Silence Reveals Hidden Answers’ by Michael Anderson novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Harvey Prescott.

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I grab her by the shoulders and pull her up fast while her mouth is still in that soft, tempting pout.

“What the hell are you doing? You’re not a fucking stripper!”

My voice is raised, not because I’m angry, but because I’m hard and fighting it. I lean in to check her pupils, her breath, alcohol, any sign I know. The Jennifer I know doesn’t have the guts, or the knowledge to pull a move like this Ever.

“Jen.”

“You’re yelling at me.”

“Because-“I stop, and reset. “Why would you do that? Why would you put your mouth on my freaking tiger-”

“Because I want you! And we already crossed a line. You don’t get to kiss me and then act like you didn’t open something… okay? I also don’t care about half the things you just said.”

I breathe her in again. No alcohol. No blur. This is her.

“You know what, If you’re not interested then I’ll pick anyone downstairs. A stranger. Someone dangerous. I’ll explore with them instead.”

She turns to walk away so I catch her wrist and pull her back instantly.

“Not while I’m alive.”

She bites her lip and that mischievous little smile appears like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me. I drag a hand down my face to wipe the cold on my forehead. I was closed off when she first came in here, bothered and bitter from the conversation with Baxter.

He dug up every ugly corner of my life to throw in my face, I’d felt like garbage. Unfit for her.

I felt filthy before she walked in. Like my life was too twisted to drag her into. Baxter’s mouth did that and then, there’s her.

“I’m sorry…” she says softly now. “For rushing my no. I know working in casinos shows you things… like, now, for example, strippers are everywhere, so I guess it’s an obvious part of the job. I acted childish. And I’m also sorry for backing into you, and… for the foot thing…”

She looks up at me, eyes bright.

“I swear…I forgot how much trouble you are.”

She shifts on her feet, suddenly shy again. “I’ll… give you a moment to, um–un–hard.”

I snort and grab the hat off the desk, dropping it low to give myself something to focus on besides her. When I look up, she’s laughing softly, covering her mouth. I catch her expression and narrow my eyes.

“It’s not funny,” I say. “You made me unstable today.”

“Well,” she replies, turning her back to give me privacy, “you weren’t paying attention to me.”

I pour myself a short glass of whiskey to burn me yet it circles one thing only. The way she said she didn’t want to be a virgin

anymore.

“Jennifer,” I say after a moment, “you shouldn’t talk about your virginity like it’s nothing.”

15:07 Tue, Feb 3

Chapter 16

She turns from the art piece on the wall and looks at me properly now.

“You’re not nothing to me, Harvey. And I am serious. I want to lose it.”

“You know it’s not just… symbolic, right. A man has to-”

“Harvey,” she cuts in, annoyed. “I know what happens.”

That earns a low chuckle from me.

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“And honestly,” she adds, glancing around the office, “this isn’t the worst place to start. It has… dangerous vibes. I think I’d like that.”

I shake my head immediately.

“You’re a lady. I’m not fucking… I mean, sleeping with you in a Night club office.”

It hits me then how insane this turn is. An hour ago I was convinced I didn’t deserve her, that my life would stain her. One conversation with Baxter dug up all that rot. And now here we are.

“You have to stop thinking of me as the Jennifer from four years ago. I’m not some innocent geek who doesn’t know a thing about the world. Just like you’ve changed… I’ve changed, too.”

“You haven’t. I know you. I know you wanted it to be special. That much I remember. So it would have to be on a bed, where you’re comfortable. And soft. And…” I drag a hand down my face because my protective instinct is warring with the possessive need she’s ignited.

“When you say you want to explore this… Jennifer, are you sure? Really sure? Because if we start this, there is no going back to being just friends. Not for me.”

Jennifer turns to look at me.

“Why do you say it like it’s a warning? What do you mean by, “am I sure“?” she asks.

“Cause I’m…” I fumble for the right word, then Baxter’s smug taunt from earlier echoes in my head. Smirking, I finish, “I’ve got dick big energy.”

Jennifer’s face turns a deep, beautiful crimson.

“What does that mean?”

“Why don’t you go downstairs? I have some work I need to take care of before time runs out.”

“What does it mean, Harvey?” She’s persistent, and that innocence, that genuine confusion, is how I know she’s still my Jennifer at the core.

Fine. If she wants a demonstration, she’ll get one.

I leave where I’m standing and see a desk close to her. I twist Jen in one snap and have her turned to bend her over the desk.

Jennifer is so bent that her palm slaps flat against the wood. I put one hand on her hip then notch against the soft swell of her backside. I fix the insistent center of me right where she’s softest.

“Like this babe…” I say, making her feel the ghost of a filthy thrust,

When I’m finally done working three solid hours of going over the club’s accounts with a fine–tooth comb because I don’t play about my money Present or not, every euro has to be accounted for.

15:07 Tue, Feb 3

Chapter 161

When I step out of the elevator, the club is on cloud 9.

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And there, by the main bar, is Baxter. Drunk off his ass, slurring something at my manager. I heard he rented out the entire club tonight to impress his pack of friends. Paid half a million for it. The money, of course, came from the wedding budget his parents gave him, and it landed directly in my account as I’m the secret owner.

“What’s he arguing with the manager about?” I ask one of the staff, not really caring but curious.

“Oh, he’s been demanding to see the owner, sir. He’s angry that after paying such a large amount to book the VIP section, he didn’t even get a personal greeting from you.”

“Leave it that way. Tell the manager to say I’m overseas or something.” The staff nods and hurries off.

Nate finally appears beside me. “Good to go?”

“Yeah.” I say start toward the exit.

Then Baxter sees me.

“Harvey! You came?”

I stop and see him stumbling through the crowd of his jocks, spilling his drink as he pushes it against the staff’s chest.

Shit. I just want to be out of here. I want to get back to the villa, to see if Jennifer is still awake. She texted me hours ago that she’d left the club.

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