Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
None of them had the nerve to point out that I was late, but I could tell several of them wanted too.
Assholes.
I impatiently listened as Frank, my long-winded CFO, began his report detailing precisely how our profit margins had been affected.
7
BEN
Of all the days for my alarm to malfunction, I would have chosen today to be at the bottom of the list. My phone rang as I was rushing to get dressed. I answered it without paying attention, assuming it was Miles—I’d begun to think of him by his given name, but I didn’t have the nerve to call him that yet. He often called me on his way to the office whenever the day started with something big. I didn’t want to tell him I was running late, but it would be even worse to ignore him.
That was one thing he did not tolerate. And he didn’t have to. Everyone who met him fawned over him, wanting something from him: money, status, his gorgeous-as-fuck body.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t Miles. It was my brother, Jesse.
“So you finally decided it was in your best interest to take a call from me,” he said in response to my hello.
“I’m busy. I have to be at work soon.”
I was about to end the call when he snapped. “You’ll regret it if you hang up.”
I regretted answering the call. He’d been pestering me daily since Miles had hired me. “What do you want?” I asked as I nearly tripped over my cat who was sleeping in the hall.
“You know what I want.”
“I don’t have any information for you. I’ve only been working there for a few weeks. This takes time.” I didn’t know how he thought I was ever going to get access to information so sensitive it stayed in a safe in Mr. Montgomery’s office, which as far as I knew only he could open.
“We don’t have that kind of time. We’ve got bills coming due now.”
He had bills coming due. Probably payments to loan sharks who scared the shit out of him, no matter how tough he pretended to be. I knew they were working with someone on the inside at Montgomery Enterprises, and I doubted whoever that was intended to pay up before getting the info he wanted. “I am working as fast as I can.”
“That’s a fucking lie. Get me something good, or I’ll come beat it out of you.”
I shivered. Jesse might not be a match for mafia muscle, but I’d been on the wrong end of his fists enough to know how badly he could hurt me.
“You have one week.”
The room spun as he ended the call.
I sank to the floor and Felix ran over to me to rub his face against my side. I picked him up and held him as I lost the battle to hold back my tears. I had to find a way out of this. I didn’t want to give my family anything, but I knew I’d be punished if I didn’t. Between rent and student loan payments, I had next to nothing left of my monthly paychecks, so I wasn’t in a position to go on the run. If I actually did get the information Jesse and my father wanted and got caught, I’d never have another decent job again.
It took me a long time to get myself together. I raced to get dressed and hurried out of the house after a quick goodbye to Felix. This was a terrible day to be late. Miles had an important meeting with his top executives. If he fired me for being late, I would have no money and no information to give my brother.
The meeting was in progress when I stepped into the board room. Everyone turned to look at me and heat rose up my neck and face. Miles glared at me and pointed to a chair next to him without stopping the dressing down he was giving Frank, the CFO.
“I expect you to figure out where the discrepancy is in our financials and when you do, if someone has done this deliberately, bring them directly to me so I can deal with them personally.”
Ford squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “Miles, remember I don’t do murder trials, so don’t put me in that position.”
Miles’s smile was pure evil. “I won’t be charged.”
Mr. Wainwright blew out a pained breath, and I winced. If Miles found out what I’d been sent here to do…would he murder me? How the hell was I going to get out of the trap I was in?
But before I could begin to think of any solutions, Miles pointed at me and barked, “We need to talk in my office.”
“So we’re done here?” Lisa, the COO, asked.
“We are. You all have your orders.”
Frank bristled, obviously not liking the expectation that he would take orders.