Page 81 of Enticing the Fixer

What in the fuck?Her assistant Truman’s client? That makes no sense. She has nothing to gain from the company being sold. Hell, she might lose her job if a new CFO takes over.

If I bought the company, I’d bring my own team in because I don’t trust this group of staff. “I assumed it was one of the board members.”

“No….” He clears his throat. “Jack and Valeria were a couple. They’d been together for a couple of years but had never told anyone. She knew he was turning down the sale of the business and grew suspicious the second he died. She was afraid no one would believe her or suspect she was jealous he was in another part of town.”

“Why did she decide to hire you?”

“When the board started pushing Kinsley to sell, she was scared the same thing would happen to her. She doesn’t want anything to happen to his daughter or for someone to steal what is rightfully hers. She’s determined to support Jack’s legacy.”

“Did she say why he was in that part of town?”

“She never said. I don’t know if she knows or not.”

“Thanks.” The clouds part, and a tiny ray of sunshine cracks through to spotlight a halo on the sidewalk. It feels like a sign. That’s all the bigger of an opening I need. I’m going to dig in like a badger and not stop until every objection she has is eradicated. She’s mine. She knows it. And damn it. I’m hers. “I need access to Curtis Bryant and Preston Quinn.”

“The board members?”

“Yes. I need to contact them without anyone else finding out.”

“On it. Give me fifteen minutes.”

“And I need to speak to your client.”

“I’ll call her.”

“Thank you.” I shove my cell phone into my pants pocket and dodge the remaining raindrops on my way back to the front entrance.

Five minutes later, I snap the door shut to Kinsley’s outer office. It’s empty except for Valeria. She pushes her chair back from her desk and stands, wiping her palms on her skirt. “I received a call.”

“Clean?”

She nods, walks over to Kinsley’s door and shuts it, leaving us alone. The only sound in the room is the pop station from the radio on her desk. Truman would have told her to turn on the music to block out any conversations she has. The frequency is the right decibel to mess with a listening device.

“I checked everything as soon as Truman called. I’ve never found one in here. No one suspects that I have any importance to the situation.”

“Kinsley’s office?”

She nods. “There was one under her desk on the outside edge.”

The muscles in my back ache from tension, and it will not ease up any time soon. “Does she know?”

“I haven’t seen her since the meeting.”

I stop mid-step and cross my arms over my chest. “What meeting?”

A whiff of coconut swirls through the air as the central air snaps on.

“The board was in a top-secret meeting this afternoon. When Kinsley returned from lunch, I grabbed her and let her know. I don’t think they wanted her involved. Or if they did, this was their last stab at getting her to play along with their plan.”

There’s only one reason the group would get together without her. They’re orchestrating a hostile takeover. For now. Give me an hour, and I’ll stage my own coup. “Why was Jack on 16thand Valley?”

She shakes her head as sorrow covers her features. “I don’t know. When he left the conference, he told me he would be over at my place within the hour. Ten minutes later, he called from a phone number I didn’t recognize and said he’d be late, that something with the sale of the business came up and he needed to meet someone. He never showed up.” The pain in her eyes makes my gut churn.

I might have lost Kinsley, but at least I know she’s alive. I can work with that. But knowing I’d never see her again? That’s impossible to fathom. Pain settles in my chest. “I’m sorry for your loss. I didn’t know him, but I realize talking about the situation is painful.”

She gives me a weak smile. “It is. Thank you. The worst was when I found out he lived after the accident, and no one called an ambulance. I understand there are selfish and immoral people in the world, but I suspect there’s more to it. Jack wouldn’t sell. He was adamant. And then he was dead.” Her jaw flexes as her emotions shift from sorrow to anger. An emotion both of us are more comfortable with. “That’s not a coincidence.”

“Who do you suspect?”

---