Acquisition, page 4
What did you expect?
I’d expected some pushback, but not full-on defiance.
I watched her climb in a black car on Thursday night instead of staying home and packing. She looked like she was headed out for a night on the town, and it set my blood simmering.
It also made me respect her because she wasn't laying down and taking it.
That's not what you need. In this instance, you need compliance.
It was certainly going to be a hell of a lot easier if she just complied. But since it looked like she wasn't feeling up to that, we were going to do things the hard way.
That twat Christopher had called today to tell me that Daphne was, in fact, not available until Monday at the earliest. And sure enough, he caved and offered me the other project manager. Not that I gave a shit about that bloke.
I’d insisted on Daphne. But if I wanted Daphne, that meant I was going to have to wait.
I didn't do well with waiting. And the sooner I could get her off the chessboard, the better. Which meant we were going to have to go to plan B.
I watched from the shadows as Daphne skipped out the front door of her flat wearing some kind of fluttering red skirt that should be illegal. It was a little shorter than mid-thigh, and the wind tickled the edges, threatening to lift it up and show everyone what she was hiding under there.
The low heat in my gut was unwelcome at best. I did not have time for that shit. Some orbital force pulled me toward her upturned chin and her dark-as-sin eyes that saw clear to my soul. She looked good enough to eat with her brown skin seemingly luminescent. She’d styled her hair, sleek straight and piled up on top of her head. The night I’d met her, she’d had it more wavy and flowing down around her shoulders.
I had a plan. I needed to see it through. Getting caught up in her and that gorgeous smile wasn't part of the package.
As soon as the car pulled away from the curb, she lowered the window, and I could hear her giving instructions to the driver. The driver did a double take when he took her in, and he gave her a broad smile.
The tightening in my gut only got worse, chased down by incendiary fire. That bloody driver needed to keep his eyes on the bloody road.
Concentrate. Get in and get out.
When she’d left the office today, she'd had her laptop. I needed to get in, copy her files, then bug her flat. With the change in plan, I could adjust, but I'd have to move up my timeline.
Since she wouldn't just be getting on a plane with me, I was going to have to check her schedule and figure out where the hell she was going to be on Friday.
It was fine. I was still in control.
Getting into her flat was easy enough. An older woman carrying an umbrella held the door open for me. “There you go, handsome. Here to pick up a date?” She eyed me up and down with a broad smile.
“Matter of fact, I'm here to visit someone.”
“Gosh, I wish it was me.”
I gave her a wink. “Next time, love.”
She giggled as she headed off to the mailboxes. “Don't threaten me with a good time.”
I shook my head. She was a firecracker. Also, Daphne needed better security. Anybody could just walk in here.
I didn't bother with the lift. Instead, I took the stairs. Not as many CCTV cameras to contend with. On the third floor, I eased out and found my way to her flat.
I kept my head down, knowing exactly where each of the cameras was. Getting into her actual flat was child’s play. She had electronic locks, like a hotel, nice and extra secure… except for the likes of me.
Once in her flat, I didn't bother with the lights, but I used a flashlight to have a glance around.
Daphne had done me the favor of keeping her hallway light on. My guess was it led to her bedroom and the bathroom, giving the impression of someone being at home to deter any would-be thieves.
I found her laptop easily. It was still in her work bag. Pulling it out, I set it on the dining room table while I fiddled with the decrypter’s settings to pull the information that I needed.
Once I had a copy, I'd have access into her company. I checked to see if Massimo Igno had any inroads or what he might be looking for from her. That done, I set the bugs. Two in the kitchen. A video feed in the electrical outlet and then an audio bug in the lamp.
I frowned when I saw the landline though. Who still had one of those?
She also had an old school answering machine that had a blinking light. I hit play as I set and calibrated the other bugs.
“Hello, Daphne. This is your mother. I've tried calling your mobile number, at least the one that Willow gave me, but you're not answering. And it says your message box is full. I'm not sure if this is your number or not, but just a reminder, I will be at Willow’s wedding. And for Willow’s sake, we need to get on. Your refusal to speak to me is childish. Honestly, I can't believe you're holding a grudge after all this time.”
“Willow is my daughter. And I want her to have the best day. She would like for us to get along. So you're going to have to speak to me at some point. If you continue to ignore me, that's only going to make it worse. You forget I know you. I know what you need. And this estrangement isn't good for us. More importantly, it's not good for Willow. She wants me back in her life. I know what you and your gran tried to do, but she's my daughter and she wants to be with me and she wants me as part of her wedding. So you need to call me back, or we're going to have a problem. I won't hesitate to make a scene. I know how important your sister is to you. Call me. I mean it.”
I stared at the machine. Wow, manipulation and narcissism. The woman was a real gem. From what I knew, she hadn't been in Daphne's life for over a decade. Daphne had been raised by her gran from the time she was twelve. I’d had a full workup done on her, but not much on the mother.
And I was going to need to utilize that information to get her to cooperate. It was dirty work, but it would get me what I needed in the end.
I put audio and visual in her bedroom. I was headed back out to the living area when I heard the front door. Fucking hell. As I stepped into the closet, I glowered down at my phone. The tracker I placed on her phone when I touched it during our meeting still registered her as headed to the West End.
So who was in her flat? I stayed perfectly still, palming my knife at my hip. Messy. No plastic to put down. I’d have to keep it quick and off her bloody carpets.
Maybe the kitchen. The floor in there was hardwood. Fast enough to clean up, but it could stain. This was going to be a problem.
Then I realized I also had a tranq. That would put whoever was in here out. Unless they were here for me and not her, in which case there was a fucking problem.
Didn’t matter.
I heard whistling, and through the slats in the closet, I saw who it was. Christopher.
Son of a bitch. What the fuck was he doing here? It looked like he was there to collect his things, but why wait until Daphne was gone?
My frown only deepened when he rifled through her nightstand. What the fuck was that? Was that a cock ring?
Christ.
A shudder ran up my spine. He tossed it into the box along with some lube and a couple of vibrators. Wow. And then he went to the top drawer still looking for something.
My fury simmered to life. Yes, I might be hiding in her closet, and yes, I might have just bugged her place, but I wasn't pawing through her intimates.
He murmured to himself as he cleared items from the loo. “Might as well see if I can repurpose these perfumes I bought you.”
I could have let him go, but the little shit needed to be taught a lesson. I hadn’t liked him when we met. And now, well, now he was giving me reasons to kill him. He was still whistling in the bathroom when I stepped out of the closet and back into the shadow right next to the bathroom door. He was laughing to himself as he came out.
“I don't know about you mate, but that's right nasty, regifting knickers and perfume. That’s just sad.”
His eyes went wide just as I smashed my fist into his face.
He immediately doubled over, holding his nose. Then I was behind him and had him in a chokehold.
“If you ever try to see her again outside work,” I said, dropping my voice an octave and not bothering to mask it because he wouldn't recognize me, “I will fucking slit your throat.”
I pressed the knife to his jugular just to make a point, being sure to leave a sliver of a cut. In the moonlight, I could see the drops of blood rolling down his neck. In my arms he was holding perfectly still, but I could tell he was fighting a shiver of fear.
“What's going to happen is you're going to leave this box. Then you’re going to walk out of here. If you come back, I’ll know. If you tell her about our conversation, I’ll know. If I find out that you've come to remove any of her belongings, I'll come to your house when you're sleeping or fucking someone new, and I will slit your throat. Do you understand?”
He coughed, unable to speak, so I loosened my grip.
“Nod so that I know you understand, arsehole.”
“Who are you?”
I tightened my grip again. “That doesn't say you understand.”
He swallowed hard, licking his bloodstained lips before muttering, “I understand.”
When I released him, he wasted no time running. He didn’t stop to look back, just ran. But understanding the kind of bloke he was, I didn’t linger.
I wasn’t going to think about why I risked exposure to teach that little shit a lesson.
8
Daphne
“Wait, so it’s the same bloke?”
I took the martini my sister handed me and flopped back on one of the leather couches at the quaint pub in the castle. Honestly the vibe was giving lounge bar but the service was impeccable so we didn’t mind it. “The very same. “
She shook her head and took a sip of her drink. “Explain, please. So you meet this bloke on your night out with Talia? Then he what? Followed you? God I’m glad I’m about to be off the market.”
I shook my head and took a delicate sip of my drink. “No. He knew who I was already at the bar.”
Willow’s mouth dropped open. “So he knew he was going to be a client and kissed you anyway?”
I knew it sounded ridiculous. “Pretty much.”
“But how is that even legal or whatever?”
“I don’t think it’s illegal to kiss women you might know. I did consent to the kiss. But I’ll tell you, it’s not fair. That’s for damn sure.”
"Okay, so wait, now he wants you to go with him to Barcelona?" Willow asked.
"Yes! It was sprung on me Monday. As if I’d drop my whole life at a moment’s notice. That’s total bullshit. But ever since I worked for Alana, it's in my contract that I don't travel at the drop of a hat, not for any client. I need two-week’s notice, so I'm being generous by saying I'll go this Monday when I return. Besides, we had this weekend planned and I wasn’t going to miss sister time and wedding duties. Not even for a man who kisses like he got a degree in seduction."
Willow pursed her lips.
I knew that look well. "What's the problem?”
She lifted her brows and shook her head, acting as if she had no idea what I was talking about.
"Spill it. Obviously, you have something to say.”
“Nothing. Just that I want you to be careful. Blokes like this seem exciting but, honestly you need a nice normal average bloke. Stability you know. That’s more your speed. You should let us set you up.”
I knew my sister loved me. But how did I tell her that while that might be what she wanted, the idea of getting a carbon copy of my future brother-in-law made me want to yawn.
Willow gathered her bone-straight locks and piled them high overhead. My sister looks like me, but more like Brown Barbie version of me with pin straight hair and perfect make up. I usually wore my hair natural or in braids. But she religiously rocked her relaxer and if she went out without full lashes on, she would moan all day about how ugly she felt.
“Thanks but no thanks. I think I’ll let the Christopher thing settle a bit first.”
"Okay, if you say so but quick question… Do you want to kiss him again? Your client," Willow asked, just as I was taking a sip.
Vodka I had just swallowed came right back up, burning its way out of my nose. "What do you mean, do I want to kiss him again?"
"It's a straightforward question. Do you want to kiss that fine man again?"
"No," I lied. "He's an arsehole. He knew who I was and knowing full well he was becoming a client the next day. And never mind if he's good or if he does this thing with his tongue, teases you into chasing him. And just when you think you're the pursuer, he turns the kiss and deepens it. It becomes a whole body experience. Lord, that man made me curl my toes, but that is not the point. I won't be doing that again because he knew who I was and then walked into my office like, ‘surprise!’ And then he tried to force me into doing what he wanted."
Willow gave me a knowing look and I schooled my expression. "I hate that part the most. It's beyond cocky. That's full-on I'm-an-alpha-arsehole territory."
"But what if we just banged him?" Willow asked.
"We don't shag clients, remember?" I shook my head at her.
"We don't?" She feigned surprise.
I blinked at her slowly.
"Okay, fine. We don't shag clients. Although, I think that rule needs relaxing. At least for a bit of fun on the side before settling down.”
“Why he even asked for me directly is beyond me."
Willow grabbed a pillow, launching it at my head, and I barely managed to duck it. "Hey! You are my sister. Brilliant. Magnificent. You need to believe it."
"I know, I'm very good at my job."
"No, you don't know, because he wanted you specifically for this project. So that’s something."
“I guess so.”
"It looks like he was referred to you specifically. That has to feel good. Just remember how brilliant you are."
I had to giggle. "I know. I'm fucking awesome."
"Yes, you are. You're sure shagging him is off the table?"
“Yes, shagging is off the table. Or have you forgotten? I’m no longer doing arseholes.” I shook my head, needed to shift the topic from myself.
"Enough about me and men I have no business kissing. You're getting married," I exclaimed.
Willow squealed and clapped her hands together. "I know, right? Isn't Balhurst Castle gorgeous?"
The castle was like a fairytale, with blooming gardens and a quaint charm that was irresistible. Part of the castle had been transformed into a boutique hotel, making it the perfect location for a wedding.
"The grounds are stunning, Willow. This is perfect for the reception."
"God we are so lucky that they had a last-minute cancellation and can accommodate us," she confessed. “I just want everything to be perfect for the day.”
I chuckled. "And it will be. But just remember it's about more than the day. Travis loves you. You two are going to be so happy.” I hoped that was true. She was so young. I hoped her getting married right now wasn't a response to being too sheltered and desperately needing freedom.
We finished our drinks and opted for a walk through the castle to go meet Travis. As we went, she was buzzing with excitement, almost like I had to hold onto her just to keep her grounded. It was good to see her like this. For a long time I had often felt like I was her mum. It was silly, but with her getting married it felt like I was finally reverting back to the role of big sister.
When we turned the corner, some of her exuberance faded and was replaced by a serious look. "Are you sure you're okay about Mum?"
I hesitated for a split second and forced my face into complete neutrality. "I don't get to have feelings about Mum. Not at your wedding. You want her there, and I support you.” I tried not to say that through my teeth. “You only knew her as the mother you didn't have. So experience your feelings as you need to and don't worry about me. As long as she leaves me alone, we won't have any problems."
She chewed on her bottom lip, and I could tell that wasn't quite the answer she wanted but it would have to suffice. "I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for always supporting me. I love you."
"I love you too, Wills."
She took a breath, a sheepish smile playing on her lips, and I braced for the coming blow. "Oh, Jesus Christ, Wills, now what?"
"Just… You know Massimo has been invited, right?"
I held my breath for a beat. Would I never be free of this guy? "To the wedding? I know he's a friend of Travis's. I guess I don't care, but he is a little creepy. I guess I left out that I ran into him about a week ago when I was out with Talia. The night I snogged my would be client."
She grimaced. “That makes so much sense now. He, um, told Travis all about it.”
I halted my footsteps then. “Excuse me? He ran and told Travis he'd seen me out?”
“Yeah, that night he called Travis a bit miffed, actually. Said he'd seen you out and you were rude. That you snogged some bloke right in front of him. That didn’t really sound like you but now I’m putting two and two together.”
I blinked at her slowly, not sure if I was hearing correctly. “What business is it of his if I snog somebody? And second, what business is it of yours, Travis’s?”
Willow winced and rushed to explain. “I'm just telling you what he told us. That he'd seen you and reintroduced himself, then you basically ran up and snogged somebody. He was a bit irritated because Travis told him you were single, so he thought he had a shot. I didn’t realize this was the night of the client kiss.”
What the hell? Where did he get off? “I very much hope you told him that only I determine who has a shot with me. Not to mention that he has zero ownership over me. I don't even know the bloke.”
“Oh, I did. And Travis got an earful, too, because he was the one who was busy trying to play matchmaker.”
It didn't sit right with me. Something was off about this whole situation. “That's bullshit. I don't need a matchmaker, and I don't know this guy. Why is that so hard for him to understand? And let's go ahead and circle back to that part where who I snog is none of his business.”
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