by Sam Crescent
What unnerved her a little was how secretive Catherine Riley seemed to be. She wouldn’t give anything away over the phone and demanded a face-to-face. Paul, at her request, had arranged a lunch together. She’d said that it needed to be private. How the four kings were monitoring her every move.
Taylor herself found it increasingly difficult not to look around, not to wonder who was watching her.
She’d gone for a run in the park and seen so many people with phones or other devices and she’d freaked out. David now took her to his gym and helped her with a set routine. She’d been slacking lately, and the carbs were having an effect. A couple of her skirts were fitting too snugly around her waist.
“You know you could just abandon your plan. There’s no shame in that.”
“And let them get away with it?”
“What if there’s nothing to get away with?” He held his hand up as she went to speak. “I get that they hid some stuff. What if it was for her own good? You’re assuming here that everything is bad.”
“I know it’s bad, David. I know it. Carla, she’s not … I mean, she wasn’t like that. She’d never have done that.”
“You don’t know that, Tay. Even you said that she was keeping secrets. I just don’t want you to put everything into this only to be screwed over at the end of it. I care about you.”
“You know it was always strange,” she said.
“What?”
“In the last few weeks before Carla … died, she’d been acting really strangely. Meeting someone in secret. She’d always tell me that she couldn’t say anything, you know. How it had to be in private. I always thought it seemed a little cruel to me.” She stared at him, seeing the frown on his face.
“Why?”
“If he was her boyfriend, he was too ashamed to admit it or go public. Kind of cruel, really.”
“What if he was doing it for her own good?” Easton asked.
Taylor shook her head. “No. This wasn’t for Carla’s own good. It was for his.”
“You don’t know that.”
“What I do know is whatever happened between them killed her.” Taylor stood up. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“How can you say that?” Easton asked.
The desperation in his voice made her stop for a second. The diary never mentioned who Carla had been seeing, just that it was one of the four. She didn’t have a clue, and narrowing it down seemed to be her best option.
The way Easton reacted, it was almost like he knew something. As if she was insulting him.
Turning back to face him, she raised a brow. “Say what?”
“That whoever she was with … killed her.”
“She ended her own life. Suicide.”
He nodded his head, face pale.
Interesting.
She would find out the truth one way or another.
“It’s hard to talk about,” she said.
There was a time to pry and a time to know when to back the fuck off.
“I will get these typed up for you pronto,” she said.
Easton didn’t stop her.
Walking to her desk, she sat down and got straight back to work. She didn’t have time or the privacy to be able to write down what she’d discovered, if it was even anything of relevance.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Easton slammed out of his office to go to Axton’s. Within minutes Romeo and Karson appeared.
“You’ve not upset the little prince, have you?” Romeo asked.
“Not me. I’m just working.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
She watched them go.
If only she had some way of planting a listening device. She did ask Paul for one, but he refused. He’d already told her that he was out of this. That he didn’t want to be part of it. He felt they were losing their own lives on this quest that could bring them back nothing.
It wouldn’t bring Carla back.
It wouldn’t bring them anything but pain.
But if she’d not killed herself, it meant someone else took her life. Ended it early.
Taylor paused in her typing. Did she really want to know that? Could she bring herself to know that kind of truth?
Carla had been her best friend in the entire world.
If she trusted you, she’d have shared everything.
She suddenly felt sick. Getting to her feet, she left her desk, heading toward the bathroom. Moving up to the sink, she gripped the edge of the counter, taking several deep breaths. She couldn’t think or focus or do anything right now.
In her mind she saw flashes of Carla as she pulled her out of the water. The pain that sliced through her from the cold but also knowing her friend was dead.
She held her in her arms.
Cold.
Lifeless.
Dead.
Turning on the water, she splashed her face, thankful she’d forgone the makeup today. David would pitch a fit if he saw her. Her hair was even pinned back into a bun and her face fresh and clear of makeup.
He’d once told her the way she looked was her suit of armor. She’d entered the lion’s den without it on.
“What is your deal?” Axton said.
She looked up into the mirror to see him in the bathroom, his arms folded. He looked menacing.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Whatever you said to Easton, what is it?”
“He was the one to bring up Carla,” she said, glaring at him.
He glared right back.
“Aren’t you worried about me? About my feelings? You’re coming in here accusing me of doing something? What exactly could I do? None of you knew Carla. None of you had anything to do with her.” She turned around, staring at him.
She hated how she responded to him. The thickness of his arms. His muscular body. The way she knew he’d hurt her if given the chance.
There was something hard and rough about him.
He made her ache in ways she’d never experienced.
He stepped into the room and she stayed in her spot, waiting, watching. He could pounce at any second.
Did she want him to do that? To take what he wanted?
Axton was a cold man to the core. She’d read the stories about him, and months later seen the news of how old kiss-and-tell flames had suddenly been met with huge bills, unpaid debts, and facing homelessness.
Going up against this man had consequences. If you didn’t take him down, he’d push you into the dirt and leave you to rot.
He was, after all, a businessman.
Suddenly, he stepped up close.
She didn’t back down, nor did she cower away.
Staring into his dark brown eyes, she waited.
“You didn’t lodge a complaint about me.”
“We weren’t in working hours.” She held in her gasp as his hand went to the counter beside her hip. His arm so close to her, and yet, he still didn’t touch. They weren’t touching at all, but he was close.
Anyone who came into the bathroom would think they were kissing.
“I don’t know what you think you’re up to, Taylor, but be warned, I’m aware.”
“I’m not up to anything.”
“I’m not a stupid man. Ten years have gone by since I last saw you. You magically appear out of thin air and you expect me to believe it’s all down to wanting to work hard.”
“You have a problem with my work ethic?” she asked.
“You’re one of the hardest-working people I know.”
She ran her gaze down to his lips, wanting them on her. Licking her own in return, she stared back up at him. “Then I don’t see the problem.”
She gasped aloud as he gripped her hip and suddenly he was pressed against her. His solid body held her captive, keeping her in place. She couldn’t move.
Placing her hands on his chest, she stared up at him. “What are you going to do?” she asked. “We are in working hours.”
“Whatever the fuck you’re doing, stop it
. Whatever it is you think you’re after, you won’t find it.”
She tilted her head to the side. “So much paranoia locked up in one package. Tell me, Axton, do you think the entire world is against you?”
He leaned in close, so close they shared the same air.
“I don’t think it. I know it. Be careful here, Taylor. I’d hate to see anything bad happen to you.”
With that, he was gone. She watched him leave the bathroom. The only evidence he’d been there was the scent of his cologne and the rapid beating of her heart.
She touched her hip where he’d held her.
Turning toward the mirror, she lifted up her skirt, and right there, red marks from his touch. Seeing them on her pale skin made her smile.
She could get to him, and she intended to have a whole lot of fun with this.
Putting her skirt down, she ran her hands down her shirt, pushing out any wrinkles.
Leaving the bathroom, she made her way to the desk and finished her work for the day. She didn’t look toward Axton or give him the time of day when he passed her desk.
“Always keep them guessing. Always leave them wanting more.”
When it came to this man, she didn’t know what she wanted. Getting close to Axton wasn’t part of the plan, but if that was what she had to do, she’d do it.
****
“You do know it’s not in my job description to pick out items of jewelry for your dates.” Taylor watched as Romeo tossed a round, green tennis ball up into the air and caught it. Whenever she was in his office, rarely did he sit still. It often made her wonder if he knew how to do something that didn’t require physical effort.
“We’ve done all the boring stuff.”
“Yes, because employing people, going through health benefits is such a boring job.”
“We’re all about helping people,” Romeo said, giving her one of his wicked smiles. He in no way did anything for her. It was like her body didn’t exist for him.
She sat with her notepad on her lap as he held six different boxes in front of him.
“Did you buy all of these?”
“Yep. I kept staring at them for, like, an hour straight.”
“I do have better things to do.”
“I know. I work here as well, remember? You’ve got to see Karson soon, then on to Axton.”
She nibbled her lip, feeling nervous about that one. It had been a few days since he’d invaded her bathroom break. The attraction for him was on a completely different scale. She couldn’t think. She’d been at the copy machine once again, trying to figure out why it wasn’t working. Axton moved up behind her, and with a flick of the button, it started working. The way his body felt, the heat, just all of it, she had to control her moan, to keep herself from begging him not to stop.
This had never happened to her, not once.
“Is there something going on between you and Axton?”
“No, why?”
“He’s been in a bit of a mood lately. You know, growling at everyone and stuff.”
“Why do you put up with him? He seems to be awfully bossy to all of you, and you’re all partners, right?”
“Axton is … the boss. If we’re all honest. He was the one that set this all up for us, and he’s the one that keeps us thriving. He’s a fantastic guy.”
“Now you’re trying to sell me on him?”
Romeo chuckled. “I wouldn’t do anything of the sort. Nah, Axton has always been a grownup. I even think he came out of his mother’s womb ordering people around.” This made her smile. “Yeah, even in high school, he was always like that. But then, he wasn’t even allowed to have much time to be a kid, you know?”
She didn’t, so she shook her head. “I don’t remember much. You and the others weren’t exactly in my circle.”
“You may have not seen us, but believe me, Axton saw you.”
This made her frown. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“Then maybe it’s a good thing you don’t know.” He winked at her. “Now, stop being a pain in the ass and help me.”
She rolled her eyes and stood. Walking to his desk, she stared at the array of jewelry on offer. They were all exquisite pieces.
“What are they for?” she asked.
“For?”
“You know. Have you been naughty? Upset her? Is this for a first date? Second? The hope of getting her into bed?”
“How about all of the above?”
She shook her head. Glancing over the pieces, she blew out a breath. “Fine, do you know what color she’d like?”
“Nope.”
“Then I’d go with the blue, it looks pretty.”
“You’re not an expert on diamonds?”
“Nope. I’m not an expert on much, and they don’t impress me.”
“Why not?” he asked.
“Diamonds don’t keep anyone warm at night. Sure, they’re a nice treat to have, but I guess I’m old-fashioned. I don’t need the monetary gifts.”
“What is it you need then?”
“To know that I’m wanted. That I’m loved. Needed. That kind of thing.”
“You don’t have a boyfriend though.”
“Nothing ever worked out.”
“How come?”
“I’ve got a lot of commitment to my work. Getting close to someone, it takes a lot, and I don’t have that kind of time, you know.”
“I get it.”
She shrugged. “Not exactly a lot I can do to change the way my life turned out.”
“Why do you say it like that?”
“I once had plans, you know. To go traveling all over the world. To see landmarks. Maybe even go bungee jumping.”
“Now that does surprise me. Why don’t you go and do all those things?”
“Because the person I planned them with is no longer here.” She held her notebook to her chest like a lifeline. “I’d go with the blue. It’s beautiful, and it doesn’t look like you’re trying too hard to get what you want. Is there anything else?”
He kept staring at her, and right now she’d already given him more information than she intended.
She felt stripped open once again.
Exposed.
Vulnerable.
You’re here to do a job. Get it done.
“Thank you, Taylor.” She moved toward the door. “For what it’s worth, I think you make a great fit here.”
She looked over her shoulder at him. Gone was the smiling, teasing, charming man. In his place stood someone serious, someone scary.
“Thank you.”
Without giving him a second glance, she walked toward her desk. Looking up, she saw Axton had all the blinds in his office open. That’s not what made her stop and watch. There was a woman, beautiful, blonde, without an ounce of weight on her. She wore a tight dress, revealing so much skin that Taylor had to actually look to see if she wore anything at all.
Axton was smiling, and he looked happy. His arms were folded, and he was listening to whatever the woman said. Jealousy sliced through her, and she rubbed at her chest, hating the strike of pain she got.
The woman, whoever she was, ran her hands up and down his chest, touching him as if she had a right to do so.
You don’t own him.
You’ve got no claim to him.
Besides, you want to bring him down, to make him suffer.
You can’t make him suffer if you want him.
“What are you glaring at?” Karson asked.
“Nothing.” She hated that she’d been caught staring.
“Ah, that’s just Emily. She’s one of the women he sponsored to help get a modeling contract. She’s harmless. Just passing through and he always has a meeting with her. This happens around once a year, if that.”
She hated that she’d been jealous when the woman wasn’t anything special to Axton. Glancing at him now, she saw he wasn’t being anything other than nice, supportive.
She wasn’t used to feeling jealous, or possessive. Especiall
y not about Axton.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she ignored the feelings that were building within her and got straight back to work. She didn’t have time to be dwelling on what wasn’t hers. He didn’t belong to her in any way.
She had to learn to remember that.
****
“Hurry up,” Karson said.
She quickly wrote down his notes that he was making for the current contract problem. They had hit a snag with another company they intended to buy out. Their business rival had offered a more compelling takeover bid, and since then, the Four Kings’ Empire had been in an uproar over it.
Taylor couldn’t even remember the last time she’d been at her home. She’d been forced to wash and change here as they needed ’round the clock assistance. Not that she minded. Going home only reminded her of everything she still needed to do.
Paul was constantly on her case about backing out of her plan.
David did nothing but warn her.
Her apartment was empty.
Lonely.
She hated being alone.
The sadness would always hit her hard during those times. The boxes that were filled with old pictures and memories would hold her down, force her to face reality that she was all alone.
“Done.”
“Good. I want that typed up. No mistakes within the next half an hour. We cannot let those bastards win.”
She nodded, getting to her feet.
“Why do you think they’re thinking of going with Hammer Industries? It’s not a done deal, but we pretty much had this shit in the bag.”
Staring at Karson with his black hair and blue eyes, and deadly look, she saw the anger in his eyes.
According to her research and sources, he was the soldier of them all. The one that went into battle in the boardroom, the one everyone looked at. Axton was the one that manipulated everything. Romeo and Easton were the two charmers. They gathered information. She was always careful around everyone, especially Karson.
“I don’t know.”
“You have an idea. You didn’t seem shocked when we got the update they’d turned down our bid and were planning to go with Hammer Industries. You must have an opinion?”
“I have one, but I don’t think you’re going to like it.”