Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106150 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106150 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
“So am I.” Bash propped his ass against his desk again and crossed his arms. I took a moment to appreciate how sexy this man’s forearms were in a business shirt with rolled-up sleeves. Linden, Indiana, didn’t have much of that, so I may have stared a little too intently at his exposed forearms. “Which means we need to do things by the book. We need to remove critical documents from Austin’s reach and prove that he stole Rowe’s IP first. If we fire him now, he’ll think he has a perfect right to take his MRO idea with him to his next company. And he might even pursue a wrongful termination case. A very public one.”
Silas’s shoulders fell. “You have a point. But… shit, Bash, I want to be involved. I want you to stay in town so I can help,” he admitted quietly. “I can’t believe another jackass is threatening our company—your company—even if this one wasn’t due to my fuckup.”
Silas’s words took a minute to sink in. Our company. Your company. As in… Silas and Bash felt proprietary since they were on the board of directors? Or were they shareholders in the companies that owned Sterling Chase? Or… my breath caught as the idea hit me, so clear and so right that I knew it was a fact immediately.
Bash and his friends had invented ETC. They had founded the company. And they’d hidden it from everyone.
Holy fucking shit. That explained so much, particularly why such a random group of people—a thrill seeker, a horse trainer, an uptight businessman, a rock star, and a dilettante—had been selected for Sterling Chase’s board of directors.
I must’ve made a startled noise because Bash tugged me closer to his side.
“The situation with Justin wasn’t your fault, either, Silas,” Bash said. “You trusted him because that’s the kind of man you are. Justin was an asshole who was willing to lie, cheat, and steal to build his company. That’s the kind of man he is. I really wish you could find a way to let it go.”
“Yeah.” Silas blew out a breath, but the tension in his shoulders didn’t change. “I’d rather go kick his ass.”
Bash snorted. “I’m down. Though I don’t think you’d need help unless the asshole fights dirty.”
I barely paid attention to the conversation. I was pretty sure they were talking about Justin Hardy, and I was distantly glad I hadn’t followed through on my plans to pitch my idea to Justin. He sounded like a douche—a dangerous one. I couldn’t muster much curiosity for the full story, though, since I’d already reached maximum capacity for shock.
Sebastian Dayne and his friends own the company. That meant he wasn’t just a millionaire from family money; he was a… a… a billionaire… in his own right. The divide between us had already seemed wide as an ocean. Now… now it was something that would require rocket fuel to cross.
“One last thing,” Kenji said, “before Silas and I leave you to all your Mission Impossible covert operations… I do believe Austin needs a new project.”
That got my attention. “Unless Dev needs some horse shit mucked, I wouldn’t trust that guy to do a damn thing,” I said.
Silas snorted. “Dev wouldn’t let Austin near Trigger. Especially not since he’s already decided he’s very Team Rowe.”
“He is?” I looked at Bash, but he seemed as surprised as I was.
“Jesus,” Silas muttered. “Sebastian, you really need to pay attention to the group chat. But yes, he, Zane, and Landry all suggested I calm down and give you the benefit of the doubt.”
“How’s that working for you?” I asked sweetly.
“Don’t fuck with my friend, Bandito, and you and I won’t have any problems,” Silas shot back.
I had the momentary urge to tell Silas off the way I had with Kenji but quickly dismissed the idea. I wouldn’t be around long enough for Silas’s opinion of me to matter. Bash might be “falling” for me, but who knew what that even meant for a billionaire? He’d told me in his own words that he owned entire houses he rarely visited and traveled around the world whenever he grew restless. What if it was only a matter of time until he lost interest in me, too?
“As I was saying, boys,” Kenji cut in, “Austin can’t just be left to his own devices. Legal has been informed that you’re delaying MRO, but it won’t be long before Austin questions it.” He tapped his lip thoughtfully. “You know, I bet Clarissa is getting pretty lonely in Sierra Leone.”
Bash laughed. “Devious. But it’s true that she could use the help. Send Austin out to Sierra Leone tomorrow, and make sure he stays gone for a couple weeks.”
Silas shook his head. “He’s going to want to be here for the Innovation Awards presentation at Lincoln Center a week from Saturday. Austin was nominated for his work on CaffApp, remember? He won’t miss it.”