Relinquish(45)

“Fuck him,” Jayden snaps, making me laugh. A knock sounds at the door, reminding us that Osborn is waiting.

“I will be back, Jayden. I will get in touch with you,” I whisper. Jayden pulls me close and inhales, like she is programming me to memory. She turns quickly and chuckles nervously, wiping the tears from her cheeks, and sitting on her bed. I tilt my head and give her a tight-lipped smile.

“I gotta go.” I lean over the bed and kiss her forehead, muttering, “Be safe.”

“You, too,” she whispers.

I look around our dump of an apartment, not really caring to take anything with me. Eventually, I open the door to find Osborn.

“Let’s go,” he grunts, pushing his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose.

The ride to the estate is quiet, the driver sitting at the front of the limo only looking back to check on me a few times. Osborn sits beside me, his large size taking up most of the seat.

We pull up to the estate, and Landon is standing on the steps in a crisp, expensive suit. The limo comes to a stop, and he opens my door.

“Charlie,” he greets. His body is like a storm — powerful, strong, and fearless. I swallow hard, that familiar ache in my chest resurfacing.

“Landon,” I reply dryly. His eyes rake me from top to bottom, leaving a blazing trail of lust behind them. I can’t help the way my legs clench to stifle the intolerable throb escalating between them, but it doesn’t override the wave of anger I have toward him, either.

Landon leans in, causing me to stiffen.

“Stop clenching,” he whispers, a smirk crossing his face. My mouth hangs open with shock, but I shut it as quickly as it flew open.

“I can’t help it, your driver is hot,” I smart, walking past him.

I hear Landon laugh like a school boy, his footsteps sounding behind me as I let myself into the mansion-like house.

Landon grabs my upper arm, swinging me around with haste, and plows me against the large wooden door. His fresh scent seizes the air from my lungs. His face lowers mere inches from mine, his green eyes turning a shade darker, causing a bundle of nerves to twist in my stomach.

“That mouth will start wars between us. I’m not sure if I should wash it out with soap or f*ck it,” Landon seethes. All the oxygen in my chest races out, leaving me speechless. Landon smirks, proud of himself.

I inhale a large breath, gather my courage, lean my head toward his, and smile. “Give me your best shot.” He doesn’t scare me; I’d like to see his worst, in fact.

Landon takes a deep breath and licks his bottom lip. “I’m not sure if you could—”

“Is this the new girl?” We both look over, and Landon quickly releases his hold on me. I have to bite my lip to stop from smiling. I affect him, and that alone is empowering.

“Veronica,” Landon enunciates slowly. The woman has long, golden-blonde hair that comes to rest on one shoulder. She is tall and thin, wearing a long, light pink dress that trails behind her. Her makeup is done lightly, but her red-stained lips stand out amongst her porcelain skin.

“The team will have their hands full with this one, that’s for sure,” Veronica sneers, her lip curled in disgust as she eyes me. I wince, shocked a complete stranger would be such a bitch. But then again, look at Landon.

“She’s not too bad,” Landon defends, a smirk crossing his face, his forest eyes holding a tone of friendliness. I scowl at both of them, angry they’re talking as if I’m not even standing in the room.

“I’m sure you would think so,” she clips. “They’re waiting upstairs for you.” She nods toward me before turning, picking her dress up, and walking back up the stairs.

“Please, don’t turn me into a Barbie,” I plead to Landon. He chuckles and runs his thumb over his chin.

“Would you like breakfast, Charlie?” he questions, lowering his hand and placing it on my lower back. His hand is large and takes up the small of my back. My memory takes me back to waking up in that hotel room by myself — no breakfast, no man, just a stack of cash. My body hums from his touch, but my mind barks out uncontrollable anger from the flashback. My logic winning this battle, I grasp Landon’s arm and tear it away from my body.

“How about we save the crap. You’re not a nice guy, and I’m not a nice girl. I don’t have a clue why you’re being nice to me, but stop. Oh, and it would be pointless to have breakfast and pretend to have small talk, when we both know I’m here to be your employee, your toy for money—”

“Charlie, you want me to be nice to you. Because by the end of all this, you will hate me more than you do right now,” Landon interrupts, his face masked with anger as his jaw clenches.

“Just show me to the team,” I mutter, unaffected by his threat.

Landon steps back and runs his hands through his hair, his chest lifting as he inhales deeply as if he’s trying to control his anger.

“This way.” He points ahead of me, walking up the stairs. I let out the breath I was holding and follow him.

Landon takes me to a room which looks like a mini-salon and massage parlor mixed into one. A large mirror is outlined in bulbs, with every kind of hair product sitting on a table beside it and a black swivel chair in front of it. At the back of the room, there is a large open window with a small padded table placed in front of it, possibly a massage table.