Sleeping With My Boss: A Standalone Novel (An Alpha Billionaire Romance Love Story) (A Dirty Office Romance) (19 page)

CHAPTER 24

Lilah

I had arrived back in the US in the late afternoon. I
had never flown first class before and it had been quite an experience. After
that level of service, respect, and luxury, I definitely wanted to do it again.
The next time, however, I would foot the bill for it myself. I didn't want
anyone paying my way.Since I had the rare luxury of free time while all the new
computers were set up at the office and all the data restored from the cloud
backup, I figured I should see Ed since I hadn't seen him for nearly two weeks.
Maybe he could help me decipher all the mixed emotions I was dealing with.

My mind was like a revolving door, and Asher was stuck
in it going around and around. He had messaged me on Sunday, and he'd seemed to
try to express what came across as genuine feelings of affection for me–but
part of me just couldn't shake the suspicion that I might be yet another notch
on the bedpost.

I kept thinking back to how hard I'd once fallen for
another man—Jacob. Or rather, how hard I'd
let myself fall
for another
man. Because that was it, wasn't it?

Jacob hadn't forced me to fall in love with him. Sure,
he'd been charming, good looking, and suave. He'd certainly made it easy to
fall in love with him. But, looking back, I also remembered there was a time
when I questioned him. There was a tiny gut feeling that I’d ignored. I
distinctly remember the moment where I'd thought to myself,
You're falling for this guy. Are you sure
this is a wise thing to do?

And, I gave in to it. I ignored my gut feeling,
abandoned my logic, and gave myself—heart and soul—to this man who'd seemed
perfect in most every way.

I'd blinded myself to reality, to his faults, to all
the blaring red flags that anyone else would have seen. In truth, some of my
friends did see them. I just rationalized them.

And what did it leave me with? Heartbreak. Being
dumped a month before our wedding.

I hadn't thought I'd ever even consider opening myself
up to another man again, trusting again, or loving again. All of my faith in
love had been shattered, crushed beneath the heels of an empty soul who took my
heart and kicked it out into the street, then stomped all over it before
walking off laughing.

I shook my head. I had to get my mind off things of
the past.

I took out my phone, pulled up Ed's name in my
contacts, and gave him a call.

“Hey, Eddie.”

“Hey, sis, how was your trip to Paris?”

“Pretty damn amazing, actually.”

I didn't want to talk about Asher or what had happened
between Asher and I. So if Ed asked, I'd just brush it off and switch topics.
After all, aside from what had been going on in my head, I had actually had a
great time in Paris, even if I’d had to do most of the exploring alone–and I
had to tell someone about the art, culture, and history I'd had the chance to
take in. I knew Ed had been there a few times to play shows with his band, so
he would be a great person to talk to about it, without having the thought of
Asher hovering over me all the while.

“Cool, cool. I wonder how it's changed since I was
last there?”

“Well, do you wanna get a beer and we can talk about
it? And, I'll show you the pics I took.”

“Sounds great! I've got a couple photos on this phone,
actually. We can compare pics and stories. See you at McGinty's in an hour?”

“Sounds good. See you then.”

***

“So, how cool was the Louvre? How much time did you
get to spend walking around it?” Ed asked, smiling as he flipped through the
photos I'd taken on my phone.

“It was seriously breathtaking. I mean, I walked
around it for a couple of hours, but it felt like only five minutes.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. I think I spent a whole
afternoon their last time I was in Paris. Just wandered around from around
lunch time until a security guard came and kicked me out at closing time.”

“I'll have to go back again. I didn't get to see
nearly enough of it.”

“You will have to. And hopefully billionaire boy will
foot the bill again, huh?”

So far, we'd managed to avoid talking about Asher, but
without even mentioning his name, Ed had brought a flood of memories rushing
through my head.

“Yeah,” I said, somewhat half-heartedly. “I probably
will end up going back for another meeting, I think.”

“So, how's old Asher doing, huh?”

“He's, uh, he's good.”

Ed handed my phone back to me and frowned before
taking a swig of his beer.

“Really? I know that tone. Something doesn't seem
right about this.”

“It's just…ya know, Eddie, I don't really want to get
into it.”

He sipped on his beer again and nodded. “Okay. But you
know I've always got your back, right, sis? I mean, if he's being a jerk, or
whatever, you know I'm here.”

I couldn't help but smile.

“And, what are you going to do if he is being a jerk?
Kick his ass for me? I'm not in high school any more, Eddie.”

He grinned. “Sometimes I feel like I still am,
though,” he replied. “But seriously, if you wanna talk about it… I mean, I know
I'm a guy and your brother, so maybe you don't think I'll get it. But hey, I've
been on this rock for ten years longer than you, and I think I've learned a few
things along the way. Maybe I can help, you know.”

I leaned across the table and squeezed his hand. “I
know, I know. You've been the best brother–and friend–you could possibly have
been all my life. And, I love you for that.”

“Thanks, sis. You know, you're the only one in the
family who I felt ever got me. The only one who really cared. And, you always
believed in me when everyone else was telling me I was crazy trying to follow
the path of a rocker, when everyone else was saying I'd end up homeless in the
streets, you were the one who kept telling me: 'I believe in you, Ed. You're my
hero. You can do anything you want, if you really believe in yourself.' And you
said it with such conviction-”

“Because I was just a kid,” I interrupted. “I believed
it.”

“Yeah, exactly! Your childlike faith got me through
many dark times. And now look where I am. I made it!”

I looked at him as pride swelled in my chest. “You
really did make it, Eddie. I'm proud of you.”

“And, you have no idea how proud I am of you. Hell,
you stormed into that company, what's it called, Sinclair whatever, and you
gave them hell! You blew ‘em outta the water with your ideas. And you're gonna
get right to the top, and nobody–especially not billionaire boy–is gonna stand in
your way.

“You don't need his help; you don't need anything from
that guy. You don't even need a dime from him. Because it's all
you,
you
understand? Your talent, your ambition, your drive, your hard work–they've got
you this far. And if that guy thinks he can play you, well, well, he can just
go jump right out of his damn skyscraper and be done with it. Because there's
no stopping you, whether you're working for him, or working for someone else.
You're gonna be at the very top in just a few short years, sis, just a few
short years. I can feel it! I
know
it!”

“Aww Ed, you're just… You're the best. Seriously.”

I stood, walked around the table to where Ed was sitting,
and gave him a big hug.

“I'm just gonna go to the little girls' room. I'll be
back in a sec.”

“Sure thing. Hey, do me a favor, grab me one more beer
from the bar when you come back?”

“Will do.”

I went off to the bathroom, feeling recharged and
energized after Eddie’s inspiring speech. When I returned, I made a beeline for
the bar. As I waited for the bartender to turn my way so I could get her
attention, I caught sight of a strikingly handsome man, dressed impeccably in
an Italian suit staring intently at me. His perfectly styled, blond hair was
combed back in a side part and dark stubble peppered his powerful, square jaw.
Ice-blue eyes gazed at me from beneath imposing eyebrows.

For a few moments, I couldn't take my eyes off of
him–but then I felt suddenly uneasy and broke my trance. He, however,
maintained his interest in me. After a half smile, he picked up his martini and
sidled up to me at the bar.

“Hi,” he said, his voice deep and gravelly. “You don't
know me…yet. But I’m hoping to change that. I would certainly like to get to
know you.”

“Really? And who do you think I am that I might be so
interesting to get to know?” I’d seen his kind before. They think they’re
smooth. If you call them on it, one of two things will happen: You’ll either
trip them up and they’ll have nothing, or they’ll feed you some bullshit line
and you’ll at least get a good laugh. Either way, they are full of it. I
expected no different from this one.

“I believe you are the lovely and talented Lilah
Maxwell, rising star of The Sinclair Agency. It's a pleasure to finally see you
in the flesh. You're every bit as gorgeous as my…assistant…says you are.”

I was immediately taken aback. Who on earth was this
devilishly good-looking stranger, and how did he know who I was? I was both
intrigued and slightly frightened.

“And how, precisely, do you know who I am?”

“We work in the same field, you and I,” he replied.

“Oh, really? And who might you be?”

“The name's Savage. Brendan Savage. Pleased to make
your acquaintance, Lilah. Very, very pleased indeed.

CHAPTER 25

Asher

I stared up at the starry sky as I sipped on my
Glenfiddich forty-year-old whiskey. I enjoyed coming up to the turret of my
home to think. I'd set up a moderately powerful telescope because of a lifelong
interest in astronomy. Out in the hills beyond the city, the sky was clear and
mostly free of the light pollution which made the city sky murky and
orange-tinted at night and blocked out most of the stars.

Here, the sky was dark, and stars were spread across
it from horizon to horizon.

Of course, the stars weren’t what was on my mind. That
would be Lilah. We'd barely said a word to one another in the office the whole
week. She had responded to my texts, but only with short replies that seemed
designed to be evasive. It was looking as if she had reverted to keeping a cool
distance between us. I hadn't pushed things at all, just like Colonel Tanaka
had suggested, even after getting that cold reply to my heartfelt message.

I’d given it a lot of thought before she even returned
from Paris and had decided to leave the ball in her court. I was sure that she
knew what my feelings for her were. I felt I'd made them pretty clear. If she
was willing to reciprocate, well, that would be wonderful, but if not, I wasn't
sure if I could keep playing this game. Falling into my arms one minute, then
acting as if we were nothing but acquaintances the next—it was not only
confusing, it was draining, psychologically and emotionally.

I took another sip of my whiskey, savoring its dry,
woody flavor. There was nothing in the world quite like properly aged single
malt whiskey. It reminded me of my grandfather. It was the first taste of
alcohol he’d shared with me.

I stood and headed over to my telescope. There was a
full moon, and it was bright and clear in the sky. I leaned over and pressed my
eye to the eyepiece, then moved the telescope around until I was focused on the
moon. I zoomed in, as close as I could get without losing focus.

I stared in silent wonder at the craters and valleys
of the moon, and for a fleeting, intense moment, I wished that Lilah was by my
side to share it with.

Since I'd been a boy, it had been a dream of mine to
be an astronaut. Life, though, had other plans. I loved my job, and the company
was my life. I had no regrets about devoting all my energy and talent to it—but
still, there remained the dream of one day flying amongst the stars.

I lost myself, staring at the moon and her craters and
hills, and I wasn't quite sure how long I'd been staring when my phone rang. I
snapped out of the trance I'd been in, and bent down to pick up the phone from
where it was sitting on my deckchair.

“Asher here,” I said.

“Asher, it's Alan.”

“Alan, good to hear from you. Got any news for me?”

“Our PI has some leads on the case. He'd like to meet
with you and to discuss a few things.”

“I'd like that, too.”

“When do you have time?”

“Whew. This week is crazy. I'll be working over the
weekend, too. There's really no end in sight. Can he call Janice and see what’s
on my schedule early next week?”

“Asher, you'll wanna hear what this guy has to say and
you’re not going to want to wait.”

I glanced at my watch. “All right, listen, it's still
early enough in the evening. It's only around eight o' clock now. Do you think
the guy could meet now?”

“I’m sure he'll be fine with that.”

“I'll send my driver out to pick you and him up. We can
talk here at my place, if that's all right. I have a few items of work I need
to get done, and I can't waste time driving myself.”

“That'll be fine, sir. I'll send you my address and
his, and we'll see you shortly.”

“Excellent. I'll forward the addresses and your
numbers to my driver. See you soon.”

I cut off the call and waited for the text with the
addresses. When they came through, I forwarded them to Alfred, who left to pick
up Alan and the PI. I sighed, reluctant to leave my little sanctuary with my telescope
and whiskey.

I knew, however, that I needed to get to the work I
needed to finish, not just because it needed to be done, but also because it
helped distract me from getting too lost in my thoughts, too fixated on a
certain, beautiful woman and her unpredictable behavior.

***

“Matt Eaton, pleased to meet you,” the PI said as he
shook my hand.

He was a short, bald, rotund man with a thick, walrus
mustache–he didn't look anything like the type of private investigators you see
in movies or on TV shows. Still, I knew from his reputation that he was one of
the best, and that's why I'd hired him.

“Great to meet you, Matt, and thanks for helping us
with this case. Now, why don't you and Alan come on in and we'll have a seat
and talk about what you've discovered.”

“Thanks.”

We went into my den, where there were a couple of
sofas and a large coffee table. This was where I usually received guests and
business associates. My butler came out to see if anyone wanted drinks.

“I'll have some Glenfiddich forty-year-old, on the
rocks,” I said to him. “Gents, what would you guys like?”

“A beer for me, whatever kind you've got,” replied
Alan.

“No booze for me,” said Matt, “I gave it up years ago.
Orange juice, if you've got.”

My butler nodded and went off to prepare the drinks.

“Well, Matt, let's not waste time. On to business.
What have you found out so far?”

“I'm pretty sure your suspicions are correct, Mr.
Sinclair. All the evidence is pointing to Brendan Savage being behind the
break-in.”

I nodded grimly. “I knew it. I just knew it. That
bastard.”

“Unfortunately, as of yet, I don't have anything
conclusive,” Matt added. “Nothing that would hold up in court, anyway. I mean,
that's what you're after, right? You wanna hit this guy with everything you've
got, of course, but only when you've got a watertight case, only when you can
prove that he was behind this. And right now, I'll tell you, what I've got is
very, very strong, but just not enough to be watertight. He's done a great job
of covering his tracks. He's got some real pros working for him.”

I sighed. “Do you think you can get a watertight case
against him?”

“I might be able to, but it's gonna take a lot more
time and a lot more digging.”

“That's fine. You keep working on it. I want to prove
that this guy is behind it. I want to face him in court—and win.”

“That’s my plan, Mr. Sinclair. Just give me enough
time to gather the evidence I need on him, and you'll win.”

“Good.”

Alan cleared his throat before he piped in. “There's
more, though, sir. Matt has discovered something else about Mr. Savage and his
interest in your company. Or rather, his interest in someone
specific
in
your company.”
 

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

“Yes, sir. One of the things the hacker was able to
penetrate was the employee database. However, the strange thing was he only
extracted one file from the hundreds of files there,” Alan added.

“And just who’s file did they take?”

“Lilah Maxwell,” Matt commented.

A jolt ripped through my body at the mention of her
name.

“What?” I exclaimed. “Lilah?”

Matt nodded. “Yes. When we learned it was her file
that had been extracted, I did some digging. It seems Brendan Savage is very,
very interested in her. I believe he intends to poach her from your company.”

Flushes of heat surged along my skin. “How do you know
this?”

“I've been trailing Savage in the evening hours since
you mentioned you suspected him. And it turns out, he's been following Ms.
Maxwell. I'm not sure how long this has gone on for. But he definitely knows
that she was the driving force behind the sudden success of one of your
company's recent campaigns. And, he wants her on his team. According to my
source, he knows talent when he sees it.”

“Tell me more,” I said, although I wasn't quite sure
that I wanted to hear more.

“Savage may have even tapped her phone. He knew that
she was meeting her brother Edward at McGinty's pub on Tuesday evening. And he
set it up so that he would 'bump into' her. I was there, at the back, watching
everything. He really turned on the charm.”

I felt my blood getting hotter and hotter as Matt
spoke, but I did my best to retain a facade of cool collectedness.

“Really? And what happened? Between, uh, Lilah and
Savage?”

“Oh uh, well, they ended up talking for a long while.
He appeared to be laying on the charm, pulling out all the stops. But she
seemed resistant to it, hesitant to talk to him too much. Mostly, it appeared
he was the one talking and she listened.”

I breathed out a subtle sigh of relief, although the
jealousy and anger remained simmering in my core.

“So, what else do you know about this particular
situation?” I asked. “I mean, between Lilah and Savage? After that bar meeting,
has there been any further contact?”

“Yes.”

Again, heat rushed through my body and I felt my
breathing becoming quicker.

“What? How?”

“They've connected on social media. More than that I
can't tell yet; I could get someone I know to hack into the message system to
see if they've been messaging one another, but it's risky. If my associate and
I get caught, we could face charges.”

“All right, I'm not going to ask you to do that.”

“I can monitor his phone calls to her if you'd like.
That's easy enough and pretty low-risk.”

“Please, do that. We need to, uh, we need to keep tabs
on this situation.”

“Can do. Is there anything else you'd like me to do? I
mean, I can open up an investigation on her, as well? Monitor her, have one of
my team tail her, do a bit of digging. There is a risk that she could sell him
a number of company secrets. And you know, of course, how disastrous that could
be.”

I paused for a moment to consider this. I had no
qualms about invading the privacy of a scumbag like Brendan Savage, but to do
it to Lilah was an entirely different matter. Matt was right about the risk
that she could sell valuable company information to Savage, but I didn't see
her doing that. Lilah had too much integrity. I didn't think that it would be a
risk at all, in fact.

There was no way I could do that to her. Not a chance.

“Just stick with Savage,” I instructed. “I think the
risk of Lilah selling me out is minimal. Non-existent, actually.”

“You sure? Often those closest to a person are the
first to betray them,” Matt said. “I've seen it all too many times in my line
of work, trust me on that.”

“I'm sure you have. But I trust her. I'd trust her
with my life, in fact.”

“Suit yourself. I'll stick with Savage, then.”

“Good. We'll get to the bottom of this.” No matter how
long it took.