Page 16 of The Southern Thirst Trap

“You can positively identify him as the culprit for this attack?” Hayes asks, cracking his knuckles and looking like he’s ready to pull the kid out of whatever hole he’s hiding in so he can personally deliver the ass-kicking he deserves.

“Not exactly. I can identify it against other attacks, but there is no clear indication that Archer Donovan is the hacker, since this particular signature belongs to a hacker who hasn’t been caught and identified.” Payton’s explanation makes sense, but it doesn't seem to stop Hayes from planning all the ways he will be making Archer pay for his alleged crimes.

“If you want my two cents on this situation, I’ll give it to you,” Rex says, like we’re not all fuming around the table. “A competitor likely saw your article and hired someone with Archer’s skill set to break into your network and steal the plans for Pegasus so they could get a jump on you. Do I have solid evidence that it was Archer who facilitated the breach, or know who would have hired him? No, I don’t. All I can say is this theory fits what I know of both Archer Donovan and the rest of the group I was partnered with.”

We need more than a theory to go on. “We didn’t ask you here for conjecture, Rex. We wanted your insider information,” I reply, flattening my hands on the table and staring at his smug face.

Rex holds up his hands in a shrug. “I’m no longer a part of the inner circle, so you can’t blame me for not knowing exactly what’s going on. It’s not like I have another thumb drive for you to use to take down your enemies. I only had one shot at that. Now I’ve been kicked out of the boys’ club for not being thrown in prison with the main three for my part in what they had planned last year.”

I shake my head, knowing it’s futile to ask for more information he won’t be able to provide. “Fine. This at least gives us a jumping-off point. Thanks for your time.”

“Is this a good time to bring up that you owe me now?” Rex says, crossing his ankle over a knee. “That board position is looking real comfy right now and I have some extra time on my hands.”

“Fuck off, Rex,” all three of us say at once.

ten

Zander

BythetimeI’mfinally ready to leave the Olympus International Tower, it’s well after dark. I ask Weiss to send Javi into my office as soon as I leave my last meeting and then tell her to finish up for the evening since she’s been here longer than I have. She just gives me a knowing look and a backward wave as she exits my office. I can't believe I still haven't melted that woman’s iceberg exterior.

I have an idea that’s been percolating in my subconscious all day, despite everything else that is going on. Probably not a good one, given the day of negotiations that didn’t go my way. I had to fight with Hayes to up our offer for a deal that would replace Rosenthall, and I’m annoyed as fuck after dealing with that shifty bastard Rex only providing the barest information. Besides that, Payton’s incessant need to hash out how we are going to fight back after we learned of the connection to Archer Donovan left me feeling drained.

Despite the work piling up and the team scrambling to pivot, I can’t stop thinking about running into Harlowe, of all people. Why would we be thrown back together like that? To have seen her photos on the Atlanta Haute List moments before the world conspired against me, literally crashing us into each other, just so we would be in the same place at the same time? Not fucking normal.

Neither is my irrational obsession with her all week, despite my insistence that I wouldn’t think about her again, and I couldn’t possibly have any attachments to her this long after. I’m still obsessing about the time we spent together and how that could have changed my life as I know it, now that I’ve seen the photos of her son.

To make matters worse, I gave into my curiosity and looked up her Foulmouthed Foodie Instagram account, only to catch the fucking thirst trap she posted the same night I saw her. Holy shit, did that one grab me by the balls. Her glorious, feline smile as she took a bite of some delicious, creamy-looking pasta dish, her tits looking even more fucking delectable, slightly out of focus, just below the forkful of food. Her caption was the kicker, my cock growing harder with every salaciously dirty word that tripped across my feed, sayingcreamy cacio is her favorite, and ending with loving yourself at every size.

It was a reminder that, yes, her body is different, and goddamn does it look so fucking good I could spend another two weeks eating her up and learning every new curve and how it fits against me. I fisted my cock right then and came so quick and violently it felt like lightning snapped down my spine with the force of the ropes of cum that shot out of me. I don't know the last time I jacked off to a photo on the internet, one that was safe to post to a social media feed, at that.

I need to see Harlowe. I have to talk to her. It’s a thought that has never crossed my mind about any woman who has been in my bed, and that breaks the rules, but so does possibly having a connection with her that stuck around longer than I did.

I retreat to my office and pace behind my desk. There’s way too much at stake and going on in my professional world and the stress from my personal life is only adding to the mix, given the fucking bombshell that I’m pretty damn sure I have a kid and Harlowe doesn’t want me to know anything about him.

“You wanted to see me?” Javi says as he enters my office without a knock. Thank fuck that didn’t take long.

“I need whatever information you have on her,” I say, hand outstretched for good measure.

Javi takes a seat across from me and pulls out his phone. “I’m going to take a flying leap and assume you mean Harlowe Sorenson.” He taps his phone screen and scrolls a bit.

“Of course, that’s who I mean. I give you the credit you deserve for your intelligence and aptitude to connect the dots. No need to rub it in,” I gripe.

“Touchy about this one, are we? Sending a photo of her insurance documents and her contact card now. Don't say I never do anything for you. I follow your crazy ass out of perfectly good planes and give you contact information I’m pretty sure you normally wouldn’t want.” He gives me a knowing look.

My phone vibrates on my desk and I immediately snatch it up. “Thanks,” I say, already saving the contact. “Have you sent her your insurance info yet?”

Javi rubs the back of his neck. “We’ve had a lot going on the last couple of days. It sort of slipped my mind. I should send it right now.” He swipes his screen open again and starts tapping.

“Don’t bother. Send it to me instead.” Possibilities are rushing through my mind, concocting scenarios and evaluating risks. If I see Harlowe, I need an excuse. This could be it.

Javi pauses and looks at me hard before shaking his head in deference. “Okay, but can I also offer some words of unsolicited advice?” When I don’t stop him, he continues. “Maybe don’t show up unexpectedly. Give her the heads up I know you yourself would want. Connect with her and create a rapport before you spring your obnoxiously big ego on her after however long it’s been. You seem to have a history, and that alone is unusual for you.”

I cock my head and consider his words for a moment and finally nod. He’s intuitive, catching on to far more than I’ve said. He knows my normal patterns with women, and yet he’s read into the quick interaction from Monday that there was something verynot normalabout the situation with Harlowe. I hate that he’s that perceptive when it comes to my personal life, but that’s why he’s my SVP. It doesn't mean I’ll actually take his advice, but I appreciate it nonetheless.

I point a finger at him. “You think on the next level and have my back, even when I’m not looking for it.”

Javi gives me a crooked grin and stands from the chair. “I think that’s one of a handful of true compliments you’ve given me, and with that, I’m out of here before you ruin it by saying something shitty. Good night, man. Be careful.” His backward wave as he strides through the door is enough to get me to crack a smile.

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