Page 67 of Seducer

What are you doing, girl?

I had no decent answer, especially when I returned to his desk drawers, finding the metal opener. The locks were typical, factory installed and simple enough the small instrument should work. I’d been that big sister more than once during raising Kyle, forced to check up on him when he locked everything away.

It didn’t take any time for me to unlock the middle drawer. I crouched down on my knees, flipped through the tight files. Nothing jumped out at me. There were old advertising files and marketing ideas from years ago. I also noticed a file on severalcompanies considered competition. But nothing that jumped out regarding the Obsidian Society.

I sat back, rubbing my eyes. This was without a doubt the dumbest idea I’d ever come up with. I was here. I’d get this over with, then scrap the entire idea. I dug again, tugging and pulling a few of the files. When I was forced to pull the drawer to its full extension, I noticed what appeared to be a false back. Was that possible?

The brat in me was instantly intrigued. I glanced toward the door, biting my lower lip. Then I went for it. As I tugged on the compartment, I said a silent prayer I wouldn’t wake up in jail. It took a few seconds, but the back gave way.

Inside was a single file. It was black. There was no description, but Obsidian was black. So… I pulled it into my hands, sitting back on my butt to take a glance. Excitement tore through me. I quickly realized what I was looking at was a dossier of names of possible contestants. Plus some documentation I didn’t take the time to read.

Instead, I rushed to the small copy machine in his office, taking a peek out the window flanking his door before grouping the stack of papers into the machine. When I hit copy, I took a step back, certain I was going to burn in hell for what I was doing.

It seemed to take forever for the multiple pages to copy, but when the stack was finally done, I breathed a very audible sigh of relief. I’d make a terrible sleuth. I’d keep my day job. My night one too.

Almost laughing from nervousness, I collected both stacks, placing the copy on the desk while hunkering down and replacing the file just so in the hidden compartment. I was barelytaking deep enough breaths when I patted down the other files so everything looked exactly the way I’d found it. No one should know I’d been here. Unless fingerprints were taken.

As soon as I closed the drawer, I heard a sound. Shit. Was the sudden noise footsteps I heard? I silently closed the drawer, glancing toward the door in hopes of a quick getaway.

The noise I’d heard was closer. Whoever it was happened to be right outside in the hallway. There was only one hiding place that might work.

Underneath Zach’s desk.

I was getting damn good at fitting in tight spaces. I snatched the papers off the desk, folding them and shoving the group under my blouse. The thought that I could hide from him was ridiculous, but what choice did I have? As I moved his chair, crawling underneath, I found myself shivering like a leaf. At least I hadn’t left any telltale signs of remaining at the office at my desk. My purse and keys were in a drawer, my light turned off. No one would be the wiser.

As long as I could get out of the building without being seen.

I held my breath as the footsteps neared. That’s when I heard a voice. Not just any voice, but Zach’s voice.

Oh, dear God. This was a nightmare.

I couldn’t tell if he was on the phone or if he had someone with him. Either way, I was fucked.

There was silence only thirty seconds later. Maybe he’d just come by to grab something and had left. I wasn’t going to risk leaving my hidey hole just yet.

So I waited.

And checked my phone every few seconds until ten full minutes of peace and quiet had passed. Only then did I slide out from under the desk.

The split second before I stood, a crackle of electricity soared into every cell and muscle. I was so fucked. I didn’t need to turn around to know my entire career had just been tossed into the sewer.

Zach Blackwell was sitting in the chair opposite his desk, his feet crossed at the ankles and resting on the surface of his furniture. He had his hands folded and an evil grin on his face.

His reflection made him appear somewhat distorted. I couldn’t stand to turn around. Not just yet. I smoothed down my top as I attempted to find some logical reason I was hiding under his desk.

I dropped a contact. Nope. I was wearing glasses. I’d lost my favorite pen. Then why was I in his office in the first place? I was screwed.

Why was the man being so patient, so kind when he should be raving like some lunatic? He wasn’t making a single sound. He was allowing me to wallow in self-pity and recrimination while enjoying every minute of it.

There was nothing I could do at this point. I certainly couldn’t jump out the window. I had to turn around and face the music. Whatever punishment he would dole out, I might end up groveling. Even though I’d never been that kind of girl. Not in the least.

I held my head high, finally turning around. “Mr. Blackwell.”

“Sara Capshaw. Or should I call you Wild Kitty?”

Oh, fuck me. I hadn’t fooled anyone. I could feel tingles of perspiration already trickling down my back. This was the worst possible scenario. His evil grin remained. The man was a powerhouse no matter the circumstances.

“That’s not something I allow anyone to know about. What I do in my off time is none of their business.”

---