by Kym Grosso
“I understand,” she conceded.
“Since you and Lars know how the managed services contracts work, I want you at the board meeting tomorrow. I know it’s short notice but between your expertise at DLar-Tech and Evan’s notes, you should be able to handle it.”
“Certainly. Not a problem.”
“And Selby.” Garrett loosened his tie and turned to address her as she went to exit his office.
“Yes, Mr. Emerson.”
“Tomorrow, after the board meeting…you’ll need to bring a bathing suit.”
“What? I’m sorry?”
“A bathing suit. You own one, right?”
“Yes, but…”
Garrett smiled as Selby attempted to remain professional, but was unable to hide the flicker of shock in her eyes.
“I thought we’d start with aquatics, polymers…things like that. That is unless you prefer our skydiving division. If the weather’s nice we could take the plane and…”
“Aquatics it is,” she answered curtly. Her face went pale and she reached for her neck as if to try to get more air. She braced her palm on the doorjamb.
Garrett immediately recognized her change in disposition at his mention of skydiving. He rushed over to her side. Cupping her cheek, he tipped her chin so her eyes met his.
“Hey, I was just kidding. Take a deep breath, sweetheart.”
“I’m sorry…no, I’m okay.” She coughed. Her fingers reached for Garrett’s forearm, clutching it for balance.
“Selby, you okay?” Lars asked.
Garrett held a hand out to his friend, who seemed intent on comforting Selby. While Lars certainly knew her better than he did, she was his responsibility now. Whatever was going on with her was something he’d need to address.
“Sure she is. Look, you’re breathing’s better already,” Garrett assured her. He inadvertently put a comforting hand on her back and gently rubbed it.
“I’m sorry,” she gasped. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Garrett didn’t resist as she broke away from him, releasing his arm. She thanked him once again before leaving, and he made no attempt to stop her. His eyes went to Lars, whose expression had gone serious, disapproving of how he’d handled the situation. Letting Selby go was something Garrett would have to learn how to do, he knew, but knowing and doing were two different things. He prayed he could get his shit together before his next meeting with Miss Selby Reynolds.
Chapter Five
Selby sat behind her desk and sighed, embarrassed that she’d nearly fallen into a panic attack at the mention of skydiving. Taken off guard by her fervid interaction with Garrett, she’d lost focus. At one time she would have jumped at the chance to work at Emerson Industries; now she regretted letting Lars talk her into helping him. She was well aware that it was the opportunity of a lifetime to learn from the maverick himself, one not bestowed on many professionals. The knowledge she’d gain, even in a few short weeks, would be of immeasurable benefit to her career.
But the sexual tension had been palpable, and setting aside the distraction would prove difficult. Although there’d been a few clients who she’d been attracted to over the years, she’d never given her feelings serious consideration, unwilling to compromise propriety. On past assignments, when she’d been approached for a date, she’d politely turned down the suitor. If he’d pursued her further, she’d resorted to her contract terms, which specifically allowed her to leave for any reason. All business, Selby had been successful in rebuking interest.
Garrett Emerson, however, had ignited her every nerve; her willpower was precariously close to disintegrating. Their fiery interaction had been nearly as satisfying as foreplay, and her thoughts had immediately gone to sex. When he’d shaken her hand, holding onto her just a second longer than what would be considered normal for a casual interaction, her arousal had flared, and she’d struggled to articulate the reason she was even standing in his office.
Selby put her head into her hands, recalling what she’d done to him at the club, the smell of his leather jacket and his erection prodding her bottom fresh in her mind. She closed her eyes and laughed, mortified at both her girlish reaction and the fantasies swirling about in her thoughts.
It was crazy to think he’d ever be with someone like her anyway. She could barely make it up the elevator without losing her shit. Meanwhile, his idea of fun was free time base jumping off a skyscraper in Dubai.
Over the years, she’d followed him in business magazines. Although he was undoubtedly known for his charisma, it was perhaps his Cinderella story that intrigued her more than anything else. Unlike others in whose circles he moved, he hadn’t been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. On the contrary, he’d come from a blue collar background. He’d worked his way through Stanford, where he’d studied business. It was there he’d first experienced the joy of falling thousands of feet from a plane. He turned his hobby into a business, and Emerson Industries exploded into a Fortune 500 company within two years. He’d cornered the niche market on equipment for extreme sports and snared several high profile government contracts.
Wall Street loved him, but behind closed doors, they feared him. Respected for his cunning and innovative strategies, he’d decimated his competition. Men wanted to be him and women simply wanted him. While he reportedly lived a lavish lifestyle, he was well known for his philanthropic ways.
Selby shook her head, realizing how ridiculous she’d been for considering indulging in her fantasy. Once he found out about her panic attacks, the extent of her fears, there was no way he’d be interested in her. What he’d seen in the club was a façade. The real Selby wanted to be that fearless singer. Maybe someday she’d be that person, but today she was only confident in what she did best, working within the confines of cubicles with her nose rooted into a computer screen.
She prayed Garrett would ignore her. She couldn’t afford to slip up, to compromise her reputation for an adolescent crush. After her epic fail at keeping her cool in a fifteen minute meeting, she wondered if she’d survive an entire day in his presence. As she churned it through in her mind, she hoped that he’d pawn her off to one of his executives. If she wasn’t in close proximity to Garrett, she’d have an easier time dousing the flame inside her.
Selby glanced around her newly appointed office, noting that it seemed to fit Garrett’s avant-garde taste. She ran her fingertips over the smooth black Basalt desk surface. Its cool texture sat in stark contrast to the white walls and leather furniture. A tall bamboo plant sat in the corner, its stalks braided upward into a blossom of green leaves.
She looked to the laptop docked in its station, her name labeled on its cover, which told her that Garrett had known of and prepared for her arrival despite any misgivings he held. She opened it, and performed a cursory review of the Emerson policies and procedures. Within thirty minutes, she received a personal message from Garrett, complete with links granting her access to Evan’s projects.
Immersed in the files, Selby lost track of time. From change requests to software upgrades, the existing IT initiative appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary. From what she’d discovered, Evan had laid the groundwork to ensure the successful outcome of outsourcing negotiations between DLar-Tech and Emerson. While the decision to take operations offsite wasn’t always supported by all C level executives, the financials of doing so spoke for themselves.
As she pored through the information, it became evident that her predecessor had also worked on several key product initiatives. She jotted down her thoughts about who she could recruit to fill the position long term. Oversight of information technology and security needs was a given. But finding a resource with knowledge regarding materials related to skydiving and other extreme sports would certainly make her job more difficult.
As she delved further into the data, she saw several references to the PFx Prototype project. Unable to find any specific folders or projects relating to it, she ran a search on all drives, but found nothing. Selby guessed t
hat if she backended the system, she might be able to worm her way into where she suspected the file had been hidden. But she was certain that Garrett wouldn’t be thrilled if she hacked into his files. What she really needed was Evan Tredioux’s laptop, access to all his files, not just the ones Garrett wanted her to see.
Selby rubbed her eyes, deciding how to handle the situation. As part of their contract, Garrett had agreed to give her access to everything she needed to do her job. She considered asking a secretary, but when she looked at her watch, it was already ten o’clock. If she could just take a quick look around Evan’s office, she might be able to get his notebook and continue working.
Garrett’s email had confirmed the morning board meeting where she was expected to discuss her transition and plan for recruitment. Whatever this PFx Prototype was, she wanted details. There was nothing worse than being blindsided by executives, who possibly already doubted the credibility of an interim consultant. And there was no way she was making a fool out of herself in front of Garrett Emerson again.
Selby smoothed down her now wrinkled shirt, straightened her skirt and slipped on her pumps, cursing the damn nylons she’d worn. She wrapped her hand around the cool metal doorknob and set off to find Garrett. She peeked her head into the darkened hallway and the motion activated lights flashed on. Her heels clicked along the dark cherry floors, cutting through the deafening silence. With not a soul in the office, it was eerily quiet, but she hoped she’d catch Garrett working late.
She stopped at a break alcove and took a bottle of water out of the staff refrigerator. As she continued toward his office, she found herself looking over her shoulder. She knew it was silly but she felt as if she was in a B movie, except this was no basement. It was a perfectly safe corporate building, one that was heavily guarded. She glanced up to a small black dome in the ceiling, recognizing it as a security camera. Taking a deep breath, she advanced toward her destination.
His door was closed. She knocked, once, twice, but no one answered. Disappointed, she rubbed her eyes and sighed. Decision time. Garrett hadn’t given her his cell number, so she could either go searching for answers in Evan’s office or attempt to catch Garrett in the morning.
Hacking once again crossed her mind, but she knew doing so would set him off worse than the other two options. It had been her experience that backdooring computer systems always made people uncomfortable. She knew that he knew she could do it, but going full on hack on day one in his company didn’t seem like such a good idea.
As she walked back toward her office, she caught sight of the shiny nameplate outside Evan’s door. Her feet came to a standstill, and her eyes darted to the camera, aware her activities were being watched. It’s not like I’m breaking and entering, she told herself. I’m this man’s replacement after all, at least for the next couple of weeks.
“Fuck it,” Selby grumbled under her breath. “I’m not making an ass out of myself tomorrow because he didn’t give me access to the files. I’ll beg for forgiveness later.”
She didn’t look back as she tried the handle. As it clicked open, she breathed a sigh of relief. She flicked on the lights and shut the door behind her.
Selby slowly put one foot in front of the other, scanning the room. Unlike the décor of the rest of the building, Evan’s office was traditional. Within its mahogany paneled walls, brown leather chairs and a matching desk sat to the rear of the office. Aside from a few magazines, not so much as a pen sat atop its surface. The dock for the laptop was empty.
As she passed a bookshelf, her eyes were drawn to a photograph of Garrett. Selby’s heart thumped in her chest, recognizing the familiar face of the man standing next to him. Her fingers shook as she reached for the frame. She clutched the picture, brushing the dust away from the surface. Patrick. Patrick Moretti. Her head swiveled to the desk, where Evan’s nameplate was, praying she was in the wrong office. Evan was Patrick? No, no, no…it can’t be, she thought to herself in a panic.
A month ago she’d been approached by a handsome stranger in the club. He’d flirted shamelessly, buying her a cocktail after her first set. Intoxicated from the encounter, she’d kissed him and agreed to a date. The next night, he’d taken her to dinner. But as conversation turned to work, he’d expressed an unusual interest in her career and knowledge of information systems. By the end of the evening, she grew uncomfortable when he’d probed her abilities to hack systems. She knew what he was asking for without him saying the words directly. Breaking off contact with him, she hadn’t seen him since that night.
She bit her lip, trying to remember the details of their conversation. Where had he said he worked? What information had he wanted? It occurred to her that he hadn’t given her specifics. As she studied the photo, she noticed Garrett’s arm around him. They were standing at the top of a mountain. Patrick. Evan. Who was he? Had he deliberately approached her, knowing of her capabilities? Had he wanted her to do something illegal with regard to Emerson Industries? It had been clear to her that he’d been asking for her to hack into files. But why would he do that to Garrett? She could tell they were close by the way they were hugging. And now he was dead.
She heard the door creak open and her hands trembled as she attempted to place the frame back onto the shelf.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Garrett’s voice boomed.
The picture slipped from her fingers and tumbled onto the ground, its glass shattering all over the floor.
Chapter Six
Garrett had been in the gym lifting when his phone alerted him to her presence. Aside from security cameras that were installed in every square inch of his facilities, he utilized sensors which notified him if anyone entered his office. At first, the image of Selby had brought a smile to his face. He’d watched with great interest as she knocked on his door, but when he saw her travel down the hallway and then enter Evan’s office, he threw down his towel, taking off in search of her. What the hell is she doing?
As splinters of the frame crashed all over the hardwood, he took a deep breath, attempting to rein in his anger.
“Don’t move,” he ordered.
“I…I was just looking for,” she stammered and bent over to pick up a shard of glass. “I’m so sorry. It’s just that I…I needed information and you weren’t…”
“I sent you the files,” Garrett began. As he approached, he felt a crunch under his heel.
“I’ll clean this up.” Her eyes went wide.
“Don’t. Just leave it.”
“No, it will only take a second,” Selby insisted. Crouched over, she carefully placed a jagged remnant into her palm.
“Selby, just stop.”
As she lifted her eyes to meet his, his anger turned to sympathy. Instinct drove him as much as facts. Soon enough, he’d question her, and she’d either be fired or still working for him. His eyes flickered to the soft cleavage peeking through her blouse, and he struggled to stay on task. Unsure of whether she’d detected his momentary lapse of focus, he forced an impassive mask across his face.
“I’m sorry. It’s just…the meeting tomorrow…I was…” She reached down, shifting her focus from his eyes to the floor and back again. Her lips trembled as her hand touched the picture frame.
“Just leave it.”
“I’ll clean it up.” A small smudge of blood stained the dark wood.
“Do. Not. Move,” Garrett commanded, taking sight of what she’d done to her hand. Surprised she hadn’t flinched, he surmised the slice of the glass hadn’t registered. He’d cut himself enough times to know that the pain didn’t always set in until you saw the injury.
“But I…oh my God,” Selby said as she realized what she’d done. The broken fragment fell to the ground as she gripped her wrist.
Without asking, Garrett scooped Selby up into his arms, and kicked open the door. He tried not to allow her citrus-scented hair to distract him as he made his way to his office. It was difficult to tame the twitch of his dick as her soft body bru
shed against his. He knew it was off limits to go there. Not only were they in the office, she was injured. Get it the fuck together, he thought.
Garrett eyed his bathroom. Squeezing through the entrance, he gently placed her on the counter, taking note of the small pieces of glass that sparkled from her shoes and stockings. Without giving a thought to what to do next, he stripped off his t-shirt and knelt down, his eyes meeting hers. Although she wasn’t crying, he could see the tears readying to fall.
“You’re going to be all right, sweetheart. Just give me your hand.”
“I’ll be fine. Please, no.”
“We need to get it under some water, stop the bleeding. We have to make sure we get all the glass out.” She extended her hand to him, and licked her lips, tensing as if expecting more pain. He took a quick look at the cut. He tested the water temperature before running both their hands under the stream. “This might sting a little.”
“Ow. Dammit, I can’t believe I just did that.” She attempted to tear her hand away, but he held her firm.
“You’re not going anywhere, now. I warned you it was going to sting.” He raised an eyebrow at her until she stopped moving. Hearing her speak frankly was surprising but refreshing. Cursing could make even the worst agony seem tolerable. He’d known there was fire underneath the woman who’d negotiated the contract in his office.
“I’m sorry.” She gave a small laugh, a rosy hue flushing her cheeks.
“Almost done. Now listen, Miss Reynolds. You don’t seem to take directions very well so far, so I’m going to remind you that while you’re here, I’m the boss. That means, when I talk, you listen.”
“But…” she began.
“No talking. This is my company, my office.” He shushed firmly. “This is serious. The things we do here, which I’ll get to in a moment, are sometimes dangerous. Confidential. Deadly, even, if they get into the wrong hands.”
