Page 72 of Power
“So, that’s what this is about.” Jace folded his arms across his broad chest, his biceps trying to stage a prison break from the fabric locking them in. “You’re refusing to give me the name of the man who harassed you.”
“That’s correct.” I lifted my chin, trying to summon confidence I absolutely did not feel.
“Why?” The single word sounded like it had been chiseled from granite.
The door cracked open, and his assistant poked her head in. “Mr. Lockwood, they?—”
“I will let you know when I’m ready,” Jace cut her off, his voice glacial. “Do not interrupt us again.”
Based on the widening of her eyes, she wasn’t used to him taking this tone with her.
“Yes, sir.” The door closed with a snap.
I took a deep breath. “Thewhydoesn’t matter.”
“Like hell it doesn’t.” He took a step closer, and I caught a whiff of his musk cologne that made my knees wobble. “Did he threaten you?”
“No.” I shook my head. “In fact, he doubled down.”Okay, great job, Scarlett. Why the hell did you say that?
Jace’s expression darkened. “He didwhat?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I glanced at my shoes, suddenly fascinated by the scuff on my left heel.
“What did he do?” Each word was measured, dangerous.
“Look, the point is, if you draft the NDA without that paragraph?—”
“So, this happened today then?” Jace’s voice sharpened. “He did something else today?”
I opened my mouth, but wasn’t sure what to say. Especially not when Jace took another step forward, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. My heart and hormones betrayed me, buzzing with electricity in his presence. These feelings needed to stand down ASAP. This was officially way too complicated.
“Scarlett,” he said, “I have been patient. I have been understanding. But there is a predator in this organization. You will tell me who it is.”
“Why?” I blurted out.
His eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“Why, exactly, do you want to know who it is?” I forced myself to meet his gaze.
“Is that a trick question?” Jace looked genuinely bewildered. “He doesn’t belong in this organization.”
“Have you ever had someone in your organization accused of sexual harassment before?” I asked, surprising myself with my boldness.
“The CEO doesn’t field complaints of harassment. That’s HR’s department.”
“So, you don’t know then.”
He said nothing, the silence stretching between us like a ticking clock, counting down to something I wasn’t sure I could stomach.
“Have you ever been aware of someone in your company sexually harassing anyone before?” I pressed.
My rebellious heart waited with bated breath for his answer because his answer would determine if, in my eyes, Jace was a good guy or a bad guy. And I needed him to be a good guy. Even if nothing else ever happened between us, I needed to remember him as the guy who heroically showed up and protected me andmy mother from my father. Not a wolf in sheep’s clothing because, so help me, I couldn’t handle that. Not after what we’d been through. Not after I’d unwillingly given him a fragment of my heart.
“Where are you going with this?” His voice was dangerously soft.
“Information flows two ways, Jace.” I crossed my arms, mimicking his stance. “You want to know his name, and I want to understand why you want to know it and if he’s the first or if he’s just the first in a long line of harassers that you’ve ignored.”
His eyes flashed. “Are you accusing me of fostering a toxic work environment?”
