Chapter 37
Thirty-Seven
Edging open Isla’s bedroom door, I check on her. The lights are off, the room lit only by the window, throwing an octagon of milky moonlight over her small body in her oversized bed. She moved around all day, bouncing around and tapping her foot, impressing me with her energy.
So now, when she’s dead asleep, I am glad to see her resting. I pull the door closed, startling when I turn around.
Keir is perched on the back of a sofa, arms folded, his lips curved up in a Sphinx-like smile.
“Is she asleep?”
I nod, moving away from Isla’s door. When I am far enough away, I release a pent up breath.
“Yeah. That kid is like a wind up toy. She goes and goes and goes. And then she’s out like a light the second her head hits the pillow.”
His eyes narrow on my face, then drop down to the rest of my body. “Let’s go out for a night cap.”
I make a face. “Are you sure? Shouldn’t you be heading to bed? Natasha was sure to mention that she wanted you fully rested for the morning.”
Keir ambles over to me, his eyes dark and hungry. He stops and puts his hand on my hip, making eye contact with me the entire time. He slowly draws my body to his, pressing our hips together. I can feel his erection as his lips brush over the most sensitive spot on my neck.
Heat warms my veins. Goosebumps break out over my body and I shiver. He lifts my chin with a finger, gazing deep into my eyes.
“I want you, Ella. Come with me. Have a glass of champagne. Enjoy everything that Rome has to offer.”
Keir is so fucking hot right now. His eyes on mine, his arm around my waist, his cock pressed between us like a silent offer.
How could I possibly say no to that?
Under his gaze, I nod. His lips twitch.
“Good girl.”
He takes my hand and leads me to the elevator, selecting the button to the first floor. As the doors close, I feel the impulse to kiss him. Quickly pressing up on my tiptoes, I turn his face to me and brush my lips over his.
He kisses me back, his hands grabbing my ass. He growls. “Ella, sweetheart. You’re killing me. I’m trying to be a gentleman here by taking you out for a quick drink before I fuck you senseless.”
Keir’s words light a fire in me. I kiss him again, more boldly this time. Neither of us is fully aware of the moment that the elevator doors open. We are too wrapped up in each other to notice.
“Well, isn’t this a coincidence?”
I freeze, trying to place that voice. When I do, I push Keir away, flushing scarlet.
Keir wipes at his mouth, his expression souring. “Wendy.”
The journalist stands just on the other side of the elevator doors, holding them open. She has the most smug smirk on her face.
“A week ago, I would’ve killed to have proof that you two were an item.” She brushes off her gray business skirt suit. “But now I have something so much better.”
I swallow, my heart beating faster. Panicked, I look to Keir. But Keir doesn’t even look fazed by Wendy. In fact, he smiles at her coolly.
“I think the three of us should take a stroll around the block.”
Wendy’s brows jump up. I am a little shocked too. I glance at him, but his smile doesn’t provide me a single clue.
What does Keir know that I don’t?
Wendy walks backward, crossing her arms. “I think we should all talk right here. Maybe some NewsCorp executives will come in late and overhear us.”
A little smile flickers over his mouth. His eyes have a cruel glint in them. He walks off the elevator, his gaze pinning Wendy is place.
“I’ve talked to a lot of your peers, Wendy. Fellow journalists. Does the name Sandy Mayweather ring a bell?”
Wendy shakes her head, swallowing.
“No. Never heard of her.”
“Mm. And how about Natalie Ire?”
Wendy stops, cocking a hip. She seems a lot less sure of herself than she did just a moment ago. She looks around, darting her tongue out to wet her lips, then jerks her head toward the exit.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
“Are you sure?” Keir spreads his hands, gesturing to the lobby. A gaggle of people enter the building, and he points to them. “They might be interested to know about Sandy, Natalie, Brooke… all of your former friends. Every single one of them has a plagiarism story featuring you.”
My jaw drops. “What? She stole someone else’s stories?”
“That is not what happened!” Wendy pales, her hands clenching. She lowers her voice to a threatening whisper. “Unless you want me to start screaming details from your little sex tape, I suggest we leave now.”
I flush. So Wendy knows everything, now.
Fuck me. I fan myself, wondering how screwed I am right now.
“If you say so.” Keir shrugs, looking at me with an innocent expression.
“I wish you would take this seriously,” I mutter to him.
Wendy marches out of the building, down the street, and around the corner. Keir follows her lead, hands in his pockets, seeming utterly relaxed.
In the meantime, I break into a sweat. Lagging a bit behind them both, I stare at them and try to figure out how I got into this situation at all.
Wendy spins on her heel, thrusting an accusing finger out at Keir and me. “Max caught you fucking on tape.”
“No, no. Anything he had, he obtained through setting up cameras in hotel rooms. Any lawyer worth his salt would rip the owner of a sex tape apart in court.”
“Max didn’t set up any cameras. Someone already had you two dead to rights. And that person reached out to Max, offering him the tape for free.”
My heart stops. I open my mouth.
“Someone else made the tape?!” I gasp.
Keir glares at me. He holds up a hand, demanding silence. I nod, understanding.
What if Wendy is taping this whole thing right now?
“Even if you manage to force me off of this case, you two are still screwed. Someone out there has your little fuck tape.”
Keir squints at her for half a minute, sizing her up.
“I won’t confirm or deny anything. That’s not why I’m here.”
“Why are you here, then?” Wendy asks, exasperated.
“I have proof that you plagiarized at least five big stories while you worked for NewsCorp. I have the articles, I have the source material. I have five journalists with their own axes, looking for somewhere to grind them. And if you don’t do exactly what I say, they will go public.”
Wendy falls silent, turning over that information. “You talked to Natalie?
“Yeah, and she is angry.”
The other woman bites her lip, looking down at the floor. “So… what? You will pay the complaining witnesses off for me if I don’t air your own dirty laundry?”
My heart bangs against the cage of my ribs. I look to him, desperately licking my bone dry lips.
A bark of laughter escapes his chest.
“Fuck no. I’m not paying anyone anything. I will do you the biggest favor ever by not firing you. And if you promise that I never have to see your rat face ever again, I’ll assure you of a new job at NewsCorp’s offices in Australia.”
She goes pale, opening her mouth in an O of shock. “What?”
He reaches in his jacket, producing a card. He hands it to her. She reaches out to take it, looking like a bomb just went off in her whole life.
“The offer is good for twenty four hours. If you decide to take me up on it, call that number. If not, I will find a reason to have you fucking fired.”
“But—” she tries.
“I’ve heard enough from you. Goodbye, Wendy.”
Keir slides his arm around my shoulders. I think I’m in a bit of shock, because I’m cold, despite the heat of the night air against my skin. He rubs my back, pushing me in the direction of the hotel.
I look up at him, staring. “What was that?”
He looks smug, which is unbearable just now.
“I found out the stuff about her plagiarizing today. I didn’t think I would get a chance to use it so soon, but—”
I stop, smacking his arm. “You didn’t think you should share it with me?”
“Well… no.” He looks a little taken aback. “Quite frankly, I didn’t really think about you at all. But it’s handled now, so…”
Huffing out a breath, I push past him, heading back to the penthouse.
“Are you angry?” he calls out.
I flip him the bird and keep moving, so mad that I can’t quite see straight.