they would be stars. That was exactly the kind Jody thought Ross Karahan was; her sinking feeling was always spot on. Thinking they’re already too good and above others, before they even earned it. By far, they were the most annoying. Not only to be around but also to talk to.
“Shall I provide you with a set of pots and pans and a wooden stick? You good with that?” she snapped sarcastically.
His eyebrows quirked up and he replied with a smirk, “Well, a drum set would be preferable, but I’m sure I could make whatever you got work, sweetheart.”
“Oh, no.” She instantly straightened her body upright, rising a few inches. “No way are you allowed to call me names. No sexist monikers tolerated here. We are not dating and I am not your fawning puppy. So don’t do that.” Clenching her teeth fiercely, she fought the urge to turn him all the way around and send his stacked, packed, muscular ass back on the plane to whatever rock he crawled out from under.
He didn’t flinch or even act slightly chagrined. Great. Sexual harasser? No knowledge of how to treat a woman with respect when she was merely doing her job? Yeah? Not on her fucking watch and not in her fucking company.
One of the biggest perks of being rich was being the one who set the rules.
“Will that be a problem?” She kept her voice cool and sharp, lifting her chin to create more height. The idea of slapping his hands with a ruler to gain his attention even crossed her mind. She sensed his amusement with her, although, he didn’t say anything to establish it. The smirk wasn’t there any longer, but she could damn well read that gleam in his eyes.
“No. Ms. Lassiter.”
There was nothing impolite or disrespectful in his words, but he smirked when he said Ms., and the emphasis he put on it was too obvious. She pressed her lips together tightly and said, “Just call me Jody.”
“Right.” Drawing out his reply, he paused long enough to make her expect another word until he said, “Jody.”
She winced with annoyance but didn’t respond to him otherwise as she spun around, assuming he’d follow her to her car. The sky bridge took them across the road below where all the buses, rideshares, cars and taxis gathered to unload people and luggage before taking off into the loop of travelers all over again. It seemed like a never-ending continuum.
She walked fast but he soon closed the gap and appeared beside her, his stride obviously very long. Her shorter, clipped steps emphasized their height difference, mostly to her. She glanced up and then hated herself for doing it since he noticed it with another smirk, raising his eyebrows before she averted her face, turning forward and becoming far too affected by him. More intense heat. Blushing. She really had to get her physical reaction to him under control.
Why couldn’t he make polite, casual conversation? Why did he insist on giving her those hot, steamy looks with total smugness? It wasn’t like he even tried to put her at ease or make her the least bit comfortable. He probably didn’t consider it his job. Even though she had no proof for it, she knew he was intentionally trying to provoke her.
Closing in on her car, she clicked the fob. It was another emblem of her parents’ wealth. Yes, they bought her car and insured it. Yes, she was spoiled. Privileged. Brazenly and ridiculously so.
She was the first to admit it.
One either had to forgive her or detest her. She couldn’t undo her heritage. She worked very hard to keep her attitude humble. Never the diva she could have been, given the excess resources she had unrestricted access to. But her parents didn’t allow that. They were good, solid people, who managed to acquire wealth and power, which they mostly gave away, and they tried to instill deeper values into their children. Jody lived her life according to them.
Jody did drive a fancy car, which was one of the safest models ever designed and why her parents insisted on buying it for her.
Conspicuous consumption and the display of obvious wealth were repellent to some people, while they made others envious, and still others, eager to find ways of celebrating Jody’s wealth and getting closer to her.
“Lassiter. You’re related to Nick Lassiter?”
She nodded, stopping to pull her car door open. “Yes. He’s my father.”