Far Beyond Duty

Chapter 5

Anna

I'm losing my mind.

It's the only explanation for why I can't tear my eyes away from my bodyguard's neckline. Every time she leans over my desk to adjust the video conference microphone, my gaze betrays me.

Her perfume, subtle and spicy, doesn't help my concentration.

Yesterday, I wanted to kill Dottie for interrupting us in the dressing room. She left me literally shaking, and I'm sure Dakota wanted that kiss as much as I did, though she stayed distant afterward.

“Testing, one-two. Can you hear us, Tokyo?” she murmurs, her cheek almost touching mine.

“Loud and clear, Miss Sinclair,” Takashi Nakamura's voice comes crystal clear through the speakers.

I clear my throat, reminding myself of this conference's importance. The Nakamura Corporation's support is crucial to finishing the project and reaching Asian markets. That's what I should focus on, not how it would feel to have Dakota naked and trembling under my fingers.

The meeting is a disaster. I mix up basic statistics I know by heart, forget data. Thankfully, Takashi seems understanding when I apologize, claiming fever.

After ending the video conference, I collapse into my leather chair, mortified by my lack of professionalism.

“Wow, that was…” Dakota begins, but I cut her off.

“No! Not a word. I'm not in the mood right now.”

“Just gonna say it was interesting. Never seen you nervous before. Even heard rumors you're actually AI, 'cause you never blink.”

“I wasn't nervous,” I growl.

“No?”

“I was distracted. Everyone can have a bad day, right?”

“Can I ask what distracted you?” she pushes, lowering her voice and making my heart skip several beats.

Thank god Dottie interrupts again, and this time I'm grateful because I'm not ready to discuss what I'm feeling.

“Just wanted to remind you the tech companies gala starts in two hours. Your suit's pressed and there's a clean turtleneck in my office. Want me to bring them?”

Right. The damn tech companies gala. Another one. For most of these people, being seen and forming alliances matters more than making their products work… or at least do something useful. A night playing happy couple with Dakota while pretending I'm not starting to believe it.

Hours later, I watch from a corner of the ballroom as my supposed girlfriend captivates a group of engineers, and I'd rather not ask why she knows so much about corporate server hacking. The idiots drool every time she speaks, despite most being twice her age. Again, she's wearing a dress with a generous neckline, aware it draws every eye. I still can't figure out how she managed to hide her gun in that tiny shoulder bag.

“Your girlfriend really knows her stuff,” Sandra, one of our lead software developers, says, approaching me.

“Yeah,” I answer stiffly.

“You make a great couple, by the way. I like her way better than that actress you dated before,” she adds before heading for a drink.

Her words sting. They shouldn't, but they do.

Because we're not a couple.

Because it's all fake.

The way Dakota laughs at the engineers' comments? Fake.

How she strokes my arm when we're together? Fake.

The way she sometimes looks at me like I'm the only person in the room? Probably fake.

Even if it makes my heart race.

“Anna!”

The greeting cuts like a knife and freezes my blood. I know that voice, too high-pitched when she wants something. I've spent the last year trying to forget it.

Shit.

Olivia strides toward me, waving dramatically like she's dying to say hello. Ready for the photos she knows they'll take, wearing that dress I gave her before we broke up that costs more than most people's cars.

“What a surprise! I didn't expect to see you here!” she greets in a voice louder than necessary, instantly drawing attention from everyone around us and some journalists.

“I didn't know you were interested in technology,” I mutter dryly.

“I've always been very interested in technological advances, but since we dated, I follow everything you do.” Her gaze shifts to Dakota, still talking with the engineers. “By the way, your new girlfriend is… well, quite different from your usual type, isn't she? Isn't she overdoing it at the gym? Those shoulders are a bit masculine.”

She says it to sound insulting, but truth is, Dakota's shoulders are simply perfect. Sculpted just right.

“She's exactly my type,” I blurt out, surprising myself with the comment, probably even more than Olivia.

“What does she do? Because it's pretty suspicious she shows up right when your fortune's about to multiply if that clean energy prototype works.”

I tense instantly at her words.

“Why mention the prototype?”

“Oh, I don't know. Just a rumor I heard, something about clean energy, you know. Just curious about the work of a woman who left her mark on my life. After all, we dated for over a year. We used to share everything, remember? And at night…”

She says the last part leaning close to my ear, trying to turn me on.

“You never cared about my work,” I remind her coldly, putting a hand on her chest to push her back.

“That hurts, Anna,” she sighs, pretending to be wounded. “Your work always mattered to me. In fact, it still does, especially that project they say you have. I'd love to know more details and…”

Before I can respond, Dakota appears at my side. She grabs my waist possessively, giving my ex a look that says, “touch my girl, and I'll rip your head off” without needing words.

“Sorry I'm late, baby,” she whispers, kissing my cheek and making me too nervous. “Those engineers wouldn't stop talking about cybersecurity, and I lost track of time.” She turns to Olivia with an almost dismissive gesture. “And you are…?”

“Olivia Carlson, the actress. I'm sure you've seen several of my movies, I've been in…”

“No, haven't seen any of your movies,” she cuts her off, fixing her with a stare that leaves her speechless, which isn't easy when it comes to my ex.

“I dated Anna for over a year, and now we're very good friends and…”

“No, you're not. If you were, she would've mentioned you,” Dakota interrupts again, and I can't help smiling at the nervous tic that appears in Olivia's right eye.

“You really haven't seen any of my movies?”

Now I have to turn around so she won't see me laugh. I don't know how I could date someone so immature.

“I'm too busy attending cybersecurity conferences,” Dakota replies without flinching.

“Oh, right, cybersecurity. I thought you were like a fitness model or something.”

“Guess not,” my bodyguard murmurs, her gaze so icy it's almost lethal.

“Well, I'm gonna go,” Olivia announces, clearly thrown off. “We should meet up sometime to talk properly, okay, Anna?” she adds, making an exaggerated goodbye gesture.

“Did you really date that idiot?”

“It was a mistake,” I explain.

“I think she's gonna be a problem.”

“She already is. Did you notice how she asked about the prototype? Olivia can't tell a computer from a toaster, and now she's interested in cutting-edge technology?”

“I noticed lots of things about her,” Dakota responds, tightening her grip on my waist to pull me closer while some photographers snap pictures.

“Are you jealous?”

The question leaves my mouth before I can think it through, and our eyes lock for longer than necessary.

“Just protecting you,” she mutters.

“She cheated on me. Multiple times,” I confess, though I don't even know why I'm telling her.

“Someone'd have to be really stupid to let a woman like you slip away,” she whispers in my ear, making me shiver.