Chapter 58

The One With A Job Offer

J A M E S

“Nat, babe, I have to go to work.”

“I won’t be here by the time you’re back,” she answers dismissively, smiling at her phone.

“I thought you were gonna’ be home?” She doesn’t even bother tearing her gaze away from the device, as if she didn’t hear me speaking to her. “Nat,” I call her name and she finally gives me her attention.

“Oh, sorry. Zara wants to hang out.”

“You just saw her last night.” As I’m speaking, I’m adjusting my suit jacket in the mirror. We literally had a massive group of friends over last weekend and last night Zara and Chase were over so I’m not entirely sure why the girls need to get together for yet another night.

“And I’m seeing her again tonight, James.” She speaks it as a matter of fact, meaning I’m not going to be able to change her mind.

I’m not sure how to explain it, but I can feel this distance between Nat and I lately and I’m not sure where it’s coming from. I haven’t done anything bad—I’ve never cheated, I don’t talk down to her or mistreat her, I’ve always been serious about us—but she seems to be distancing herself from me.

Either that, or maybe I’ve done something wrong and I don’t even realize it.

“Did I do something?” I turn to her to find that she has a confused expression.

“What do you mean?”

“Did I upset you?” I ask her. “It feels like you’re mad at me about something.”

“Other than those sex things last weekend?”

I internally roll my eyes at the mention of that. She’s always been a bit private about her sex life—past and present—but I never revealed anything about ours in front others. I wouldn’t betray her privacy like that. The only time I mentioned her in our sex life was with Chase and he’s a close friend and he knows and understands what I’m going through.

Arielle was there, as well, but I honestly don’t think she’d go around spreading it. She doesn’t seem like the gossipy type, especially when it comes to sex and sexual experiences. In fact, she’s very open about both topics.

I don’t understand how Nat can complain about me playing a game with friends. All the things I shared are memories of my own that I’m not ashamed of and are a part of me. I can’t go back and un-fuck people, that isn’t how it works.

That’s not how Nat sees it, however. I got a fucking earful when Zara, Chase and Arielle left. Nat screamed at me for two fucking hours while I tried to explain to her that it was just a game. A game that she chose to play. It was a ridiculous discussion where she scolded me like a child and I still don’t necessarily see what I did wrong.

“No, I’m not upset with you. You apologized, we’re good.”

Yes, she made me apologize like a child as well. I was waiting for her to put me in a fucking time out.

I still sense some tension but I can’t help but wonder if it’s just because of our blowout last weekend. She might simply be holding onto some anger from then, considering we haven’t spent much alone time since that night. We needed some time apart and Nat decided tonight was the night to see one another again without others to create a distraction, even though I informed her ahead of time that I’d be working so we’d only be able to hang for two hours.

It’s stressful as hell being around her when she seems like a constant whiplash of emotions. Lately I can’t seem to pin her down and it’s frustrating, to say the least.

“Alright,” I reply as I approach her. She barely turns her head away from her phone—where she appears to be scrolling through Instagram—to press her lips to mine.

“Love you,” she mutters and I return the sentiment before leaving the house.

I glance around at the people that work underneath me, making sure that they’re all doing what they should be doing. I can spot Aubrey, Dominique, Justin and Kamal and they all seem to be doing their jobs.

It’s been a rather uneventful night, to say the least. There hasn’t been any big sort of security breaches, but that’s a good thing because it means I’m doing my job well. Other than needing to block out a few people that weren’t on the guest list from entering and stopping people from leaving out fire exits and setting off the alarms, not much has happened.

I still have to be on high alert because anything could happen at any time, however at least I get to relax a little bit at work. Even though it makes it go by a bit slower than if it was eventful.

I’m standing on the far side of the room, checking my watch and listening in on the radio when I’m suddenly approached by a man who doesn’t look familiar. I stuff the radio into my suit jacket and straighten myself, needing to appear professional at all times in front of guests.

He’s tall—well over six foot—with blue eyes that have an intense cold to them, despite him being only a stranger. His hair is speckled with grey and white, revealing his age. He’s smiling, but it doesn’t look sincere whatsoever.

I offer a hand, required to be polite to everyone I come into contact with at work. “James Jansen,” I introduce myself with a plastered smile that I’ve mastered all too well. “Head of security at Nuestro.”

He takes my hand, shaking it with a firm grasp. “Ezra Sullivan, local businessman.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I continue with niceties. “So what is it you do for business?”

“I own several buildings, little bit of vehicle trading, have some business ventures in Mexico—I dabble in various areas.”

“You’re a very busy man,” I comment, even though everything he’s told me is shit I’ve heard before. He’s not special, just another shady businessman.

He chuckles but it seems forced. “I am, but no more than you.” As he compliments my work, he glances around at the hustle and bustle around us. “Have you been doing this long?”

“A few years.”

“Do you like it?” When he asks the question, he quirks an eyebrow and observes me from over the brim of his glass filled with straight whiskey.

I nod my head, “I do. It’s nice to be the boss.”

“Ah, a man who loves the power.” This time when he smiles, it reaches his eyes and they sparkle with an almost-evil. “Are you looking at leaving Nuestro?”

I open my mouth to speak, a little bit speechless. We’ve barely exchanged a few sentences of conversation and he’s offering me a job? I exhale, trying to avoid answering. It’s not that I wouldn’t consider going elsewhere for work—if I was paid accordingly—but something about this man rubs me the wrong way and I don’t exactly trust him.

“I’ve been looking to upgrade my security team and I’d be more than willing to pay you double what Nuestro is paying you.”

I’ll admit, he’s charming. Probably another warning sign that I shouldn’t trust him.

“What is it exactly that you need security for?” I question, trying to carefully pry to find out who he is. He said he’s a businessman, so for what in his business ventures does he need strong security for? I can’t ignore the way my spine tingles with caution even being in his mere presence.

“I have always thought it’s better to be safe than sorry,” he replies, vaguely.

“James!” I hear my name being called and turn to see Bree waving me down.

Mr. Sullivan rifles through his suit jacket pocket. “Well, James, I see duty is calling. Here,” he offers me a small card and I glance at it to see his contact information on it. “Think it over and give me a call if you decide you want to move.”

“Will do, Mr. Sullivan. Have a good evening.”

I observe him walk off to—what appears to be—his entourage and I turn back to the radio as Kamal makes my night by announcing a rowdy, overly intoxicated guest in the men’s bathroom.

After knocking on the front door, I wait patiently for someone to answer. I can hear light music on the other side of the wooden surface and peering towards the large window, I see the television screen lit up. Eventually, I can make out the noise of heavy footsteps and I already know who’s going to answer the door before it swings open and I make eye contact with Chase.

He smiles, “Hey, man! C’mon in!” He wastes no time in stepping back to allow me to enter and I do so. As I’m slipping off the leather jacket I changed into after my shift and removing my shoes, Chase questions, “What brings you by?”

I hold up the article of clothing in my hand, “I noticed Arielle forgot her jacket at my place last week and Nat is out for the night so I figured I’d bring it by.”

“Oh, my God, my jacket! Thank you,” Arielle approaches me from across the kitchen with a smile plastered on her face. She takes the article of clothing and we pull each other in for a hug at the same time, as the smell of her perfume envelops my senses.

“I couldn’t fuckin’ figure out where I left this,” she informs me, tossing it on the back of the sofa and urging me deeper inside the house.

I’m sitting myself at their island as Chase replies, “I told you that you probably forgot it there.”

“Yeah, but I was sober so I figured I would’ve remembered.” She shrugs and then turns to me, “Can I get you something to drink?”