The Price of Secrecy

by The Price of Secrecy [Evernight] (mobi)

  “He’s also a flirt, and he sat way too close to me.”

  “Angela, you’re fucking gorgeous. Of course he sat way too close to you. I’m sure every boy since second grade has been sitting way too close to you. Were you intimidated by him?”

  “Not really. Just confused.”

  Lesli looked at her like she’d just said the sky was pea green. “Why? I mean so what if you fuck him? I’ll bet he fools around with his employees all the time. He’s forty-one years old, you never see him photographed twice with the same woman, and when you do his face is always in profile. He’s not married, and he’s straight. That makes him a player. He’ll seduce you, you’ll have a short but very hot affair with him, and then you can tell me all about it in graphic detail because the way I’m going, I’ll be fifty before I get laid again.”

  Angela laughed as they raised their glasses and drank a toast. “Right. Like I have sex so often.”

  “You’ll have plenty of it soon with your hottie new boss. Did he ask you out?”

  Yes. Sort of. If you count lunch as a date. “I’ll be working closely with him for a while. I’m the first person on the new team, and the department head is still doing his old job as well. So for now, Dominic is going to get me started.”

  “Dominic, is it? He has you calling him by his first name already?”

  “They all do that.”

  “So when did you say you start?”

  “Monday.” Angela decided not to tell Lesli she and Dominic were having lunch and then spending the afternoon working together. Besides, nothing was going to happen. It couldn’t. She’d never let anyone get too close, and she certainly couldn’t let Dominic do so. If he dug any deeper than he already had into her family, he might discover the truth. She could never let that happen.

  Angela would never forget the US Marshals coming to their home one Wednesday afternoon. She’d just started her homework and her mother had been on the phone, crying. Angela hadn’t asked why. Her mother cried a lot back in those days, and Angela knew it had to do with the activities her father and two uncles were involved in, but her mother had never volunteered any information. Angela had understood even back then it was for her own protection.

  The Marshals had told them each to pack two bags and that the rest of their things would be shipped once they were settled in their new city. She’d never cried so hard in her life, but not because she was afraid. She hadn’t wanted to leave her school or her friends in Chicago.

  “Where did you go just now?”

  Lesli’s voice snapped her back to the present.

  “Dreaming about him already. You’re toast.”

  She smiled, letting her friend draw the wrong conclusion. No one but Angela’s mother knew about her past. No one, and she had to keep it that way. There were people out there who would kill her if they were found, not to mention it would put her friend in danger as well. She couldn’t let that happen.

  Not even for dark eyes and a face that she could stare at for days and never grow tired of looking at it. Not even for that.

  Chapter Four

  Dominic had done a background check on Angela before he interviewed her, but Sunday night he went over it again, just because. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since leaving her outside his building Wednesday morning. Several times a day he’d picked up his phone, ready to text her or email her, but there was really no legitimate reason to do either.

  She had a pristine and boring past, but that was all right. He didn’t need any further drama in his life. He’d spent a great deal of time and money burying the events of his own past that he never wanted anyone to find, so if someone were to search him online, they’d see nothing but pristine and boring as well.

  And that was exactly what nagged at him now about Angela’s online presence. It was almost too impeccable. Too generic. Then again, some people lived perfectly ordinary lives and weren’t hiding from crime families.

  She’d attended school in San Francisco, raised by a single mother who apparently had not listed her father’s name on her birth certificate. She had a social security number, no arrest records, and had begun a bachelor of science in business with an IT concentration at Golden Gate University. She’d transferred to the same program at CentralWest University at the age of twenty, had earned her undergrad degree, and had then earned a master of science in their information technology management program.

  She lived on Sagebrush Lane in the Desert Springs apartment complex, and had worked at Painted Dragon Internet Café, two blocks from home, for the past six years. Her mother still lived on Palm Tree Way in a modest three bedroom home, and worked downtown as a medical biller and coder in the CentralWest Health Center.

  Marilyn Teresa Davidson’s past was as bland as her daughter’s. Everything was in its place. Why did that bother him so much? Especially now that he’d hired Angela and she was starting in the morning? If he’d had concerns, the time to address them had passed.

  He rose and poured himself another glass of fine Kentucky bourbon. It was hard to come by these days, but with enough money and patience, you could procure anything. Or rather, a team of highly skilled and absolutely insane professionals could procure anything.

  It was still possible to go up to the surface and poke around in places, but you had to be quick to find a shelter when the unpredictable storms rose up, and you had to go up there knowing you might die. That’s why only the chosen few with enough cash had things like Kentucky bourbon and antique artifacts.

  He glanced around his penthouse apartment. Most of the things in it had been salvaged in time before he moved underground, only because he’d done so months ahead of almost everyone else. As soon as The Madeline Project had been compromised, Dominic hadn’t waited for the storms to start. He knew they were all fucked, and he knew the only way to survive until they could take back control of the program or shut it down was to live underground.

  Dominic loved his home as much as he loved running his company, but he led a lonely life despite the work and the material possessions. To allow anyone to get too close meant opening himself up to exposure, and that meant someone could get too close to the truth and his past.

  It had happened once, and only by sheer luck had he outwitted the Trapani family and thrown them so far off course they were now looking for him underneath Eurasia. If he hadn’t changed his hairstyle when he walked away eighteen years earlier, or kept his picture from being shown online for the next ten years, and still made sure he was only seen in profile, they might have found him and his new name.

  He might not get that lucky again. Next time, he might end up dead, and then his entire company would be at risk. His own life was his own life, and he didn’t want to lose it, but that wasn’t the only thing that kept him from doing anything to expose his past. He employed over ten thousand people. They depended on him for security and protection, and he wasn’t going to let even one of them down.

  Not even for all that dark, curly hair and big brown eyes the color of a chocolate bar.

  But oh, how he’d love a taste. Just one.

  Dominic returned to his laptop, drained his glass of bourbon, and laughed softly. Right. As if having her one time would be enough and he could simply stop after that.

  He studied the online information again. No pictures. Not one. No prom picture, no graduation pictures from high school or college, and no family or candid photos posted anywhere that he could find. Not even an online newspaper announcement from her hometown. Odd. Disturbing. Familiar.

  That was the kind of thing you came across when someone in one of the families was trying to hide, or was in witness protection. Granted, there could be a reasonable explanation each time. In her high school yearbook it said “Absent due to illness on picture day” underneath where her photo should be. She also wasn’t the only one without a high school picture in the yearbook. Same thing in college. So that would explain it. Quite a coincidence, but still a plausible reason.

  But it
bugged him now, and he wasn’t a person who let things go when they bothered him. He had always trusted his gut. So the question then became why? If she or her mother were hiding, from whom were they hiding, and for what reason? She was skilled enough to have manufactured a past for herself and her mother, and that could also be the reason he hadn’t found any photos, but again, why? What was she trying to conceal?

  Why was he asking these questions now, instead of two weeks ago when he’d taken one look at that project and emailed her to set up an interview? He was desperate to get this team built, that’s why. She had stood out among the applicants, so he’d gotten sloppy. Sloppy led to mistakes, and mistakes were dangerous, but it was too late now. He’d have to stick close to her and watch her. Not a problem, unless he couldn’t keep his fucking hormones out of the picture.

  ****

  Angela was half an hour early Monday morning because she was so damn excited she simply couldn’t sit in her apartment and wait any longer. She had to wait in the HR lobby for fifteen minutes before someone showed up, and then they didn’t call her back until almost 8:45.

  After she finished the paperwork online and had her access badges, one of the HR assistants took her up to the department where Merrick waved to her from his temporary office. “Trish is already in your new office. I’ll stop by in a bit and make sure you’re all set up.”

  “Thank you.”

  Merrick eyed her new suit as she walked past, and Angela hoped Dominic appreciated the way she looked in it as much as Merrick obviously did. Affordable business clothing was difficult to find, but Lesli had used her employee discount and bought three new suits for Angela. She promised to pay her back as soon as possible, but Angela knew that Lesli wasn’t keeping score. Still, these damn things had been expensive, even with the discount.

  She’d worn the red one today because it was a power color, it was the latest design, and it set off her dark hair and eyes. She’d pinned up her hair but left tendrils hanging near her face and on the back of her neck. That also had been Lesli’s idea. Her jewelry was understated and gold, although none of it was real, but who would know that?

  The shoes were dark, but they matched her purse, so that was acceptable. She looked as chic and professional as any woman she spotted inside the building today, and the result was that she felt confident and ready to tackle her new role.

  Trish Bowling was a chipper person, and Angela liked her immediately. She got Angela set up on the company’s system within minutes, and went over every page of the Intranet with her. She made her sure her email program worked, and had even added key contacts to it for her ahead of time. “I have administrative access to everyone’s systems, as do Merrick and Dominic.”

  “That’s a good idea. Thanks for all your help.”

  “That’s what I’m here for. And since you and Merrick are the department right now, I don’t have much to do yet.”

  “When do you think Dominic will hire more people?”

  “He’s very picky. If rumors are true, and in this building they usually are, he’s already interviewed close to fifty people and has only hired four. One is you, and he’s hired one other woman and two men. The others are moving from another city or have to give notice at their current jobs, so they won’t start for two weeks.”

  “I worked at the Painted Dragon Internet Café. People come and go so quickly there that they didn’t even care I simply quit Wednesday afternoon.”

  Trish gave her a knowing smile. “Dominic hasn’t stopped talking about you since your interview. He said if he could find a dozen just like you, he’d have the dream team in place.”

  A shiver ran down her spine. “I’m flattered.”

  “Well, you must have really impressed him. He isn’t the kind of man who hands out compliments easily. I’ve worked for him in public relations for ten years, and I can count the number of times I’ve seen him this enthusiastic about a new hire.”

  Trish stood. “We don’t have our own storeroom yet, so we’re using the one two floors down. Let me take you there so you can get supplies and set up your desk.”

  About an hour later, Angela was still rearranging everything in her desk drawers when she looked up and saw a smiling Dominic watching her. Was he part cat? “Hi there. I didn’t even hear you come in.”

  “I’m sneaky like that.”

  He looked and smelled incredible. Today’s choice was a charcoal-colored suit and a mint green tie. It should have looked ridiculous, but on him it was perfect. “I’ll have to remember that.”

  “Are you all set up? I ran into Trish, who said you’re eager to begin work.”

  “I am. Thanks.”

  “Let’s go and have some lunch first. We can talk about everything besides work, and then we’ll get started on saving the planet, one name at a time.”

  She smiled and rose, started to walk away from her desk, and then remembered her purse in her desk drawer. “Do you want us to lock our desks when we leave them? Trish said in some departments they do.”

  “That’s up to you. Just make sure your laptop is on the password screen so no one else can access it.”

  They walked past Merrick’s office, and Dominic smiled at her. “You look very pretty today. That suit looks great on you.”

  “Thank you.” She felt heat rise to her face, but that had as much to do with the unexpected compliment as the fact he’d waited to say something within earshot of Merrick. Had he done that on purpose? Judging from the look on Merrick’s face, he had. Was he marking his territory, or was there a history there? Either way, she had no desire to be a pawn in his game.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, hoping if she changed the subject he’d behave like the gentleman she knew was in there.

  “It’s a place right around the corner. Cibo Delizioso.”

  “Delicious Food.”

  He gave her an odd look, and her stomach contracted, but not from hunger. She had grown up speaking both Italian and American English, and she still spoke Italian with her mother so she didn’t lose the language. But she needed to keep that a secret, obviously. “I had an Italian roommate in college.”

  He nodded, but didn’t look convinced. Fuck. If she was going to work this closely with him, she’d need to be careful not to slip up like that.

  The elevator was crowded, and so she was hyper aware of being pushed up against him as they rode down to the lobby. She inhaled his scent, woodsy and expensive, wondering what it would be like to lie next to him naked, that smell mixed with their sweat and the unmistakable aroma of sex. This was already difficult. She was in so much trouble here.

  “Have you been there?” he asked.

  “The restaurant? You’re kidding, right? It’s crazy expensive. No, I haven’t.”

  He smiled down at her, and this close it sent shivers along her spine. She was reluctant to pull away her gaze, but she finally did. When they reached the lobby, he shocked the hell out of her by holding out his arm. “In that case, allow me to introduce you to the fabulous world of my favorite restaurant.”

  She took his arm and tried to ignore the curious looks as they got off elevator and walked through the lobby. He was a charmer and a flirt, but she wasn’t sure she agreed with Lesli’s assessment that he was a player. Just because he’d dated more than one woman didn’t make him a jerk. He was forty-one years old. It would be odd if he hadn’t dated more than one woman. Still, she wasn’t about to discuss his dating life. She couldn’t get involved with him. It was too risky.

  So why are you holding onto his arm like he’s your lover?

  Why indeed? It felt so damn good to walk down the street with him. It had been a long time since she’d gone out on a date, let alone had a meal in such a nice place. He was handsome, easy to be with, and so far he hadn’t given off a creepy vibe. She was going to enjoy this lunch and then she’d take it one day at a time.

  She was only human, and Dominic was the kind of man she’d fantasized about her entire adult life. It would be ve
ry difficult not to fall under his spell.

  Chapter Five

  Angela whistled softly as they walked inside. “Damn. I feel like I should be wearing a ball gown.” Opulence didn’t adequately describe the atmosphere, with its quiet music, dark wood, and elegant fabrics. She felt like she’d stepped back in time to an era when only royalty enjoyed such luxury.

  He winked at her, and the gesture sent tiny contractions to her pussy. “Only if we were here in the evening.”

  A sense of humor was so damn sexy. Why couldn’t he be a boring stick-in-the-mud? That would make it easier to ignore that smoldering dark look, and the way her body tingled when he was near.

  The maître d’ obviously knew Dominic, because he practically ran toward them. “Two for lunch, Mr. Greco?”

  “Yes, and we’d like privacy, please.”

  Is that so? Why?

  They were led to an alcove at the back of the restaurant, partially closed by a heavy burgundy drape. No one else was close to them. Dominic ordered an expensive bottle of wine in perfect Italian, and she didn’t bother opening the menu. She’d puke if she looked at the prices.

  “Will you choose for me?” she asked. “I’m sure I’ll love anything they serve here.”

  He smiled at her. “How do you know that?”

  “The smell.”

  His laugh sent chills down her spine. “I’d be delighted to order for you. Any allergies or dislikes I should know about?”

  She shook her head. “None.”

  When he ordered an appetizer of lightly breaded calamari, and entrees of pasta alla norma and stuffed swordfish rolls, plus salads for each of them, Angela wondered how much work she’d get done this afternoon. She’d be asleep from all this food. After their server left, she asked him if he ate a lunch this lavish every day.

  “No. This is a special occasion.”

  She was about to say something else, but their wine was already there. She’d never seen such quick service. Did he own the place? After he’d tasted it and they each had a glass, Dominic lifted his. “To the start of what I hope is a wonderful relationship.”