“She can be objective.” Decker shoved his hands into his pockets. “I think we should tell her.”
An hour later, the sandwiches had been devoured, the coffee long gone. Alexandra had learned enough to make a brash conclusion. “This reeks of foul play.”
“I reviewed everything,” Crockett said. “There’s been no breach.”
“I’ve double and triple checked,” Decker said. “No one has hacked into our system.”
“Who, here, would gain if Wilde failed?” Alexandra asked.
Up went Crockett’s eyebrows. “No one.”
Decker snickered. “That’s absurd.”
Alexandra pushed out of the chair and leaned against the windowsill. “If these incidents aren’t coincidental—and it doesn’t sound like they are—then someone wants you to fail.”
Crockett’s jaw ticked. “We’ve been so busy reacting, we haven’t gone on the offense.”
The color drained from Decker’s cheeks. “Who would do something that vindictive?”
“Someone seeking revenge,” Alexandra said. “Corporate sabotage is serious, which means the underlying cause is emotionally charged.”
The two men stared at each other. Several seconds passed before Crockett turned his full attention to Alexandra. “Over the years I’ve terminated five—six employees at the most. Theft from the warehouse, poor performance, and falsifying a resume come to mind. Recently, I had an issue with one employee…”
Decker’s eyebrows shot up. “You think?”
“It’s possible,” Crockett replied.
“She couldn’t do it without help from someone on the inside,” Decker said.
“Who?” Alexandra interrupted.
“Ruth Lizzard,” Crockett bit out.
Alexandra hesitated. “Where have I heard that name before?”
“Larry Berry,” Decker said.
“Tell me about them,” she said.
“Not much to say,” Crockett replied. “Ruth did a great job running QA. Larry was on her team. Last year, I had a V.P. slot open up. After Ruth’s first interview, I eliminated her from the candidate pool. She wasn’t the right fit. Then, she propositioned me in exchange for the promotion. I refused her. She tried a second time. And again, I refused her, this time documenting with HR.”
“Then, she came after me next,” Decker said. “And she threatened to blackmail me.”
“Sounds intense.” Alexandra crossed her arms.
“I terminated her,” Crockett said. “She left and from what I’ve learned, she got a new job.”
“With the competition,” Decker added.
“I promoted Larry into her position.” Crockett crossed his legs. “And that was the end of that.”
“Not necessarily,” Alexandra said. “What was his relationship with Ruth?”
Crockett shrugged. “They worked together. I didn’t notice anything unusual, but I’m too busy to pay attention. Decker, thoughts?”
Decker scratched his head. “Ruth had a strong team. They all ate lunch together, but I never suspected anything between her and Larry.”
“I’d like to do a little digging,” she said. “Explore whether anyone you fired has motivation.”
Crockett wasn’t convinced a former employee would be involved in a scheme of this magnitude, but he was grateful for her help. “Absolutely. You can work with Ellen.”
“I’d like to ask Larry a few questions,” she said.
“You can’t waltz in and say, ‘Hey, Larry, can I ask you about your relationship with Ruth?’” Decker said.
“Crockett can let him know I need additional quotes for my tech story. I’ll ask you and Natalie Floyd a few more questions, so he doesn’t suspect anything.”
Decker released a long sigh. “It might work.”
“I like this plan.” The frustration in Crockett’s eyes subsided a little. “Thank you, Alexandra.”
Suddenly, she didn’t care that she’d lost her only decent story to a rookie journalist. What mattered was helping Crockett with his business. Crockett Wilde was the absolute best man she had ever known.
And he deserved her absolute best.
26
The Fire and the Firing
That evening, Crockett and Alexandra pulled into the deserted parking garage of Incognito. The hair on the back of Crockett’s neck stiffened. “Where is everyone?”
“There’s a sign on the elevator,” Alexandra said. He stopped at the curb so she could read it.
We are closed due to a kitchen fire.
Our apologies for the inconvenience.
Check the website for updates. Thank you.
“We’re not catching a damn break,” he said.
“Hang in there, Sage,” she said as Crockett drove out of the garage and into the night.
Ten minutes later, they entered his penthouse and he reached back to untie his mask, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body into his. “I need you masked tonight.” The fire in her eyes, paired with her raspy voice, turned him hard.
Her sudden kiss ripped through him, her breathy moan unleashing his need to bury himself inside her heat. He anchored one arm around her waist. With the other, he squeezed her ass. She mewled and cemented herself against him. Her eyes, framed in the dark mask, blazed with passion.
In spite of everything they faced, desire consumed them. Stabbing pain pounded his side from the tournament injuries, but he pushed past and ground against her. He grabbed a chunk of her wig and tipped her face toward his. She groaned. He fastened his mouth to hers and pinned her against the wall.
“You…this,” she gasped, fisting his hair. “I need wild and hard.”
She needed Hunter and he would gladly oblige. Alexandra, in any form, was his sole desire.
Every time she shuddered and whimpered, a ripe stream of pleasure ripped through him. “You’re mine,” he murmured.
“Say it again.”
He anchored a hand under her chin, kissed her sweet, sexy mouth and whispered, “You. Are. Mine.”
“Yes, I am,” she panted.
He unzipped and toed off his boots, stripped out of his sweater and pants. Dropped his underwear, tore off his socks. Her hand curled around his cock. Pleasure spiraled through him like cascading fireworks, but he kept his attention glued on her.
With her captive in his arms, he reached around, unzipped her dress and pulled it off her shoulders. The dress fell away, leaving her nude.
He kissed her neck, nibbled her ear and dotted kisses down to her shoulder. She responded with a coo or a whimper. She stroked his back with one hand, caressed his pulsating cock with the other. When his juices slickened his head, she murmured, “I need you in me.”
Retreating into the bedroom, he returned, sheathed in a condom.
She jumped into his arms, locked her legs around his waist, and unleashed a torrent of energy. She kissed him hard, thrusting her tongue into his mouth.
He pinned her against the glass windows, speared her with his shaft. Her strangled cries crashed through the silence. He covered her mouth with his and devoured her raw, sexy sounds.
“Hard. Fuck me hard.” Her guttural sound vibrated against his throat and he started moving inside her.
He thrust, again and again, until the mounting pleasure sent him hurtling toward a release. He broke from the kiss to warn her. “Too fast.”
“Don’t stop. Harder, please,” she gasped. “I’m going to…oh…yes.”
“Look at me. I want to see you when you come undone around me.”
Shuddering and groaning through her orgasm, she stared into his eyes. Her intense beauty overcame him and he climaxed.
His mouth found hers and he kissed her. When she tightened her hold around his neck and melted into him, he murmured, “Alexandra, I love you, so damned much.”
“Me, too.”
Progress. She matched his loving smile with one of her own. Even with all the uncertainty they faced, he would love and protect her, forever. Of that he was ce
rtain.
The following morning, Crockett and his innovation team sat huddled around the conference table in the Tank. Until he could get to the bottom of the suspected sabotage, it was business as usual at Wilde.
Quality Assurance had completed their analysis of Moth and Maverick’s Eagle and those issues were considered closed to everyone, but Crockett. He hadn’t divulged Charlie Bowen’s crisis so Decker could work in secrecy, and no one besides Decker and Ellen knew about their epic fail during Round Two of the FBI demo. The less his employees knew, the better. He’d shouldered worse and he would manage through this, too. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself.
All eyes were on the white board while Decker finished explaining the details of the plastics formula for their NVGs. Crockett’s innovators and scientists had done the impossible and he welcomed the good news.
“On paper, this is fantastic,” said Crockett. “Timeframe?”
“Manufacturing is going to knock out the prototype in two weeks,” Decker said. “The plastic is definitely lighter than our initial calculations. Based on certain polymers and isotopes, we might be able to accommodate a few minor adjustments that would bring additional benefit to first responders and military personnel.”
“Congratulations,” Crockett said. “It’s a huge improvement. But what’s the damage?”
Ellen popped in. “Excuse me. Crockett, you have a visitor. She’s driving Patty crazy with her incessant blather.”
“Who is it?”
“A TV reporter. I’ve tried everything, but I can’t get rid of her.”
As Crockett approached reception, he bit out a grunt. The familiar redhead was talking ad nauseam, her hands flicking her hair and flying in the air for emphasis.
Stacy Blunk froze, mid-word. “You’re Crockett Wilde of Wilde Innovations? I’m sure you remember me. Stacy B-L-U-N-K. I was hoping to hear from you.”
“I’m in a meeting, Stacy. How can I help you?”
Thrusting out her chest, she shot him a gleeful smile. “I’m here to schedule your interview. You won some contest.”
Crockett didn’t have the time or the patience for shenanigans. “Ms. Reed completed the interview.”
Stacy stepped close. The overpowering scent of her perfume stung his nose. “Did Al cover the who-what-where-when-and why? Why being the most important.”
Patty, the receptionist, stifled a snicker.
This is a joke. He stepped toward the door, which he was two seconds from pushing open and shoving her through. “Did Alexandra—not Al—put you up to this?”
“Our boss, he shit-canned her story because of some conflict. So, can we set up the interview? I need to get to the POTUS.”
His blood pressure kicked up. “What conflict?”
“Dunno. All I know is that I get to do this.” She batted her lashes. “And with you, no less.” She flicked her attention to Patty. “I was born under a lucky star.”
“What’s your boss’ name?” Crockett asked.
“Max Buchard.”
“Is he in today?”
“Yuppers.”
He shoved open the glass door to his office suite. “I’m not redoing the interview.” Her mouth dropped open. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to my meeting.”
After stomping her foot, she stormed out.
“Please ask Ellen to get Max Buchard, Cable News Fifteen, on the phone,” Crockett said to Patty.
“Yes, sir,” said the receptionist.
As he powered down the hallway, he fisted his hands in frustration. Alex had done a phenomenal job interviewing him and his team. He popped back into the Tank, informed his team he needed to handle something, and paused at Ellen’s desk.
“Buchard is on hold,” Ellen said. “Private line.”
Crockett entered his office and jabbed the speaker button. “Mr. Buchard, Crockett Wilde.”
“Hello, Mr. Wilde. Stacy called me quite upset. Any particular reason you’re refusing to redo the interview?”
Seriously? “Why don’t you tell me why the interview needs to be redone?”
“Conflict of interest. Alexandra Reed is a Mitus. You’ve done business with her brother. She should never have interviewed you in the first place. It shows bias.”
Bullshit. “My business deal with Mr. Mitus had nothing to do with her story.”
“I’d encourage you to reconsider, for your poor sister’s sake.”
Either Buchard was trying to incite him or play him for a fool. “I’ve met Ms. Blunk before. She doesn’t strike me as someone who has the experience to realize my missing sister is the focal point of the story.”
“Stacy is our most promising new on-air talent. With Alexandra as her mentor, she’ll do just fine.”
“Which circles back to my original statement. I see no reason to redo it.” And then he realized Buchard’s true motivation. His dick. Crockett’s stomach soured.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Wilde. I have to adhere to the rules of journalistic integrity.”
What integrity? “Even if I did agree to be interviewed again, I wouldn’t discuss my sister with her. Please find another winner. Goodbye, Mr. Buchard.” Crockett ended the call, then found Gavin’s business card.
Gavin answered his cell. “Aviato.”
“Hey, Gavin, Crockett Wilde. Wilde Innovations.”
“How you doing?” His friendly voice was a godsend.
“I need your help.”
Alexandra’s heart pounded wildly as she tapped the record button on her phone app just before entering Max’s office. “You wanted to see me.”
“Have a seat,” Max said from behind his desk. When she did, he glared at her. “Mr. Wilde has refused to redo the interview.”
Alexandra bit back a smile. “Run the story, Max. It stands on its own merit.”
“I’ll give you credit for one thing,” he said. “The crux of that story is his missing sister. If the story doesn’t run, there’s no chance Sophia’s abductors will ever be found.”
Her cheeks flamed and she bit the inside of her lip. How dare he use Crockett’s sister as leverage?
“I told you to convince him to change his mind,” he continued. “You failed.” She anticipated the worst and muscles running along her shoulders turned to stone.
“I hired you because the network forced my hand, but your services are no longer needed.” He folded his hands over his paunch. “Before you go, give Stacy your interview questions for the Wilde story and rewrite her copy for whatever she’s currently working on.” With a satanic grin, he added, “That girl can’t write her way out of a paper bag, but her other talents far outweigh her shortcomings.”
What a pig.
Her head pounded. Though she could have unleashed a plethora of comments harking back to his indecent behavior at the California station, she rose and exited his office. On the way back to her desk, she stopped the recording.
“Employee list is ready,” texted Crockett. “It stays in my office.”
To her surprise, Gavin was waiting at her desk. “Let’s grab a bite,” he said.
Ten minutes later they were sipping sparkling water in a quaint Italian restaurant around the corner.
“I got canned.” Alexandra told Gavin what had happened.
“I’m sorry.” He covered her hand with his. “At least it’s not because of anything you did wrong or didn’t do right.”
“True.” Her expression fell. “Honestly, I don’t understand how Max gets away with it time and time again.”
Gavin drained his water glass. “Bad karma always catches up.”
“Well, this is a slow-moving one.”
He chuckled. “Crockett called me. Max infuriated the hell out of him.” Max slid the thumb drive across the table. “He had the foresight to ask me for a copy of your interview. Honey, that man is a keeper.”
Her heart bloomed. “He sure is.”
After lunch, Alexandra headed over the 14th Street Bridge into Virginia. While relieved she no
longer worked for Max, the sting from getting fired burned in her stomach.
Since her freshman year at USC, she’d always worked in a news station. Though she felt rudderless, she was certain she’d land another reporting gig. While she circulated her resume, she’d spend more time with her mom. And she’d help Crockett flush out the saboteur. He might not be convinced there was one, but she was.
She found parking in a nearby garage and hurried into the busy Crystal City building. When she entered Wilde Innovations, Larry Berry was speaking with the receptionist and a brunette.
“Hey, Alexandra, we got word you need more info for your story,” Larry said.
“Did Crockett send out an email?”
“He sure did and I’m happy to comply. I like being in the spotlight.” He grinned. “This is my wife, Roberta. This is Alexandra Reed, the reporter who interviewed me for the tech story.”
Wife? Her thoughts flashed to Larry huddled on the sofa at the coffee shop with the blonde.
“Do you know when the show will be on?” Roberta asked.
“No air-date has been set,” said Alexandra. “I’ll make sure Crockett knows so he can get the word out.”
“We’re going to throw a party. I’m so proud of him.” Smiling sweetly, she caressed Larry’s shoulder.
Though Larry smiled, he leaned away from her. Not into PDA? Or not into your wife?
“Alright, honey, I’ve got to get to the airport,” Roberta said. “I wish I didn’t have to leave.”
Larry said nothing.
How awkward. “Headed somewhere warm?” Alexandra asked, feeling like she should fill the silence.
“I’ve got a business meeting in Florida.” She pouted. “I’m bummed Larry can’t join me.”
“You know I’m super busy here, Roberta,” Larry said.
His wife rolled her eyes. “This guy’s been burning the midnight oil. I had to arrange for my folks to take our kids for a few days.”
“Next time,” Larry said.
“Have a safe trip,” Alexandra said. “Excuse me.” She stepped over to reception.
“Walk me to the elevators,” Roberta said and she and Larry left.
A moment later, Ellen bustled around the corner. “Crockett is at an off-site meeting, but we can get started without him.”
THE WILDE TOUCH: Book Two of The Touch Series Page 25