Chapter 13
Imake it through the day unscathed, avoiding Owen as much as I can. Instead, I focus on various admin tasks for his charities and managing last minute gala items. I do some research on the companies he has recently acquired.
The further I dig, the more interesting it becomes. All three companies were tied to big oil, and all three had inquiries into human trafficking, along with a surprising number of sexual harassment lawsuits.
“Ella,” I whisper into the phone in the bathroom while Owen takes a business call on the other side of the door, “Can you have Eagan look into something else for me?”
“Does this have to do with your hot boss?” she teases.
I ignore her little comment. “I need some off-record digging.”
“What are you up to, Nova?”
“It’s probably nothing, but I found an interesting link between the three companies Owen acquired. It doesn’t help with evidence against him, but it might lead to an interesting motive.”
“We’re on a first-name basis now?” she teases a second time.
Once again, I ignore her comment. “Can you have Eagan look into the personal lawsuits against each of the three victims leading up to their deaths? And lawsuits against the companies themselves? Most are not public record and were handled behind the scenes, but I want to know specifics. What they were about and how they were settled. You think he can do that?”
“He’ll have no problem, but Nova, this sounds like you might get into some trouble if Dec finds out.”
I take a deep breath. “I know. I’m willing to risk it.”
I don’t want to leave Declan out, but I’m going a bit against protocol with my digging, and I don’t want this to reflect poorly on his career if I’m caught.
Ella doesn’t say anything for a few seconds. “I’ll have Eagan start today.”
“Thanks, Ella. I owe you both big time.”
She laughs. “We’ll be expecting a very fancy dinner.”
“Deal.”
“Oh, and Eagan hasn’t found anything suspicious with those charities, but I’ll have him keep digging.”
“Thanks.”
“Tell Jax hi for me!” she chirps.
“I will,” I reply before hanging up.
I stand and flush the toilet to make it sound like I was in the bathroom for a reason, before changing out of my regular black suit jacket and black pants and into a pair of jeans and a tight-fitting, red top. I pair the outfit with black Converse. Finished, I step out of the bathroom.
Owen’s stare is instantly on me. “Date tonight, Miss Riley?” he asks with a hint of a smirk.
“I’m meeting Jax and his boyfriend, which is really none of your business,” I snap back at him.
His smile only grows. “Need a ride?”
“Not from you.” I gather my phone and stuff a few papers into my bag before meeting his gaze across the room.
“Ouch. I just thought it’d be a nice way to say thank you for not killing me this morning and helping me out.”
I narrow my eyes.
Owen laughs. “I’m not going to kidnap you, Miss Riley.”
I roll my eyes at his attempt at a joke, throwing his own words in my face. “We’re meeting at his restaurant. You sure you want to drive all the way out there?”
I’m secretly hoping he says no. Or am I hoping he says yes? I can’t quite seem to figure out how I feel about this man.
He gets up, grabbing a jacket from the back of his desk chair. “I don’t mind.”
“You sure you don’t have someone you need to meet?” I ask, perhaps hoping he does. Or maybe I’m curious.
He looks at me, and I can’t read him. “Not tonight.”
I step out from behind my desk and throw the strap of my bag over my shoulder. “It’s Friday.”
He comes to stand next to me. “I’m not as busy as you think I am, Miss Riley.”
“Really?” I ask sarcastically. “I’d say those two naked women this week would be evidence of the contrary, Mr. Mills.”
I don’t wait for his reaction and head for the door. He beats me to it, grabbing the handle before I can.
I finally look at him. His green eyes are full of an emotion I can’t quite read. It appears as though he wants to say something, but he pulls the door open instead.
“After you, Miss Riley.”
Turning, I walk out of the office. He follows in silence.
“Nova!” Evan shouts as he comes around the wooden bar at the restaurant and wraps me in his strong arms, lifting me off the floor.
I laugh, clutching him like he’s the only person keeping me tied to this earth.
“Oh, how I’ve missed you! You always smell so damn good,” Evan comments, burying his head in the crook of my neck.
Laughing harder, I playfully slap his shoulder. “I don’t even wear perfume.”
“That’s why you always smell so good. You smell like you.”
“Let her down already, Evan. No hogging,” Jax says, coming around and peeling me from Evan’s arms.
I hug Jax, and he also buries his head in my neck. “He’s right, though,” he says when he lifts his head. “You always smell so good. Like home.”
I smile, that comment affecting me more than it should.
I’m so happy to see them that I forget entirely about Owen standing behind us until Evan drawls, “Who’s this delicious man?” He extends his hand toward Owen.
Whirling around, I discover Owen’s amused expression and observe as Evan takes Owen’s hand and kisses him on the knuckles.
Owen chuckles. “I’m her new boss.” He pulls his hand away slowly.
“Boss?” he asks me with a wink and a waggle of his eyebrows. “Or boss, boss?”
I laugh, and Owen surprises me by laughing too.
“Boss, boss,” I respond.
“Oh, shit. Sorry boss-man. I didn’t realize real bosses drove their employees out on a Friday night.”
Owen cocks his head to the side, as if considering those words. Leave it to Evan to always make everything awkward.
“He owed me a favor because I’m such an amazing employee and do far more than what’s in my job description,” I explain, realizing a moment later, when Evan’s eyebrows shoot up, that I gave him more ammunition.
“More, huh?” he insinuates.
I huff. “You’re impossible. Get me a drink already, will you?”
Evan winks at both of us before hurrying off to grab me what I asked for. Bottles clink, and the low hum of conversation fills my ears.
Jax leans casually against the bar, watching me. His eyes dart to Owen for a brief moment before settling on me again. The question he isn’t voicing sparkles in his eyes.
I turn to Owen. “Do you want to stay for a drink? No pressure.”
“Oh, do stay! I’d love to stare at you a little longer,” Evan chirps as he sets down my drink. It’s a simple vodka soda with a splash of lemon. I rarely drink, and I probably shouldn’t do so now. Not when my target seems as though he might take me up on my offer to hang around.
Part of me doesn’t care. I’m in no danger with him, and my body knows it, even if my mind won’t catch up.
Owen eyes the drink before his eyes meet mine. There’s another unspoken question in the furrow of his brow.
“Despite Evan’s very inappropriate statement, you are welcome to stay if you want,” I say “I can promise you won’t be bored with these two, but I can’t promise you won’t be hit on and almost convinced to go home with them by the end of the night.”
“Hey, I’ll be good!” Evan sounds almost offended, but his teasing tone gives him away.
Owen’s smile grows until the dimple is visible, and he’s only looking at me. My stomach instantly drops.
“How do you know they can be convincing?”
It’s definitely not the question I was expecting.
Evan beats me to a response. “Because we almost convinced her to come home with us one night. Funny story, actually—”
I cut him off. “You did not almost convince me, and you are men’s men, through and through. You never would have actually taken me home. Plus, this is a highly unprofessional conversation we’re having in front of my boss.”
Evan and Jax both laugh, but it's Evan who responds. “First, you could do with being a little less professional, Barbie. And two, have you seen yourself? I may not be into women, but I’d make an exception for you any day.”
I almost choke on the sip I’d just taken and glance at Jax, who appears to be finding all of this far too entertaining.
“Are you gonna help me out?” I ask Jax.
He takes a sip of his own drink. “No. There’s a reason I love him.”
Chucking, I take another long drink from my cup. “You two are insufferable.”
“But that’s why you love us,” Evan says.
I sigh. “Perhaps.” I almost jump when I remember Owen is standing next to me. “Are you sure you don’t have somewhere more important to be? This will only get worse as they drink more.”
Owen smiles, and it’s only for me. “I don’t have anywhere to be, Miss Riley.” His voice is so deep; it seems to vibrate through my entire body.
I turn back to Evan, who winks at me, and I down the rest of my drink.
Wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm, I pace outside the bar, wanting to be back inside laughing with three beautiful men. But I’m eager to figure out if Eagan’s found anything about Owen.
“He’s still looking,” Ella says, and my heart sinks. I should have known it might take a while, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong.
I must be silent for too long because she asks, “How’s the trial stuff going?” Her voice is careful, like she’s talking to a small child that might throw a tantrum if provoked.
She wouldn’t be wrong about that.
I sigh. “There are so many holes in my memory. Between the chaos and blood loss, I can’t seem to piece together anything substantial. I’m afraid my testimony won’t help me.”
“What about Gray? Have you spoken to him?”
“We talked about it one time. We compared notes, and he filled in some of the holes, but it still doesn’t make sense. He agrees we missed critical intel.”
“Is he worried about the trial?”
“I can’t tell. It’s mostly on me. I was the lead. He was tech and communications. None of what happened was his fault. He even tried to warn me off before everything went to shit. In fact, most of my statement will be in defense of him. He did nothing wrong.”
“You did nothing wrong either, Nova. I hope you know that. I’ve read all the reports. No one saw it coming.”