The woman twirls a golden curl around her finger. “Vannah doesn’t work here anymore. I’ll be taking care of your needs from now on.”
“The fuck you will.” My glare silences her indignant huffing.
With fire licking my heels, I stomp toward Vince’s office at a fast clip. That chick resumes her complaining behind me, but the pitchy whines fade into static. I keep my narrow gaze locked on the damn door. The chaos simmering in my veins is likely to cause an explosion if I don’t find a proper outlet. Without knocking, I barge in and survey the scene. Two people are sitting in front of Vince, all eyes on me.
I point at the hallway. “Get out.”
They scramble to follow my order. I don’t blame them. There’s probably steam spewing from my ears.
Vince stands from his chair. “Mr. Winters—”
“Where’s Savannah?” My shoes pound across the carpet as I cross the wide space.
He tosses his arms up. “She quit.”
“When? I was just here yesterday.” This joker better not be responsible, or we’ll have bigger problems.
“She left shortly after you did,” he informs me.
“You let her go?” If this has anything to do with our altercation in the conference room, my task might be far larger than I anticipated.
Vince grips the back of his neck. “She didn’t give me much choice. I hope this doesn’t impact your account with us.”
I grunt at the whimpering audacity in his tone. “You bet your ass it does. This changes everything. Savannah is the only reason I stuck around.”
His face puckers. “I’m aware you formed a personal relationship with Ms. Simons—”
“I highly doubt you want to finish that statement.” I watch him choke on a gulp. Keeping a lid on my temper is becoming more difficult the longer I’m away from her. Vince’s sniveling excuses only stoke that irritation. The burn in my chest blazes hotter. “Is that why she left?”
He nods. “She was no longer eligible for the promotion.”
I shake my head while backpedaling to the exit. “That was a really stupid decision.”
“What about your contracts?” His bellow follows me into the common area.
“You’ll be hearing from my lawyer,” I call over my shoulder.
After a quick Google search, I discover that Vannah’s condo isn’t a far drive. Her home address is splashed all over the internet. She should protect her identity better. We’ll need to chat about that, after everything else.
She probably chose the Uptown location to be near her job, which is no longer a selling point based on the conversation I just left. The implications of her unemployment begin slamming into me. There’s no guessing where her next steps will lead. She might not have any, if the choice to quit was as impulsive as Vince made it seem. I walk faster with those unknowns spurring me on.
With a flick of my wrist, I unlock the car and slide behind the wheel. Navigating city streets is nothing new for me. The traffic in downtown Minneapolis is nonexistent compared to Chicago, allowing me to take advantage of the Aston Martin’s speed and agility. A nine-minute commute is just enough to create a plan without extra lag to stew over.
The robot woman from my dash barks at me to turn left into a paved lot beside what appears to be new residential developments. The concrete structure is styled with wood accents and chrome fixtures. Industrial cables tether a looping walkway to the second and third stories for a floating effect. Vannah’s building is set so each unit has an entrance accessible from the outside. She probably paid a hefty tag for this property, not that her commission can’t afford it. I climb the front stairs to reach the second landing and hang a right. Cream blinds cover the large bay window, stealing my ability to peek inside.
I raise my fist to knock, the thick wood muffling the sound. A sliding deadbolt alerts me to her proximity. The creak from her door confirms it. Through that small opening, a fierce green gaze threatens to scorch me where I stand.
I hold my hands up in surrender. “I didn’t come here to fight.”
Vannah props a cocked hip against the metal framing. “Since when?”
“Since I realized we belong together.” That blunt confession streams from me without permission. The croak in my tone conveys as much. I’d hoped to inch my way into her good graces before making a big reveal. This is what I get for being impulsive.
“No.” She grips the door, preparing to slam it in my face.
I slap a palm to the wood, keeping it propped open. “Just hear me out. Please, Vannah.”
My use of her preferred name gets a reaction. For a single second, her guard wavers with a hitched breath. Then she skewers me with a fiery glare. Regardless of her outward fury, she eases the force on the barrier between us.
Vannah gaze cuts a downward path along my casual attire. “You’re wearing jeans.”
I glance at the faded denim that’s apparently offensive, based on her scowl. “Good observation skills, sugar. Did you notice my shoes?”
Her eyes narrow on my sneakers. “Are you going for a run?”
“Wasn’t sure if I’d have to chase you.” I bounce on my toes.
She gives me another once-over. “What’re you playing at?”
A lazy smirk is my initial response. “I’m making changes.”
“Why?”
“Being an angry asshole sucks. I also miss you. Just wanted to slide that in.”
“As previously stated.” She quirks a brow.
“You don’t believe me?”
“Don’t act surprised after what you had planned. My suspicions are warranted.” She purses her lips.
“So is the added sass,” I provide with a wink.
Her exhale pumps textured frustration into the space separating us. That rasp needles my skin before disappearing into the atmosphere. “What do you want, Landon?”
“Just to talk. Can I come in? I won’t overstay my welcome. My car is parked right there, ready for me to drive off after you hear me out.” I dangle the keys for her to see.
A dent creases the smooth skin on her forehead. “You drove?”
I shrug. “Desperate times. You can toss me to the curb whenever the mood strikes.”
Vannah crosses her arms. “Like right now?”
I ignore the plummeting in my gut. “You shouldn’t be too hasty. My words might hold some value.”
“We’ll see about that.” She swings the door wide, ushering me in with a sweeping gesture. “By all means, invade the last spot that isn’t already tainted from your presence.”
The way she’s looking at me as I enter her domain makes my guts shrivel, rotting me to the core. Vannah is acting like I’m a black stain on her beige carpet. My gears grind as I try to recall the last instance anyone dared to show me such open disdain. I’ve been blinded by my drive for redemption, striving to prove myself beyond the shadow of my father. Right now, I feel more disgusting than the grime beneath his bones. It’s enough to make a man forfeit the war.
But I’ve been fighting for the wrong side.
I’m no longer interested in fighting against her. From this point forward, my goal is to win her affections and be worthy of them. Walking away unscathed isn’t an option. Not that I’m going anywhere.