Page 27 of Ruthless Wars

“That’s more like it,” Evie says, the tension relaxing as she gives me a satisfied nod. “But, you know, if you wanted privacy to sext, all you had to do was say so.” With a wink and a knowing grin, she steps into the waiting elevator.

Hurried and a little giddier than I’ll ever admit—even to myself—I race back to the conference room to retrieve my phone.

Chapter Fifteen

Margot

Pushing through the conference room door, I enter quickly but silently. Thankfully, the door was left cracked open just enough to avoid the nuisance of a clunky entrance.

There Coop stands, everything any woman could ever want in a man. Tall and dark, but in an approachable, guy-next-door way. And, God, he’s so unbelievably chiseled. When the light hits the lines of his Tom Ford suit just right, it practically looks sprayed onto those ridiculous biceps. Even with all that, the man still has an incredible tenderness and warmth.

Which would be nice—if that tenderness and warmth were focused on me instead of Allison. Seeing his arms wrapped around her as he rocks her in a tender embrace is just the whopping sucker punch I didn’t need today.

Seriously? Men are idiots.

Why on earth did he ask me back here? It’s like the douchebag wanted to be caught. Or when I left, he assumed I’d blown him off and so grabbed the nearest snatch on two legs.

Asshole. Screw you and your endless libido, Coop.

Frustrated, irritated, and seconds away from committing aggravated assault by kicking the man square in the balls, I decide to quietly slip away. But again, without my phone.

Damn that man.

Then the hard truth hits me like a ton of solid-gold bricks. Love is love, and business is business. I fucked a player, and the bastard did what players do best. He fucked me right back.

Margot’s master, my ass. I mean ... Margot’s master will never see my ass. Well, not again.

My returning headache and hunger pangs are enough to push me over the edge. As I burst through the door of my office, the anger meant for a certain jackass probably in the midst of fucking Allison on the massive conference table at this moment manifests in a door slam I regret. Scaring the living daylights out of Jean and Evie is funny, but not what I wanted.

Trying not to fume too insanely, I grab my waiting box lunch, mumbling, “I’m starving,” to excuse my teenager-like slam of the door.

Jean and Evie exchange an annoyingly knowing glance before shuffling through random pages from the piles of paperwork.

Reading my scowl accurately, Jean immediately directs our lunchtime conversation straight to work. “Mr. Byrne is one of the most buttoned-up people on the planet.”

Not when he’s fucking.

“He’s got so little social media presence,” she says, “my ninety-five-year-old nana seriously kicks his ass at it. I’ve seen a stronger online footprint with people in witness protection. It’s like he’s been in a cave for thirty years.”

“Or under a rock,” I mutter. With another bite of my sandwich and a sip of the sweet crispness of a fizzy Coke, I regain my mental bearings. “He didn’t even flinch at the paragraph about financial disclosure. Maybe he doesn’t care. Has nothing to hide.”

“Everyone has something to hide,” Evie says, reminding me of the obvious. “And a mystery man without a past has a whole lot of it. We just need to dig it up.”

Pursing my lips hard, I nod in agreement. “Then we’ll need more time.”

“We’ve got two or maybe three more hours of walking through the fine print today,” Jean says. “That’s usually when the real negotiations start, but it’s odd they’ve hardly had a question. If this were any other deal, I’d say we’re close to signing.”

Jean’s words aren’t encouraging. But a woman scorned is about to get really creative.

“Well,” I say decisively, “if Mr. Byrne wants a seat on this board, he’s going to have to earn it. The hard way. Because God help that man ... I have an idea.”

Chapter Sixteen

Margot

“Let's toast!” I say, getting the meeting going with an upbeat energy only hard-core scheming can muster.

On cue, two caterers wheel in a large cart filled with chilled bottles of champagne, dozens of crystal flutes, and a large assortment of fresh berries and chocolates. They’re followed by Travis, and I can’t help shake my head a little.

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