My mouth drops open and I spin around to glare at him. “Seriously? You’re that shallow that everything has to be about you? Screw you.”
His hands fly up in defense. “Okay,” he laughs, far too entertained for my liking. “So, it’s not me then. I have to admit, that’s a nice change.”
“You know what?” I seethe, “It can be you too.”
“What?” he demands as I turn and start storming away again. “I didn't do anything except rock your world. You know you’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.”
Damn him. If he didn’t give me the best orgasm I’ve ever experienced, I'd be in his face saying something about that comment, yet a part of me really hopes it’s true. I can’t even begin to imagine the number of girls he’s eaten his way through and made scream.
I stop in the hallway and spin around. “What is even going on here? You’re giving me whiplash. Do we hate each other? Are we secretly something more? Do you wanna fuck? Or are we just continuing to get on each other’s nerves only to end up giving in to desires that neither of us understand? What is this, Colton? I need a little definition because I’m so fucking lost right now.”
His brows raise and I watch as he truly starts thinking about it. “I ...uhhh”
“Yeah,” I scoff, turning and walking away again. “That’s what I thought.”
“Hey,” he says, continuing to follow me. “That’s not fair. It’s not as though you have any fucking idea what this is either. How am I supposed to know?”
“I don’t know, but it seems like you’re the one always calling the shots around here. So why don’t you leave me alone until you figure it the hell out.”
“Fuck, Jade. You’re really pissy when you’re tired. What happened to all that ‘hurt me, Colton’ bullshit?”
My blood boils and I turn the corner but as I go to put this fucker in his place, I run into a wall of suits and expensive cologne. My feet bring me to a startling stop as I stare at the six men who hover in the hallway behind me with Harrison, who looks as though he’s just been railroaded by whoever these men are.
Colton comes up behind me, stopping with a hand on my waist. His eyes bore into Harrison’s. “What’s going on?”
“Sir,” Harrison says, bowing his head as a sign of respect for his new boss. “The board of directors for Carrington Incorporated have requested an urgent meeting with you. I did suggest that a formal meeting with a scheduled time and date was more appropriate, however, they declined my request.”
Colton scoffs and steps out from behind me, raising his chin and squaring his shoulders, looking like the fucking man. “What you mean is that the board of directors, my board of directors decided to welcome themselves uninvited into my home and demand my presence.”
Oh, shit. Shots fired.
“Mr. Carrington,” an older gentleman says, standing second from the left with a pissed off scowl etched across his face. “We have granted you a week of grieving out of respect for your father but enough is enough. You are a child and we need to work out how we’re going to run our business from here on out.”
Colton laughs. “You mean my business.”
Each one of their expressions darken, and it’s damn clear that these old men don’t appreciate having their futures dictated by an eighteen-year-old high school student who may or may not even want anything to do with this business. For all they know, Colton could be intent on running this shit into the ground.
An intense silence follows, none of them willing to step-up and challenge Colton. They clearly have an agenda in mind and from the way Colton casually stands beside me, he was expecting this.
“Alright,” Colton finally says. “We may discuss what is going to happen from here on out. Harrison, please take them through to the formal living area and offer tea or coffee while Oceania prepares the board room.”
The fuck?
Harrison nods again. “Yes, sir.”
With that, he turns on his heel and gestures for the six intimidating men to follow him as Colton waits, watching them go. I remain right by his side until the men are out of sight before turning on him. “Umm … what the fuck was that about?”
Colton turns and starts heading for the stairs and I follow right behind. “How’s that any of your business?”