Page 76 of Enticing the Fixer

Margo glances away and stares out the window.

“Well?”

“Dear….” Margo turns back to face me. “I’ve reconsidered. I think you need to do what’s best for everyone. Taking on this responsibility has been too much for you. Look at how angry you’re getting. It’s not good for your health.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake. Stop treating me like I’m four years old.

“I think keeping the company is best for everyone.” I stand still, waiting to see if anyone will jump over the table and clobber me. The veiled threat is heavy in the air. No one moves. I spin on my heel and march to the door.

When the knob is twisted in my hand, Ethan calls out, “You have twenty-four hours.”

My back, neck, and jaw tighten, but I don’t bother to face them. “And then what?”

He clears his throat. “We’ll begin hostile takeover proceedings. You’ve sabotaged the business, driving down the stock prices. And if you weren’t responsible for the data breach, it still happened under your watch.” He pauses a second. The room is quiet enough to hear a pin drop. “And you’ve stolen money from the company.”

“No, I did not.” I spin around to face them, and all eyes are on me. Anger surges through me. Are they in on it together? Is this a cult thing?

When I meet Ian’s gaze, he looks away as if he’s ashamed of how they’re treating me but is too big of a pussy to do anything about it. Or he’s the one that killed my father and he’s guilty as fuck.

“Yes, you did. The evidence is irrefutable.” Ethan places his palms on the table and shoves upward. How did they find out about the money? Leo is the only one who knows. And the responsible party. Is it someone in this room? My heart pounds in my ears, making a loud whooshing sound.

“I didn’t steal anything, and I’m not allowing you to bully me.” I step into the hallway and shut the door behind me. What am I going to do? I don’t have enough shares to fight them.

My hand shakes as I rush down the hallway. Each step rattles in my ears as if they’re following me, ready to pounce. I spin around, but no one is there.Jesus, I’m losing my mind.

After I step into the elevator, I hit the button and wait impatiently as the car lowers floor by floor. Leo will know what to do. He always knows what to do.

Did the ceiling latch move? My eyes widen and dry as I watch the screw heads for movement. Nothing happens. What’s wrong with me? They didn’t threaten to kill me, and exactly which of them do I expect to climb down the elevator cable and bust inside to kill me?

One slip and all of them would be in a pile on the floor. This is stupid. They threatened a hostile takeover–not murder. I poke my fingertips into the muscles between my shoulders and neck and whimper.

The door jerks open, and I drop my arms down to my sides. Arlene from personnel brushes past me. “Hey, Boss.”

“Hello, Arlene.” I smile weakly and nod. Everyone doesn’t need to know I’m a hot mess. My heels click on the tile as I walk toward the accounting department.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Leo

I have my two pawns and the only person who knows who went into Kinsley’s office the day the virus was installed. As long as my pawns aren’t murderers. Curtis Bryant was in my casino two weeks ago and is over-extended there and in other locations. And Preston Quinn’s son is in jail on drug charges. Defense attorneys cost money.

And Valeria. I need to know her role in everything. Did she plant the virus? Is she somehow responsible for the missing money? Or is she innocent and knows who went into Kinsley’s office while she was out?

When I leave my office, Carla rushes across the room and clutches my upper arm. “We’re alone.”

“Okay?”

“Keith left for lunch.”

“Okay.” The hair on the back of my neck raises. I’m not scared of her but beating off a clingy female when I have ten things in motion is not what I had planned for today. I need to get to Kinsley and tell her my plan.

And telling her my plan includes explaining why I moved to Kansas City, how much money I have, and convincing her not to get pissed I’ve been keeping things from her.

Which will eventually lead to her looking up my name on the internet and finding blurred out pictures of my dick and ass in the images section. And a video of an unflattering sexual encounter. It’s time to come clean.

Once everything is out on the table, I can get to Curtis and Preston. With their stocks added to hers, no one can touch the company. All I need is her consent to proceed with turning the screws on them and getting what I want. Then, I’ll question Valeria on where the money went.

“I saw you looking at me.” She licks her lips and leans forward, pressing her chest into mine. “I feel the same way. I can’t stop thinking about you. I’ve touched myself thinking of you every night since you started working here.”

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