Maybe he’s covering his ass?
That seems logical, in a sick and twisted kind of way. For some unknown reason, Kent wants the IPO to fail, but if the client list goes public, he has to make sure that the leak can’t be traced back to him.
I’m the scapegoat.
There’s a sick feeling in my stomach. I have to go to Oliver and Finn, and I have to tell them what I know.
And then I’ll never see them again.
There’s more, Merlin types. User0989 sent Lancelot and me a message earlier today. He offered us a job. Hack into Imperium. We turned him down, but Mouse, if he’s getting desperate, he’ll up the offer until he finds a taker.
I was afraid this might happen. What should I do?
You can’t quit your job just yet, Mouse.
They’re right. But the longer I go without telling Oliver and Finn the truth, the more betrayed they’re going to feel when they learn everything.
33
Oliver
The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
Sun Tzu
The next morning, Gabriella Alves shows up unannounced at Imperium. Janine puts her in a conference room and knocks on my door. “Do you want to see her?”
“Yes.” It’s a quarter to nine, and Miki’s not in yet. My eyes feel like sandpaper, and I’ve downed my usual three cups of coffee, but the caffeine hasn’t yet kicked in. Refilling my mug yet again, I make my way down the corridor.
Gabriella gets to her feet when she sees me. “I wanted to apologize for my attitude yesterday,” she says without preamble. “My boss hadn’t told me who I was meeting, and when I came in and saw you—” She grimaces wryly. “I jumped to conclusions.”
I sit across from her. “You wanted to protect your friend.”
She nods. “Miki’s marriage just ended. She’s in a fragile place.”
Last night, Miki had been intrigued by the idea of being tied. She’d wriggled in our laps as we spanked her. Her eyes had turned hazy with lust when we’d fingered her ass. After her ex-husband cheated on her, she’s cautious with her heart. But she’s certainly not fragile.
“She’s stronger than you give her credit for.”
Miki matters to me. Last night, Finn and I had told her who User0989 really was, because we realize we need to show her we trust her.
Of course, right after that, we’d lied to her again, and told her User0989 had asked us to hack into Imperium, when he’d done no such thing.
We shouldn’t have done that. But like Finn, I’m not ready to lose Miki.
34
Miki
I didn’t see Leah on Sunday. She’d had a migraine and had canceled at the last minute, leaving my mother and me to eat our traditional Sunday tea in silence. Tuesday morning, before I leave for work, I call her.
She sounds surprised to hear from me. “It’s before nine,” she teases. “I didn’t think you’d be awake.”
“I have a job.” My cheeks heat. A job for which I’m running horribly late. Hopefully, Finn and Oliver know I’ll make up the time because I don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage of them. “I’m forced to get up before noon. Listen, I wanted to chat with you about Saturday.”
“What about it?”
I take a deep breath. “I watched Ben and you at dinner,” I tell her, unsure how my sister’s going to react to my interference. “I saw two people that care about each other, but that aren’t talking to each other. When was the last time the two of you had fun together, Leah?”
“I can’t remember,” she says flatly. “I’m doing everything I can to be a good wife, okay? I host dinner parties. I cook beautiful meals. I keep the house decorated. I make sparkling conversation with mind-numbing bores like Jon Sherman.”
“Sweetie,” I say gently. “You seem trapped. Ben seems trapped. Have you two considered counseling?”
“I can’t,” she says at once. “Ben works really hard. I don’t want him to think I’m unhappy.”
“You might not have another choice.” I sit on the edge of the bed and stare into Wendy’s closet, stuffed to the brim with her clothing from her old job. “I tried to hack into Ben’s data, but it’s really well-protected. I’m not going to be able to access it.” I cross my fingers and hope I’m right about what I’m going to say next. “Ben doesn’t look happy, and neither do you, but I don’t think he’s cheating on you, sweetie. Talk to him.”
“I’m terrified,” she whispers. “I’m crazy about Ben. I don’t think I’m ready to face a world in which he’s fallen out of love with me.”
I went through a lot of emotions after Aaron cheated. I felt like a fool. I was angry, hurt, and betrayed. But I hadn’t shattered. My pride had been damaged, but my heart had survived, intact. I’d never felt the anguish I hear in my sister’s voice.
“I’m here for you,” I promise her. “You won’t be alone. But Leah, you can’t stay in limbo forever. Talk to him. Learn the truth.”
I hang up, hoping desperately that Ben isn’t sleeping around. I really want Leah to bypass the curse of the Cooper women.
Janine’s got a big stack of printouts in her hands as I hurry in. “Killing a forest?” I joke as we cross paths in the hallway.
She rolls her eyes. “Lawrence’s computer isn’t working again. I don’t know why his assistant couldn’t have printed this for him. As if I don’t have enough to do.”
I give her a sympathetic smile and get to Oliver’s office. Oliver and Finn are already there, and the clock on the wall tells me it’s a quarter to ten. Ouch. “I’m sorry I’m late,” I say, my cheeks flaming. They’re going to think I’m taking advantage of the fact that I’m sleeping with them. “I’ll work late tonight to make up.”
“I know,” Finn replies calmly. “I have no doubts on your work ethic, Miki. I trust you.”
A pang goes through me. You shouldn’t, I want to scream. I was hired to ruin your business.
Oliver doesn’t seem concerned with my lateness either. “I’m in and out of meetings all day, and I don’t think I’m going to get a chance to ask you. Are you doing anything tonight?”
I shake my head. “Not particularly.” Trying to sort out why Lawrence Kent wants Imperium to fail. Trying to figure out a way out of this situation along with Lancelot and Merlin. “I was planning to catch up on sleep.”
He opens a drawer with an oddly hesitant look on his face. Taking a key out, he holds it toward me. “Want to come over and finish watching the rest of this season of Sense 8?” he asks. “I think I should be back home at seven, but if I’m not, you can let yourself in.”
I stare at the key he’s holding. “Is that—?”
“A key to my apartment?” He holds my gaze in his. “Yes.”
“You’re giving me a key to your place.” My voice is thin and high with shock at Oliver’s gesture of trust, one I’m profoundly unworthy of. “What if I go through your cupboards?”
His lips curl up in a grin. “I’m not worried, Miki.” He deposits the small brass key in my palm, and closes my fingers around it, brushing a kiss on my lips. “I’ll see you tonight?”
Oh God. I can’t keep up this subterfuge. I have to tell them the truth. I force myself to smile. “Maybe,” I reply airily. “Maybe I’ll be in your bed when you get back home, naked.”
Finn’s lips curl into a wicked grin. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and glances at it. “Why wait until tonight?” he asks. “I have twenty minutes to my first meeting. Oliver?”
“Fifteen, but it’s with Kent. I can be late.” He shuts his office door and locks it. He crooks two fingers at me, patting his desk. “Come on, Miki. We don’t have a lot of time.”
“Janine could hear us,” I start saying, my stomach churning with a mixture of nerves, excitement, and butterflies.
“Janine isn’t around,” Finn replies at once. “She had to drop off something at Kent’s office, and after that, she’s heading to the bakery downstairs to pick up bagels and coffee for m
y huddle with the Block team.”
“Miki?” Oliver raises an eyebrow. “If you prefer not to fool around at the office, we’ll respect that, of course.” He’s wearing a navy blue jacket. He removes it and drapes it over the back of a chair, and then unbuttons his cuffs and folds his shirt sleeves. My mouth goes dry at the sight of his strong forearms and his big hands.
“The door’s locked?”
“Of course,” Finn replies.
Every moment I spend with Finn and Oliver, it feels like there’s a giant timer over my head, counting down the minutes. Soon, I’m going to run out of time. I can’t keep the truth from them forever, and the knowledge of that fact makes me greedy for everything. “Should I take off my clothes?”
I’m wearing a short, pleated red skirt and a white shirt. I don’t normally get this dressed up for work, but I admit it, I wanted to look nice for Oliver and Finn.
“Nope,” Oliver replies. “Just take off your panties and hop on the desk.” His lips tilt up in a smile. “And spread your legs, baby.”
My heartbeat speeds up, and my breathing quickens with anticipation. I slide my panties down my hips and sit on the desk. “Tonight,” Finn murmurs, stalking toward me, “we’re going to take you at the same time. One cock in your pussy, one cock in your ass. Would you like that?”
His fingers brush at the pulse in my neck. “Yes,” I whisper. “I would.”
His hands skim over my breasts. He presses them together and squeezes, hard. I gasp and arch my back, thrusting them forward.
Chuckling at my reaction, Finn squeezes again. His thumbs brush over my nipples, and they engorge, pebbling under my shirt. “You like that, don’t you, Miki?”
Oliver places his palms on my knees and spreads my legs apart. “You know what I want to do, Miki?” he growls. “I want to bend you over my desk and plunge my dick in your hot little pussy.”
A shiver runs through me. “What’s stopping you?” I stare into his eyes, emboldened by the raw, naked heat in his expression.
He grimaces. “Unfortunately, the clock is not my friend. Of course,” he sits down on his chair, wheeling it close to me, “While we might not have time for sex, I do have time to make you scream with pleasure.”
Finn’s lips brush over mine, then he trails a path of small kisses to my throat. Oliver runs a finger between my folds, and he thrusts two fingers into my pussy. “Wet already,” he says, grinning widely. “You’re very good for our ego, Miki.”
I groan and part my legs wider, trying to push my hips into Oliver’s hand. Finn notices. “No, no,” he chides. “Slow down.”
“I thought I’d help speed things up,” I gasp. “You two have a meeting, after all.”
Oliver laughs. He bends his head toward me, breathing on my pussy. Goosebumps rise on my skin. His tongue licks at my slit, and he sucks my clitoris between his lips.
I almost jump off the desk as intense pleasure courses through me.
Finn’s arms wrap around my shoulders. “Don’t you wriggle away, Miki,” he warns. He nibbles at my earlobe, and I whimper again as heat flares through me.
Oliver resumes licking me, his strokes long and steady. I forget everything—User0989, the IPO, Finn and Oliver’s meetings, the fact that I’m in their office—in my delirious haze. His fingers piston in and out of my wet pussy; his tongue circles my throbbing clitoris. I tremble uncontrollably as my insides clench.
I’m so close. Every muscle in my body tightens. Then Finn squeezes my nipples between his fingers and Oliver sucks my clit gently between his teeth. The dam bursts and I explode, stifling my moans with difficulty.
Oliver pulls away once my shudders die down, a satisfied look on his face. “That’s just an appetizer,” he says. “I’m looking forward to the main course tonight.”
As am I.
Finn takes me out to lunch. “Mary yelled at me because we hadn’t properly welcomed you to Imperium,” he grins. “Welcome.”
I laugh. “Thank you,” I say. “I’m surprised that you’re stepping away from the office during the day. What about work?”
“It’ll keep. I’m enjoying my meal.” His smile turns warm. “And the company is excellent.”
I stare at the man, a warm tingle coursing through my body. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
His grin widens. “I believe that ‘thank you’ is the socially accepted response.”
We talk about work briefly, but we soon switch topics and talk about books we like and TV shows we watch. Our conversation feels easy and effortless, and I’m reminded of the many late-night chats that I’ve had with Lancelot and Merlin.
We get back to the office, and Finn leaves for another meeting. I’ve just sat at my desk when my phone buzzes. It’s User0989. Rather, I should refer to him by his real name. Lawrence Kent.
Well? What progress have you made?
My blood boils. Because of this guy, I’m going to have to quit the best job I’ve ever had. Because of this guy, I’m going to have to break things off with Finn and Oliver. I’m so furious that my fingers tremble as I type out a reply. None. I warned you this wasn’t going to be easy. Their network is impossible to penetrate.
Maybe you’re not trying hard enough.
He’s right. I’m not trying at all. Kent hadn’t been at happy hour on Friday night, but I’ve no doubt that word has gotten around that I barreled out of there, chasing Oliver down. The CFO is probably wondering where my loyalties lie.
According to Lancelot and Merlin, he’s already sniffing around on the forums, trying to hire someone else. I can’t let him do that.
An evil thought strikes me. Don’t worry; I have an idea. I don’t need to crack their network to get what you need. One of the executives keeps his passwords on a post-it note on his monitor. I’ll just get the client list that way.
There’s no reply for almost a minute. My grin widens.
If the client list is leaked, Kent knows that Finn will investigate. When he discovers that Lawrence Kent’s account was used to download the confidential information, the CFO will automatically come under suspicion.
Kent doesn’t want that. Why else would he hire me to hack into a network he already has access to?
Finally, Kent/User0989 answers. I’ll give you two more weeks. Keep me posted.
I take a deep breath. I’m willing to bet that the next time I visit Kent’s office, that post-it note will be gone.
I’ve bought myself a little more time. Now, I just need to figure out what to do.
35
Miki
Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.
Omar Khayyam
I get to Oliver’s place at six-thirty. At work earlier, I was only teasing him when I promised to be naked in his bed, but now that I’m here, I’m going to do exactly that.
I definitely need to tell them the truth, and I will. Soon. I have to build up my courage to have that conversation with them. Tonight is just about pleasure. I’ve been promised a cock in my pussy and a cock in my ass. I’m warring between anticipation and nervousness, but my pussy has no doubt. It throbs with restless need.
I duck into Oliver’s bathroom and take a quick shower, resisting the urge to linger. Once I towel myself dry, I make my way to his king size bed and position myself in the middle of it. Totally, utterly naked.
I don’t wait too long before I hear the front door open. Oliver and Finn must see my coat because they come looking for me. When they enter the bedroom, they both come to a halt.
Oliver grins. “I got to say, Miki. This feels like Christmas.”
Finn gives me a half-smile as he takes off his coat and deposits it on the chair in the corner. His gaze is on me, and I can feel the weight of his assessing stare like a touch.
Heat rises in me.
The carpet on the floor muffles the sound of their footsteps as they move toward the bed. Finn reaches me first. His fingers stroke my cheeks, and he tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. His touch is light, bu
t his quiet scrutiny sends my arousal sky-high.
“This might be better than Christmas.”
“No shopping for presents,” I agree. My voice is oddly breathless, as if I’ve run a race. My nipples are just inches from his fingertips now, and my insides tighten with anticipation. Sex with them is better than anything I’ve ever experienced, and tonight, I get both of them at the same time. I’ve never thought of myself a greedy person, but my desire for them is insatiable.
Goosebumps rise on my skin as he bends his head toward my chest and captures a nipple between his teeth. I whimper and throw my head back on the bed as his mouth closes over my bud. He licks and nibbles each nipple, and I groan and writhe on the bed.
Oliver joins us. “Are you ready for both our cocks, Miki?” he asks, his breath caressing my ear.
“Yes,” I sob out. Finn’s mouth on my nipples is making me feverish for more.
“That’s the right answer.” His lips meet mine, and he sucks my lower lip between his teeth. Sharp lust rises in me; sharp, jagged lust. I moan again, this time into Oliver’s mouth.
Finn shifts his position so he’s lying on one side of me, propped up on an elbow. His hand slides down my abdomen with excruciating slowness toward the cleft between my legs. His fingers tease me, but he refuses to touch my clitoris, refuses to quench the fire that burns in me. “I want to feel your muscles clench when I thrust inside you, baby,” he says. “I want to hear you moan as you come, and I want you to scream our names.”
“Yes.” The words come out in a rush. “Please don’t tease me, please fuck me hard.”
“I will,” he promises. His voice fills with amusement. “But first…”
“Hang on,” Oliver interrupts. He’s holding a dark blue scarf in his hand. “Ever thought about being blindfolded?”
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