The Revenge (Illicit Love #4)
Prologue
PROLOGUE
Inhaling heavily, the sound of the doorbell echoing down the hallway has my eyes lifting over my shoulder, disturbing the quiet in my home. I place my gaming control on the sofa beside me and push up to my feet; looking over towards Jeff, my Norwegian Forest Cat, ginger and white fur sprawled out on the single chair in the corner. Roughing my hair up with my fingers I walk down the large hallway, brows furrowed slightly when I see her silhouette through the stained-glass pane.
My fingers curl around the doorknob as I twist it open, my lips twitching into a smirk when my eyes land on hers. I let them roam over her a little longer, wild fiery hair, a light dusting of freckles that are hardly noticeable unless you really stare. Blue eyes that suck you in so deep you’ll never pull yourself out again if you let yourself fall.
“Nate,” she says softly, her eyes volleying with mine as I finally lift them to those beautiful blues before she gives a glance behind her to make sure the coast is clear. She ducks inside, and I close the door.
She stands, waiting for me to usher her through. I give her a quick glance over and notice she looks nervous… scared even? Her fingers are locked in front of her, eyes bouncing around her surroundings, but she doesn’t move. Tilting my head slightly, I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose.
“I’m not sure if I am outright stupid for agreeing to come here and meet a complete stranger or whether I am brave.” She half laughs through nerves as I pass her and nod for her to follow.
“Probably a little of both,” I groan and step into the kitchen, holding my hand out towards the sofa in the corner of the large kitchen area.
She gently walks across and sits, eyes flitting around the room as if she is trying to remember the most little, but significant, things.
“Tea? Coffee? Beer?” I ask, opening the refrigerator door and closing it again.
“Just a water will be okay,” she nods, licking her full lips and I twist to reopen the refrigerator door and grab two cold bottles of water.
Padding across to her, I don’t miss the way her eyes sweep over me.
I’m wearing grey sweatpants; a white tee and my mousy blond hair is tufty and messy. Probably a little longer than I would normally have it, but I am liking it, I don’t feel the want to get it cut anytime soon.
Passing her a bottle then sitting on the footstool to the side of her, I twist the cap of my bottle and take a mouthful before closing it again. Silence crackles for a moment and as much as I am enjoying her company, I also have my day to get back to.
Well, my day revolves around gaming and Jeff.
“Are you sure about this?” I ask, wetting my lips with my tongue.
I knew the gist of why she was here. Keaton gave me the heads up. But I just wanted to make sure that she was okay with it.
She nods, playing with the unopened bottle of water. I roll mine between my palms as my sights settle on hers.
“I believe my boyfriend—well my ex, kind of, maybe—is embezzling money out of his father’s company, plus…” she pauses, her blue eyes on mine, “I think they’re going to try and blackmail his older, weird brother from being able to get his hands on any of it.”
My insides catch alight, fire burning through my veins at the words that pass her lips, but the anger that licks at my skin is not towards her, but towards the asshole that she is talking about.
“And what do you want me to do?” my lips curl as I fight off the smile.
“Well, Arizona… my boss, well, one of my bosses, her husband and his friends have some kind of security company.”
Not quite .
“Right?” my tone is curt.
“Well, they said you’re a whizz at hacking into computers and stuff.”
I laugh, my head tipping back as the noise fills the room then placing my bottle down on the floor by my feet.
“I am a whizz,” I nod, I sound cocky, but I know I am good at my job and she watches as I run my hand back and forth over my thigh.
“So can you do it?” hesitation catches in her tone and I blink.
I pause for a moment as I watch her eyes widening as the seconds slip past.
“I can,” I nod confidently, sitting a little taller on the stool, chin lifted slightly.
“And payment, I can ping it over weekly…” she starts to ramble.
I hold my hand up stopping her as I shake my head from side to side.
“I don’t want cash in a form of payment.”
She blinks, settling back into the sofa, lips parting before closing again.
“No?” she breathes, her eyes bouncing around with mine in a game of chase.
“No,” I whisper, shuffling to the edge of the footstool, leaning into her and I lure her forward.
“I need a date for my friend’s wedding…” I pause for a moment and her cheeks turn pink as she runs her fingers through her long, fiery red hair.
“Right…”
“But…” I trail off and I can see how nervous she is as she plays with the lid of her unopened bottle of water.
“But?” her voice squeaks.
Little does she know I know a lot about her, I also know a lot about the company she is talking about.
She isn’t a stranger to me.
Far from it.
“I want you as my wife.”
“What?” she shrieks, and I can see the sheer panic on her face which is laced with a little confusion.
“That’s my terms.”
I sit tall and wait.
“Why a wife? I have a boyfriend…”
“Ex… boyfriend,” I softly remind her, giving her a moment or two to let my words settle. “I have my reasons, let’s call it a marriage of convenience. You marry me for one year, I’ll pay you of course,” I nod, my eyes closing for a moment. “I know you work, I don’t want anything else to change for you… but I would need you to live here, with me.”
She says nothing, just hangs on my words.
“I will look into this company for you, find out where the money is going and why, I’ll also look into the owner. No one will even know I am there…”
“And you’ll pay me…”
I nod.
“And it’s just a year,” she repeats my earlier words and I wait with bated breath.
“Just a year.”
I watch as her fingertips drum on the arm of the sofa, her leg bouncing up and down.
Her shoulders lift and sag as she inhales heavily.
“What if I say no?”
“Then you’ll mess the whole deal up.”
Her brows crinkle.
“I know a lot about this company, I have been watching it for a while… but the problem is, I need the final piece of the puzzle and well, love , that piece is you.” Her lips part, eyes burning into mine. “So, do we have a deal?”
She nibbles on her bottom lip.
“You don’t really have a choice, this is more of a need than a want.”
She edges closer to me.
“This needs to happen or I can’t do what you’ve asked.”
I am trying really hard to play nice here, but in reality, time is slipping away from me. I have six months to seal a deal and take this business down. In reality, six months may seem like a long time, but it isn’t.
It’ll pass in the blink of an eye.
“Last chance before I pull the plug on this,” I twist my wrist to face me and clock the time.
“It’s just a year, yeah?” She asks for reassurance, innocence beaming from her and my chest aches for just a moment. I nod, letting my lids stay closed a little longer.
“Just a year,” I confirm.
I hear the intake of her sharp inhale.
“Fine, sure, I just want these crooks taken down and honestly, I want the brother to be in succession of it all,” she holds her hand out for me to shake.
Pushing my hand forward, I clasp onto hers before she can take my hand in hers.
“Oh, don’t worry, he will get it all,” I smile, a toothy grin spreading across my face. “I’m looking forward to the next year.”
She drops her hand from mine as quickly as I scooped it and goes to stand.
“I’ll have the contracts drawn up tonight, I’ll call you tomorrow and arrange a meet up. As soon as we’re married, I’ll deposit a lump of cash into your account.”
She nods.
“It was a pleasure doing business with you… James , was it?”
“Yes, James Sutton, and it was a pleasure doing business with you, Nate…”
“Just Nate,” I hold my hand out towards the hallway and after a beat or two she begins to move towards the front door.
“I’ll speak to you tomorrow; lips sealed.” I give her a wink as I twist the doorknob and open the door.
“I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”
And just like that, she fell straight into my web.
Game. On.