Page 104 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

I smiled at him.

“Someone from IT will be up soon. I thought we could go over the discussions I had with the board on Friday together.”

He sat down at his desk, grinning from ear to ear. I didn’t quite know what to make of his flitting from one mood to another so quickly. My palms started sweating a little. I wiped them on the back of my trousers as I sat down in the chair in front of his desk.

“Before that, can I ask why John is here?”

Most of my family knew John, so it wasn’t surprising he’d asked.

“Uncle Charlie thinks I need someone protecting me.”

I didn’t dare tell him what happened over the weekend.

“Any particular reason?”

I shrugged.

“He’s been overprotective since I came back. I can’t blame him really after what happened to Mum and Dad.”

Ed raised an eyebrow.

“No, I suppose I understand.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Say, little cousin, are you seeing anyone?”

I froze. Why was he asking me that? It seemed like an odd question given what we’d just been discussing.

“Um, no… why?”

He waved a hand at me.

“You’ve got this kind of glow about you.”

What the actual fuck is he talking about?

“I do?”

“Yeah, you just seem happier. I mean obviously things have been tough on you, but before your parents died, you were really closed off. You just seem different now.”

I had absolutely no idea how to respond to that. Being with Aiden had changed me, but I didn’t think it was that noticeable. And why would I seem happier when my whole life had gone to shit? My parents were dead. I was head of a company I wanted nothing to do with. I’d been kidnapped, held captive and found out my family were a bunch of sick bastards.

“Well, thanks… I think. Still not seeing anyone.”

“Are you sure? What about that friend of yours? You know, the one you grew up with. It’s high time you got snapped up. You’re being called the most eligible heiress.”

I chose to ignore his latter comment. I’d seen that shit on the internet. I was more concerned as to why he was asking me if I was seeing my best friend.

“What, James?” I frowned. “Um no, that would be weird.”

“Doesn’t he have an older brother?”

My eyebrows shot up. Where the hell was Ed going with this? Was he fishing for information? I wanted to put my head in my hands. This was suspicious as fuck, especially after I’d had Frazier in here. Was that what this was about?

“And now we’re changing the subject.”

I hadn’t come in here to talk about my love life.

“Don’t tell me you have a crush on him?”

I really couldn’t believe my ears.

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