do-over

xvii ; seduction [M]

"Hello, Jax," I immediately recognised the voice on the other line and jumped out of the bed quickly and walked into the living room. I hadn't realised the rush of anxiety I got until I was standing shaking in the living room.

"J-Joel..." I said tried to say sharply. "What the fuck do you want? You have no business calling me."

"Mmmh, the contract begs to differ... Do you know how much money I could make exploiting you? You didn't happen to forget about my little blackmail, did you?" His slimy voice sent shivers down my spine.

"You want to ruin me? Is that it?" My voice hardened, even though I was still shaking. "Listen up you asshole," my voice took a tone I forgot I even had, I hadn't used it in so long. Sounded like sizzling venom. A tone I had used to instill fear into many people. "If you make one wrong move, I will expose your whole company for what it is. I know everything, remember? I was your most trusted employee. One misstep and I will burn your little factory to the ground. Or have you forgotten about what happens when you mess with me, Joel? You and I both know I have strings at my fingertips ready to be pulled. People in... high places not afraid to get their hands dirty.

"Next time you dare speak to me will be your last time speaking. Are we understood, Joel? Or do you want to continue our fun little chat about my blackmail?" I hadn't spoken like this in so long, not that it felt nice to uncover the past.

"Sounding like your old self... By the way, how's that boyfriend of yours, hmm?" Joel sneered through the phone. "Wouldn't want him to find out, now would we?"

I turned to face the bedroom. Adrian was sitting up, looking right at me. He looked surprised. My stomach dropped as my heart leapt to my throat.

"That's none of his business. If you so much as think about him I will out you myself and make sure you have a nice, slow death. Blood on my own hands. Let's make it personal," I hung up, hands shaking as I lowered my phone. "I'm sorry you... had to hear that.." My voice started shaking again. I felt like I could collapse at any moment.

Adrian jumped up and ran to my side, holding me up as if he could tell. Maybe I was.. slightly buckling..

"Are you okay?" He asked urgently, bringing me back to the bed and sitting me on it. I felt a hot tear run down my cheek. And then there were more. But I wasn't sobbing. Only shaking. "Jax, please tell me you're okay.. What can I do?"

"I-I-I don't know... God, how did he get my number?! And if he got that.. wh-what else.. c-c-cou-ould he g-ge-et?!" Panicked breaths kept me from forming words properly. It hurt to inhale. "Wh-Wh.." I couldn't finish as I started sobbing.

"Breathe, baby," he rubbed my back gently. "Is there anything I need to know?"

"H-" I forced myself to take a deep breath. When had I become so weak?! Or maybe I was just realising my traumas and this was how I was dealing with them. "He threatened you. Well, he threatened me and mentioned you.. There's no way he could possibly know..." I paused and looked at Adrian. "D-Do you have any w-wea-eapons?"

"Of course... I'm, um... governmentally trained.." He stood up and pushed his clothes aside in the closet before clicking a few buttons on a secret like code system. The wall slid away but I couldn't see anything past. "It's um.. a small weapons room. Uh, it's government issued so.. I don't know if it makes it any less weird.."

"So you're licensed to carry?" I sat up on my feet and he nodded.

"I can, um... pretty much get away with anything as long as I have a good enough reason. I know I haven't worked for them in ages but they owe me more than enough. I have a badge and everything... If I do something it can get cleaned and covered up.. within a day, probably," he shocked me by saying.