In a stern tone, he ordered everyone at the bar to leave us. Thank God it was only his employees and not his guests.
Why was he pissed? Was it because of how they’d treated me or—
“Why would you share that private information with them?”
I guess that answered my question. Why was I disappointed?
Before I could give it too much thought, he sneered, “I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
My eyes snapped to his. “Stop treating me like I’m an employee. I don’t answer to you.”
“Actually, you do.”
“Listen, you condescending asshole. I didn’t say anything. I hinted. So before you go crazy, I’m fully aware insider trading is illegal, but I’m simply doing my job, and they’re going to be the best marketing you can get. Jude and Beck are going to tell people, those people are going to tell other people, and so on and so on. We want people talking, rumors like this are your best friend. By the time you actually announce, thousands of people are going to be chomping at the bit for you. What you should be saying is thank you.”
Everything happened so fast. One second we were arguing, the next he roughly gripped onto the back of my neck and tugged me close to his mouth.
My breathing hitched.
“I don’t like to be taken by surprise. Everything and anything gets approved by me first, understood?”
I tried to shove him away, but it was no use. He didn’t budge.
In a dark, heady tone, he rasped, “Next time you’re a bad girl, you’ll give me your panties and face the wall with your legs spread, or I could throw you over my lap instead.”
“Julian!”
“Yeah, sweetheart, you’ll scream my name just like that, except it’s going to be from me spanking your ass raw to teach you a lesson you won’t soon forget.”
I shoved him again. “Fuck you.”
The next thing I knew, he spun my body and pinned my chest to the bar where I couldn’t move. I huffed out a breath, instantly realizing I was at his mercy, and for a brief second, I thought there was no way he was going to do this. I was a grown-ass woman for fuck’s sake.
“What the—”
He didn’t hesitate.
SLAP.
Walloping my ass so hard, I instantaneously stood on the tips of my toes in my already six-inch stiletto heels.
“You rat bastard! Don’t you fucking dar—”
“Talk back to me one more time, and I’ll lift your dress, pull down your panties, and slap your bare ass instead.”
My ass burned, and my pussy throbbed. I wanted to raise hell, although I wasn’t an idiot. He’d follow through on his threat.
“Now,” he bit. “Am I making myself clear?”
Going against all my instincts, I reluctantly agreed, “Yes.”
“Great.” He let me go, and there was no wavering on my part. I spun around with my hand shooting straight toward his face, but he caught it mid-air.
Holding onto my wrist, he yanked me toward him. “While we’re on the topic of you being a very bad girl, I also highly suggest you make damn sure your future encounters with men don’t provoke me again. You won’t like me when I’m angry.”
I jerked my hand away. “I don’t like you right now.”
“Prove it,” he challenged all in one breath. “Spread your legs and show me you’re not wet.”
I glared at him. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you? Tell me, Julian, what are you trying to accomplish here? What do you want from me?”
He stepped toward me, and I stepped back, putting my hand up.
“I thought you wanted to know what I wanted. I was just about to show you.”
“I won’t sleep with you. If this is about sex, I’m not fucking you.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I have no problem doing all the fucking.”
I pushed him as hard as I could, and he didn’t move an inch. He was a cement block, fueling my fury like he was nothing more than the gasoline to my flames.
“So this is about sex? We’re long past that. I’m here as your publicist—nothing more, nothing less. You need to get that through your thick, stubborn skull. I’ll tell you this, though… I find it hilarious I spent most of my teenage years trying to get you to notice me, and I’ve gone from the girl you didn’t want, to the one you can’t have. How’s that for irony?”
“I always wanted you, kid.”
“You had a shitty way of showing it. But come on, you can’t be that hard up for someone to ride your cock, Julian. Just call Katie or whatever bimbo you have on speed dial. You never had a problem parading your hookups around me before, so why stop now?”
“If you’re going to bring up the past, then I insist we talk about you and me and forget about the rest.”
“How convenient. There is no you and me, and there never was.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. I’m not playing your little games, Autumn.”
“You’re not playing my little games?” I repeated, offended. “Holy shit! You’re the king of playing games!”
“I’m not that man anymore.”
“And I’m just supposed to believe you? After everything you did to me?”
“If I could go back, I wouldn’t change a damn thing. I made something of myself. I wasn’t the man you needed then, but I am now.”
“Now? After all this time? Do you actually think I’m just going to jump into your arms like nothing ever happened? You have no idea what I went through after you left! It took me years to mend my broken heart and the damage you did to my brother and parents. My family and I were devastated, not to mention worried sick about you for years! We didn’t know where you were or what you were doing. You didn’t call, write, or text—fucking nothing! You didn’t do anything but disappear on us! After everything they did for you, that’s how you repaid them?! You’re nothing but a selfish prick with control issues, Mr. Locke, so get off your high horse. You’re not getting a damn thing from me!” I sidestepped him to leave. “We’re done here!”
He grabbed my arm, making me face him again. “We’re not done until I say we are.” Looking deep into my eyes, he reminded, “You’re my number one girl, remember?”
“How could I forget? It was just another lie you told me.”
“No.” He shook his head. “You know that’s not true. I never lied to you. It’s why I pushed you away to begin with. I couldn’t lie to you.”
“You could bold-face lie to me right now, and I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. You’re a businessman. You have people believe what you want them to. It’s why you’re so successful. Trust me, you spent years practicing on me.”
“You want a confession?” he challenged, getting close to my face. His eyes were in a craze. “I’ll give you a fucking confession. The only times I ever lied to you was when I told you I fucked someone else.”
I didn’t just jerk back, I stumbled. “What?”
“You heard me. I didn’t fuck anyone at Christian’s bachelor party.”
“But … Christian… No way. He said you did, and everyone that was there said you went into the bedroom with the stripper.”