Is It Revenge Or Love?

She's Taken

~Monroe~

“Sir?!” My body jolts, and I focus my gaze on Dixon. I look around the room before looking back at him.

“What’s wrong?” Dixon sighs and shifts in his seat.

“Excuse my bluntness, sir, but you keep drifting off. Is everything okay?” Is everything okay? That’s a valid question. Truth be told, I can’t wrap my head around Jaylene right now. I feel like I’m getting mixed signals or losing my touch.

I’m no casanova or anything like that, but I’ve been known to interest women when I try. I’ve been trying with Jaylene, but I’ve gotten nowhere. After our dinner, she turned me down again. I’ve texted her this morning, but her responses have been dry. “SIR!” I run a hand down my face and sit taller in my chair.

“I’m sorry, Dixon. I’m just preoccupied. What does the rest of my day look like?” Dixon eyes me suspiciously before looking at the tablet in his hands. His eyes meet mine again, and he sits straight in the chair.

“Let’s talk. What’s going on with you?” Dixon isn’t just my assistant; he’s about the only true friend I’ve had all these years. I’ve encouraged him to do more, but he said he’s right where he wants to be. The issue with that is Dixon can read me like a book, and he won’t let me pretend like everything is great when it’s not.

I sigh and drop my head, rolling my neck in the process. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, Dix. I’ve never had trouble getting women interested before, but Jaylene is proving to be difficult.”

“You said dinner went well until it didn’t. Did she say anything significant during dinner?” I scoff as I think back to our dinner.

“She tried to paint herself as someone she’s never been, but other than that, everything was basic. I guess she didn’t reveal too much about herself over the years, but there was nothing hostile. I just don’t get why she refuses me when I try to get closer.” Dixon sits, looking pensive. He leans forward, placing the tablet on my desk.

“Maybe you have to do things differently with her. Maybe the typical won’t work.”

“She’s a basic rich girl. How different would I need to be?” Dixon sits back with a grin on her face.

“What rich girl do you know spends their days with children, and children with disabilities at that?” Okay, Dixon has a point. She may not be the same as the other rich girls we grew up with. My phone beeps before I can respond. I lean over and click the button.

“Yes?”

“Sir, your two o’clock is available.” I look up at Dixon in confusion. Dixon is trying to fight a smile, which only serves to irritate me.

“Yeah, your two o’clock with Deon Gage. I told you about that a few times.” f***k! I’m not in the correct headspace to deal with that i***t, but I guess I have no choice. I clear my throat and press the button.

“Let him in, Jessica.” I sit up in my seat, straightening my desk. Dixon grabs his tablet and walks to my table at the back of the room. My office door opens, and that smug bastard strolls in. He looks around my office as if he’s sizing up my worth. I lean back in my chair, keeping my eyes on him. I don’t stand until he starts to walk toward my desk. I walk around the desk and hold my hand out. “Mr. Gage, how nice to see you.” He takes my hand, and we shake, then his hand gets tighter around mine. I guess he’s trying to intimidate me, but little does he know that it’s just funny to me.

The look on his face is comical when he realizes that his attempt to strong-arm me was a waste. “Thank you for meeting with me,” I motion to the chair Dixon was just sitting in.

“Please have a seat.” I sit in my chair and get comfortable. “So, you wanted to talk to me about a possible partnership between Stardusky Inc. and Lenetronics.”

“Actually, I want to talk about something else before we get down to business.” I know where this is going, and it’s actually expected. I made sure he saw us at the restaurant, and I got his schedule so we could go to the restaurant he would be at.

“Oh? What might that be?” He leans forward in his seat, his eyes on me.

“I want to talk about Jaylene.”

~Deon~

After seeing them in the restaurant, I wanted to cancel this meeting. However, I knew that if I did, I would have to answer to my father, and I didn’t want anything to do with that. I considered meeting with him about the restaurant before the business meetings, but it was too likely that it would mess up the business side of things. Ultimately, I decided to keep this meeting and just make it a part of it.

Now we are sitting across from each other, the silence getting heavier by the second. He looks way too relaxed for this situation, and I’m trying to contain my anger. Jaylene is mine and always has been. I refuse to let him or anyone else take what’s mine. I may have stepped back a bit over the years but never fully walked away. I wanted her to see what the world is like so when I came back, she’d fully appreciate all that I bring to the table.

“Jaylene?” This bastard has a straight face and sounds as if he has no clue what I’m talking about. I know that’s a complete lie. There’s no way yesterday was a random meeting between the two. I have no idea when they met each other, but I know he knows who I’m talking about.

“Yes, Jaylene. The woman you were with at Embers the other night.” He turns his head and has a look of contemplation on his face. I clench my fists, trying to contain my anger. He’s trying to act like he has no idea what I’m talking about, and I’m not buying it.

“Ah, yes, my date for the evening. Do you know her?” I turn my head, trying to redirect my thoughts to more positive ones. I can’t afford to lose my cool right now.

“Yes, I know Jaylene Mackey.”

“Oh? In what way?”

“She’s going to be my wife.” There’s no response, and I feel my confidence soaring. I’m sure there will be an apology in no time, and I can put this mess behind me.