Page 102 of Daring You

“Without Astor’s elbow grease,” Mike says to Ben, “we’d never have figured out who you were. Hell, who knows how this trial could’ve gone. But thanks to her, we get to ask you some questions, see what you remember about that terrible, tragic night. Honestly, we all have Astor and Taryn to thank, who worked tirelessly to bring you forward as a witness.” Mike cocks his head at Taryn. “See? I told you I didn’t leave you two out.”

Mike’s attention then slides to me. “I’d never take credit for such detailed, thorough work that’s clearly the result of Astor’s sharp mind.”

My lips peel back from my teeth before I can stop them, and I hurl myself at Mike. “I hate you!”

Neon Green catches me by the arm. “Whoa, there, miss—”

“What the hell is the matter with you?” Yang says to me, eyes wide. His hands are up like I’m about to pounce on him, and Mike hovers behind Yang’s form like Yang’s a protective father figure.

“Mike here is giving you due credit,” Yang continues, “and you’re snarling like a lioness and frankly, ruining what was an entirely professional and polite meeting of minds.”

I’ve lost all decorum. “Ben, listen to me. What Mike’s done—he accessed my private files. He brought forward information that was never meant to come to light.”

“So you had files on me, huh?” Ben says.

With each second that ticks by, I witness the trust in his eyes flicker out.

“I didn’t know it was you when I was working on it!” I say. And I’m going to keep saying, keep trying, to bring my Ben back. “And by the time I did, I asked Taryn to delete what we found out. But it all happened so fast, and it’s not easy to convince your coworker to trash our discovery when she can’t know the truth about why.”

“Pardon me?” Yang raises a brow. “Not only were you withholding pertinent facts of the case, you deleted them?”

“Coworker?” Taryn glances at me, and if Ben’s eyes are a void, hers are filled with hurt. “I thought we were a team.”

“No, I—” This was all going so wrong. No one is listening, not one person understands—“Ben, I would’ve done anything to protect you. You’ve got to know that.”

“This is a clusterfuck,” Neon Green says beside me. He’s still hanging on my arm.

“Seconded,” Yang says. “This has gone well past any plan of attack. Mr. Donahue, you have my card. I strongly suggest you call me. And you, Miss Hayes. I want to see you in my office in an hour. No arguments,” he snaps as I open my mouth. “Mike, Miss Maddox, with me.”

Yang spins on his heel and says to Neon Green, “Move, young man,” as he exits the change room. Mike and Taryn follow, but Mike ensures he has my attention when he grins.

“A pleasure, Miss Hayes,” he says as he passes. “And a ‘Miss’ you will stay.”

I snarl at him, but Taryn jumps in front of me, holding onto my arms.

“I’m only restraining you to save your job,” Taryn whispers in my ear. “Not that asswipe’s face.”

She lets go after my heavy exhale, then follows the men out, but not without glancing between Ben and me with a cruise ship’s worth of weight in her expression.

“Good luck,” she whispers before she walks away.

I don’t watch them leave. I’m going to have hell to pay later, but right now, all that matters is—

“Get out.”

I stare at Ben, more than willing to beg and plead. “I had no idea Mike accessed my files—”

“You already said. Now get the fuck out.”

“Ben, you have to let me—”

“Get. OUT.”

I straighten my shoulders, though they feel as crooked and warped as a water-logged tree branch. “No. Not until you understand. I told you about the paper trail, Ben, to your inheritance. You knew I had that information.”

“What I didn’t know was that you kept it. You sent it to your boss.”

“No. I had every intention of deleting it, but then—last night happened, and this morning I was going to talk to Locke, and by the time Taryn called me saying Mike got into the folders, I…there wasn’t time.”

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