Page 32 of Keeping Her Secrets

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Robert Hanley’s office looked exactly like the man himself, pretentious and dripping in old money. Mustique had worn black, wide-leg pants and a white vest with a large, white suit jacket over the top. The metal detectors on the door prevented either her or Asher from taking guns inside, but the hidden pockets inside the jacket had her hard plastic Shuriken and her other toys.

Ash’s eyes had hit his hairline, earlier, when he’d seen the lipstick that was a knife with a glass blade. Her stiletto heel had a plastic spike inside it. The compact that carried throwing stars was her favorite though.

“What in God’s name is that for?” Mustique had opened her mouth to answer, but he’d held up a hand. “Forget it, I don’t want to know. I think being with you may give me a heart attack.”

Mustique had laughed, a light feeling filling her as he talked of them being together. He seemed to accept the dark parts of her as if they had no bearing on how he felt about her. Part of her knew it was a dream—the two of them making anything work with their jobs was almost impossible, but that he wanted to meant a lot to her.

Now, as she watched the receptionist eye fuck Ash, she wondered if maybe the sharp, plastic throwing star in her bag might look good in the bitch’s throat.

“How may I help you, sir?”

Mustique rolled her eyes. “Oh, bitch, please. This one is not for you. So just tell the senator he has a visitor.”

The woman blushed ten shades of beetroot. Mustique heard Ash quietly chuckle beside her, and she resisted the urge to glare at him.

The receptionist recovered and straightened her spine. “I’m afraid Senator Hanley is very busy and doesn’t have time available for unscheduled visitors.”

So Campaign Barbie had some backbone. Mustique almost admired her. If it wasn’t for her flirting with Ash, Mustique might even like her.

“Well, why don’t you tell the good senator that Mr. and Mrs. Jones would like to see him regarding Ramin Hashemi. Believe me when I say he will see us.”

Barbie must have seen the truth in her eyes because she stood, shot her a furious look, and walked toward a closed door. She knocked before entering, shutting the door behind her again

“Mr. and Mrs. Jones?” Ash’s mouth twitched with humor.

“Oh, shut up. Barbie was making googly eyes at you, and it pissed me off.”

“I do find jealousy attractive on you.” He was messing with her now, and she liked the natural back and forth banter between them.

She snorted. “Yeah, well, you’ll be disappointed then because I am not jealous.”

“You’re nearly green with it,” he murmured as the door to the inner sanctum opened, and Robert Hanley glared at them from the doorway.

“Told you he wouldn’t run,” Mustique whispered, referring to an earlier conversation.

“I guess you won that bet.” Ash stepped forward toward Hanley. “Senator, so glad you could find time to see us.”

Shooting Barbie a smug look, Mustique sashayed past her, ignoring the bitch comment aimed her way under the woman’s breath. Barbie had earned that one.

Mustique surveyed her surroundings as she entered the office behind Ash. The windows faced the road and the only other exit was the one they’d just come in through. Seeing a door to their left, she strode past the two men and opened it to discover a private bath. Noting it was unoccupied, she closed the door again and faced the senator who looked furious enough to stroke out at any minute.

“What do you want?”

Ash sat in the chair near the desk. He appeared relaxed, but Mustique could see his body was coiled for action, ready to move at a second’s warning.

Mustique ran her hand over the smooth, hard, wood of the massive desk that must be compensation for the man’s ‘short comings.’ “Why don’t you sit down, Senator.” Her voice brooked no argument, but the politician wasn’t used to being ordered around, and especially not by a woman.

“I will not be told what to do in my own office.”

Mustique moved so quickly, he never saw her coming. She had her hands around his neck in a second, forcing him to step back as his eyes bulged. He grabbed her wrists in an unsuccessful attempt to throw her off him. Mustique pushed him down in his chair and released him before leaning down and getting into his face. “I said, sit down.”

When the man stayed where she’d put him, Mustique straightened and chanced a glance at Ash for his reaction to her outburst. She found him lounging in the same spot, no emotion showing on his face as he silently watched the scene unfold. They’d agreed she would take the lead, and he was letting her do just that.

“Now, tell me about Ramin Hashemi?”

Mustique perched her butt on the edge of the desk and assessed the senator. His gray hair was perfectly combed, his suit probably cost more than the average family car, and he was as poisonous as a rattlesnake. “I don’t know any Ramin Hashemi.”