Undercover Love

by Lucy Score

  Jason picked up a small stone and tossed it into the river.

  “She’s dangerous, and she wouldn’t hesitate to bite the hand that feeds her.”

  He dropped his gaze to the ground.

  “She thought she won the day she talked to Jordan, but she didn’t realize what an enemy she had made. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity since I met her. I am so close to finally being free. But I need you. I need your help to make this happen.”

  “Why did Jordan believe Victoria over you?” Ashley crossed her arms.

  “Victoria is very convincing. She can turn on the tears better than any actor. It took years before my grandfather started to see through her.”

  “How do I know any of this is true?”

  Jason grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Ashley, you know it is. You know it the same way you know how I feel about you.”

  “How do you feel about me?”

  “Like I want you and need you. Like I can’t stop thinking about you. Do you know how many times I’ve lost my train of thought in meetings because I was wondering what you were doing? If you were thinking about me? I love you, Ashley Sapienza. And I’m not going to let you go. I will fight for you. I will do whatever it takes to prove to you that you have my heart and that you can trust me.

  “Now you love me. You choose to tell me you love me at this exact second and it doesn’t strike you as being manipulative as hell?”

  He held her hand to his heart. “I don’t care how it seems. It’s the truth. I want to have a life with you, but I can’t have that life with Victoria around. She will hurt you to hurt me. She will use you like she uses everyone. And I can’t let that happen.”

  “You can’t control everything, Jason. You can’t just force things to work out the way you want them to.”

  “I just need —”

  “Oh, no. It’s my turn now. I appreciate how hard it is for you to open up about this. But I want you to understand that just like it’s hard for you to trust, you’ve made it impossible for me to trust you. I’m not a pawn. And neither are you.”

  Ashley stood up.

  “Please don’t leave,” Jason whispered.

  Jason, you can’t be consumed by revenge for years and then expect to just build a new life once it’s finally over.”

  He looked vulnerable, human. She shook her head and looked away. Even after everything, it hurt her to see him in pain.

  “I’ll give you anything. Don’t leave.”

  “You know what I want?”

  Jason stood and gripped her arms. “Whatever it is, it’s yours.”

  “Time,” Ashley said. “And space.”

  “That’s ... fair.” His gaze bore into her. “How much?”

  She stepped back, out of his grasp. “No contact.”

  “Ashley.”

  She held up a hand. “No contact,” she repeated.

  “Until when?”

  “Until I decide.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll give you thirty days.”

  “You’re dictating to me the time I need to heal?”

  “I’ve just gotten a glimpse of what kind of life is possible for us, and you expect me to just let it go without a fight? I’m not willing to do that. I will give you some time and space. But not forever. I love you.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Three weeks later

  The flower garden smell hit Ashley the second she opened the door.

  “There you are! These came for you today,” Mrs. Menifield chirped from the kitchen. The crystal vase on the counter held the most vibrant shade of blood red roses Ashley had ever seen.

  “This one said ‘Twenty-one.’” Mrs. Menifield handed over the already-opened card. “And there are twenty-one of them!”

  Ashley allowed herself a moment to bury her face in the blooms. One moment of fantasy. She had thought the thirty days was a joke. Or at the very least thought Jason would forget and move on and she’d be too busy putting her life back together to notice. It hadn’t happened that way.

  She hadn’t forgotten. In fact, she found herself lost in consuming fantasies about Jason more often than was comfortable. And as was evidenced by the floral jungle in Mrs. Menifield’s apartment, he hadn’t forgotten either.

  She hadn’t had any contact with him, but the flowers started the next morning. And now Mrs. Menifield’s apartment looked like a very expensive wedding venue.

  “I’m sorry about turning your home into a flower shop.”

  The woman patted Ashley’s arm. “You and your flowers are welcome here as long as you need.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Menifield.”

  She took the blooms into her bedroom and put them on the nightstand. As hurt as she was, Ashley still wanted to feel close to Jason. He had kept his word. There had been no texts, no phone calls, no visits to the store. Sometimes, she wondered if he logged into the cameras to watch her.

  The truth was, she missed him. When Deion called to let her know that they would be taking Steven into custody, she wanted to reach out to Jason, but didn’t. Instead, she waited in the parking garage alone so she could watch a team of law enforcement march Steven out in cuffs.

  The idiot had the gall to look relieved to see her. “Ash! There’s been a mistake! I need you to call Victoria for me. Tell her there’s a mistake. Call my lawyer!”

  Ashley shook her head sadly as he was led to a dark SUV. “The only mistake here is how much time I wasted on you.”

  She wanted to tell Jason about how the color left Steven’s face when Deion oh so coolly said, “Thanks for your cooperation, Ms. Sapienza.”

  But she didn’t. She stayed radio silent and tried to bury herself in work.

  But Jason was never far from her thoughts. She didn’t doubt his story about Victoria and her heart broke for the 18-year-old forced to sign a deal with the devil. Because of Victoria, he had been cut off from his family and lived his life in constant fear.

  She loved him. She knew that.

  But she couldn’t trust him. He had used her in his vendetta, and she couldn’t just sweep that under the rug no matter how many beautiful bouquets he sent. How was she supposed to move forward from that?

  How could she be with a man whose entire life was consumed by another woman? The thirty days were almost up, and she was no closer to an answer.

  Her phone rang and she dove for it. Every ring, every text she jumped to see if it was Jason. But it never was.

  “Hey Deion, good news on the investigation?” Ashley said.

  “Not really. We’re a little stalled here. Victoria has covered her ass pretty carefully, so even with Steven turning on her, it’s not enough to bring her in.”

  “So she gets to keep wreaking havoc until when?”

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I had an idea. How would you feel about playing a direct role in busting Victoria?”

  Ashley flopped back on her bed. “Go on.”

  He briefly outlined the plan.

  “Is this Jason’s idea?”

  “No, actually I broached it to him and he said an emphatic no. I tried to tell him that with this small of a window, this is our best bet in bringing it to a close fast, but he said something about using you as bait is never going to happen and then very politely threw me out of his office. By the way, he doesn’t look good.”

  She sat up. “Really?” Somehow the thought of Jason suffering as much as she was cheered her up.

  “My question for you is, do you think it will work and are you willing?”

  “Do you have time for coffee?”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  “I am so freaking excited about this,” Cara said, calmly sipping an extra dirty martini.

  She was statuesque in a fuchsia halter dress and matching heels.

  “Please tell me that you wake up in the mornings looking like garbage,” Ashley teased.

  “Honey, it took me almost 45 minutes just to wiggle into this dress. And don’t even ask how long
it took to get my hair just right.” She gave Ashley the once over. “You’re looking pretty amazing yourself, right now.”

  Ashley smoothed a hand down her body-hugging strapless dress the color of the roses Jason sent. “Gotta look the part, right? Let’s get this show on the road and take down a hell bitch.”

  They clinked glasses and headed toward the bar.

  Ashley nodded imperceptibly in the direction of a broad-shouldered man nursing a scotch. He was checking his very expensive gold watch. “That’s him,” she whispered.

  Cara nodded. They sidled up to the bar next to the man and ordered another round of drinks.

  “So speaking of crazy friends,” Cara said, loud enough for the man to overhear. “How is your batshit crazy girl, Victoria?”

  Ashley rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “Van Camp? Oh don’t even get me started on her. She is seriously one bad choice away from being involuntarily committed.”

  “Dish, girl. You know I love her drama.”

  Ashley had felt the man next to her perk up at the mention of Victoria’s name.

  “Well,” she leaned in, but didn’t lower her voice. “You know how she’s set up in her grandfather’s firm, doesn’t actually work there, has a bogus title, yadda yadda...”

  “Um hmm,” Cara nodded. “Tell me how to get that job!”

  “All you have to do is sleep with the CEO at your old job and then threaten to tell his wife and board of directors everything. She almost got arrested for extortion — oh and a little embezzlement — until Grandpa stepped in and smoothed things over. He paid them off and then set her up in this fake role just to keep an eye on her. Anyway, she decides that she doesn’t make a big enough paycheck for not doing anything and decides to scam this finance guy, Rocco, Rick, Rico ... something like that.”

  “How?”

  “Oh she’s pulling some fake insider trading bullshit to leverage this guy into giving her a job at his company.”

  “Diabolical! Is she banging him, too, to keep him invested?” Cara snorted.

  Ashley nodded. “Probably. That’s her MO. The stories she tells us at Pilates are ridiculous! She is the friend that no one would be surprised to see get arrested.”

  “Excuse me for interrupting,” the man on Ashley’s right said, “But your friend sounds like a whack job.”

  “You’re not kidding,” Ashley agreed. “Have you ever known a woman like that? You know, someone who will do anything to get what she wants, even if it means destroying someone.”

  “I’ve known one or two.” He took a sip of scotch. “So what does she get out of this deal? Or does she just get off on messing with people?”

  Cara laughed. “Oh she definitely gets off on messing with people. She told us once that in order to control people she purposely shows up late to meetings and tells them its because insert-name-of-corporate-big-wig wanted to meet with her to get her opinion on whatever, and the meeting ran late.”

  “Well get this —” Ashley reached for her fresh drink. “Not only was she playing this Rocco/Rick guy, she was also running a similar play on one of her co-workers, I think his name was Steven. He pissed her off a few months ago, so she decided to mess with him and give him phony insider information. Promised him a fancy job at the new company and this and that. Well, the guy wasn’t very careful and just got picked up by the SEC this week!”

  Cara whistled, eyebrows sky-high.

  “That’s pretty serious,” the man said.

  “She said she’s not worried. Said once she closes this deal, she’ll be in the clear and can just throw Rocco under the bus for anything. Or extort him with another fake pregnancy scheme.”

  “You know I always figured she’d get arrested for murder or burning down an ex-husband’s house. Insider trading sounds kind of tame for her,” Cara said.

  Ashley laughed. “Give her time. She never disappoints, especially when she’s off her meds.”

  “Ladies, it was a pleasure.” The man stood and straightened his jacket. “The next round is on me.” He peeled off two twenties from his billfold and threw them on the bar before hurrying off.

  Cara and Ashley dissolved into giggles.

  “Oh that was fun,” Ashley gasped. “Can we do this every weekend?

  “Did you see his face when you mentioned his name?” Cara hooted.

  Ashley’s phone signaled a text.

  “OK, here comes round two. Let’s catch up soon!” She took another sip for courage and slid off the barstool.

  “Good luck,” Cara called after her.

  ###

  Ashley spotted her quarry and paused to take a deep breath. “Here goes nothing,” she whispered.

  Victoria Van Camp was pacing the hallway on her cellphone.

  “Damnit, Steven. Answer the fucking phone!” She hung up and started to redial.

  “Oh, honey, I don’t think he’s taking your calls anymore,” Ashley said, brushing past her.

  Victoria looked up. Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Oh really, and why is that?”

  Ashley shrugged daintily. “Haven’t you heard? We got back together. Well, he thinks we’re back together.” She winked. “He thought that staying with me and cooperating with the SEC was a better idea than being your little toy.”

  “You’re lying.” Victoria spat out the words and stepped closer.

  “Am I? Let me guess, you haven’t heard from him since Tuesday. Right?”

  She saw it. The flash of worry in her eyes for just a split second.

  “My, my. That seems like a long time for someone to ignore you, Victoria. Speaking of ignoring you, is Rocco Embry returning your calls?”

  The color drained from Victoria’s face. “What are you talking about?” Clutching her phone, she started to dial.

  Ashley smiled. “Oh you’ll find out soon enough. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to pop by my store. You know, some of us actually have jobs. Give my best to Rocco.”

  She sailed past Victoria without a backward glance.

  “Are you still here, Rocco? I’m running late. Eli Baine wanted to meet with me about — Hello? Hello?”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  She was waiting for her car at the valet stand when her phone rang. “Great job, kid,” Deion said in her ear. “We picked up Rocco on his way out of the club as he was hanging up on Victoria. She’s blowing up his phone as we speak.”

  Ashley did a little shimmy. “Man, that feels good!”

  “That was a nice touch with the whole ‘running late name drop’ scenario.”

  “I figured that as long as Eli did what he said he would to delay her, it would be another nail in the coffin.”

  “Nicely done. You need anything else, you know what to do.”

  “Thanks, Deion. See you around.”

  Ashley tipped the valet and slid behind the wheel of her car. She felt good. Now there was only one thing left to do. Well, maybe two.

  She parked on the side street by the alley behind the store and used the back door, remembering to re-arm the alarm once she was inside.

  How many times in the past few weeks had she looked at the cameras and wondered if Jason was watching her?

  She wondered how he would react when he heard about Victoria and Rocco. He probably wouldn’t be very happy with Deion and the rest of the team once he found out they had gone behind his back. But the fact that he had refused to use her as bait had given her the answer she needed.

  In the office, she switched on the desk lamp and the Keurig. A nice cup of tea might help soothe her nerves.

  She heard the clink of metal at the back door. Her pulse jumped. Someone was trying to pry the door open. Ashley grabbed her bag and hurried down the hallway, away from the door and onto the store floor. She pulled out her cellphone to dial 911.

  “Put it down.”

  Victoria strolled in, twirling a small crowbar.

  “What are you doing here? How did you get in?” Ashley demanded.

  “I thought it was time
we had a little chat,” Victoria drawled.

  “I don’t have anything more to say to you.” Ashley crossed her arms and planted.

  “Oh, I think we have a lot to talk about.” Victoria said casually swinging the crowbar. “Do you realize what kind of enemy you’ve made?”

  “Seeing at what a mess you’ve made of your little inside trading deal, I’m not really concerned with your follow through.”

  “The mess I made? Everything was fine until you stuck your ugly little nose into my business. Rocco will make this deal and I will make you pay for your pathetic attempt to slow me down.”

  “What about Steven?”

  “Keep him.” Victoria shrugged. “I got what I needed from him and now you can have what’s left.”

  “This deal wouldn’t have been possible without Steven. You’re just going to cut him out of it now?”

  “Is that what he told you? That he did all the work?” she sneered.

  “If he hadn’t told you about Phil —”

  “You think it had to be Phil Barden. Or Steven? Or Rocco? Don’t be stupid. I could have made this deal with anyone for any information. Steven and Phil and the Tundra merger were all just handy.”

  “You just use people, don’t you? You find a weapon and you exploit it.”

  Victoria took another step forward. Ashley held her ground.

  “I do what I have to get what I want.”

  “What about Jason?”

  “What about my dear stepbrother?”

  “You lied about him. You threatened him. You blackmailed him.”

  Victoria threw her head back and laughed. “Men are so simple. Either you reward them with sex or you threaten them with it. So he told you about us then. You two have gotten awfully close, haven’t you?”

  “There is no ‘us’ between you and him.”

  “He’s lived the last ten years in total fear of what I am willing to do to destroy him. Every decision he makes is because of me. You tell me if that’s not an ‘us.’”