Page 39 of Greed

I exit the elevator in the lobby to find it empty except for the security guard and a doorman.

Desmond is on duty again, so I toss him a smile. “Hey!”

“Abby.” He pushes to stand, smoothing a hand over the front of his well-tailored jacket. “I made a reservation for Lise for Sunday brunch. I’ll report back on Monday.”

“You’re going to love it,” I say with confidence, even though I’ve never tasted the bistro’s brunch offerings. “Let me know what your favorite dish is.”

He falls in step next to me as I cross the lobby. “Will do. Are you calling it a night?”

I nod. “I’m going to surprise my sister with pizza.”

“Excellent choice.” He grins. “I’ve yet to find a pepperoni pie in this city I hate.”

I don’t bother to tell him that Carrie’s favorite has always been and will always be prosciutto and arugula on a thin crust.

The doorman tips his head forward as he holds the heavy glass door open for me to exit.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

“I can hail a taxi,” Desmond offers. “Unless that car is waiting for you.”

I glance in the direction he’s pointing toward a black Mercedes parked near the curb. I’ve seen hundreds of these cars in New York City since I moved here, but a sinking feeling settles in my gut because this screams Declan.

It takes less than a second for my fear to be confirmed when the back passenger window slowly lowers.

“Mr. Wells,” Desmond says. “I thought you left fifteen minutes ago.”

I turn to face the guard. “I’ll leave you to chat with Mr. Wells. Goodnight.”

“Night!” Desmond calls after me as I start walking down the sidewalk.

I don’t make it ten feet before I hear a car door slam behind me.

“Abigail!” Declan’s voice snaps through the air with an authoritative bite. “We need to talk.”

Without glancing back, I shake my head. “I have somewhere to be.”

A large hand circles my bicep before I can take another step. The silk of my white blouse may separate his touch from my skin, but it still sends a pulse of electricity straight through me.

“Turn around, Abby.”

I thought I’d have tonight to steel myself for my next conversation with him. I have a million questions about when he decided to buy Llura Condoms and why he thinks I’m the perfect woman for the job.

I spin to face him. “Yes?”

His gaze locks on mine. “Join me for dinner.”

“I have plans,” I shoot back with a sugary sweet smile.

“Break them.”

“No.” I shake my head.

“Yes,” he says with a nod.

“Why?”

The corners of his mouth edge toward a smile, but he chases it away with a bite to his bottom lip. “We need to talk strategy.”

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