Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
Ava
Cynthia stands and moves over to the door, opening it so I can step inside.
“Come in, little bird,” Dagen calls.
I frown at the words, but straighten my shoulders and tip my chin up before stepping around the door and strolling inside purposely.
My heels clack on the marble floor, the sound loud in my ears despite my thunderous heartbeat.
Dagen is already standing, his smile wicked and full of purpose.
At the corner door, Steve, one of the security guards, steps into the room, his expression tight as he watches Ric shoot to his feet and spin toward me.
Ric’s eyes meet mine, and his angry expression turns amused. That’s not the reaction we’re going for.
“I’d like you to meet my new marketing director,” Dagen says. “I believe you know her.”
Ric laughs. “This is a joke. Clearly. You’re pulling my leg.”
“No joke,” Dagen says as I bypass Ric, giving him a wide berth, to go stand at Dagen’s side.
“Ava here conveniently knows everything there is to know about the little algorithm you were trying to sell me. So much, she was able to direct me to Gabriel Mendoza, the true writer of the program, and he taught my team everything they needed to know. I paid him well for it and he was so grateful.” Dagen tilts his head. “Isn’t that odd?”
Ric flicks his eyes between the two of us. “It would make sense that my wife knows a little about my work and the people I may have conversed with, but I assure you that the program was written by me.”
I snort. I can’t help it. “You’re a bald-faced liar, Ric.”
His face pinches at my outburst, his hand twitching at his side like he’d really enjoy hitting me right now. He’s probably reminiscing about the good old days. “What the fuck is this, Fox?”
“I told you,” Dagen says. “My contract with Aria Tech is severed due to clear fraud on your part. The program belongs to Mendoza, and Ava will market it properly since she knows everything about it. Mendoza sold the program to us for a hefty fee plus royalties.” He grins.
“He said you’d promised him only one percent and claimed it was standard.
Imagine his surprise when I offered him twenty-five. ”
I tip up my chin when Ric looks back over at me. It takes everything inside me not to shake at the angry look in his eyes. He knows I’m in the city. He’s threatened me in broad daylight. But here, in this space, I’ve gotten the edge on him, and he doesn’t like it. And I’m eager to make it worse.
I reach beneath Dagen’s desk and pick up the flowers I’d prepared for this very moment, red roses and white daisies, before setting them on the table. “My condolences on your lost contract,” I tell him. I’m proud when my hands barely shake, when my voice doesn’t waver.
Ric’s mask falls away at the clear insult. “So what? You’re getting on your knees for this asshole now?” he snarls, hatred flickering in his eyes. “I always knew you were a worthless whore!”
I don’t react to his words, not outwardly, but inside, I flinch.
The old feelings of walking on eggshells around this man return, but I’m not that person anymore.
I don’t have to be afraid of this man. I’m not alone.
His connections can’t scare me because my connections are greater now.
I glance up at Dagen, as if to reassure myself of the truth of my thoughts, before looking back at the man I’d stupidly married when I thought I was in love.
Dagen crosses his arms, clearly wanting to say something to Ric’s statement, but I hold up my hand to stop him.
“Don’t be petty, Ric,” I find myself saying. “Just because I’m not on my knees for you anymore.”
Ric’s face turns into pure savagery. A narcissist never likes losing, and it’s clear Ric won’t win this fight over the contract.
“I’ll put you on your kn—” he begins, but this time, Dagen really does step up.
“Are you threatening my employee?” he asks dangerously, clearly understanding what Ric had been about to say.
Ric bares his teeth at me. “I’ve always known you were a slut, Ava. I should have treated you like one more often.”
Dagen’s shoulder presses against mine in comfort and it’s the strength I need. His warmth soaks through my suit.
I scoff at my ex-husband, my newfound sense of courage filling me with Dagen at my side. “Sure, Ric. But we both know you only ever brought enough dick to the party for yourself.”
Ric’s face turns red and he straightens. “You’re going to pay for that, wife.”
I tip up my chin, and despite the fear quaking in my chest, I say, “Oh, I’m so scared.”
“You’ll be escorted out,” Dagen says, gesturing to the security guard. “If you enter this building again, you’ll be arrested for trespassing.”
Ric looks at Dagen, his face twisted with pure hatred. “I hope my sloppy seconds were worth it, Fox. You’re going to pay for this.”
Dagen laughs and it’s like liquid sex trailing over my body. “There’s nothing sloppy about the way I fuck. Maybe you should worry about yourself instead of biting at my shadow.” His hand lands on my shoulder. “Besides, I doubt she ever came with you. It wouldn’t be hard to make her scream my name.”
Ric takes a step forward and I tense, but Dagen?
He doesn’t move at all. The security guard steps forward, his hand on his hip where an actual gun rests.
My eyes flick over to him the same time as Ric’s do, and Ric seems to realize he’d be making a mistake attacking Dagen Fox.
Ric looks over at me, and there’s a promise of retribution there.
He has no idea what’s coming, no idea what he’s going to face after this, but that absolute evilness in his eyes is enough to make me want to pick up Elsie and run again.
This man won’t stop chasing us. I can see that. And we’re just poking the bear now.
“Get out,” Dagen orders, his voice hard. “Before I fuck her in front of you.”
I jerk and look over at Dagen, my eyes wide. He doesn’t look at me, his eyes on Ric, but for the first time, real shivers trail down my spine. They have nothing to do with my abusive ex or the fear I’d felt and everything to do with the man standing at my side.
Ric doesn’t say anything else. He turns on his heel and storms out, his steps hard on the marble. He slams the door closed behind him, forcing the security guard to open it again and chase after him to escort him out.
The moment the doors are closed, I slump, my stomach roiling.
“You did perfect,” Dagen says, his hand suddenly on my shoulder.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t realize you’d be implying we were sleeping together,” I grumble, pressing a hand against my forehead. “Some warning would have been nice.” m
Dagen laughs. “Implying means I was lying.”
“You were. We haven’t slept together,” I point out, turning to look at him.
He hums under his breath. “Oh?”
I narrow my eyes. “What does that mean?”
He moves closer, forcing me back against the edge of his desk until the back of my thighs press against the expensive wood. He cages me in, taking up my personal space, and I think I stop breathing as he leans down.
“Would you like me to correct the lie, Ava?” he breaths.
“What?” I squeak.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it,” he murmurs. “Because I’d know that for the real lie.”
“I. . .” My face has to be flushed right now. Heat emanates from my cheeks, telling me it’s probably as red as a tomato. “That wouldn’t be very professional.”
He chuckles. “I think we’re long past professional, little bird,” he says. “Why not go a little further?”
“Is this some sort of game?” I accuse. “Really trying to seal the deal and stick it to Ric?”
He grabs my hand so suddenly, I flinch when he does, making him pause.
Only after I relax does he slowly lower my hand down to the hardness now pressing against his slacks.
“This isn’t because of Ric,” he growls. “It’s because of the way you held your ground.
It’s the strength in your eyes. It’s this goddamned red suit that makes me want to sit you in my chair and hide under my desk, licking you until you scream. ”
I blink in surprise. “This is so far from professional,” I breathe. “We shouldn’t.”
“Then allow me to convince you,” he growls, and grabs a fistful of my hair.
His lips are on mine before I can even gasp, so I gasp against his lips instead, giving him the opportunity to sweep inside.
I’m frozen for all of two seconds, and then it registers that this gorgeous man is kissing me, and that he was right.
I really do want him just as badly.
Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I kiss him back, desperately trying to close the distance between us.
He growls against my lips and lifts me onto his desk, pressing me back as his hands start to explore, groping me through my suit.
He flicks open one button of my satin shirt, just as the intercom goes off.
“Mr. Fox, your next appointment is here,” Cynthia says, her tone giving nothing away.
I freeze, my eyes popping wide as Dagen leans back to listen to the intercom. He curses and reaches for the button. “Give me two minutes, Cynthia. Thank you.”
Staring up at him, I see the annoyance in his eyes when he looks back down at me. “Unfortunately, this isn’t an appointment I can cancel,” he says. “Or else I would.”
“It’s okay,” I breathe, fixing my button. “This was probably a mistake anyway.”
He grabs my chin and forces my eyes on his. “I’m going to fuck you, Ava. When is the only question still up in the air.”
I bite my lip. “And if I say no?”
“You won’t say no,” he says confidently. He lifts me from the desk and helps me straighten my clothing before stepping back. “He’s lost his control,” he says, returning back to business at hand. “Now more than ever, you don’t go anywhere alone. Understand?”
I nod. “A cornered animal is always more dangerous.”
“Especially one who’s used to doing the cornering,” he adds, and then after thinking better of it, he yanks me against him. The kiss he places on my lips this time feels like a promise of pleasure so great, I’m not sure I can ever deny wanting him again. “I’ll see you after work, little bird.”