Secret Revenge: An Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire Romance

12. Emily

Isat quietly on the train, pointedly ignoring the man who kept trying to pull me into conversation. The last thing I wanted to do was talk. I kept my gaze on the window, watching the dark tunnel disappear past me as the train sped on its way.

The last few hours felt like a trance, like a dream. A million thoughts swirled through my mind. A million questions that I had no answer to. Why did I have sex with Travis Ross again? Why did I have sex with Travis Ross in the back of his car?

I was acting like a teenager. It had been so long since I’d done something that spontaneous. It was also the last thing I would have expected from billionaire Travis. For someone who said he cared so much about his reputation, he was extremely reckless with me.

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear self-consciously, taking a cursory glance at my reflection in the train window as I did so. My dress looked like I had gotten it from the bottom of a pile. I reeked of intercourse and I struggled to focus, still feeling the effects of Travis’ beastly thrusts as a pleasant ache.

All in all, I looked like a New York bum.

Why did I do that?

I knew I hadn’t been able to keep thoughts of him out of my head since our first night together. But why? Was I that weak-minded, that I could turn my back on everything I knew to be true about him because he was a good lay? Or was this some kind of hate-makes-it-forbidden-and-therefore-sexy thing? I could almost live with the latter.

I covered my face, groaning loudly. The thought of Travis hammering my insides made me tremble again. Such a force to be reckoned with, and he was everything I had struggled to stay away from.

He understood my body in a way I had not experienced in—probably ever. Still, I was going through this entire infiltration with the belief that his wealth was built on the bones of honest men. I wasn’t here for a good time, I was here to tear down everything his father had built. I was here to tear down Travis Ross himself.

I do still want to destroy him, right?

I couldn’t look at the answer to that question directly. I had an awful feeling that it might be “no,” and if it was then I really was weak-minded. I must have changed my mind about everything I knew just because of the sex.

The best thing I could do was to accept things as they were and move forward. I couldn’t deny how amazing it felt to have Travis drilling my core. He was a master in the art, and it hurt that I had not met him on different terms.

And it wasn’t just the sex. It was his eyes, and the looks he got in them. It was the passion and apparent sincerity with which he’d spoken to me over dinner.

It was the fact that, deep down, I was no longer completely convinced that he deserved to be destroyed.

Of course he does. Snap out of it.

I had a job to do, and the last thing I needed was a clouded head. I had to remember why I was doing what I was doing and refocus.

“Hey, did you hear what I said?” the stranger beside me said, tapping my arm.

I turned to him with a venomous look and stuck my hand in my bag. “I am currently touching my taser,” I said quietly. “I am going to use it on you the next time you talk to me. I beg you, try me.”

His eyes went wide, and he shifted on his seat. He jumped out, terrified, and went to a seat across from me. “Crazy bitch!” he spat.

I couldn”t care less. It was a bluff, of course. I had never gotten around to getting a taser, although I desperately needed one. Wouldn’t have hurt me to accept Travis’ offer of a ride home, would it?

And just like that I was imagining the two of us tangled in my bedsheets, sated and at peace. At home with each other.

Shit.

The train pulled into my station, and I exited onto the platform. I turned to the stranger I had scared and saw him watching me bitterly. I waved and smiled at him, and his contorted face was pure comedy. I climbed out of the car quickly. Better not to tease him too much when I wasn’t actually armed.

My mind was still full of thoughts, and I didn’t feel like going home yet. Instead, I called a ride and headed to Jonathan’s office. He always worked late, and I knew I would find him at his desk at this hour. My driver and I peeled into the night for the short drive to the West side.

Jonathan’s office was empty,save for the porter at the door watching a game of ice hockey on the TV screen hanging on the wall. As expected, Jonathan was at his desk, hunched over his screen with his thick spectacles hanging off of his nose.

I knocked on the open door and he looked up from the screen. He squinted for a second, his vision adapting to the dimly lit office. I wondered how long he had been staring at the screen in front of him.

“Ah, Emily!” He pushed his seat away from the computer. “Didn’t recognize you there for a minute. Come, come. Please have a seat.”

I took the proffered seat and smiled at him. “Thanks. I have some news. Which do you want first, bad or good?”

He frowned and took off his glasses. “We might as well hear the bad news and get it over with then.”

“Alright.” I leaned forward on the desk. “We couldn’t get into Travis Ross’ mobile phone. We were able to hack the phone, but we got burned and repelled. Their cyber security was better than we gave them credit for.”

“Of course, it was…” he mumbled. I could hear the disappointment in his voice and felt grateful that I had gone along with Michael’s insane plan. Taking down Travis and his brothers was obviously important to Jonathan, and my report led him to believe that all hope was lost. “Tell me you have good news that could top that?”

“I think so,” I said. “We have decided to infiltrate the company, access the server room, and steal the information we need directly. I was able to get into the company with Michael’s help, and I’ll be working from the inside for a few weeks.”

Jonathan leaned back in his seat and let out a loud sigh. “Well, that sounds very dangerous. Are you sure about this? Are you cut out for it?”

“Not really,” I admitted. “We don’t have lots of alternatives, unfortunately. We have Travis Ross’s prints and I’ve got legitimate access to the building and some of their files. What’s left is to find a way into the server room, and into the files they’re not sharing with the temp staff, without getting caught.”

“Quite the challenge,” Jonathan said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “You don’t think he’ll suspect you? If he connects the dots you’ll be in a world of trouble.”

“That’s possible,” I admitted. “But no, I don’t think he suspects me. If he does, he hasn’t shown it yet.”

“If we get lucky he’ll develop a crush on you,” Jonathan said, chuckling.

I felt a hot flush on my neck and cheeks, and looked away to hide it. While I knew he was joking, I couldn’t help feeling embarrassed by his statement. The expression of amusement on Jonathan’s face was instantly replaced with one of deep concern.

“Emily,” Jonathan said, his voice deep and grandfatherly, “I hope you’re keeping a clear head with Travis around. It’s easy to get lost in the charm of men like him I know he may be rich and powerful, but that’s exactly why we can’t trust him.”

He frowned sternly at me. “Need I remind you that you’re getting revenge for your family? Or have you forgotten what happened to them? Men like Travis only see women as playthings, and you should be very careful with your heart. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I know!” I snapped, trying and failing to contain my anger over Jonathan so blatantly pointing out my own fears.

“You think I don’t know that?” I pushed out of my seat. “I’ll keep you updated on my progress with Travis.” I turned and left immediately, shutting Jonathan’s door a little more loudly than intended.

I burned furiously as I waited for a ride home. I hated how easily Jonathan had seen through me. He might see his daughter in me, but he wasn’t my dad. He didn’t get to hover.

I felt like a naive fool for getting sexually involved with Travis. There was only one thing for me to do at this point.

I needed to muster the courage to harden my heart and carry out what was necessary