Page 14 of Inadmissible

Tristan

G regory and Martin were oblivious to Taj’s emotional state, but I wasn’t.

I could literally feel the heated anger radiating from her body.

By the time the meeting was over, I could tell she felt not only bamboozled but probably unheard too.

Almost every idea she suggested, they either undermined or rejected unless I cut in to agree.

I was over the shit, and I knew if I was, she was too.

Seeing the way Gregory talked to and treated her further confirmed I’d made the right move.

My strategy and plan may have been unexpected to her, but if she heard me out, she’d understand why I did what I did. Judging by how quickly she hopped out of her seat and exited the conference room, I could tell it was going to be easier asked than done getting her to listen to me.

“So you’re a runner here too,” I acknowledged, trailing behind her.

I heard her huff and saw the quickening of her steps. All that did was amuse me. I followed her to what I assumed was her office, and before she could slam the door in my face, I caught it.

“Will you let me explain, sweetheart? There’s nothing sinister afoot here. I’m actually looking out for you.”

“Looking out for me?” she shrieked, opening the door wide. “By setting me up to be some kind of puppet?”

“That’s not what I’m doing at all. I’m a very logical man, but I feel your emotions right now.

If you have the mental capacity and emotional bandwidth to listen to me right now, I’d like to explain my plan.

” She stared at me for a few seconds. “Please, honey. You know you can trust me. That hasn’t changed. ”

Her body relaxed as she sighed and nodded, stepping to the side so I could enter her office.

“You look beautiful,” I complimented as she plopped down in her seat and released a tired breath.

Her hair was flowing in its usual wavy curls, and I wished I’d fucked her from the back so I could have pulled it.

The red pantsuit showed off her toned yet curved frame.

A part of me wanted to ask her what led to the significant drop in her weight.

If it was related to her breakup, I imagined working out was a part of her healing process .

. . or something worse—her not eating because she was so hurt and depressed.

“Thank you, angel. I’m not doubting your intentions. I’m used to men doing things to betray my trust in them, but I know you won’t do that. Or at least that’s what my intuition tells me for some reason. It still was triggering being blindsided like that.”

“I know, and I apologize,” I said, sitting across from her at her cherry oak desk. “It wasn’t my intention to blindside you. I was actually hoping to speak with you before the meeting started, but Martin asked for it to be earlier, and I didn’t have time to track you down.”

“So what’s going on, Tristan?”

The sight of her serious expression as she cupped her hands on top of her desk should not have been as attractive as it was.

“I pulled you onto this project for a personal and professional reason. Personally, I wanted to be close enough to you to prove you can trust yourself with me. I figured this might be easier for you to handle than me actively pursuing you romantically.

“Professionally, I looked into your background and cases when I learned you were best friends with Emilia and a lawyer as well. Just like I believe she’s too good for this law firm, I believe you are too.

Because of our noncompete and nonrecruiting clauses, I can’t offer either of you jobs outright, and neither can my partners.

The only way the two of you would be able to come to my firm is if you work on a case that takes at least a year and have more billable hours at my firm than here.

Now this developmental deal may not be your lane, but it will take one to three years, and it will give you far more billable hours at my firm than here. After a year has passed?—”

“I’ll be able to leave and not have to worry about breaching my contract.”

“Exactly. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t think of the workaround until last night, and by then, I couldn’t call you at the office and I don’t have your personal number.

This isn’t something I’d risk sending to your work email because I wasn’t sure if it was monitored.

And I also didn’t want to tell you because I wanted to know if you’d trust me or automatically assume the worse. ”

“Did I fail that last part?” she asked with a smile, causing me to laugh.

“No. You actually handled it better than I thought you would.”

With a sigh, she stood and walked over to the large plant by her window. “I don’t see how you think we can have a personal relationship, Tristan.”

“I prefer angel.” She smiled as I took slow steps in her direction. “And I see it very clearly actually. I’m going to gain your trust and access to your heart while we work together, and then, I’m going to make you my wife.”

“Tri—”

“Aht aht.” I wrapped her up in my arms and pulled her close.

“Angel.” After correcting herself, she smiled and wrapped her arms around my neck. “I meant it when I said I didn’t want a relationship.”

“And I meant it when I said you’re still going to have one. Now you don’t have to be my woman, but I’m definitely your man. You just make sure if you entertain any other men?—”

“I have no interest in that. I’ve been through a lot with men in the past and I prefer my peace and heart intact. That’s never the case when I’m in a relationship. Not the whole time at least.”

“That doesn’t mean give up on love. It just means you were with the wrong men.”

Her office phone rang, giving her the perfect excuse to remove herself from my embrace.

“I’m gonna go, but we’ll talk soon,” I declared.

“About the deal, right?” she confirmed, picking up the phone.

“Yeah, but about us too.”

Her eyes rolled playfully as she pushed the blinking button and accepted the call. I made my way out of her office happy with the progress we’d made.