Page 13 of Conquer

“You looked into me, but I looked into you first,” I said.

“And what did you find?” she responded.

“I found out that you got deeper into his business dealings than anyone ever has,” I said.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied.

“Not true. I read your report on that restaurant owner. It was good work,” I said.

“It got shut down,” she replied, and I could hear the anger brimming in her voice. It was clear to me what she thought about that, and I suspected she didn’t quite trust her colleagues at the state investigator’s office as much as she should have.

Something she was right not to do.

Something that gave me an opportunity to become her ally.

“Yeah, it did,” I said. “But you got far. I want to know what you do.”

The irony of this moment wasn’t lost on me. Everything I said was true. Sam had gotten far, and I also wanted to know what she knew. But that truth in fact didn’t change the other truth that I was manipulating her.

It also didn’t change the fact that her diligence had brought her to Maxim’s attention, a place she didn’t want to be any more than I wanted her to.

“You found the report. Read it. Why come to me?” she said.

“A report’s just paper. It doesn’t tell the story. You can,” I said.

“There’s really nothing to tell, Adrian,” she said.

“Why don’t you let me decide that?” I said.

She considered me for a moment, seeming to get lost in her thoughts.

Then she met my eyes. “Okay,” she said. “But wine first.”

Sam

“So, that’s it,” I said. I finished the last of my wine and studied Adrian.

“Impressive,” he said.

“You think so?” I asked, feeling far too pleased at his compliment.

“Yes,” he replied.

“It didn’t do any good, though,” I said.

Adrian smiled, the expression bright, lighting his entire face. It was amazing to watch because while his smile did nothing to lessen his intensity, it gave him a lightness, a warmth that hadn’t been there before. I couldn’t help but return that smile with one of my own.

“You’re wrong about that, Sam. It got my attention,” he said.

The words didn’t mean what I desperately wanted them to, but that didn’t stop my response, didn’t keep my entire body from flushing. I tried to tell myself it was the wine, but I knew that it wasn’t.

“And what are you going to do about it, now that it has your attention?” I asked, my voice coming out low, almost seductive. Sex goddess Samara seemed intent on making an appearance.

But if Adrian noticed, he didn’t show it. “Nothing, not yet. I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on,” he said.

“Is this about a case of yours?” I asked.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

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