❝I don't need you, my touch is better

I'm rolling much hotter❞

Chapter Four:
Terms and Conditions

Impulsive decisions were never really my thing. In fact, if I had an actual choice, I wouldn't be doing any of this. I wouldn't be voluntarily plunging into enemy lines by accepting this job offer. I wouldn't be moving from Seattle to Washington D.C and starting my life all over again. And I definitely wouldn't be sitting in the front seat of Hans Castellan's car, sulking and staring out the window as he drove. But that's the funny thing about life isn't it? At one point or another, it'll pull an atomic wedgie on your ass. All you can do then is suck it up. Literally.

I would have been more appreciative of the fact that I was sitting in the front seat of an Audi RS 7, a luxury car I could only dream of owning, but my sour mood left no room for positivity.

"Is this really necessary?" I grumbled and turned to look over at the driver's seat. Hans didn't bat an eyelash in my direction but I made it a point to stare angrily at him until he did. After a good two minutes, he cleared his throat and said an exasperated, "Yes."

"But why do I have to be there for this? I have better things to do you know."

"Like pack your bags in Seattle?" Hans smiled , a little too widely. That smug bastard had me and he was rubbing it all over my face. Before I could come at him with another retort, he pulled into the parking of a Starbucks, the last place I'd been expecting him to take me to. "Now stop getting your panties in a twist and follow me." He didn't let me get a word in, stepping out of his car. I half-expected him to cross over and open my side for me but Hans just stalked off.

Cursing under my breath, I got out the car and closed the door with a gentle slam (gentle, for the car was too pretty). Jogging up to him just as he opened the door to the entrance, I punched him on the shoulder. To him, it probably felt like a gentle love tap.

"I demand an explanation," I said, but not too loudly having stepped inside already. The place was rather packed for eight o'clock on a weekday. I did a quick skim around before meeting Hans' eyes. In a steely commanding tone, he gave me one order.

"Behave."

That prompted a lot of interesting imagery in my head. I gulped, feeling my cheeks flush and broke our gaze. "Fine," I muttered and followed him as he took the lead, walking through the cafe toward the back corner, surprising me as he didn't make a move to order anything.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a rather attractive man seated at the leftmost booth. He looked a little familiar. Maybe he was a model? The deep caramel skin tone, ocher eyes, full lips and lean body...yeah, I wouldn't be surprised. It came to be a complete shock as it turned out this was the very man that Hans was walking toward in the first place.

"Ah, the man of the hour." The angel-slash-model stood up, his voice light, casual, friendly. To my complete astonishment, Hans let out a good-natured laugh and stepped forward, the two coming together in that bro-hug ritual known to all of mankind, thumping each other on the back.

"It's been a while, Jazz." It was like seeing Hans in an entirely new light. He grinned as he stepped back, the smile lighting up his face in a way I'd never seen before. They were both almost at an equal height, this 'Jazz' being an inch or two taller. Perhaps Hans was incapable of having friends that weren't on his gorgeous scale. I stopped gawking at the two of them and cleared my throat, bringing attention to myself. Both pairs of eyes fell on me, Hans' smile dwindling.

"Well, this is a first," Jazz whistled, looking down at me and smiling with all his pearly whites. He hit his friend on the shoulder jokingly. "You rarely bring your girls out for breakfast dates. She your new girlfriend?"

I had to interpret that as sarcasm. I couldn't imagine Hans without a girl by his side. He seemed like a big fuck-boy after all. However, that didn't explain how eagerly his friend stepped forward, grabbing my hand in a hearty shake.

"Jasper Smith. Nice to meet you, Ms..."

"Tris. Tris Henderson."

His eyes went wide, eyebrows raising, handshake slowing.

"Tris Henderson," he repeated my name, a trace of disbelief mixed into it. Before I could get an opportunity to analyze his awe, Hans placed a hand around his friend's arm and dragged him back till they were a safe distance away for me not to hear anything. I sunk into the booth, sitting down at the spot near the window all the while not taking my eyes off the two men in the corner.

When Hans and his girlfriend made their way back, Jasper was still grinning, a trace of pink in his cheeks. Hans slid into the seat next to mine (which I wasn't entirely comfortable with) with Jasper facing us from the opposite side of the table.

"Sorry about that," he said. "I just didn't expect the Tris Henderson to be here."

"I'm not all that famous," I replied.

"After last night, you became the talk of the town."

My jaw fell to the floor. That's how I recognized him. Jasper must have been a face in the party.

He smiled at me, his dark brows rising in amusement at my reaction. His eyes flickered to Hans, and in a voice that was containing laughter, he asked, "You didn't tell her, did you?"

"It doesn't make a difference if she knows or not."

"What doesn't make a difference?"

Jasper took a drink out of his mug of coffee before answering. "Rumor has it that Tris Henderson is the, what did they call you, future 'heiress' of Innovus."

"Eh?" I whipped around and glowered at Hans. His eyes were no where near me, focused on his friend in an unbreakable stare. "What did you do?"

"Oh, he didn't do anything," Jasper spoke up in defense, no doubt noticing that I was about to strangle the living daylights out of his accomplice. "People just get to talking after they witness the darling child of Innovus with an actual date by his side."

"And if I recall correctly," Hans spoke, his words crisp and taunting as he turned to face my glare head on, "you were the one who asked me out."

Irritation bubbled up on my face. "I so didn't ask you ou- you know what. I don't have time for this, Hans. I have a plane to catch, and a life to live, so if you don't mind, I'm going to leave, thank you very much."

A painful silence followed in which all Hans did was blink. That's as much movement as I got out of him as he didn't make an effort to get up and let me out of the booth. With an indifferent glance at my declaration, he turned back to face Jasper.

"She's feisty. I like her," Jasper chuckled.

"She's all talk. Crumbles like a deck of cards once you get that big mouth of hers to shut up."

They both laughed like it was the funniest thing Hans had ever said. I sunk down further in my seat, completely embarrassed at what Hans had implied, something that Jasper was smart enough not to miss. I settled for staring out the window like I had back in the car, back to sulk-mode. Eyes fixed outside, ears on the conversation.

"So, what do you need me to do, Hans?"

"I need you to hire her."

That got my attention. I snuck a peek at Hans whose face was dead serious. Jasper, on the other hand, started laughing again even harder than before. "Jokes aside man, seriously. Let's get talking cause I've got to get back to work and-"

"I'm not kidding around."

Jasper's smile died. Concern knitted his brows together. He set the mug down on the table with a loud clunk and leaned forward, folding his hands on the surface top. I started to piece together the whole purpose of this meeting. So, Jasper worked for Innovus and had ties with the hiring committee. Hans' plan of blackmail was perfect except for one striking flaw. He didn't really have the legitimate authority to hire me at all, seeing as he wasn't part of Innovus yet...why hadn't I considered that before?

I blinked away the reverie and watched the scene unfold. Jasper was staring intensely at Hans. Their eyes were locked together and if I didn't know better, they were having a telepathic conversation, completely aware of my presence. Perhaps, Hans was regretting bringing me here now.

After a good two minutes of an uncomfortable silence (on my part), the two broke their mental conversation and Jasper declared, "I can't hire her."

Hans' shoulders slumped slightly, knocking against my own. I scooted away.

"Why not?"

"I have no grounds. No basis for hiring her."

"You can hire her on the basis that I've seen her naked. And wet."

Kill me, now. I didn't react immediately to those words, it taking a while to sink into my system that he had actually said that...out loud. Jasper, however, showed no surprise. Rather, he seemed to be embarrassed for me, his ears flushing red as he quickly looked at me, shooting me an awkward smile. He was obviously used to Hans acting like this. I was horrified.

"Get real, Castellan."

His lips pulled up into a traitorous smile. "Trust me, that's a good enough reason for anything."

I stomped on his foot under the table as hard as I could. He didn't so much as wince, continuing his negotiation.

"You have the power, Jazz, which is why I came to you."

"I know but..." Jasper glanced at me, his lips turning downward. He opened his mouth, then closed it, biting down on his lip in clear thought to phrase whatever it is he wanted to say. "I'm sure that Ms. Henderson here is a wonderful closer as her reputation claims," he said softly, shooting me a smile, "but do you realize how bad it will look to hire her right after she got fired from our competitor's firm?"

"Do you not realize how good that will look?" Hans frowned and leaned forward. The look that told me he had entered the 'I'm all business' zone. "It'll make them look weak for letting go of an employee like that. We can even twist the story around to make it sound like Henderson quit that company to join us in the first place."

"Right," I scoffed, earning myself a look. "I'd never admit to that."

Hans' eyes were pure fire when he threatened, "Either you do, or I see you in court."

I scowled at him but didn't say anything, crossing my arms over my chest like a grumpy little child. What a dingus.

"Besides," Hans turned back to Jasper, having pulled out the thorn in his side, "she dug up enough dirt on us last night to have them coming at us. If we let her go, Innovus is in danger."

Jasper looked like he wanted to bark a laugh at that. He pressed his lips together, an eyebrow arching. "You sure do seem to care a lot about your father's company now."

"It's my future," Hans shrugged and settled back against the back of the seat. "Does it look like I have a choice?"

Jasper's smile lingered. He hummed under his breath and sat back. "Fine. I'll get it done. But you don't get to ask me for another favor for a year."

"Deal." And there it was again. That boyish-friendly grin. I tried not to stare at him when he smiled that way but it was really hard not to, being a rare sight. Jasper stood up, catching my attention.

"I better get going to work. Got a lot to do." He stepped out of the booth and came forward to give Hans another bro-hug. I watched, seated still out of fear that Hans would say something mortifying again if I so much as breathed around them. "And you, Ms. Henderson," Jasper smiled. "Keep an eye on your email. You'll be hearing from me quite soon so we can work out a few quirks before you join us here in D.C."

I nodded and forced a smile back. I stared at Jasper's retreating figure, disbelief clouding me that this was still happening. How could my whole life have changed in the span of twenty-four hours?

_____

Song: Body Of My Own by Charlie XCX

Dedicated to VrittiMiranda for never failing to laugh at my sexual humor and embracing the fact that she is friends with a weirdo. :P 

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The second part to this chapter will be up on Saturday!