capable of having a relationship. I’m capable of giving.”
I really didn’t want to hear about that douche, Milton. At the same time, my growing need to fuck Judith might very well make my balls explode. I decided I would compromise my truth—if not bend it just a little—to accommodate her needs.
“I can do a discreet arrangement.”
“I don’t want an arrangement. I want a relationship.”
“Whatever you want to call it, Chucks. As long as you realize there is nothing at the end of that tunnel—no marriage, no wedding, no kids, and no cozy evenings watching Jeopardy with your dad—you can have it. Now pack a bag. We’re going to Miami for the weekend.”
I thought about all I’d said and decided to amend one thing. “Actually maybe Jeopardy is okay sometimes. Your pussy will need an occasional rest.”
“Miami?” Her eyes widened like I’d suggested Afghanistan. She recovered quickly, clearing her throat and adding, “We haven’t finished working on the Syria piece.”
Right. Fuck. Of course we still needed to wrap it up.
“We’ll work into the night.”
“I promised Dad I would watch the Yankees game with him.” She reddened.
I hated that I liked that about her—her fierce loyalty to her family. No matter how late she stayed at work, she somehow always made time for her pops.
But maybe Jude wasn’t anything special. Maybe I just had no idea how a normal family worked and was giving her extra credit.
“You may have the night off,” I said curtly. “I’ll send a cab to take you to the airport. Anything else?”
She stared at me for a few seconds, still blinking in disbelief. I guess I’d expected her to be happier about the news, but I didn’t exactly deliver it with flowers and sugary promises.
“You’re single?” she confirmed.
I raked my eyes over her. “Seems that way.”
“You broke it off with her?” She rubbed her forehead, looking around the room. Why? Was she expecting this to be a big prank? Clearly, she thought very little of me in the morals department.
“Do you need this in writing, Humphry?”
“That would be great, actually.”
I smirked. “Get your smart ass out of my office before I spank it.”
“You’re awful,” she said, getting up from her seat and walking back to the door.
I watched her every movement, wondering why I found her so fascinating, and inwardly asking myself what the fuck I was doing, taking this random chick to see my mother—Maman—who was still blissfully ignorant of the collapse of my engagement.
“You like awful,” I retorted.
She stopped by the door, bowed her head and shook it, laughing. When she left, the smell of hope crawled into my nostrils, the smell of her vanilla shampoo and gingery, spicy perfume.
And I had to admit, I liked it a whole a lot better.
Just smile and act normal.
Dad sat at my side, wearing an S. Carter jersey and a Yankees ball cap and drinking soda, which was definitely not on his current menu. I let it slide because he looked completely enchanted with the game. I, myself, wore a huge American flag hat and a Frank Sinatra shirt. Close enough, if you ask me.
I broached the subject when I got back from refilling our bowl of popcorn in the kitchen—another thing Dad shouldn’t be eating, but a little couldn’t hurt.