Why did I let it happen? Why did I linger longer than necessary when I knew it would only lead to trouble? This situation was spiraling out of control, and the lines were blurring as my feelings began to surface.
The last time I had been in any sort of relationship was years ago, with a guy named Sean.
I met him at a grocery store, and he insisted on helping me carry my groceries to my car. He was tall, had blonde hair, and a captivating smile. Needless to say, I fell for him quickly and deeply. My childhood had been far from ideal, devoid of love or romantic experiences. I never had the chance to be swept off my feet by a high school sweetheart.
Sean and I never labeled our relationship. It consisted of nights filled with pleasure and days that might have been dates or just hangouts. It went on for a few months until the day he told me he was moving across the country to California.
That was the end of it.
But that had been the last time I had a physical partner. It's not like I was desperately seeking it, but ever since Callum Black entered my life, it was as if a dormant part of me had awakened. And I wasn't sure how to feel about it.
Well, actually, I was pretty damn sure.
I was undeniably attracted to Callum Black. Every aspect of him drew me in, and my body craved his presence.
I stayed behind in the office in the hope of clarifying things. My mind was filled with unanswered questions, and I needed to understand what was happening. Because this business deal was clearly no longer just a business deal.
Of course, he still held my childhood secrets, and I held his reputation, but it was evident that the boundaries of a business arrangement had been crossed.
As I made my way to the elevator, I pressed the button for the ground floor and silently prayed that I wouldn't encounter a repeat of Monday's events. Leaning against the back wall of the elevator, I let my shoulders relax and massaged the back of my neck.
The elevator descended, and the doors opened on the ground floor.
I was on my way to the front doors when a rough shoulder bumped into mine, causing me to drop my belongings. "Damn it," I muttered as I bent down to pick up my things. As I did so, another pair of hands reached for them. Looking up, I met the gaze of a man with black hair and a deep, purple-black eye.
"I'm sorry, dear. I'm always in a hurry," he said, handing me my notebook and returning to his full height. He offered me a hand up, which I accepted, allowing him to help me to my feet.
I looked up to meet his hazel eyes. He was shorter, only a few inches taller than me, and he wore a smirk on his lips with a curious glint in his eyes. I couldn't shake the feeling that something about him was off.
"It's okay, no worries. I'm heading out now," I said quickly, forcing a fake smile, and turned on my heel to leave.
"Wait."
The man I had just met called out from behind me as I was making my way towards the exit. I stopped and pivoted on my heels to face him.
He had a self-assured smirk on his face and was slowly closing the distance between us.
"I never got your name," he said with a cocky smile.
I almost considered lying, but thought better of it.
"Gianna," I replied, giving a small, uneasy smile in return. There was something about him that made me uncomfortable, and I couldn't wait to leave. First Callum, and now this encounter – I was exhausted.
"Gianna," he said, savouring the sound of my name as it left his lips.
"My name is Jameson. Jameson Smith," he said, flashing another smile.