Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
The answer fit him perfectly. Later, I put on music, and we danced. We didn’t leave the apartment the entire. Normally, such a quiet weekend would make me antsy, but not with Ben. When Monday morning came, I didn’t want him to leave, but I had my driver take him home so he could dress for the day. I also messaged Marisol asking her to make another suit for him, which I planned to keep in my closet.
No way in hell was this going to be the last time he spent the night with me. If I had my way, I’d move him in right now, but I knew he’d never accept that. And I knew I’d have to keep him under surveillance. Carter could think we were doing it in case he was committing corporate espionage, but I was doing it for his safety.
24
BEN
The next week should have been heaven. Miles was professional when he needed to be, tender when I was feeling the stress of his professional demands, and always ready to pull me into his office for a make out session—or more. But the daily threatening calls from Jesse ruined my bliss. The night before, he’d told me if I didn’t have something for him in twenty-four hours, I would regret it.
I didn’t know exactly what Jesse would do, so I was on edge all day. Miles as well as others I worked closely with kept asking me what was wrong. I ended up making an excuse and saying I had a headache.
Miles insisted I go home early to rest, not knowing that was far more dangerous for me than being at work. And as I’d feared, when I arrived at my apartment, Jesse was waiting for me.
He was sitting on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, ankle resting on his knee. He spread his arms across the back as he looked me up and down. I didn’t bother to ask how he’d gotten in.
“What have you got for me, little brother?”
I surveyed the room, looking for Felix before I answered, but he always hid when Jesse came around. “I told you I haven’t been able to learn anything. I’m too new there. Mr. Montgomery doesn’t trust me with anything as important as the formulas for new products or the code to his personal safe. I’m not sure anyone has that code.” That wasn’t true. I felt certain Ford and Carter had it, but not any of the executives.
Jesse shook his head. “You’re his assistant. You have access to his office. You could get us something.”
“You want specific information, not just anything.”
“Information we could blackmail him with would work just as well.”
No way in hell was I going to let them hurt Miles. “I don’t have anything. I told you I wouldn’t.”
“And I made it clear that you’ve stalled enough.” He rose to his full height, towering over me.
I stood my ground. Things would only get worse for me if I showed my fear.
“What’s it going to take to convince you how serious I am?” Jesse asked.
I sighed, trying to look like I was bored with him. “I understand you’re serious about needing information, but this kind of thing takes time.”
“You’re lying.”
“I have to be there long enough to be trusted with the type of information you want.”
He wrinkled his nose in disgust. “You’ve never been any good at this.”
I’d never wanted to be good at it. “Then send someone else.”
“Not an option. It’s clear you’re going to need some more convincing.”
His fist slammed into my gut, and I doubled over in pain.
“I can’t mess up that pretty face of yours, that would draw too much attention. But I can hurt you.” He beat me until I was curled in a ball on the floor.
They need you; you’ll survive this. I kept repeating that to myself. Jesse wanted me to do the job, so he wasn’t going to kill me. He wouldn’t have avoided my face otherwise.
“Take care of business,” he yelled as he gave me one last kick, sending pain searing through me. “Our contact will be watching you, making sure you aren’t allying yourself too closely with the enemy. We know about your little stunt the other night, getting Montgomery to show you sympathy.”
I nodded, knowing there was no point in trying to explain what had actually happened at the gala.
“We want results, or it will be worse next time.” He laughed as he walked out, banging the door shut behind him.
Felix ran over and curled up next to me as I lay on the floor, assessing my injuries. I was going to be bruised and stiff, but I’d manage. I longed to call Miles and have him come care for me, but that was the last thing I could do. Unless I healed miraculously, he’d notice I wasn’t moving well and I’d have to come up with a story for him. At least he was flying to the LA office the next day, so I wouldn’t see him tomorrow. That also meant I would mostly be at my desk doing paperwork. I could handle the day if I didn’t have to move around much.