I look down at the pile in my hand and lift the top sheet. A new account is being opened in the name of Gideon Byrne.
There are also papers for an investment tied to a corporation located in the Cayman Islands.
I see that some other things are clearly not on the up-and-up right off the bat.
“As you can see, Tobias has made quite a bit of money.” Quite a bit? More like enough to start his own country. “All of this money is—”
“Clean?” I ask.
Trent laughs. “Not pulling any punches, huh?”
“I don’t see a reason. I’m here to make sure everything is legal, which means at one point it wasn’t. And as for Tobias, I’m his attorney. Thus, attorney-client privilege is in effect. When do you need these back?”
“Tomorrow too soon?” Trent asks, and I look over at Tobias, whose jaw is tight.
I want to say yeah, it’s too soon, but it’s officially my first day on the job, and that won’t grant me any favors with my boss.
“Nope. I will have this couriered back to you in the morning.”
“No,” Tobias grits out, and I look to face him. His lips are thinned. “You’ll hand-deliver it yourself.”
“With all due respect, I have—”
“I do not care what the fuck you have to do. After you check them, you will have these documents delivered to me, and I will sign. And then you will traipse over here and deliver them yourself.”
I take a deep breath, inhaling to calm myself.
“No problem. I will take these”—I look down at the stack—“look them over, and then after you sign”—I look at Trent, smiling broadly—“I’ll drop them off. Sound good?”
“Sounds great.” Trent smiles back.
“Anything else, Trent?” Tobias really isn’t one for small talk. I can already tell that.
“Nope. You?”
“Nothing I care to talk about,” Tobias responds, monotone. He sounds bored.
“Interesting. Will you be at Cyrus’s in a few weeks? Alaric will be in town.”
“Maybe.”
“Oh, come on, man, give us this. Stop being a dick long enough to just say yes. Trust me, your lady lawyer over here won’t consider that means you could be a nice guy. She knows you’re a grade A asshole, right?”
“Pretty much,” I answer.
“I like this woman.” Trent is like a jester hired to entertain the king, and the king, Tobias, doesn’t find him funny.
“No one asked you who you like, Trent, so shut the fuck up.”
“Who pissed in his Froot Loops today?” Trent snickers.
“I think that would be me. And it was coffee-flavored.” I laugh.
“Well, if you two are fucking done wasting my time, we have another appointment.”
“Dragging the poor woman around?” Trent seems highly amused with himself as he pokes the bear. Guess he’s not scared that bear pokes back.
“Yuppers,” I mutter under my breath, and Trent laughs again.
“I really like her,” Trent tells him, and the look Tobias gives Trent as he stands, well, let’s just say, I’m surprised a gun isn’t drawn and Trent isn’t dead. And not a normal death. Intestines on the floor, blood splattered everywhere. Messy death.
Trent inclines his head, looks back and forth between us, and then shakes it, letting out a sigh. “I’ll see you at Cyrus’s soon?”
And now it’s Tobias’s turn to let out his own deep breath. “Yes.”
“Good. I’m sure everyone will be happy. Well, everyone except Cyrus. That man is never happy.” He furrows his brow. “You kind of remind me of him,” he chides.
Tobias stands. “If that’s all the wisdom you have to impart today, we’re done. Let’s go.”
Standing from my chair, I look at Trent and smile one last time before turning on my heel and following a few steps behind Tobias.
“Nice to meet you, Skye Lawyer,” Trent shouts to our backs in a singsong manner.
“He seems nice,” I whisper to Tobias as we walk down the hallway.
A grunt. That’s all I get out of him, a grunt. So much for small talk.
This time, when the elevator opens and I step inside, I pull out my phone. Anything to distract me from not just the confined space but also the awkward silence in the air between us. I want to ask him so many questions, but I don’t.
Instead, I let all the questions fill my brain, weigh heavy on my heart, and make my pulse race. As much as I want to say things and ask things, I can’t. If I do, lines will be crossed, and doors will open. And once you open those doors, you can never go back.
So, no matter what my brain tells me to do, I push the thoughts down and close that door.
13
Tobias
I’m so fucking thankful that Skye and I have parted ways for the day. After four hours of dragging her around the city, I need a break. I also need a drink. A big one. Are there Big Gulp–sized scotch glasses I can buy somewhere? This woman has me sideways. She has a way about her, and I don’t like it.
At fucking all.
That doesn’t stop me from wanting her around, though. It certainly doesn’t stop me from going through with my plan.
A new idea pops into my head.
Seduce her. Oh, that would be so much fun. It will kill two birds with one stone.
One: Well, I get to fuck her.
Two: It will be easier for her to open up to me, and then I can also bring her into the plan.
I underestimated how tough she would be. She’s much stronger than I gave her credit for. This new plan makes more sense. After watching her today, I know she’s attracted to me, so it won’t be that hard.
Probably shouldn’t be a complete dick to her.
I shake my head. No. Something tells me she likes it. She’s a spitfire, after all. Which would probably mean this plan would backfire on me. Knowing her, she would turn it around, and I’d end up with my dick in my hand yet no pussy.
Scratch out seduction. I don’t have time for it anyway.
The car stops in the garage, and I step out. Not many people know that I live in my office building full time. It’s easier for security to only have one location. Plus, this place is built like Fort Knox. Skye only saw the one empty floor. That was the only floor I permitted her to see.
I head straight for the stairs because I prefer them. The stairs are wide, open, and have clear railings.
It never feels like I’m trapped inside. I wasn’t lying to Skye when I said I don’t like elevators, but I didn’t get into the specifics. It’s not only elevators; it’s all enclosed spaces. When she stopped talking in the elevator, I welcomed the silence. I didn’t realize that we had that in common. But why should I?
I don’t actually know her.
So why would I know shit about her? Despite the little time spent with her and my endless research, it doesn’t ever show the real person.
Taking the steps two at a time, I head to the top floor, which is my residence. I walk straight for the bar set up in the corner of the main room. My gaze scans over my choices. Is tonight a scotch night or a tequila night?
Since I’m alone, I opt for Glenlivet 21. Grabbing a tumbler, I pour myself three fingers and then head into my bedroom to get changed. On my approach, I lift the glass and take a swig. The warm liquid coats my throat, and as I swallow, I swear it already is loosening me up. Tilting my head up, I look at the skylight I had built directly over my favorite place to sit.