“Figures you’re worried about Maxim,” he grumbled, and my concern quickly shifted to anger.
“I’m worried about both of you!” I snapped. And the truth in those words hit me in the chest. It wasn’t just because of my job and that their cooperation depended on it—it was because of that look in Sterling’s eyes…
It bothered me.
Like an itch I couldn’t reach. I wanted to soothe that hurt I’d seen flash behind his eyes—not physical echoes from the brawl, but emotional. That pain radiating out of him before he’d had the sense to hide it from me. I wanted to know more so I could help him.
“You don’t need to worry about me,” he said, narrowing his gaze. “I don’t start these things. He does. Maxim is the problem—”
“He’s your brother,” I cut him off, exasperated. How could two people bound by blood be so vicious with each other? “Can’t you cut each other some slack?”
“You have no idea,” he said, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “No clue.”
“Then tell me,” I said. “Explain it to me.” He had no reason in the world to open up to me. Just because we’d shared a charged moment in an elevator didn’t make us connected. But I couldn’t help it—I felt connected to him. Like those moments together had solidified something in my heart that begged and ached for more.
More of Jansen.
More snarky teases and gentle questions.
More molten looks that turned my insides liquid.
Just more…
And maybe, if he could enlighten me on the situation, then I could talk to Langley and—
“That’s none of your business.” His words cut into my racing thoughts, and I inwardly recoiled.
But he was right.
It truly wasn’t my business. Just because I’d developed this…feeling around him didn’t mean he’d done the same for me.
Fine. Fair enough.
“Okay,” I said, my stomach twisting as the confession rose on my tongue. “I honestly didn’t realize how deep this went, and I’m sorry. But I’m going to put myself out there and beg a favor.” He tilted his head, so I hurried on. “I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks to talk this out,” I said, my breath shaking. “But you’ve ghosted me for some reason, and that’s okay!” I spoke a little quicker when he looked like he might apologize. “I get it. Kind of. I’m not someone you want to pick up the phone for. But, if you would have, then I would’ve asked you weeks ago.”
“Ask me what?”
He knew what. He had to after what Langley had said. He wanted to hear me say it.
“To agree to take part in these promos. The exposure will be so good for the family image we’re going for—”
Jansen scoffed, cutting off my words. That anger returned sizzling in my chest. I cooled it, taking a deep breath. Yes, I had tried to contact him for a month. No, I hadn’t realized how shitty the situation was. This was on me, not him. But still, he wasn’t even hearing me out.
“What’s it going to take for you to cooperate?” I popped my hip out, resting my hand there for good measure. If he was about to shut me down, then I wanted to at least appear strong enough to take the blow.
He tracked the move with a hawk-like gaze, the corner of his mouth ticking up into that smirk that drove me crazy.
“Why is it important to you that I get along with him?”
“You know why,” I said. “Langley has left me in charge of the pair of you. The promo spots are incredibly important for this season’s direction.”
Sterling shook his head. “I think you should convince her to drop the idea.”
“Give me a good enough reason, and maybe I will.” I arched a brow at him, waiting.
He tilted his head. “You’d do that for me?” Was that hope in his eyes? “Or for Maxim?”
“Maxim has already agreed to be a professional. He’s willing to set aside whatever this is between you two and do what’s best for the team.”
A muscle in his jaw flexed, those blue eyes turning hard as gemstones. “You already talked to him about it.” It wasn’t a question, he knew as much from the meeting prior.
“Yes,” I said, the air suddenly tight in my lungs. Why did that feel like a betrayal? That’d I’d gone to Maxim first. “He was at my brother’s house,” I hurried to add, relieving some of the pain in my chest. “It wasn’t hard to talk to him.”