Chapter three

Jason

I've broken my most important rule: no woman in my house. But in my defense it was important that I actually come to the house, on my international businesses I conduct from home. But the fact that I brought Olivia to my house speaks volumes even to me, especially because we don't get along half the time and the other half it's because I'm entirely incredibly attracted to her. And now it seems that me and her are about to share roof, mine to be precise. The blood in my veins flows in excitement but my mind is telling me to be wary.

Usually when people come into my house they sign an NDA because I don't like to be exposed, I Love My privacy too much. Plus with the type of business I'm in it's too easy for people to want to attack me. The shipping business is not for the faint of heart. As I'm walking towards the liquor cabinet, I sense her following behind me. I flip up two whiskey glasses and pour two fingers of my favorite whiskey, Jack Daniel, still talking to Lewis Dowry on the phone, I hand one glass to Olivia which she takes and drinks it like a champ.

"Yes Lewis, I'm still here." I say to him when he asks me if I'm listening.

"The Russians are trying to change the terms of the contract. They're saying you can't have a space for four ships at a time in their territory." Lewis says. Lewis is my stand in guy, a negotiator of sorts, the one who goes to places I can't go.

"Lewis, do what you have to do to get this deal done. I will talk to you later." I say and cut the call, looking at the first woman to ever step foot in my house.

"Is there a problem Olivia?" I ask her knowing very well she is about to give it to me tenfold.

"Is there a problem?" She says, laughing at my question. "You're asking me if there's a problem? You just told me that I can't go back to the city because your stupid cars can't drive in this weather and you're asking me if there's a problem?"

"Well what do you suggest I tell you then?" I ask her like it's not a big deal.

"Jason, I can't spend the night here, I'm supposed to go pack my shit and look for a fucking apartment because I found my so called boyfriend and best friend fucking in my bedroom on my bed and I can't stand to be in the fucking same room as them because I will don't want to go to jail for killing two people I trusted with my life. I need to go...ok, I'm really trying to hold it together right now. So please tell me you will make a plan for us to leave...please?" She pleads with me, her eyes going big and glassy. And at this moment I'm the one feeling murderous for her sake.

I move closer to her and hold her shoulders and crouch so that we're eye to eye and say something I know is out of my depth.

"It's ok, I have a spare bedroom in my apartment you can use, if you'd like while you're looking for an apartment. I wish there was something I could do, but unfortunately the roads really are bad. Hopefully the rain will stop by morning then we can pick up your things and get them to my place."

"Really?" She asks me in a hopeful voice that makes me regret my words, then before I can answer her, she does a 180 and says "Are you crazy? You can't just invite a complete stranger to you house like that. And what would people think?" She does not let me answer her, instead she goes on to tell me how she works for me and during all of this, I ask myself just how crazy she is, one minute she looked a out to cry then the next tells me off. I huff out a laugh, and that makes her stop completely. She turns and looks at me from the counter where she is standing.

"Did I say something funny?" She asks completely seriousand almost sounding pissed. She looks cute when she is angry, and flushed I might add.

From my seat in the adjoining dining room table, smirk at her, "No ma'am," I laugh at her face when it twists, "look, it's no big deal, I'm sure it will take you a day or two before you find a place of your own, right?"

"Right." Her lips twist in a way that tells me that she is thinking, and I like that. Like that she didn't jump into taking my offer just as fast like most women would have done.

"I think I will stay with my brother though, yeah, my brother is a safe bet. Thank you for the offer, but I think it's best if our sharing a residence ends here." She says to me which makes me sad for some reason. So I try to convince her...

"Where does your brother live exactly? Is it far from work?" Honestly I also don't know why it's important that I convince her, but until now, despite everything I want to know how it feels to have her close to me.

She ducks her head and plays with her fingers, "well I will have to travel more than an hour to work." She says in a very low voice. I laugh because that gives me an advantage.

"I guess it's settled then, let me make a few phone calls to have your things delivered at my apartment." I say standing up to go back to my office before I ask her to be my girlfriend.