Watching her move could be my new favorite pastime.
Fuck, as her hips sway from side to side . . . it’s hard to remember why I’m here and what the game plan is.
“I don’t believe we’ve met before?” Her question breaks through my lust-filled haze, but I can’t hide my appreciation of the view as my eyes linger on her, and the right side of my lip tips up.
“Tobias Kosta.”
I extend my hand, and Ms. Matthews reaches her hand out as well, but the shake she’s trying to hide is still there despite her best efforts to curtail it. It makes me want to toy with her.
For now, I won’t. As much as I know this is in the bag, I don’t need her quitting on me. The intel she could possibly have is worth it. She might prove helpful in finding out more about Felix’s business.
I saw the way he looked at her, too. For all I know, there is much more to that story, and I’m not going to let this opportunity pass me by. I need information, and she might have it. When I don’t take her hand, she pulls away and then turns back to her boss.
“I think there might be a misunderstanding,” she says to him.
“No misunderstanding, Skye. Effective immediately, you will be working on a retainer basis with Mr. Kosta.” His voice leaves no room for objection, but the minx that she is, is about to try. I can see it in the way her mouth puckers as if she’s tasted something sour. She doesn’t like this, and she’ll now try her best to figure out a way out of it.
Do your best, sweetheart, and I’ll do mine.
“How is that possible? Isn’t this a conflict of interest?” she demands. Not a good play on her part. There isn’t a non-compete amongst criminals.
“And why exactly would it be a conflict of interest?” I interject, stepping forward and lifting my brow. Both their heads snap back to me, her top teeth biting into her lower lip so hard I wait for it to bleed. “Is there something you want to say?” I tease, but my voice comes out more monotone. She shakes her head back and forth, realizing the error.
She just implied that her client, previous client, and myself have something in common. Which, as a lawyer with confidential privilege intact, is not something she can say anything about. Two seconds in the room with me, and I already have her fucking up. By the way her face pales, she realizes it, too.
God, fucking with her over the next few weeks will be so much fun.
“With all due respect, Ms. Matthews, we allocate our associates to the assignments most suited for them. This is for best.”
“The best? The best for whom? The best for you?” she says this to me, lifting an eyebrow. “Why would you want me?”
I look her up and down. My gaze basks at the way she squirms. Time draws out, and the longer it does, the more I’m enjoying myself. A million things want to come out of my mouth. I go with the answer that will piss her off the most.
No answer.
I give her no answer but watch as she grinds her teeth together. I can tell she’s not happy. Hell, it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to come to this conclusion, but it’s entertaining me, nonetheless.
“Skye, this is an amazing opportunity,” Seth says as he leans forward and places his elbows on the desk. “An opportunity to learn, expand, and get important insight in a field you haven’t had much experience with.”
She looks back and forth between us like she is realizing there’s not much she can do at this moment. Her boss has spoken. There’s no reason to tell her why I want her. I can’t tell her. Plus, I’ve already dealt with it in the currency that matters the most: money. The amount I am paying Williams to have her work with me . . . well, let’s just say he won’t be saying no.
“Now that that is settled, I will be getting out of here. Ms. Matthews, I expect you to be available to me starting tomorrow at nine o’clock.”
With that, I move to step out of the room. Behind me, I can hear her voice. She’s trying to keep it down, but I hear the hiss in her tone. Wanting to know what is going to happen with Bernard’s cases. She’s feisty, that’s for sure.
I don’t acknowledge anyone else as I make my way down the hall and through the glass doors. I pull my phone out of my pocket and fire off a text. By the time I pass the receptionist, everyone I employ knows I’m on the move.
The car should be in the back, and my security detail is beside me as the elevator doors open. I’m sick of this shit.
But Gideon informs me that, right now, I need the extra protection. I’m brokering a deal to step down from the dealing part of my business. To transfer all my business into a legit money source and retire. I only have one thing left before I can do that.
Take out my last enemy.
Which is another reason I need Skye on my side.
Not just for my own sick thrills but for revenge.
8
Skye
“You can’t be serious,” I say to my boss as I hear Tobias’s footsteps fading into the surrounding sounds of the office. He doesn’t blink as he responds, just drills me with a stare that dares me to object.
“I am nothing but serious, kiddo. Comes with the territory of doing what I do.”
Pacing the room, I try to think of a plausible response that would warrant him turning down his request. I can’t work with that man. I can’t breathe around him. It’s not just about the way he makes me forget my words when he looks at me with those piercing blue eyes. Nope, it’s more than that.
There are reasons. Multiple reasons.
I just need to come up with a good, valid point to tell Mr. Williams, and something tells me that if I mention how handsome he is, devastatingly so, it won’t sway him.
Reason one: Because he’s hot.
No, that won’t do.
Think, Skye.
Reasons?
You’re a goddamn lawyer. Arguing should be your forte.
Okay, reason two—
“I think you misunderstand.” He speaks, making my footsteps stop and putting an end to my poor attempt at a list.
“How?”
“You’ll still work occasionally with other clients, but you’re also taking on Tobias.”
I can still get close to Mr. Bernard. Not all is lost, but my mind still reels with confusion.
“Let’s cut the crap, Williams. It’s a conflict of interest, and we both know that.”
“Because . . . ?” he trails off, daring me to talk about the elephant in the room. We represent two drug lords now. “Both are businessmen. Neither in the same field . . .”
“Absolutely in the same field. And that field is highly illegal. What if they have overlapping so-called staff? What if they have business disputes? The man showed up in my courtroom the day I killed the case,” I respond, and there is no way to hide the sarcasm dripping in my words. There is also no way Williams is not going to play dumb. “Fine. Whatever. Let’s ignore the conflict for now. Revisit when it bites us in the ass. How much time will he need from me?”
Please say not much.
“Judging by his character, net worth, and scope of his business—twice your lifespan.” He chuckles and, unbeknownst to him, crushes my dreams.
Scrunching my nose, I try to make sense of my boss’s contrary comments. “But you just said I can still handle other clients.”