Strictly Business (Mixing Business With Pleasure Series Book 1)

by Ace Gray

  “Kate, I have Damien on the line.”

  “Put him through. Thank you, Gem.” I paused until the line clicked. “Damien.” I playfully yelled into the speakerphone, still looking at the photos of Nicholas and I, wishing I could see his eyes beneath the aviators he’d worn.

  “Hey baby, how on earth are you?” He played right back.

  “I’m not your baby anymore, haven’t been for a long time. As a matter of fact, if this isn’t a banking related call I’m hanging up.” I pulled the paper closer to appreciate the contours of Nicholas’ torso in print.

  “Of course it’s banking related. Despite what you may think I take managing your accounts very seriously. I’m eternally grateful you kept me on after we broke up.”

  He’d shifted to serious. Damien was a good-looking, talented investment banker I met shortly after moving to the city. I’d been thrown a bone by Manhattan Financial when they let him, as their newest account manager, handle me. At the time I remember thinking, I’m lucky he’s incredibly hot. Now I knew I was lucky because he was incredibly intelligent.

  He had a sleek, strong body, dark short hair, and bright green eyes; he was no Bryant but he made trips to the bank far better than bearable. He’d made me quite a lot of money over the years and I’d helped him gain notoriety and respect with the successful performance of Vesper. We managed a much better friendship than relationship.

  “OK, remind me why I pay you the big bucks.” I finally pushed the pictures to the side and focused on the phone.

  “Right. About that.” He took an ominous breath. “Gerald pulled your business and investment accounts up today. There’s a notation in your records but it doesn’t detail the information pulled or who it was shared with.”

  “What does that mean?”

  A scowl formed on my face and I shifted forward in my chair, listening intently. I would have bored a hole in the damn phone if it was possible.

  “In the past it’s meant one of two things. Either we’re trying to woo a new client by providing details on the size and prestige of the accounts we handle, or…”

  “Or what, Damien?” My ears got hot and my stomach churned.

  “Or someone is looking into Vesper’s financials hoping to find a weakness, hoping to take advantage of a potentially floundering company. We see it most often when venture capitalists circle for hostile takeovers.”

  He let out a weird, nervous laugh-outburst-thing that barely registered because a particular company popped into my head.

  Bryant Venture Group.

  “I mean someone would have to be incredibly stupid to go after you.” Damien continued. “Vesper’s a privately owned company and sound as an ox. Sure little is known about your financials, so someone might think they could swing a good deal, but they’d be a idiot.”

  “Are you fucking serious?” Rage balled with confusion in the pit of my stomach.

  “Still a mouth like a sailor.” He tisked. “Look, bottom line is Gerald is giving me the run around and that makes me think it’s something, or someone, big. I took the liberty of making an appointment for you at 4:30 today. I don’t know if that works, but it was the only one available. I figured you’d want to address this as soon as possible. You’ll beat it out of him much faster than me.”

  “Jesus.” I was floored. “Of course I want to see him today.”

  Shitfuckingpiss!

  I wanted to punch something. Very hard. I settled for slamming my hand against the desk, then collecting myself long enough to admit this wasn’t Damien’s fault.

  “Thank you for coordinating, Damien. Truly. Please let me know if you hear anything else. Otherwise I’ll see you at 4:30.” I hung up swiftly, slamming the receiver down.

  Every emotion coursed through my veins. Every. Single. One.

  In a fit, I flung everything off my desk and onto the floor with a shriek. Pens and pencils pinged against the floor, paperclips made a metal tinkling sound. Paper woodshed then drifted slowly to the floor. That flutter caught my attention. The newspaper with Nicholas landed so his face was perfectly framed by other random sheets.

  Venture capitalist. Swing a deal. Someone important.

  Damien’s words played with my mind. My body wasn’t working quite right, it’d gone rigid at my half-formed insinuation. I awkwardly bent to pick up the paper. It couldn’t possibly be him. And when I looked at the photo, and the way they’d caught him looking at me, I convinced myself he wasn’t involved.

  It didn’t change that I was pissed.

  “Gemma, I have a meeting at Manhattan Financial at 4:30. Move or cancel anything in the way. I want a department manager meeting immediately following as well. 6 o’clock sharp. Attendance is mandatory,” I said icily into the intercom.

  “Of course.”

  “And get Callista on the line.”

  “I’ll ring her, just one moment. Is everything OK, Kate?”

  “Gem, I don’t really know,” I barked. “Callista, now, please.” There was only the slightest pause.

  “The line is ringing through.”

  I spent the next thirty minutes on the phone trying to get any details about who could be behind this. Yes, Callista was in PR, but she knew the New York business scene freakishly well. She had a knack for hearing every piece of gossip that rolled around the city. I counted on her to see things like this coming down the pipeline. My blood ran cold when she admitted she hadn’t.

  Jitters and nausea alternated running through my body. I kept to my office, fearing what kind of a monster I’d be if I wandered out. I hadn’t accomplished much when the car arrived to drive me across town. I was light headed as the streets of Manhattan passed by.

  When we pulled up to the bank, I tried to take a deep breath and couldn’t. The heat in my ears and cheeks had returned. Luckily, I was angry enough to square my shoulders and storm into the bank without seeming so unsettled. Damien greeted me with a low whistle.

  “Pissed off does a body good, gorgeous. I don’t know whether to take you to Gerald’s office or a supply closet.”

  It was wildly inappropriate but helped me relax a little. A smile crawled across my face that matched his positively wicked look.

  “Where were the compliments when we dated?”

  The quip made me feel more like myself. I was rewarded with a shift to his charming smile.

  “It wasn’t that bad. Ready?”

  I nodded curtly, my brow drawing back into a firm line.

  “Here’s the latest review of your accounts in case you need it. I’ll try and come in, but if Gerald won’t let me I’ll have to meet you afterward.”

  Damien handed over a thick file as we climbed the marble stairs to Gerald’s second story office. He reached for my elbow to steady me while I it looked over. He helped me all the way up the ornate, sweeping grand staircase.

  Gerald was waiting in his office doorframe, reviewing paperwork. He was in his 50s and would have been mildly attractive in his youth. He had pale brown eyes, thinning hair, and wore a navy suit with a red tie. His clothing was as generic as his stress lines and slowly developing jowls. He called me in right away, but as soon as Damien stepped beside me, he stopped us.

  “Damien, we’ll be just fine on our own.”

  Even though he was being dismissed, Damien looked toward me. I nodded and steeled myself.

  “You can take Ms. Elliott’s coat. Celeste should’ve taken care of that.”

  He gestured for me to sit down while Damien strode out.

  “Ms. Elliott, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” He leaned back in his chair and steepled his hands in front of this chin.

  “Thank you for making time for me today, Gerald.” I reached for a prepared water glass and gritted my teeth.

  “Well, Damien was adamant and you’re an important client, so I’m happy to oblige. What can I do for you?” His smile curled when he asked.

  “I think you know why I’m here,” I said sharply.

  He evaluated me carefully. And
after a decidedly long and speculative sweep of me, he sighed.

  “I would imagine that it has to do with the profile we pulled on your company earlier today,” he said nonchalantly.

  Ass.

  “Exactly. Why did you pull it?” My voice rumbled in my chest.

  “It’s something we do occasionally to show off our more successful accounts. Can I interest you in a drink? Something stronger than water?” He eyed the decanter on his bookshelf.

  “That’s a bullshit answer and we both know it.” I was trying to keep my temper in check. “And no, thank you.”

  “Your loss, Ms. Elliott, that there is a fantastic scotch. And the profile pulling is the truth.” His smile made my stomach turn.

  “Let’s try this again. Who did you pull it for?”

  After his previous skirting, I doubted he’d tell me, but maybe he’d inadvertently give something away. I took a sip from the water glass clutched in my hand.

  “Are you single, Ms. Elliott?”

  It took every ounce of control I had not to spit the water out and slap him.

  “Excuse me?” My voice shot up in pitch.

  “I was just thinking that we could discuss my morning meeting over dinner. That is if you are free to do so?” He was serious.

  Even if I didn’t have plans, even if I didn’t have Bryant, I would have said no. I had to force my lip not to curl and my voice not to snarl.

  “I have plans this evening.”

  I managed to plaster a phony, rigid smile across my face, hoping to sidestep the advance. He shuffled his steepled fingers before speaking.

  “Plans with Nicholas Bryant? I saw you two on Page Six together.”

  I broke.

  “I don’t think that’s relevant. Can we get back to the matter at hand? Who asked you to pull that information?” I shouted and the slight smirk Gerald had been wearing faded.

  “The next time you see Bryant, I suggest you ask him.”

  A leaden blow smacked squarely into my stomach like I’d been sucker punched. Hard. My mouth spit out the words before they even registered in my brain.

  “Bryant had you pull the profile?”

  “Oh, I’m not saying who received the information. That’s confidential. But, Bryant makes it his business to know everything about the industries he’s entering. He did recently buy into the athletic apparel business, did he not?”

  I was grappling with my temper when I should have been calmly processing, calculating. Gerald wasn’t saying Bryant was involved, but he wasn’t denying it either. There was a sickening feeling building down deep inside of me.

  “He did. Thank you for your time.” I stood abruptly

  “There’s no need to leave, Ms. Elliott. I would be happy to discuss anything else you might need.” His voice was sickeningly sweet as he stood to stop me by placing his hand on my low back, causing my skin to crawl. “But if you really must go, please keep in mind my dinner conversation is far more illuminating.”

  He was close enough to breathe on my neck. I wanted to vomit then run—or run then vomit—I didn’t know which. Or whether it was because of Gerald’s advance at all. He opened the door and smoothly pulled back the slightest bit.

  “Celeste,” he said roughly. “Grab Ms. Elliott’s coat. Damien, see our client out.”

  Gerald gave a slight squeeze on my back before letting me go. I snatched my coat from Celeste more forcefully than intended and swung it on as I clipped down the stairs. I didn’t even wait for Damien to catch up. I almost broke into a run; my wobbly knees and high heels were the only things stopping me. Decorum wasn’t a factor anymore.

  I burst through the bank doors and took a deep gulp of air. I couldn’t calm down, which was making it harder to breathe. I turned away from my waiting car; too riled up to slip into the backseat, and barreled blindly up the street. Damien caught up to me by the end of the block.

  “Kate!”

  When I turned toward him my face must have caught him off guard. Without a word he pulled me into his chest and hugged me. It was the first truly unprofessional thing he’d done since our relationship ended, and I couldn’t have been more grateful. I needed it. A sob caught in my throat.

  “Let’s get a drink. A strong one,” he said simply.

  I could only nod. He kept an arm around my shoulder as we ducked into a nearby bar. We plopped down on stools and he ordered us both a two-finger scotch with one rock. He waited until I’d taken a long pull from my glass.

  “What happened in there?” He asked softly but firmly; it helped me find my footing.

  “He hit on me.” I finally answered, gulping my scotch a little too quickly.

  “Goddamned pig,” Damien cursed. “I should’ve insisted on staying.”

  “Calm down. That happens all the time, and I’m tough enough to take it. That’s not what got to me.”

  I took another long pull of the scotch; Damien eyed me as I swirled the ice cube.

  “He insinuated Bryant Venture Group was responsible for pulling the financials.”

  “No fucking way.”

  I sat staring blankly for a minute, trying to process. So many things ran through my mind. “I know Bryant well enough that he’d only do it if he wanted to buy.” Acid dripped from my tongue.

  “Did Gerald say that?”

  “No, he said I should ask Bryant the next time I see him. But it was the way he said it.”

  “Well, maybe it actually was a helpful hint?”

  Even Damien didn’t believe his statement. I rolled my eyes, finished the scotch, and tipped my glass to the bartender for another. He obliged quickly. We sat and drank in silence for a bit, I stayed deep in thought.

  “I saw you guys in the paper. You don’t think…” He trailed off.

  I don’t think…? I don’t think what?

  My mind raced for a second and then it clicked into place.

  He’s using you. Fuck.

  I was going to be sick. That hadn’t crossed my mind—not solidly anyway—until just now. My skin blanched and the blood drained from my face.

  “Kate, I didn’t mean it. He couldn’t be. You’re…well…you. And you’re fucking wonderful. I shouldn’t have even suggested it.”

  His stammering trailed off and I nodded, speechless. Damien knew me well enough to quit while he was ahead.

  “I’ll keep an eye out for you. Better this time obviously.” He put his hand on my thigh. “I have a few friends that work for him. I’ll probe a bit.”

  “Thanks, Damien.” I slumped against his shoulder.

  “I don’t mean to be selfish, but I need to know if you plan on taking your accounts elsewhere?”

  I threw my head back in laughter. “You are selfish.” I finished my second scotch and texted Gemma my location so she could send the car before answering. “And no, Damien, not unless Gerald dicks me over or you leave the bank. I trust you. And as gross as Gerald is, he shared more with me than he would with most.”

  Damien visibly relaxed. “For the record, I don’t think Bryant would do something so stupid.”

  I didn’t know if I agreed, but I nodded anyway. Damien threw a crisp bill on the bar.

  “Baby, unless you really need me, I’ve got to get back and wrap up the day’s business.”

  “Me too. Thanks again setting this up. And for the scotch, too.” I tipped the melting cube in his direction.

  We left our barstools and went back out on the street; I still couldn’t breathe right. Damien gave me a quick hug before depositing me in the car and disappearing into the sidewalk crowd. Once in the backseat I clenched my fists. I forced a defensive wall into place and set my brow into a deep furrow. I pulled my BlackBerry out and dialed.

  “Gemma, please have all the DMs waiting outside my office. If Todd from Tech is still there I want him, too. I’m going to meet with each one separately and then everyone together.”

  “OK, will do.”

  I didn’t notice who or what was on the sidewalk in front of Vesp
er. I pushed my way to the front entrance as my trench billowed behind me. My knuckles flexed white when I started hitting the elevator buttons. When the door opened I stomped out and unceremoniously dumped my bag and coat with Gemma. I hadn’t even broke pace when I yelled behind me.

  “Elena, come with me. Everyone else I’ll be with you in a moment.”

  I yanked open my big wooden door and Elena followed; I gestured to the couch.

  “Drink?” I poured myself one.

  “No, Kate, I’m good. What’s this all about?”

  “Has anyone approached you regarding proprietary information?” If I wasn’t drinking scotch I would have slammed my hand down on something.

  “No way!”

  I watched her reaction carefully. Her genuine shock helped me relax, but I grilled her anyway. People, places, dates, anyone she knew at Bryant’s office.

  In the end she looked terrified, so I explained.

  “There have been some rumblings that lead me to believe someone is aiming to purchase.”

  “Shit. What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to get to the fucking bottom of this.”

  I had similar talks with everyone else in upper management. They settled me somewhat. I appeared safe amongst those that mattered most, which was something. I could focus my energy in a single direction at least.

  “Gemma, send in Todd.”

  “Kate, I’m sorry, he’s not here. He’d already gone for the day when you rang.”

  “Thank you, Gem. Please make sure I meet with him tomorrow as soon as he’s in.”

  “Will do. Oh, and Mr. Bryant’s driver called. They will be arriving in five minutes.”

  “Thank you.” My voice wavered.

  My staff slowly filtered out and I waited a beat behind them, taking a moment to breathe deep. I finally could. I walked to Gemma without stomping and picked up my things.

  “Did you have a chance to eat anything today?” She was always concerned about me.

  “No, but I’m going to dinner now, thank you.” I could spare a smile for her as I headed out. I stopped mid-step with another thought. “Gemma, has Bryant Venture Group ever contacted you? For anything?”

  “Not that I’m aware of, but I’ll let you know if that changes.” Her defensive face fell into place and I had to suppress a smirk.