by Ellie Danes
“Is Cain ready to finally come clean with everything?” Reese smiled and shot me a sarcastic look.
“I think he’s ready to be more open to the possibilities. Remember, he asked for this meeting. He hasn’t shared with me what he wants to discuss, but I’m sure we both have our ideas.” That was the one thing Cain has kept very close to his chest, other than me. I had no idea what he was planning to unload on us, but I was sure it was well overdue.
“Just remember, Jennifer, this is your dad’s show, right now. It’s up to him to figure out if and whether we keep going on this. Although I’ve never seen your dad give up on anything, or anyone, including you.”
Reese’s statement stung. I always knew Dad was tough on me, but he always seemed to be there in a crisis. “Yeah, well, how about you, Reese?” I quickly changed the subject. “I’m probably stupid for keeping this so quiet, but I’m still getting messages from whoever broke in. Take a look at this. Most of it is pretty innocuous, except the last photo. I’m worried that because I’ve opened it there’s something installed on my laptop.”
“That should be the least of your worries!” Reese quickly angered as I explained the emails and photos. “You should have told me immediately. You should have called the police. Someone is obviously stalking you, and I have a hunch who it is.”
Reese plugged away at the computer. For an old guy, he was sharp with a computer. “I guess he thought you’d keep it to yourself. I’m glad you didn’t try to delete it—it would have been ten times worse.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”
“I’ll email Detective Jackson and let him know about this. Just to keep him in the loop. I think, with this guy, it is better to be safe than sorry. He’s definitely a loose cannon. I mean, he knows he’s busted on the whole security thing, yet he insists on playing this cat and mouse game with you. I don’t know. Something’s not right here.” Reese slung himself back in his chair, linking his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. His partially bald head shone under the bright fluorescent lighting. I felt a little panicked. If Reese was this worried, maybe I should be too.
“So you think this is Dylan, for sure?” I already knew the answer to my question, and my instincts told me the same thing. I just hadn’t had the nerve or been ready to have the discussion with Cain. “Reese, you don’t think he’d…”
“No. I think he’s already hit you with his best shot, but you had better be careful. Don’t take any chances and stick with crowds until this is over with. You got me?”
I didn’t argue, just nodded and answered my desk phone. “Thanks, Cynthia.” I hung up the phone and started gathering my things. “Okay, Reese, Dad wants to see us. He says to bring the employee profile results, too.” I grabbed my tablet. “I can just pull them up here.”
We moved into the office next door and for the next hour we reviewed all of our findings and everything we currently knew about Vawter, the data breaches, Cain, and Dylan.
The desk phone buzzed, letting us know that Cain had arrived. We headed to one of the smaller meeting rooms, where Cain was waiting for us. I noticed immediately how amazing he looked, his tailored white shirt fitting snuggly against his perfect body. I wondered what else he was wearing. I forced the ridiculous grin from my lips.
I shared a measured smile and sat at the table with the rest of the gathering. It was only my father, Reese and Thomas McAleer, a senior attorney. Thomas was a nice guy, as far as I knew. Intelligent and studious, he was quiet—you wouldn’t know what he was thinking until he hit you with a question. I had seen him in action.
We all gathered around the conference room table and Cain took the lead in the meeting.
“Thank you for meeting me at such short notice. I know your firm has been investigating everything and really looking into the initial issues of the data breaches. As you are probably all aware, things have taken a turn.” Cain took a moment and paused, looking into each person’s eyes and holding their gaze. It was apparent he was in business mode; as his eyes met mine I sensed the levity of the situation.
The group nodded their heads in agreement and Cain continued. “After speaking with each of you individually, and collectively, I decided that I—and Vawter—need a brief separation from Dylan. I’ve asked him to take a leave of absence until we have things sorted out and we’ve all had a chance to review everything going on.”
“Was this strictly business, Mr. Parker, or was there a personal element to this as well?” Thomas already knew the answer and I was curious where he was going with all of this.
“Yes. There was a personal element to this as well.” Cain avoided making eye contact with me, but I knew a part of his decision was due to Dylan’s hitting on me. “Dylan and I have been friends for a very long time—like brothers, so this was very personal—but I didn’t let that, and haven’t let that, cloud my judgment on how I run this business. It’s why I’m here.”
Cain continued to describe the details of the break-in, the phone he found in his desk, the claim of extortion, everything. His delivery was perfect. Honest. The team seemed satisfied with the information he presented.
“Cain, it’s important that we have all of the facts, and I—we—know this is a tough situation, especially because it involves someone so close to you.” My father reflected on the statement. “Is there anything else we should know?”
“Dylan.” Cain’s voice broke slightly as he glanced upward to the left, a sign he was digging deep into difficult memories. “We were close. He was close to my family, my dad. We got distant after he passed. I don’t know if it was because my father excluded him from his will, or something else. He would never talk to me about it.” Cain tried to remain strong and focused.
Thomas leaned back in his chair, tapping his finger lightly on the table. I knew he had a question, but he was measuring how to ask it. “Tell me, Cain, why did your father leave Dylan out of the will? Did they have a falling out? According to what you’ve shared, your father plunked down a significant amount of money for Dylan.” Thomas flipped through his notebook. “Paid his college tuition, purchased his first car…he may have even slid some cash around to keep the kid out of trouble. So why, in the end, did he cut him out?
I tried not to look shocked but I was; Cain was too. I resisted the urge to twist my hair, but I reached up and touched my sapphire. Cain’s eye caught mine. Stay calm and be honest.
“Like I told you, after my brother, Jase, died, my father became attached to Dylan. I don’t remember a specific argument or falling out. Dylan came around less and less when my father became sick. I don’t even think they talked the last few months of his life.” Cain sighed, “I’m sure there was more to the story, but my father was a secretive man. I didn’t even know how wealthy he was until he passed away. It was shocking to see those numbers.”
Thomas jotted some notes, but seemed content with the answer. “I’m sure the thought has crossed everyone’s mind here, but I need to ask for myself, Do you think Dylan is behind this? I mean, everything seems to point to…”
“Thanks, Thomas, that will be enough.” Dad cut him off before he went too far. “I think we all have a good feel for what’s going on here, no need to push this further.”
“That’s Ok, Mr. Dunning. I didn’t at first, but I’m beginning to believe Dylan is to blame for the things that have happened with the company data. I don’t believe for a minute he’s behind anything else. I think this is all just a very bad, and unfortunate coincidence.” Cain’s hands lay flat on the table, his thumb slowly drawing circles as he delivered his response to the group.
“Cain, thank you for sharing all of this with us. Let me pull the team together and we’ll get back with you.” Dad slid out his chair, and the small group began to disperse. My father and Thomas left us first, obviously to meet in private.
Reese looked at Cain with concern. “Listen, we all know there is more going on here than what was discussed, Cain. That email that Jennifer rece
ived was spyware. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t going to tell you, but I wanted you to know. Keep an eye on her. I know that somehow, all of this is tied together in a really bad way.” His voice was gruff and bossy but I knew he meant well. He patted Cain on the shoulder and left.
“He’s right, Jennifer, you’re staying with me tonight. No arguments. I don’t know what this guy is thinking, and neither do you.”
“No arguments here. I’ll be there. What time?” I rocked in my heels nervously, another “tell.”
“Let’s say seven.” Cain still had a seriousness in his voice and eyes. His face was like a rock.
“Cain…” I whispered, turning my back to the door so no one could see me. I discreetly pulled my jacket collar to the side and let him see the shiny blue strap of my bra. I tried to make light of the situation.
“Nice… I want to see it all… later.” He smiled down at me and we left the meeting room. I stupidly waved goodbye to him when he got in the elevator. The receptionist’s eyes followed Cain and then shot back to me, noticing I was watching her. She smiled, acknowledging my catch.
I spent the rest of the day combing through additional details of the data breach, the Pegasus issues and discussion we’d had with Alice Bennett, with Reese. I had more questions for Alice Bennett, and felt there was more she wasn’t revealing. Everything just seemed to being going downhill quickly, and I couldn’t reassure myself that it would all be worked out soon.
“Reese, I’m headed out. Any chance I can take my laptop tonight?” A part of me hoped he’d tell me it wasn’t ready.
“Yes. Do me a favor, be careful and for God’s sakes, don’t open any more emails that are questionable. If you see anything, hear anything—anything—call me. Got it?”
“Got it.” I felt overwhelmed. At one point in my life there hadn’t been a man in sight that cared about me, especially one that showed it. Now I had three watching over me like bodyguards. I grabbed my laptop and a few files and left the office.
As I walked to the car in the bustling garage, I could feel the excitement building. A night with Cain in his amazing house. Just the two us. The daydream took me away as I walked to my car, only to be pulled back to reality with an incoming text.
Such a lovely family!
I scrolled down the text from the unknown number. Two more pictures from my laptop; one of my mother and I when I was a kid, just before she passed, another of my father and I together at my college graduation. My heart skipped a beat and I felt the cold wave of fear enter my body. Another text followed.
BTW You look great today!
I froze in my tracks as I looked at the picture. It was from moments ago as I exited the lobby elevators. I calmly looked around the garage. I was no more than fifty steps from my car and thankfully I wasn’t alone. I debated whether to run to the car, or back upstairs.
Before I could make a decision, my phone rang. I quickly answered it as I scanned the garage. “Alight, you son of a bitch! What the hell do you want? Why are you doing this?”
Chapter Thirty
There was a silence on the phone and I heard Cain’s voice. “Jennifer? Jennifer? What’s going on?”
I ran to the car, threw everything on the passenger seat, climbed in and locked the door. I could feel the tears building. “He won’t stop. He’s texting me, more pictures… he’s here.”
“Jennifer, where are you? Is he with you? Do you see him?” The panic in Cain’s voice was mixed with anger.
“No, I’m in my car. I’m Ok. He sent me pictures of my mother, my father and then he sent a picture of me, leaving the elevator. He was here, Cain, in the building.” I put the keys in the ignition with shaking hands and flung it into gear.
“Get out of there! Go to my house, I’ll have my housekeeper meet you… Jennifer?”
“Alright, alright. I’m going now.” Cain continued to calm me down as I drove to his house. I constantly looked in the mirror for following cars, or anything out of the ordinary. I managed to convince Cain to let me hang up so I could tell Reese what was going on.
True to his word, Cain had the house open when I got there. The housekeeper left and I tapped in the security code that Cain sent me via text into the alarm pad. I didn’t know how long he would be, but I hoped I would stop shaking before he got there. I took the liberty of pouring myself a drink—not wine but whiskey—from the bar in the living room. I texted him to let him know I was in the house, I was safe, and that he shouldn’t cancel his meeting. I was beginning to feel as if I were a constant and growing problem for him.
Maybe I should leave. Maybe I should just call the police. I stared at myself in the mirror behind the bar. My tear streaked face and raccoon eyes stared back at me. I wondered if, after all of this, I had done the right thing. I knew better. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with Cain. This was supposed to be a fling. I should have walked away the moment I found out Cain was my client. I cursed Aimee for pushing me in this direction, and then realized it was me that wanted it. I wanted Cain.
He had it all. He was ridiculously handsome, with a perfect face, gorgeous hair and a glorious body. He had connections, wealth and came from a distinguished, old family. I wiped the tears from my face, still staring at myself. I was the unremarkable daughter of a remarkable attorney; I had managed to get a degree but I had an uncertain career path ahead of me. In so many ways, Cain and I weren’t a good match at all—I had all the advantages.
I slung back the rest of the whiskey and poured another. I kicked off my shoes, took off my jacket and placed them next to my purse. With the crystal glass in my hand, I strolled around the lower level of the house, looking at pictures, awards and interesting artifacts that Cain had collected. His parents looked happy, proud and very involved in their son’s life.
I could feel the warmth of the whiskey calming me as I strolled through the house. I glanced down at my phone and opened the text messages from earlier. The eerie feeling of a stranger prying into my private life unsettled me. I looked at the picture of my mother and I and smiled. I missed her. I scrolled to the picture of my father and I, noting the fake smile on his face.
Eventually I walked back to the living room, put on some soft jazz and stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the river. I remembered the first time I had been here, our first evening together.
“Jennifer! Where are you?” Cain’s voice echoed through the vast living room out to the balcony.
I quickly tried to wipe my tears and streaks away. “I’m out here!” I stared out at the river, not wanting to face him.
He strode on to the balcony, hugged me from behind and kept his arms around my waist. “How are you? Did you call Reese?”
“I did. I let him know and then came right here. I’m sure he’s on it, and I have no doubt that he’s let Detective Jackson know.” I leaned my head back on Cain, closing my eyes, enjoying feeling his strength.
“Jennifer, I’m sorry for all this. I never meant to put you in harm’s way. If I had any idea that this would happen—that you would be in danger—I would have never asked you to dance. I’m sorry.” His voice was low and soft. I spun around in his arms.
“Don’t say that! You don’t know this is because of you. It’s not your fault, and for the record, I don’t regret that dance at all. As a matter of fact, I was thinking that maybe I’m the one bringing you all this bad luck. Besides, we would have met regardless.” My vision blurred and my voice shook.
“Would it surprise you to know that I think about you all the time? Whether I’m sitting in a meeting or talking with a business partner, all I can think about is you… what you’re doing, what you’re wearing, when I’ll see you again. I guess that makes you my weakness, but I like it. I want that, I want you.” Cain leaned down and kissed me passionately. I could tell he meant what he said. His fingers rubbed my cheek and he gazed at me longingly. “Are we clear on this now? I want you, Jennifer.”
I smiled, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders; I put my arms aroun
d his neck. “I got it.” I kissed him gently. “Thank you. I’ll be right back, let me freshen up a bit, I’m sure I look awful.”
“Never, Jennifer.” Cain kissed me back gently and I slipped away, leaving him on the balcony alone.
I returned and stood just inside the doorway, hidden partially behind the curtains, dressed only in my sapphire bra and panties. “Is this better?”
Cain turned and smiled. “I love looking at you.” He moved toward the doorway, guiding me just inside the house, and then sat on the long white lounge.
As seductively as I could, I reached behind me and released the hooks on my bra. The evening breeze rushing through the open door brushed my skin; I felt alive and beautiful. Cain sat and watched me, still smiling but looking a little more serious now. He stretched his arms out to me and I cautiously stepped outside and sat in his lap, half leaning against him. Cain’s hand caressed my breast and he kissed my neck.
I unbuttoned his shirt with clumsy fingers. The buzz of the whisky had fully set in. I pulled his shirt out of his trousers and rubbed my hands over his warm skin. I wanted him so badly. I swung my legs around, straddling him—I could tell he wanted me too. I fumbled with his belt and pants as he finally assisted me, exposing his form fitting briefs, leaving nothing to my imagination.
This time, I was going to be in control. I felt no inhibition, something I hadn’t felt in so long. It felt good to forget about everything and let loose. To finally be the one controlling the situation.
I kissed Cain with all I had and reached down, revealing him to me. Trembling with excitement, I welcomed him inside me with a moan, sliding my sapphire panties to the side. I put my hands in his hair, feeling its silkiness in my hands. He clamped his hands around my waist, guiding my movements. My back arched and I could feel my thick hair dangling down my back, touching my bottom. “Jennifer!” His hands tried to direct my body, but I pulled them away and continued to keep the pace. I could feel his excitement rising and we moved more intensely. Suddenly, Cain shuddered and I slowed. I felt his release, which excited me even more. He showered my breasts with kisses and I continued until I joined him in ecstasy.