Shattered: A Billionaire Romance Series (Contemporary Romance Novels)

by Love, Michelle

  “I know.”

  His words hung heavily between us. He didn’t dare come right out and accuse the members of leaking the information, but we both knew that there were few other explanations. “I’ll have security sweep the room for bugs,” I said stiffly. “None of this is damaging information, but I don’t want to risk any critical information reaching the public before we’re ready.”

  “Bugs. Right,” he said with a wry smile. “And if you don’t find any?”

  “Then we follow normal protocol. You all signed a transparency agreement with the company. If the majority of the board agrees, I’ll be able to pull financial records. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  The older man nodded. He pursed his lips, and I could see the wheels in his head turning. “If I were you, I wouldn’t announce the leak to the board just yet. It could cause unneeded duress. There is nothing more dangerous than powerful men who don’t trust each other in the same room. If you can’t find a reasonable explanation for the leak, you could set up private meetings with each board member and feed them each a different false lead. When the story is leaked, you’ll have your man.”

  I nodded. “Excellent idea. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I’ll have my team do a search each day to make sure that no other information is out there. Is there anything else I can do for you while you’re here?”

  “You could give me the number for your secretary,” he said with a devious smile.

  “And have your wife beating down my door? I don’t think so.” I rose again and shook his hand. “If you’re so inclined, my assistant will walk you around. Feel free to talk with anyone that you like.”

  “Can Cecilia give me the tour?” he pushed.

  “Absolutely not,” I said with a grin. “Thank you again, Hamburg. And I appreciate your discretion on the matter.”

  As he nodded his head, I walked around the desk and opened the door. When Hamburg exited, I noticed Torrence leaning over Cecilia’s desk. She was deeply enthralled in their conversation, and neither noticed me standing there. I cleared my throat, and he jumped away guiltily.

  “Montgomery,” he said as he cleared his voice. “I was just coming to see you.”

  “Really?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “Or are you here to see my secretary?”

  “I just told him that you were in a meeting,” Cecilia said hastily. I cocked my head and stared at her. In all the time that I had known her, she had never been nervous around anyone before.

  “Where the hell is Walsh?” I growled. “I want him to show Hamburg around.”

  “I’ll page him immediately,” she said as she reached for the phone.

  “Hamburg, behave yourself while you wait,” I said in a low voice. “Torrence, come in.”

  My security gave Hamburg a suspicious look before walking through the door. “Why would he not behave himself?” Torrence demanded.

  “I trust you’re not here to question the actions of a board member,” I said mildly as I closed the door.

  “No. I’m here because the police called. Why didn’t you tell me about the incident at the club? You have four of my men tailing some strange girl? They’re hired to protect you, and that’s hard to do when you leave out pertinent information and keep them from the building,” he said sharply.

  Torrence was pushing forty. He worked as part of my father’s security detail, and he was the only man I’d ever consider to run my own security. We’d been friends for a long time. He was married to the job, and he took personal offense when I did anything to make that job even harder.

  “I didn’t say anything because the attack wasn’t targeted at me,” I said calmly. “And I’m protecting the woman because I’m the reason she was harmed in the first place.”

  “Not targeted at you? Someone wants to hurt you through other people. How is that not targeted at you?” Torrence snapped.

  “They don’t want me. They want my money. And if you really want to help, you’ll look into it so I don’t have to worry about it.” I sat down and stared at him.

  “Lucas, we’ve been lucky so far. The most I have to deal with is angry activists. In order for me to keep it that way, you need to let me know when something like this happens. I’ve looked at the police report. There isn’t much to go on. The plates on the van were stolen, and the men wore masks, so we can’t run them through the facial recognition database.”

  I blinked. “The police just gave you the report?” I asked suspiciously.

  “Sure. We’ll go with that. I want to speak to Mrs. Whitlow.”

  “Ms. Whitlow,” I said automatically. He narrowed his eyes and watched me as I hesitated. I could see where Torrence was coming from, but as much as I wanted to see my wallflower again, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. “I wanted her followed at a distance, but I think she’s already suspicious. I’ll have her brought in tomorrow.”

  “Good. Next time you withhold information from me, I’ll kill you myself.”

  “I don’t see why you’re so upset. If I had told you, you wouldn’t have had a reason to come up and flirt with my secretary,” I said coolly. He narrowed his eyes, and I smirked. “Before you go, I need you to quiet sweep the board conference room for bugs.”

  He raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t ask any questions. I felt almost guilty as I watched the door close. Normally I would brush this kind of situation aside. As cold as it seemed, I was far too busy to deal with every little infraction, but my body burned to see her again.

  Was I making things worse for her just so I could insinuate myself into her life?

  Chapter Five

  Sloan

  It wasn’t my imagination. Someone was following me. When I walked out of the courtyard from my apartment, the same dark car was parked in the overflow parking lot. Only this time, two men were standing outside the car.

  My heart pounded against my chest as I froze on the sidewalk. I was torn between making a break for my car or turning and heading back into the safety of my apartment. They approached me before I could make a decision, and I reached into my bag to grip my pepper spray.

  “Ms. Whitlow?” the tall one asked.

  I ripped the can out and aimed it. As I sprayed it, I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Get away from me!”

  They both covered their eyes, and I turned to run. Before I could get far, one of them wrapped their arms around her. “Ms. Whitlow, stop! We work for Mr. Montgomery! We’re just trying to protect you!”

  I struggled against him. “You really expect me to fall for that, you creep!”

  “If you give us a minute, we can call him,” he grunted. The tall one walked around us and gasped as he wiped his eyes. Pulling out his phone, he held it up to his ear. “Mr. Montgomery? We’re having some issues.” He turned his back to me and spoke in a low voice.

  I stopped struggling, and after a minute, he put the phone up to my ear. “Ms. Whitlow, this is Lucas Montgomery. I assure you that my men don’t mean you any harm. I just wanted to have a word with you.”

  “They’ve been following me for days,” I spat.

  “Yes. I was concerned for your safety.”

  Even though I’d never heard him speak, I somehow knew that it was him. His voice matched him. Quiet and intense. Controlled and authoritative.

  Seductive.

  Tempting.

  “I’m listening,” I said quietly.

  “You misunderstand. I would like to speak to you at my offices.”

  “I can’t come see you right now. I have class,” I said as I took a deep breath. It settled me, and the man finally let me go.

  “This class is more important than your safety?” he asked mildly.

  I rolled my eyes. “Pretty much. Look, if you have information that I’m in immediate danger, you need to tell me so I can call the police. Otherwise, you’re just being a little dramatic. Give me the address, and I’ll meet you this afternoon.”

  He paused, and I bit my lip. Maybe I’d been too harsh. I didn�
�t even know him, but he made me feel extremely uncomfortable, and I was lashing out. “Your last class is at two. My men will drive you to campus and shadow you until then. They’ll drive you straight here.”

  “How the hell do you know my schedule?” I exclaimed, but he’d already hung up the phone. “Is he always like this?” I asked as I returned the phone.

  “Yes,” the tall man said grimly.

  The day seemed to crawl by, and I couldn’t even begin to concentrate on my classes. I don’t even think I heard a single word about the lecture on children’s literature. I should have just gone to see Lucas in the morning and been late. At least then the day may not have been such a complete waste.

  By the time my last class ended, my hands were shaking. I had no idea what to expect from Lucas Montgomery.

  The car pulled up to the front of the skyscraper labeled Montgomery Industries and kept the car running as I stepped out. No one followed me, and I turned back around. “Are you coming?”

  “No. The receptionist at the front desk will you show you to Mr. Montgomery’s office.”

  “Which floor does he own?”

  “All of them.”

  They drove away, and I stood, stunned, on the sidewalk. All of them? I knew he was wealthy, but there had to be close to a hundred floors. How could they all be his?

  Nervously, I pulled open the glass door and walked into the bright and open lobby. A young woman smiled at me, but before I could say anything to her, a man stepped in front of me.

  “Ms. Whitlow?” he asked sternly.

  I blinked. Damn. He looked good. Older than me, but his rugged features were really working for him. “Yes,” I said softly.

  “I’m Drew Torrence, head of security. I’ll take you up to see Montgomery.” As he guided me to the back of the lobby, he pulled out a badge and held it up to the elevator. The doors immediately opened. “This is the executive elevator. It’s the only one that leads to the top floor.”

  “That sounds nice,” I said lamely. Jesus. Nice? Was this how my conversation with Lucas was going to go as well? “So you’re security? Does that mean that you’re looking into the men who tried to kidnap me, or do you just protect the offices?”

  “I protect Montgomery,” he said shortly.

  He didn’t offer any more information, and I didn’t ask. It was clear from his stance that he didn’t like me very much, and I didn’t have the courage to ask him why. I had a sinking feeling that he could strangle me in the elevator, and no one would blink an eye.

  The doors opened, and I quickly rushed out of it. The short hallway had huge windows running from ceiling to floor, and I had a breathtaking view of the city. It almost made me dizzy to realize how high up I was. I didn’t have a fear of heights, but I don’t think I’d ever been anywhere that had that kind of view.

  The door down the hall opened, and a young man came rushing out. He looked determined and almost terrified as he made a beeline for the elevator. I quickly stepped out of the way.

  “Please forgive Gordon. He’s always full of energy,” a woman said from behind a large desk. “I’m Cecilia. Mr. Montgomery will see you now.” She smiled warmly at me, but when she saw Torrence behind me, her cheeks reddened slightly, and she looked down.

  “Thank you,” I murmured. Rather than following me into the office, Torrence leaned against the wall and stared at Cecilia. I had no idea what the story was between them, but the tension was enough to set the damn building on fire.

  Opening the door, I couldn’t help but gasp. To call it an office was an understatement. The executive suite had three doors that led into other rooms, and a huge leather sofa placed along the wall. A large flat screen television sat over the door, and a well-stocked wet bar ran the entire length of one of the walls.

  “Impressed?”

  His voice wrapped around me, and I froze. Leaning against one of the door frames, he stared at me. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt that was rolled up to his elbows and dark slacks. It was clear that his outfit probably cost more than I spent in a month. I tugged nervously at my jeans and t-shirt. “It’s nice,” I said hoarsely. “Mr. Montgomery, I presume?”

  “Nice?” he chuckled. “I suppose that will have to do. Please call me Lucas. Can I offer you something to drink?”

  Mutely, I shook my head. Drinking around him could be a dangerous thing. “Why am I here?” I blurted out.

  He poured himself a drink and gestured to the empty chair. I sat down, and he leaned back in the leather chair behind his desk. I couldn’t stop the image that popped inside my head.

  Me, kneeling on the desk as he plunged inside me from behind.

  Gasping, I wrapped my arms around myself. What the hell was wrong with me?

  “Are you okay?” he asked as he stared at me.

  “I will be once you tell me what I’m doing here. I appreciate you thinking that you have to protect me, but I don’t know you.”

  “I don’t think that will help you,” he said as he sat his drink down. “I showed interest in you at the club Friday night, and it was enough for someone to think that we were somehow connected. I would be upset if they tried again.”

  I couldn’t help but shiver. “I don’t think someone would get that impression just from you looking at me,” I muttered. “It’s clearly just a misunderstanding. I’m probably not even in danger anymore.”

  “You’re clearly uncomfortable around me. You’re protecting your body and avoiding looking directly at me. Over the phone you were sassy and dominant, but when you’re close to me, you’re quiet and submissive. Either my office makes you uncomfortable, or I do. I’m inclined to believe the latter. My office is very inviting. Anyone watching you now would see the interest in your eyes. Anyone watching me would know that I was attracted to you. That I wanted to get to know you much more intimately.” His voice was low and silky as he tried to make his point.

  I trembled under his words. If he could make me wet just from talking to me, I could only imagine what would happen if he touched me. Whatever was between us was both intense and stifling, and it terrified me. When I got scared, I got mean. “You’re a complete stranger, and you’re telling me that you find me attractive. Any woman would feel uncomfortable,” I snapped. “The club is a highly sexualized place. It’s designed to be a breeding ground for desire and lust, but when you portray those same qualities in a professional atmosphere, it’s uncomfortable.”

  “Those are all valid points. If it will make you more comfortable, I’ll try to avoid portraying my desire and lust,” he said dryly. I immediately flushed. He probably thought I was a complete idiot.

  “Let’s just get back to the reason why I’m here. You think having me followed is an appropriate response, but I thought I was being stalked. You can’t just try and protect someone without telling them,” I muttered. Lowering my arms, I tried to seem more assertive and comfortable.

  “They weren’t supposed to be so obvious, but now that you’re aware of it, you don’t have anything to fear.”

  My eyes widened. “You’re going to keep having me followed? The police are going to find who tried to kidnap me, and it’s highly unlikely that they know where I live. You should be more concerned about the people close to you. They’re the real targets.”

  “I am having them watched as well. Sloan, I’m not going to remove your security. You can argue until your last breath, but I don’t change my mind easily. Like it or not, we’re going to become quite close until the deal is settled.”

  Outraged, I stood. “You’re really not great at listening to people, are you? Before Friday night, I didn’t even know your name. Stalking is a crime. If you don’t leave me alone, I will call the police.”

  “Well,” he said with a small smile. “You’re not uncomfortable now, are you? I’ll make you a deal. Allow my men to keep an eye on you for the rest of the week. This Friday, allow me to convince you to accept my protection when I take you out. If you still no longer want it, I’ll leave you alo
ne.”

  My eyes narrowed, and I regarded him suspiciously. “Where would we be going?”

  “If I told you, it wouldn’t be as much fun, would it? I’ll be in touch with you.” His words were final, as if the conversation were over.

  “Damn it, I haven’t agreed to anything!”

  “The only time a woman should use profane language is when they’re in pain or in the throes of pleasure.”

  His voice was hard, and my jaw dropped. In one sentence he’d enraged me and turned me on, and I had a feeling the bastard knew it. “Fuck you,” I snapped. Turning on my heels, I stormed out of his office.

  It wasn’t until I was in the elevator that I could breathe easily again. Despite having the last word, I knew that I hadn’t won the conversation. He would continue to have me followed.

  And I’d be forced to see him again on Friday.

  It was hard enough to be near him in the office. How was I going to react in a more private setting?

  “You are in way over your head, Sloan,” I muttered.

  Chapter Six

  Lucas

  When I called her earlier, I’d requested that she wear the green dress from the club last weekend. She opened the door in jeans and a sparkly tank-top. I couldn’t help but smile. She was a mess.

  “Is this going to take long? I have an early morning tomorrow,” she asked as she grabbed her purse. If I hadn’t caught the look in her eye, I would have thought that she was irritated. But her pupils dilated as soon as she caught sight of me.

  She liked what she saw.

  “You’re a college student. You’re supposed to enjoy your Friday nights and sleep in all day on Saturday.” While her back was to me, I took a moment to drink her in. Despite the casual dress, she looked phenomenal. The long sleeveless shirt didn’t quite cover how well her ass filled out those jeans, and for a brief moment, I enjoyed the fantasy of running the palm of my hand over it.