Page 169 of Twisted Knight

“You slimy piece of shit,” Rhett says.

“Wow. I’d think you’d reserve that for the lawyers who worked out the deal, but hey”—I hold up my hands—“who am I to judge?” I chuckle and take the signed paperwork back, sliding it back into the top drawer. “Relax, Rhett. The time for cold feet is over. Besides, your cut of the ten mil should be more than enough to hold you over for the next year, right?”

Rhett looks at me with shell-shocked eyes. “Wait until—”

“Until what? Until who finds out?” I ask, knowing exactly where he’s going with this. And his glare only confirms it. “One, you signed a nondisclosure as part of the terms of the contract, so no one knows the deal is done until I announce it. And no one knows the terms of it—ever. Two, you complain to others about the deal? It only ends up making you look stupid and people look closer at why you’re so upset. Is there a reason you’re so upset, Rhett?” I bait him and I fucking love every goddamn second of it. Of this.

“You conned me. Us.” He spits the words out.

“I did no such thing. It’s in your hands in black and white.”

His jaw is clenched so tight it’s a miracle his teeth don’t crack.

“Is there anything further I can do for you?” I ask. Blank stares meet my amused one.

FIFTY-FIVE

Rowan

“Holden needs your assistance.” I look up at my doorway to see Audrey and her ramrod-straight spine standing there.

While I’m getting used to her presence, I’m still not sure what to think of her … nor do I exactly know what she thinks of me. She’s not the warmest of people—unless you’re talking about Holden. When it comes to Holden, Audrey is a completely different person. She’s softer, more personal. Her smile is genuine. Her tone gentler.

And for some reason I don’t understand, I want to win her approval.

“Oh. Okay. Is he in his office?”

Her smile is tight. “No.”

“The conference room?”

“No.” This time there is no smile.

“Have I done something to offend you, Audrey?” I ask the question that is on my mind every time I interact with her.

She studies me. Her eyes narrow and her lips pinch momentarily as if she has to think about things. “The last thing Holden needs right now is to be distracted. There is too much at stake for him if he is.”

“Good thing the deal will be finalized soon, and he can figure out his own distractions for himself, right?” I ask, more than peeved at her implication that I’m a distraction.

And if she thinks that, then does that mean she knows about the two of us?

The pinched mouth returns. So does the all-business attitude. “He’s off-site, evaluating a new asset.”

“Oh.” Is that why he’s been holed up in meetings all day yesterday and nowhere in sight today?

“He sent a car to take you to him.”

“Okay. Um…” I don’t even know what to say. Other than a few comments in passing over the past few days, after the break room incident, we haven’t exactly had time to talk much. Sure, we’ve exchanged a few texts back and forth. Some flirty. Some professional. Neither have addressed that situation and I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. Regardless, it’s fallen by the wayside since we’ve both been seriously busy.

Me buttoning up the deal Holden made with GWA—which he has stayed completely out of. And Holden behind a lot of closed doors in meetings during the day, and then at night out entertaining some old clients who are in town.

Besides that, for some reason that I can’t put my finger on, there has been a tense undercurrent in the office the past few days. A lot of closed doors and not much of the lighthearted banter we’re used to.

Or maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’ve been working too much with not enough downtime.

I’ll admit that every time I come home, I’m a tad bummed not to find him sitting in the shadows of my porch waiting for me.

“Should I tell the driver you’re on the way down?” she prompts. Clearly in her eyes I’m taking too much time and that’s her blunt way of letting me know.