Chapter 3
Good morning, Mr. Tides,” my assistant, Sherry, said as I walked through the doors.
“That asshole, Turnkin’s son, was stealing purses again. Call Den and have him pay them a visit.”
“Yes, Mr. Tides.”
I closed my office door, loosening my tie and pulling out my folder on Riley again. The picture of her didn’t do her justice. She was breathtaking. Those green eyes had been pools of emerald, standing out against the ebony of her hair. Those lips had parted when I turned to her, and I hadn’t been able to stop the thoughts of how I wanted to use them. They were full and a natural blush, the same blush her cheeks had grown as she’d dropped her eyes from me. The way her skirt had fit her curves and her black pumps had emphasized her calves left me imagining what was under that skirt.
While I hadn’t intended for her to see me, instead wanting to follow her steps and watch her, the circumstance had been fortuitous. Offering me an opportunity to earn her trust and to get close to her. Although, now that I’d been that close, I wondered if being anywhere else would be as satisfying. The scent of her perfume still lingered in my mind along with the smile that had put warmth in my chest where only ice had been for far too long.
My initial thoughts that her brother had sent her to Bridgeville faded the moment I started watching her. There were no bodyguards with her—my men had scoured the building and the block for any sign. She’d driven to town by herself, her car now stored in one of my parking garages. I could find no evidence to support the theory that Mason was involved, which told me she was alone. A surprising revelation, considering my animosity toward her brother. That could only mean she’d come here to rebel, or he didn’t know. The latter option made no sense, because Mason was too controlling to let that happen. Her presence was a mystery, but I’d take it as a gift that would only make my revenge sweeter.
Walking to the window of my penthouse office, I waited for her to round the corner, knowing exactly what direction she would come from. I’d given her the directions before I’d left her at the coffee shop, part of me wanting to linger, to continue hearing the sweet drawl of her accent and seeing the way the morning light sparkled in her eyes. Another part wondered at the effect she was having on me after just that brief interaction. It was dangerous, obsessive almost.
She came into sight, holding her cup of coffee in both hands as she looked around. I couldn’t help but chuckle. Even from this high up, I could see the childlike wonder in her eyes. It was apparent that Mason had kept her sheltered. His territory held a city, not one as extensive as mine, but large enough for her to not be so overwhelmed by stepping into one. Sheltering her had been a mistake because now she was mine for the taking. Mine to use and mine to taste. I didn’t like the way my body reacted to those thoughts. I’d envisioned how I’d use her, manipulating her into my bed and marking her as mine. Destroying her and returning her to Mason so he’d know that I’d been the one to mark her. But being in her presence had been intoxicating, and after seeing her, I wanted to do more. I wanted to own her, to ruin her for any other man. And I was no longer so certain I wanted to return her. The need to keep her pounded through me.
My phone chimed, and I looked down at it. I’d had my tech guy connect to Riley’s phone and all her devices overnight.
“My, my little girl,” I said, scrolling through the marketplace ad she’d placed to sell her furniture. I gritted my teeth, seeing that she’d put her phone number on the posting. Na?ve to a fault. I wondered if her brother knew what keeping her in a protective shell had done. And if he knew she’d just walked into the lion’s den. “You shouldn’t be so revealing with your information, little girl. This town will devour you. And I’m the only one who gets to devour you.”
After taskingSherry with taking care of Riley’s furniture ad, I had her call the firm manager, Ken, to my office.
My knuckles cracked as I patiently waited for him to arrive, my mind going through the first pieces of my plan to bring Riley to her knees. The thought put visions of what I’d do to her once she was there in my head. I was wrestling to calm my body down when Sherry buzzed to tell me Ken had arrived. Cursing my dirty mind, I told her to send him in.
“Greyson,” he said, entering with the confidence of someone who had been in my network long enough to have the privilege of using my first name.
“Sit, Ken. Tell me about her,” I said. He didn’t have to ask why I was asking the question. I’d ensured he would treat Riley as if she were the most important asset to the firm…which she now was.
“She’s something. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such bright green eyes, and that hair?—”
I slammed my fist on the desk, leaning forward. “Not her looks, Ken,” I said, my teeth clenched. “Don’t make me send your wife the number of the woman you meet for drinks every Tuesday after work.”
His swallow was loud, and he sat up straighter in his seat. “No, you don’t need to do that. I told you when I interviewed Riley—she’s smart, focused, and professional. She’ll do fine.”
“You gave her the large window office?”
He fidgeted in his seat, looking even more uncomfortable. “Bill wasn’t happy. I had to offer him a few extra vacation days to get him to comply. He was still grumbling about it until I told him the order came down from you.”
“Let me know if he gives her a hard time. And if anyone in that office, employee or client, gives her trouble, I want to know about it immediately.”
He nodded before he asked, “What’s so special about her? I’ve never seen you take an interest in the firm or any of the staff there.”
“That’s my business and something you don’t need to worry about. Just make sure she remains content or heads will roll and secrets will spill.”
I had enough dirt on everyone in that office to fire them all. The only reason I even owned the firm was to keep the feds occupied. If they were snooping to find dirt on me, they’d hit all the legal businesses. The illegal ones I had buried so far below the red tape that layered my legal businesses, no one would ever discover them. Having been in the business as long as I had, most of the illegal ones were liquidated by now, the money reinvested in real estate or other entities where it was untraceable. But there were a few out there that were better left unseen.
“Understood,” Ken said, waiting for further direction.
“Go back to the office. And buy her lunch today, but don’t take her out,” I added quickly, the idea of another male with her stirring my envy. “Just make sure we pick up the tab.”
“Will do.”
After he left my office, I sat back, contemplating why the thought of her with another man had been so uncomfortable. I shook it off as Sherry knocked and peeked her head in.
“I reached out and bought all the furniture. I have someone meeting her this week to pay her and pick it up.”
“Perfect. Donate it to the thrift shop outside of the city. I don’t want her finding it. But before you do, I want to look through it.”
She gave me a curious glance but didn’t comment. She knew better than to question me.
“Yes, sir,” she replied, shutting the door and leaving me to my thoughts again. Those thoughts were of the gorgeous ebony haired beauty who was now one step closer to becoming mine.