Chapter 12 Sebastian
Sebastian
"You could have said it," I snapped as I paced the length of Ethan's office.
It was on the opposite side of the top floor and slightly smaller than mine, but I needed space from Ms. Rhodes.
Which meant when I'd gotten back from my lunch with one of our clients, I'd come here instead of my office until she clocked out.
“And so could you.” Ethan dragged a hand through his hair. “I’m pissed this happened under my watch. It’s my ass if we don’t fix it.”
"How do you think I fucking feel?” Victor strode in and plopped down in the chair across from Ethan's desk. "We all fucked up."
I stopped pacing and looked at my two best friends.
Victor gave a nervous chuckle. "Yeah—and a junior analyst uncovered all of it."
"She's a level two." I corrected automatically. But she wasn’t just that. She’d caught what the CEO, CFO and CSO had all missed.
"Are we sure she didn't have anything to do with this?" Ethan pulled open his bottom drawer and took out three glasses and some of his aged whiskey.
I shook my head as Ethan poured the drinks and handed us each one. I opened my mouth to shut the idea down, but Victor beat me to it.
“Had my guy run her. She’s as boring as it gets. Not even a parking ticket.”
I nearly choked on the sip of whiskey. Both of them paused, watching me, but I sank into the chair as if nothing happened.
If only they knew her like I did, they wouldm’t think that. Then again, I'd have to kill them, but that was neither here nor there.
"So that's four people we know we can trust." I pulled out my phone and pulled up our last email conversation.
"I'd like to bring in Micah,” Victor added, leaning back.
"Did he know about the clause?" I asked. The list of people we knew we could rely on was painfully small.
“He wasn't here and didn't see it himself. He only told Ms. Rhodes the steps she should take." Victor tossed back the rest of his drink and poured another.
"And she shut down the whole floor to get our attention." Ethan shook his head.
"That was after Stan told her he'd handle it."
Ethan clenched his jaw. "That's a guy I don't trust. But he claims she never said anything."
I gritted my teeth, not surprised. Turning to Victor, I finished my glass and stood. "If you bring Micah in, we need his discretion. We need to get this cleaned up before the investors or any clients find out." We could use another set of eyes. A fresh one.
I headed to the door. Personally, I was tired of looking at the code and the numbers. It didn't help, I was still trying to tie up my father's affairs, and my head hadn't been a hundred percent.
"You going to meet us at Sanctum?" Victor asked. He'd probably have a girl in his room in the next hour. What better way to erase the week we’d had.
I waved him off. "I'm going to go over the reports again. Not tonight."
Their gaze burrowed into the back of me as I walked away.
I'd checked on her a few times this week, hovering over the message screen longer than I’d like to admit, always backing out at the last second. So much for me getting her out of my system. I stopped in the hall near the elevator and sent a message.
My Pet,
I would so much like a repeat Saturday night if you'd accept. I have some new toys that will have you wanting to scream, but I know you won't because that's what pleases me. If you accept, I will have Mistress Vivienne arrange a car.
Tardiness will not be accepted.
Do you accept?
-Sir
I reread the message twice and sent it, surprised when a chime sounded from my office. I glanced at my watch. Half past six. Why the hell was she still here? She should have left an hour ago.
I buttoned my jacket and took a steadying breath. There were two choices: turn around and go back to Ethan's office, or continue on the path I was on. Neither could be done while sporting a semi.
What was it about Ms. Rhodes?
I shuffled down the hall quietly. Her head was down, reading what I presumed was her phone, since she wasn't looking at her monitors. I smiled.
"Thought your day ended at five?"
She jolted upright, her phone slipping from her hand and hitting the floor with a thud. She smoothed her skirt. “I’m sorry, Mr. Reid. I must have lost track of time.”
I stepped around her desk and crouched to pick up her phone.
I shouldn’t have looked at the screen.
But I did.
And the message she’d been typing stared up at me.
I accept.
Before I could hand the phone back, she snatched it from my hand, locked the screen, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red.
"Everything okay, Ms. Rhodes?"
She gulped as I stepped closer. Peaches. She always smelled faintly of peaches.
“I should go,” she blurted, grabbing her purse from her perfectly organized desk. "I'll see you Monday."
She pivoted, heading straight for the main elevator without another word. I watched her go, shaking my head. Had I pushed too soon? Or surprised her?
When my phone buzzed, I had my answer. I strolled into my office, pulling up the message.
Sir, I accept.
Your Pet.
She hadn't signed it ‘M’ like last time. This was so much better.
A slow smile pulled at my mouth.
Oh, I had plans for her.
I settled into my chair, fired off a message to Mistress Vivienne, and sifted through the stack of papers Mira had left on my desk.
Of course she’d organized everything down to the last detail.
Of course she’d made the impossible look simple.
Why did she have to be so damn smart?