by Ana Ban
Donovan was lounging in one of the chairs of the living room when I emerged, reading a file in his hand. He gave me a once over followed by a slow, sexy smile.
“We’ll be doing a business lunch today,” Donovan told me, standing to take my hand. “But I’d like to take you out for dinner tonight.”
“That sounds fun,” I told him with a smile. And, very romantic. In this setting, I would have to keep myself in constant check. “What will we be doing this afternoon?”
“I’ll be catching up with our office in the states,” he told me, leading me back to the lobby. “You have a surprise.”
Giving him a sidelong glance, I didn’t speak again as the same car pulled up, slipping into the back and waiting for Donovan to slide in beside me.
He took my hand, resting it lightly on his thigh but remaining silent. Since I didn’t know who this driver was, I thought it best to leave conversation to a minimum.
Our first stop was a towering building in the heart of the theater district.
Donovan led me inside, checking in at the front desk before making our way to a bank of elevators.
“We’re meeting with Michael Powers III,” Donovan told me quietly. “He took over the family shipping business at the ripe age of 19, and has since exploded it into a multi-billion-dollar company. And that’s only what’s on the books. He also has a very lucrative side business, which is where we come in.”
I’d heard of Michael Powers, as had anyone breathing in the world over the last decade. He was constantly in the news, whether it was Forbes or the tabloids. The billionaire prodigy was also a playboy, his preference of scantily clad supermodels common knowledge.
When one runs a successful company as Michael did, the question becomes, why would he delve into the dark underbelly of crime? What possible gain could he achieve?
Remaining silent, I kept my eyes open and my hands loose. Though Donovan had assured me I wouldn’t need a weapon on our travels today, it was reassuring to feel them at my hips.
At the top floor, the elevator doors opened to reveal a long desk. A prim looking woman greeted us with a tight smile.
“Mr. Power’s will be available in a few minutes,” she told us before turning back to her monitor.
Donovan led me to the side, though we didn’t sit in one of the ornate leather chairs. It was less than a minute before the door to the office opened, and Michael appeared.
“Donovan!” He called out, gripping Donovan’s hand and slapping him heartily over the shoulder with his other hand. Turning to me, he gave me a once over before a grin lit his face. “Is this the elusive Selena?”
“Selena, Michael Powers III,” Donovan smoothly introduced us.
I held out my hand to shake, but he scooped it into a kiss. “A pleasure. Please, come inside. Would either of you like something to drink? Marcia, bring in coffee, would you?”
Following the men back into the office, I let out a breath at the unnecessary splendor. This was less an office and more of an apartment. A full kitchen lined one wall, with an impressively sized dining table situated beside it. A gathering area that could easily sit 20 people was filled with round leather couches. An ornate desk offered views out of the floor to ceiling windows.
The artwork on the walls were originals, but they paled in comparison to the larger-than-life sculpture of a fully nude man and woman intertwined that sat between the desk and the wall.
Swallowing once, I turned my attention to the man who lounged easily on one of the sofas. Donovan followed suit, sitting comfortably across from him. I stood to Donovan’s back, keeping my disguise in place. Though he seemed friendly and easy going, I trusted Michael as far as I could throw him.
He raised a brow at my decision to hover behind Donovan, but said nothing. Marcia arrived then with a carafe of coffee and a tray of milk and sugar before silently leaving the room. Pouring a cup for each of us, Michael leaned back, studying Donovan’s face.
“So, my friend, what is it that you want from me?”
Chapter 11
Selena
6 years ago
The renovation for the building was near complete. Though I didn’t spend every night watching the progress, I began to find myself craving Donovan’s company. When I first watched him in the ring, he was so intense and focused. Though his eyes never strayed from his target, it was plain to see he missed nothing. His physical prowess still left me breathless.
Those skills transitioned so smoothly into business that, even though I’d hand picked him, it still amazed me. He was intelligent and ruthless, yet had an easy way with people that I was severely lacking. He was the details man to my overall vision. Our partnership was a good match.
The moment he’d caught me as I was about to fall, something substantial and irreversible passed between us. I’d been longing to explore what, exactly, it was. No one had ever made me feel the way Donovan did. It was terrifying for someone in my position. Everything I’d built had been on my own, without trusting anyone to know the real me.
But, there was no denying the strength in our partnership, and after several months of observing Donovan, I knew, without a doubt, that I could trust him with my deepest, darkest secrets. I could trust him with my body, with my life. I could trust him with my very soul.
As his penthouse was completed, I wandered the main room, running a finger across the specially made furniture that could double as protection in the case of an attack. I knew where each secret compartment lay, the strengths and few weaknesses of the whole design.
Donovan was speaking quietly with the contractor, dismissing him before turning to me.
“What do you think?” He asked.
“The building is exactly how I envisioned it,” I commended him.
“We make a good team,” he commented, approaching me to lean against the back of the couch, arms crossed.
“Yes,” I murmured. “It seems we do.”
“Selena,” Donovan spoke my name softly, and I felt butterflies wing across my stomach.
Glancing up into his eyes, I realized he had moved closer to me. Our lips were just a hairsbreadth apart. All it would take to touch them would be for me to lift onto my toes.
I didn’t have to. His mouth came down on mine with an unstoppable urgency. One of his hands snaked into my hair, holding me still for his assault while the other pressed against my lower back.
Something wild unleashed itself inside me at his contact. I wanted him, every single piece of him. In a quick move, I pushed him over the couch. He landed with a surprised huff, blinking up at me. My body raging at me to take what was mine, I leapt over the back of the furniture and wrapped his hands in mine, holding him in place. He allowed me control, entrusting in me as I was in him. Straddling his hips, I pulled off his shirt and then my own before fusing our mouths back together.
Until this moment, I’d given up ever having someone for myself. I was content with the life I’d built, and took my pleasure in my success instead of flesh. Now, I took, and the more I took, the more he gave. Clothes fell to the floor, and as I lowered myself onto him, I looked deep into his eyes.
“You’re mine now,” I told him, waiting for acknowledgement of the statement to flicker in his eyes. Then, without reservation or hesitation, I took all of him, and gave him myself in return.
Chapter 12
Mia
Present Day
Michael Powers was as astute as the media gave him credit for, if not more so. Though he sent me flirty smiles, when it came down to business, his attention was immediately riveted on Donovan.
“I’m just doing a friendly checkup, Michael,” Donovan replied.
Michael leaned back, crossing one foot over a knee. “It’s never so simple with you.”
Donovan gave him a grin. “Perhaps not. We’re expanding, and I wanted to deliver the news in person.”
This gave me a start. He hadn’t discussed expansion plans with me. It made me wonder why he would wait to announce it in fr
ont of a client.
Remaining still, I watched both men for reactions.
“Expanding in what way?”
“Four new routes between Europe, Asia and America. We wanted to give our top clients first grabs.”
“I see,” Michael pondered this new information, then glanced to me. “Selena, what do you have to add?”
“Oh, I’m not the brains behind this operation,” I answered flippantly.
The corners of Michael’s eyes creased. “Then why, may I ask, are you here?”
Looking him dead in the eye, I responded, “I’m the muscle.”
He let out a whooping laugh, directing his next comment to Donovan. “You weren’t kidding about her.”
“I don’t often jest,” Donovan deadpanned.
My mind scrambled for something to add, to give credence to my presence here. When I spoke again, Michael’s attention swung back to me.
“Opening new lines will alleviate some of the pressure the recent changes in shipping laws have created.”
Michael looked between us once again. “Are you ever going to tell me how, exactly, you get around inspections?”
“No,” Donovan allowed himself a small grin. “Sorry, trade secret.”
“Not even as a professional courtesy?”
“We wouldn’t continue to be good at what we do if we gave away all our tricks, now, would we?” Donovan retorted.
“Touché,” Michael rubbed his chin between two fingers and a thumb, a twinkle lighting his eye. “Count me in.”
Donovan nodded, stood and held out his hand. Michael shook it, then looked to me. Not wanting to give him another opportunity to kiss my hand, I shot him a finger gun and clicked my tongue, an action which earned me a chuckle.
“Always good to see you, friends,” Michael said as he escorted us out the door.
Following Donovan out of the building and into the waiting town car, I remained silent until he spoke first.
“You did well,” Donovan complimented me.
“You didn’t mention the expansion before,” I gazed up at him quizzically as the car pulled away on some unspoken command.
He understood the question I merely alluded to. “It’s something we were working on… before. I apologize for not giving you a head’s up.”
Nodding, I stared down at my gloved hands, twisting my fingers together on my lap. There were too many things running around in my mind to make polite conversation.
“We have one more meeting this morning before lunch.”
“Who is it with?” I asked.
“Olivia Munich.”
Another well-known name. It made me wonder just how many famously rich people were involved in schemes like this.
“Olivia made her wealth with no help from her family. At 15, she went from living on the streets to scrubbing dishes in a restaurant that was in the same building as Anderson Financial. She was young and quiet, so no one noticed her, and she used the knowledge gained in overheard lunch conversations to secure herself an internship at the company. The partners were so impressed by her that they hired her on full time, even without a degree. From there, she rose straight to the top, eventually taking over Anderson.”
Donovan’s whispered words played havoc with my senses.
“And where do we come in?”
“We began by investing with her, and as our relationship grew, we discovered other opportunities to work together. Finances are her calling, but archeology is her passion. Between interning and taking over the company, Olivia earned a double major in both. In her downtime, she can be found on digs most anywhere in the world.”
“And not all her finds end up in museums?”
“Correct,” Donovan acknowledged.
We rode the rest of the way in silence as I prepared to meet the highly intimidating Olivia Munich.
Olivia Munich was in her early 50’s, though had I not known that from the tabloids, I never would have guessed. Her face was wrinkle free, her eyes sharp and intense. Her blonde hair was in a perfectly coiffed bun, her pantsuit unwrinkled. When we were shown into her office, she assessed both Donovan and me quickly.
“This is Selena,” she spoke in quick, clipped tones. “I was wondering when I would meet you. Sit down. Would you like tea, coffee?”
“No, thank you Olivia,” Donovan did as she asked and sat before her desk.
Her office was less lavish than Michael’s had been, but still spoke of wealth. It was modern with clean lines and no clutter, save the few artifacts on display. Everything in the office had a purpose, and that purpose was running a multi-billion-dollar company.
Taking up my usual place behind Donovan, I watched Olivia carefully. She was not a woman to tamper with, or to underestimate. I hoped my demeanor gave off the same impressions.
She rose a thin eyebrow at my decision to stand, but said nothing. Instead, she turned her attention to Donovan.
“I assume all is well?”
Donovan nodded. “Of course. We have, however, decided to expand, and wanted to fill you in, in person.”
Olivia crossed a leg over her knee and leaned slightly forward. I knew enough of body language to read her interest. “What type of expansion?”
“Four new routes between the America’s, Europe and Asia. Specifically, one out of Egypt.”
“Aren’t you accommodating,” Olivia gave Donovan a small smile. “I’ll have a shipment ready in one week, will you be prepared by then?”
“Absolutely,” Donovan acknowledged her. “I’ll have my man in Egypt contact yours for the details.”
“Lovely. Were you here for finances today also?”
“We were. I’d like Selena to look over our portfolio.”
With a swift turn, Olivia pulled open one of the few drawers in her office and presented a file, leaving it open on the desk. Donovan stood, offering me his chair, though there was an open one beside him. It was an action to put me at ease, to let me know he had my back.
As we switched spots, I lightly squeezed his arm in gratitude, an action hidden from the woman waiting patiently across from us.
Sitting, I pulled the file closer to me, and controlled my reaction when I saw the numbers on the page. I had survived an impoverished childhood, and had always been comfortable on a police officer’s salary, so it was difficult to wrap my head around just how many commas I was seeing. Behind my dark glasses, my eyes grew wide at the nearly unfathomable numbers.
Chapter 13
Selena
5 years ago
Donovan and I were in our shared office, going over numbers from our first year of business. Though we still had a hand in the fights, most of our attention was now on our shipping business.
We currently owned six vessels, and I hoped to double that by the end of the second year. Four we used for legitimate business, the other two were for our black-market friends.
“We were approached by a group in Mexico,” Donovan was saying.
Immediately I shook my head. “Love the food, as I’m sure I would love the beaches, but anyone looking to work with us from Mexico is going to inevitably be connected to the cartels.”
“It would be a very lucrative…”
“No,” I interrupted his train of thought instantly.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. The action distracted me momentarily. Though we’d been sleeping together for a year, and partners longer than that, my mouth still went dry whenever I looked at Donovan. Especially now, when his fingers left his hair disheveled.
“I know, I know we agreed to that. It’s just, we’re short on cash flow right now, and it would boost us over…”
“Cash flow is a momentary problem. Anyone who gets involved in weapons or drugs can never truly get out. They live in constant fear. I won’t do that to us.”
On this point I was firm. While we had the connections to acquire firearms when necessary, getting involved in that business would be the worst decision we could make, personally and professionally.
“You’re right, of course. Forgive me.”
Waving a hand, I dismissed the matter. “You look at the numbers, the details. I look at the overall. That’s why we work.”
Clicking through sites on my computer, I paused as an article caught my eye. “The building on Lexington is going up for sale.”
Donovan’s interest was piqued. He moved easily around the desks to stand behind me, leaning forward to read the same information as I was. His fingers found the back of my neck, rubbing in small circles subconsciously. As I felt the tension release, I turned to him excitedly.
“That’s the perfect spot. We must have it.”
He nodded. “Leave it to me.”
Chapter 14
Mia
Present Day
“This is just an overview,” Olivia explained through the slight ringing in my ears.
Though I felt Donovan’s presence at my back, I was glad he’d kept his distance, so he couldn’t feel the tension running through me.
“This is all from investing?” I asked, forcing my voice to come out strong.
“Correct,” Olivia answered. “I’m very good at what I do.”
Glancing up at her half smile, I appreciated that she wasn’t boasting, just simply stating a fact. Staring back down at the page, I forced myself to ignore the numbers and look at the investments. Everything I was learning here today would benefit the case I was building.
“I see here we’re heavy on a company called NoCorp. Why is that?”
Donovan answered for Olivia. “That’s a company called Nautical Origins. They build our ships.”
Blinking up at Donovan for a moment, I nodded before continuing. Flipping through the subsequent pages, I continued to peruse the information while Olivia and Donovan watched me in silence. Finally, I looked up, a few thoughts occurring to me.
There was quite a bit of money in an airline that had recently gotten bad press and subsequently dropped their prices. There was another small company, called MBJ Tech, a name that I recognized because of my partner, Alec. His mother had suffered from an extreme degenerative bone disease, and had finally traveled to Europe in search of a cure. She underwent a groundbreaking procedure, being injected with tissue that actually rebuilt the brittle parts of her skeleton.
