Equity (Balance Sheet #3) (24 page)

By the time Kalen left to head back to New York, I was thoroughly sated. His professed words, marking me as his wife, played over and over in my mind. It was too soon to get married, I thought. Still, maybe I should move in with him. I didn’t want to give up my job, but I could find another. Sleep claimed me before I could call Lizzy and Violet to talk this through.

Fate played its hand. I got a call from my supervisor from Boston. She’d left my old firm in favor of another and a promotion. She said they were ramping up staff. Many clients left our old firm because of the press and arrest of Kevin, one of their senior managers, who was directly involved in embezzlement from a client. It was sad for them. That, however, was how the business world worked.

The important part of her call was an offer of a job. She was based in New York and wanted to bring me on.

Violet became my sounding board because I couldn’t reach Lizzy.

“She’s been out every night this week. She comes in late and sleeps even later. I haven’t seen her since I have class during the day.”

I worried about Lizzy, which was another reason I felt like maybe I should make the move. We speculated more about what she was up to. She’d resorted to only texted me here and there not telling me much of what she was doing other than checking in to let us know she was safe. After beating that subject into the ground, we switched topics.

“I don’t know what to do,” I groaned.

“Okay, so let’s look at the good and bad things.” I’d already told her my dilemma.

“The pros are I’d be close to you and Lizzy.”

“I told you I would move to DC.”

She had offered and I’d considered knowing I should have been the one to take care of her. “I know you would. Your school is great. No need to change on my account,” I said.

“Fine, and don’t forget you’d be close to your man.”

“True. But I kind of want to live on my own for a while.”

“I get it,” Violet said.

Something about how she said it had me suddenly sitting up in bed. “Do you hate living with Lizzy?”

“No,” she replied. “She’s hardly here and when she is, she knows when I need space and when I need company.”

That was so true and great when I’d lived under her roof. I never felt like I was a bother to her or she was a bother to me. “That’s good.”

“What about cons?”

Was there something else going on with Violet? She’d smoothly brought the conversation back to me. Violet wasn’t one to complain. I debated on whether to push. She wouldn’t tell me if she didn’t want to. This was probably another reason to move to NY, so I could be there for Lizzy and Violet as they had me.

I found myself answering her question. “I just started my job a few weeks ago. The guy took me in on a favor from a friend. I feel bad to leave them. Although the audit season is winding down. It would be worse for me to stay and leave when audit season ramps up again in the fall.”

“Isn’t that when you’re due?”

Sighing, I said, “Yes.”

“You would actually be doing them a favor to leave now so they find a replacement before it gets busy for them.”

I groaned. She was right.

“It sounds like work or family. Which do you choose?”

When we hung up, I was closer to an answer than not. I just wasn’t quite there yet. I would decide this weekend when I went to stay at Kalen’s place. It would be interesting how he was around his things. How would he react with me in his domain?

On the downside, Kalen’s calls at night became increasing agitated during the week.

“Lass, please consider staying with me in New York, even if only temporary.” His near pleading almost broke me. “My team has unearthed several transactions that make the likely that Sandy’s the guy pulling the strings on the embezzlement. The FBI tracked him on a plane to the U.S. a couple of weeks ago. They don’t see an exit through Customs, which means he’s most likely still in the country.”

He was beginning to really freak me out.

“Keely allowed an agent to go pose for her at the meeting place in the Cayman Islands. He has yet to show. He’s called her a few times and she’s played along. Unfortunately, he was on a prepaid phone and never stayed on long enough to track.”

“If he’s trying to get at you, wouldn’t it be better if I wasn’t near you?” It was a random thought, and a stupid one.

“You’re safer with me.”

“I’m surrounded by a security detail. He’s not going to make a move on me.”

He exhaled a heavy breath, weary from my constant push back regarding moving. “Just get some sleep.”

Each night was more of the same. By the time Friday came, I was jumping at my own shadow. When Kalen stepped into my office at five, I was shocked to see him. I knew he was against me taking a train. This, however, was extreme.

“Are you done for the day?”

I was so thrilled to see him I practically jumped into his arms. “Does that mean we’re staying here for the weekend?

“No. I promised you’d get to see my place. And I mean for you to.”

He set me on my toes and kissed me slowly at first before things got heated.

“You blush beautifully,” he said with heavy lidded gaze. If I couldn’t see the desire on his face, I felt the stiffness in his pants against my body.

“I think we should go before I shock my coworkers.”

It was Friday and not tax or audit season. The office was emptying, which meant a lot of girls and a few guys stopped in their tracks as we passed by. My security team was outside, so it clearly was the man on my arm that had eyebrows raised. One girl gave me a thumbs up and I had to laugh.

“I guess you’re used to being gawked at.”

His smirk gave the answer. “I donnae noo whi yer going on about.”

Don’t try and act like you don’t understand me. You know exactly what you do to women.” I winked. “And men too. That would be kind of hot if you kissed a boy.” I started singing a different version of Katy Perry’s hit song about kissing a girl. I switched out the word girl to boy.

“Never going to happen.”

“Lost your donnae speak,” I said, trying to mimic his accent.

He rolled his eyes and I just laughed.

As much as I wanted to be with Kalen and join the mile high club, I ended up napping on his chest after we boarded the plane.

“We’re here,” he said in my ear.

I opened my eyes to get a view of a large building with a glass front entrance. We weren’t in a plane. I’d slept the whole ride and all the way to his place. His driver open the door and held out a hand. On instinct, I looked back at Kalen. He nodded and I allowed the driver to help me out of the car.

“I like your submissive side,” Kalen whispered in my ear as he guided me to the front entrance of the building with a hand at the small of my back.

“I guess you want to spank me now,” I flirted. The idea didn’t appall me.

He sucked in a breath. “There are so many things I have planned for you.”

The doorman held open the door and I strolled into the building. The lobby had a minimalistic appeal. There were a few paintings along the way that led to a bank of elevators behind a wall that obstructed the view of residents’ ins and outs from those walking by on the street.

I took his hand, finding comfort being this close.

“Why didn’t the security team follow us up?” I asked when we were alone in the elevator.

He placed a kiss on my forehead. “You don’t think I can keep you safe?”

“Of course I do. I just wondered, is all.”

“My place is under constant surveillance.” He pointed to what looked like a blacked out panel. “Wave.”

I did, even though I felt like an idiot.

“The security team is for you, not for me. I want him to come at me. In fact, I dare him to. Besides, I needed a moment alone with you.”

He pressed me against the wall with the panel. At our angle, we wouldn’t be seen. Again he kissed me breathless until the elevator dinged.

We stepped out of the elevator into a long hall that held only two doors. One was on the right side at one end of the hall. And the other was on the left side at the opposite end of the hall. I followed him to the right.

When he opened the door, I wasn’t sure what I’d expected. Whatever it was, this wasn’t it. Before me was an unobstructed view of Central Park with the city’s architectural skyline to either side. That wasn’t the confusing part.

“It’s empty,” I said, stepping further into the space. To my left, there was a transition into a beautiful kitchen that also had floor to ceiling views. To my right was a staircase that curved up.

“It’s yours.”

I pivoted on my heels. He stayed back, watching me take it all in. “What?”

“I bought it for you, for us. I wanted a place you could, we could make our own. The apartment I’m in now belonged to my father. Everything in it is his. I had a place back home. When I came to work here in the states, I stayed at a hotel. Like I told you before, I never planned to stay here until you.”

“You bought this for me?” I felt my face scrunch in confusion. Dumbly I couldn’t fathom what he’d done.

He stepped forward tentatively. He looked unsure at how I was handling this information.

“Yes, I bought it for you. I know you’re not ready to live with me. But I hope in time, you’ll let me move in with you.”

My mouth opened and closed a few times before I was able to let more words come out. “Where’s your apartment, or your dad’s?” I asked and shook my head from bafflement.

“I’m a couple floors down. This place came available and I snapped it up. I hoped if you moved here and didn’t want me to live with you, I could be close to you, to our wee bairn.”

I did a three sixty turnabout. “I can’t afford to furnish this place. I probably can’t even afford the utilities even if I got a job here.” New York paid more than they did for the same job in DC. I knew that from firsthand experience.

Honestly, I waited for him to say he would take care of me. My retort was ready on my tongue. Instead, he surprised me.

“We can figure that out. First you have to agree to move back.” He kissed me again, stopping my protest. “Let me at least give you the tour.”

“And if I say no?”

“I’ll move here on my own. I’ll rent out my place or let Griff stay there.”

“Griff’s moving here?”

“So he’s told me. He’s the head of my security team. And I think he wants out of Scotland.”

“And if I agree to move here and not let you stay with me?”

“I’ll have a roommate. And maybe you’ll let me spend the night when Griff brings his lasses to stay the night.”

My eyes narrowed. “This is like some form of bribery.”

He only grinned.

After showing her the four bedrooms and baths upstairs, I gave her a tour of the main floor. There was a living room, family room, library and office. I even showed her the guest room or housekeeper room. We’d stepped out of the kitchen when Bailey was snared away from my grasp.

My first thought was that I promised to keep her safe. Instead, her face filled with panic as the fannie bawbag held a gun to her head.

“I half expected the two of you to go at it in one of the rooms upstairs. I can’t say I wouldn’t have minded getting a look at your boonie burd.”

I wanted to snarl that she wasn’t my girlfriend but my wife. Those words died in my throat when he pulled her back some more, putting distance between us, and got closer to the door.

“Don’t say it.” Then he began to mock me. “Don’t touch my bonnie lass or I’ll…” He laughed. “But I am touching her. And bloody enjoying it.”

“Since when do you start talking like the English?”

“I’ll fucking talk how I want to talk.”

In a calm voice I didn’t feel, I asked, “How’d you get in here?”

Apparently, that was a funny question, for he laughed. “You should have your security people check the cleaning crew.”

I knew they did those kinds of checks. I imagined once they looked into what happened today, they’d find he was a last minute replacement.

“What do you want?” I asked instead.

“What the fuck do you think I want?” His eyes were wild, flicking back and forth between Bailey and me. As much as I wanted to ring his neck, I stayed where I was. I knew he wouldn’t have a problem killing her. I wouldn’t let that happen. I’d give him whatever he wanted as long as it meant she’d live.

“They say you’re worth over a billion dollars,” he continued. “Is that more or less in euros?” He shook his head and I didn’t like how the gun pressed hard into Bailey’s temple. Her neck was bent at an angle for all his pressure from the gun barrel. “I’m thinking you wire me… let’s say half of that. Five hundred million dollars, because I assume your net worth isn’t all cash.”

He was wrong about what cash I had. I didn’t bother to argue. “I need to call someone to do that.”

“Fine,” he said waving the gun. Bailey straightened her neck and I tried not to look at her so he would focus on me. “Just don’t do anything to be a hero and you’ll get her back.”

I plucked my phone from my pocket, trying to think fast.

“Put it on speaker,” he demanded smartly. After his dollars to euros conversion, I wasn’t sure how intelligent he really was.

The phone buzzed through the speaker once I dialed a number. I could only hope this would work.

“What’s up boss?” the voice answered.

“I need to wire a half a billion dollars to an account.”

There was a pause. I sincerely hoped the person on the other end would understand and play along.

“Sure thing. Are you near a computer?”

I nearly let out a sigh of relief but suppressed it. With my eyes still on Sandy, I gave him a questioning look. He nodded. “I’m not yet. Give me five minutes.”

“Okay, call me back.”

“Alright pretty boyo, we will follow you. If you even stumble, I will blow her head off.”

I took careful steps out of the apartment and into the hall. I pressed the button for the elevator while he stood several feet away with a gun wedged between him and her. With only two apartments on this floor, we didn’t encounter anyone along the way.

In the elevator, Bailey with her back to his front gave me pleading eyes. I cursed myself again for putting her in danger. She was right. Being near me hadn’t protected her at all. I looked at her then I quickly glanced up but not at the security panel. Hopefully, I’d reminded her that we were being watched.

Disembarking two floors down, again the hallway was silent. There were still only two doors on this floor. I opened my apartment and dropped the keys in the Waterford bowl on the table to the left. The space mimicked the minimalistic approach much like the lobby of the building with two-story vaulted ceilings. The furniture also had a modern feel. Not much was in this room except a sofa and two matching modular chairs. I hadn’t cared much for the style. The dark wood floors and dark grey furniture left me feeling like a boy stuck inside the house on a stormy day.

“My office is down this hall,” I announced as I strode down on the left past the stairwell located in the middle of the space. Once inside the room, I turned the lights on as there were no windows in the hall. The ceiling on this side of the apartment was only nine feet from the floor because the bedrooms were located above.

I didn’t wait for Sandy to follow. I had to trust for a second that Bailey was okay. I didn’t want him to follow me and see what I was doing on my computer. Once he was inside the door, I made the call to distract him. Meanwhile, I was activating my security cameras in the house. They were there in case of a burglary. However, they weren’t on all the time because I wanted to maintain some level of privacy. I needed them on now.

“Are you near a computer?” the voice asked without preamble.

“Yes,” I said with the speaker phone active. “I’m logging in now.” Of course, I was actually logging out of my security system.

“What’s the account information where you want this wired?”

My eyes locked on Sandy. He had to give me this information. He nodded towards the phone and I assumed he wanted me to take the caller off speaker. I did so. He spoke in a normal voice but in a way as if he didn’t want to be overheard by the caller. It didn’t matter, we were being monitored and recorded as we spoke. He gave me the bank name and the number account. I passed that on as if we were actually making this happen. I did a couple of head nods and typed on the computer like I was approving the wire. Sandy’s fault was not coming around the desk to verify what I was doing. It was a risk. One I had to take.

“Say that again,” I said while activating the speakerphone again.

My accomplice said, “I see your authorization on my end. It will take about fifteen minutes. I’ll call you back once I have confirmation it’s gone through.”

The call ended and I left my phone on my desk. I rounded it and stood before it, not venturing any closer to where Sandy still held Bailey firmly around her torso.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked, hoping to get him to make a false move or at least not think about my security team and or the cops who should be closing in less than fifteen minutes if that’s what my guy had tried to tell me.

“You think this is some kind of TV drama where I spill my master plan?”

“I just want to know why you hate me so much.” Actually, I didn’t care. I wanted him away from Bailey.

“I’ll tell you what I plan to do.” It was then he made his first mistake.

He dipped his head to the place I loved on Bailey’s neck, taking his eyes off me. I gave Bailey a good hard stare before I silently walked forward, keeping my eyes on them. Bailey blinked twice, which I thought maybe was a signal for something. I didn’t have time to puzzle it out.

He continued to talk. “I’m going to fuck her while you watch.”

Bailey wasn’t in agreement. She did three things in rapid succession. Her right foot came down on his. Her right elbow moved forward and back with a punishing blow to his gut. And her head slammed back into his face. He released her, doubling over for a second to grab at his nose which squirted blood.

Then, she lunged to one side. Unfortunately the direction she chose was opposite that of the door. I wanted her to get away. However, because I was already moving in their direction when this all went down, I caught him in a chokehold with his gun hand firmly wrenched between us. I could have snapped his neck the way his head was angled oddly in my hold. But death was too good for him.

What came next wasn’t something I ever planned to do again. I was a guy and knew the most vulnerable spot on a man. I needed him to speak to the camera, telling every one of his crimes. He needed to be locked away with no question of his guilt. So I grabbed his balls and twisted. His yelp was worthy of his girly name.

When I knew he understood I wouldn’t be letting go unless he answered, I asked, “Why did you steal my money?”

“Why do you think? I wanted to hurt you. You fucking stole my life away that day you broke my nose.”

I hadn’t known for sure I’d broken it, but I did know I’d broken other things when I heard bones snap. No doubt Bailey’s blow to his head had broken it again.

He laughed then. “In the end, you didn’t save the lass. I still fucked your Kiwi. And she was just as fresh as that day, unspoiled.” By Kiwi, he meant Keely. I didn’t correct him because at this point I didn’t know her role. And I wasn’t sure how much time we had before the cops came and he shut up in favor of a lawyer.

I would tell the police my next squeeze of his balls was an involuntary response to the grip I had him in. He yelled again, squealed more like a pig this time.

“How did you get access to steal from me?”

“That was easy.” He chuckled again, and I knew that was all to save face because I had the upper hand. “After fucking Kiwi, the dumb whore opened up about you and her boss. She had no idea she was setting you up for this. Her boss was a needy little thing too. Say the right things and fuck her good and she talked and talked. After I asked her about money moving protocols, I mean she was your finance manager, she laughed about how easy it would be to get around wiring money. Apparently, your clerk was out with her kids a lot and had given your manager her banking password to initiate wires when she wasn’t around. Your manager thought the password was so funny she shared it with me, not knowing I was paying attention to her log in information when she had to work from bed.”

“How about Kevin? How did you convince him to help you?”

“After I’d test everything out and had taken some money, I hired the best American private detective to look into potential employees for a high security level internal job. With the names from e-mails, I passed it along. Kevin turned out to be hard into fetish clubs. The private detective uncovered Kevin’s wish for a slave in the Dom/sub scene he met over the Internet. She, however, was seeking a new Dom with ready cash. Without any, he was perfect for my scheme.”

“Is my money in that numbered account we just wired the money to?”

This time he stayed silent. I squeezed until I thought I felt something give.

“Yes,” he said bouncing on his toes a little under my grip.

“What’s the password?” He was turning all kinds of red in the face.

“Like I’d fucking tell you that.” He continued to squirm and I had to tighten my grip at his neck to keep hold of him.

“What’s the password?” I repeated, clutching his ball sack tighter.

“Kiwi likes it rough,” he chirped and a string of numbers. “And I bet your lass likes it rougher.”

He tried to rile me with that last statement. And he succeeded. While I was trying to get him to spill his secrets, he’d managed to switch the gun to his other arm that wasn’t trapped. He lifted it and began to aim at Bailey who was slowly making her way to my desk. I think she was planning to call the police. I didn’t have time to ask.

When I let go of his balls to stop him from shooting her, I inadvertently twisted my body, reaching for the gun arm and still trying to maintain my hold. His neck snapped in the process. He went limp in my arms. Stunned at what I’d done, I let him go. He dropped to the floor like a stone. The cavalry showed a couple of minutes later. Not before I got a good view at Bailey’s horrified expression.