The Seduction of Jac Frost (by Tatienne Richard) novel Chapter 29

Boundaries Part I

Entering the office early and ahead of everyone, Jacqueline

was unsurprised to see both Wilder and Rafferty waiting for

her.

“We need to talk,” Wilder said bluntly.

“Mr. Vaughn,” she enunciated his name clearly as she dug his

credit card from the pocket in her backpack and extended it

to him, “thank you for the use of the company card. I believe I am now adequately kitted out for the trip with Mr. Fairchild.”

He ignored her hand and growled, “in the conference room

now.”

“No.” she stood her ground, refusing to rise to the bait of

an argument with him. “I am here to work. Unless you are

going to discuss work issues with me, which I am under the

impression were sorted yesterday then there is no need for

me to enter a conference room alone with two men. If you insist on such things, I want my manager and an HR rep in the room.”

“You have got to be kidding me?” Rafferty snarled at her. “What did I do to you?”

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“Guilty by association, Mr. Vaughn,” she didn’t look away from his confused and annoyed glare. “Now, unless it’s

work–related I have nothing to say to you,” she looked back at Wilder.

“You are trying my patience,” Wilder snapped. “You blocked us all out last night. We cannot continue this way.”

“Then let’s not continue,” she shrugged carelessly aware her heart shouldn’t hurt the way it was hurting as she voiced the words. “Talk to your mother. Figure it out. Now, unless I’m being terminated, which I don’t believe is happening because I would expect to see HR here, then leave me alone.”

“Jacqueline, I would like a moment to talk to you,” Rafferty said seriously. “We spoke with your family last night. Your mother is beside herself with worry. Your sister is hurting. Wilder told her that you said she dug her nails into your skin and she’s terrified now that she’s hurt you and you blame her for things –”

“I should have known,” she muttered angrily. “A pretty blonde with crocodile tears is bound to make all the macho men dive

in to protect her.” She flung herself into her seat and put her laptop on the desktop and turned it on.

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“That is not fair. You are judging her on less than a minute of meeting her. We have known her our entire lives and

she wouldn’t hurt a flea. She’s sweet and gentle. You were definitely overwhelmed yesterday with everything and –”

“Question,” she cut Rafferty off, “that gift you mentioned yesterday. The one of sight. Does it work in reverse? Why can’t you just go back and sort out with your little mirror trick

who took me?”

“I can only see things in present time. I can’t foretell the future, and I cannot see the past.”

“How fortuitous for her,” she grumbled angrily.

“Hey, what is this?” Wilder asked as she pulled her hat off and tossed it onto the desk. He lifted a strand of her hair which was no longer the blonde color.

“I was kind of pissed off last night, angrier I think than I’ve ever been. That strand turned blue. It didn’t turn back. On a positive note, a few days ago, this would have made me think I’m one step closer to death. Today it’s just another weird thing to add to the list of weird things which have started.”

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“What kind of weird things?”

“Well, yesterday Jack blew air out and made my doorway icy, which was cool at the time but this morning I noticed the water on the carpet in the hall when I was leaving so maybe not so cool now. Anyway, I can do it too. I tried it this morning and blew all over my mirror in the bathroom and sure enough, I can make ice with my breath. I mean I needed

to concentrate super hard and whatever, but I did it.”

“That’s amazing, Jacqueline,” Wilder said breathlessly.

“Yeah it is. I agree.” She logged into her computer and then took a deep breath, “look, my coworkers are going to be here any minute. Can you just leave me alone?”

“No. There were too many miscommunications yesterday

and we can’t have this moving forward,” Wilder commented

seriously. “We need to talk.”

“There is nothing to talk about. I don’t like her. You do. You believe her. You don’t believe me.”

“Jealously doesn’t look good on you.”

The comment from Wilder had her on her feet. “Jealous? Do 4/6

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you think I’m jealous? Of what, Wilder. Be very specific as to what you think I’m jealous of.”

“She has a relationship with your family and with us and it’s making you feel jealous.”

“Oh. So, you have a relationship with her? Did you sleep with her?”

“Excuse me?” Rafferty choked on his own spit.

“He said relationship.”

“Our families were incredibly close before you disappeared.”

“So, one more thing I’m to blame for.”

“What is wrong with you this morning?”

“With me? Nothing. With you, clearly a lot. Look, you evidently have a better relationship,” she drawled the word out long,

“with the first princess of the Frost family so do me a favor and go to her. Leave me alone. If she’s sad, you can console

her. If she’s feeling misunderstood, go for it. I’m not angry

about it.”

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“Then why are your hands turning blue?” Rafferty asked softly. “It’s okay to be jealous.”

“Enough with the fucking jealousy thing. I’m angry because until yesterday I was content with my life. I came to work. I did my job. I put money away for my future. I like the work I do. I’ve worked hard to beat the odds of an orphaned kid in New York who went through the system. I’m thriving. My apartment might be the size of Jack’s shoe closet, and it

might not be as fancy as your tripped out office up there,”

she jerked her thumb in the direction of the ceiling, “but it

is mine and I like it there. I have a good life. I didn’t need

this.” She waved her hands between them, “and I sure as

hell didn’t need judgmental family who think I’m jealous of a

woman who knows how to play them like fiddles. I’m good. I think it’s for the best if you all pretend that we never met until you can figure out how to cancel the bond.”