Ronan
I spent the weekend reminding myself of all the reasons why I couldn’t afford to be romantically interested in Willow. I managed to make it until late on Monday morning before I finally gave up and let the need to see her drive me from my office. I told myself it was because I needed to know whether she’d concede that I ran things more smoothly than Tom did, but that didn’t ring true. I stopped short when she was nowhere to be seen.
“Imani, I’m looking for Willow. Is she around?”
Imani cocked her head, curious. Fortunately, she knew better than the question the boss. “She went to the print room.”
“Thank you.”
I headed for the print room and paused in the doorway. Willow was bent over the copy machine, trying to tug a torn sheet of paper from its teeth.
“Is everything okay?”
She jumped, clutching at her throat. “You scared me.”
Suspicion crept over me. What was she doing that would warrant that reaction?
I stepped into the room. “Here, let me help.”
“There’s no need for that.” Her cheeks flushed. “I can figure it out.”
Was there something she didn’t want me to see?
“I insist.” I hustled forward and pressed the button that released the section of the copier she was battling with. The sheet of paper slid free, and I snatched it before she had the chance to intervene. It was a flow diagram with colored boxes and words like Insta, FB, and a few others I didn’t recognize. Tension flooded out of my shoulders as I realized it was for her project. The one we’d hired her to complete. There was nothing nefarious going on here.
I handed it to her. “Here you go. In the future, if you press the button, it’s much easier to dismantle.”
Her flush deepened. “Thanks.”
Her gaze darted to the exit, and I couldn’t help but wonder why she’d been so jumpy if she wasn’t sneaking around on her brother’s behalf.
“Are you all right?” I asked. “You seem to be wound up about something.”
“I’m fine.” She smiled tightly. “Thanks for asking.”
With that, she took the paper from my hand and brushed past me.
I detoured via Zeke’s office and knocked on the open door. He was hunched over his computer, but a few moments later, he straightened and removed the glasses perched on the tip of his nose.
“What’s up?”
“Can you look into Willow as well as Tom? Something is going on with her, but I’m not sure what.” I felt a momentary pang of guilt but squelched it.
Zeke grinned. “Already have.” He tapped a couple of keys on his keyboard. “I thought this might happen.”
Something in my chest coiled tight. “What did you find?”
“Not much.” He put his glasses back in place and scanned the screen. “She did moderately well in college and tried to make a living as a full-time artist but failed so she joined the family business instead. Oh, and here’s something you might be interested in.” He raised his eyes. “You’re aware that her father passed away when she was nineteen and left her a sizable trust fund, but it might surprise you to know it was almost completely drained before she turned twenty-one and gained access to it.”
I frowned. “Drained how?”
“As far as I can tell, her brother embezzled nearly everything. It’s unclear whether she knew it was happening, but she’s never taken any legal action against him.”
“Of course not,” I muttered.
One thing was clear about Willow Lennox: she was loyal to the Lennox family name. I didn’t know what her relationship with Tom was like, except that it was friendly enough for them to attend events together, but even if they didn’t get along, I doubted she’d want to cause a scandal by suing him.
My jaw tightened. No wonder she’d given up life as an artist. She probably couldn’t afford to support herself the way her father had intended. Tom had screwed her out of her future.
“Anyone else in her life?” I asked. “Boyfriends or exes?”
Zeke waggled his eyebrows. “It seems that sweet little Willow is as pure as a new snowfall. She didn’t date in high school and doesn’t appear to have done so more than a handful of times in college. She often attends events on the arms of wealthy men who are connected to her brother but is rarely seen with the same man more than once. I assume it’s all part of a smokescreen to make her look like the perfect society heiress. Except,” he chuckled, “she has no inheritance.”
She wasn’t seeing anyone. Savage satisfaction tore through me. I didn’t like the thought of her with another man. No matter how unsuitable she might be, my subconscious said she belonged with me.
Willow
Someone was watching me. I could feel it.
All weekend, I’d had the strangest sensation of eyes following me, and it hadn’t gone away. Now it was Monday and I was back in the King’s Security office, but the feeling hadn’t left. Was someone actually watching me? If so, were they working for Ronan, or had Tom gotten us into more trouble? Short of tying him up and torturing him for information, I’d done everything I could to get him to spill the truth of our situation, but he hadn’t. Our company must have been in dire financial straits, that much was clear, but there was more to the story. Something I was missing. My best guess was that he owed money to someone he shouldn’t.
I needed to do my own digging into Tom’s affairs, in addition to the snooping I’d already been doing at King’s Security. I hadn’t found any mention of Lennox Securities during my time surreptitiously nosing around the intranet, but when I’d looked up the files for some of the bigger clients he’d poached from us, they were password protected. At first, I thought that was an indication of guilt, but I’d quickly realized that every client file was password protected. I’d considered mentioning this to Tom, certain he’d have ideas about how to break into them, but I’d decided not to. No matter how much trouble the company was in, I didn’t believe Dad would have wanted me to stoop that low. He’d had firm ideas about honor.
I straightened and headed for the area where Zeke’s cybersecurity team was housed. Anxiety squeezed in my chest. Dad probably wouldn’t have wanted me to do what I was about to do either. But honestly, I didn’t think I had much choice.
I scanned the people stationed at their computers, my gaze landing on Oliver, the guy I’d met on Friday. I walked over and stopped in front of his desk.
He sat back and smiled. “I’m surprised to see you in this part of the building.”
I glanced at the person seated next to him and lowered my voice. “I was hoping you’d be able to help me with something.”
He raised an eyebrow. “A favor?”
I nodded, knowing it was cheeky to be asking for something so soon after meeting him, but I had no one else to turn to. No one with his skillset, anyway. “Do you mind if we talk in private?”
“This sounds serious.” He pushed his chair back and gestured for me to precede him into one of the meeting rooms. I sat on one side of the table, and he closed the door and sat opposite. “What’s going on?”
I bit my lip. Was this a mistake?
“You can trust me,” he urged.
“Okay.” I set my jaw. “Can you look into somebody for me?”
He cocked his head. “Is this for work?”
“Not exactly.” I cupped one of my hands with the other. They were both cold—something that tended to happen when I was stressed. “It’s my brother. It would be off the books.” I lowered my gaze. “I know I’m asking a lot. I wouldn’t be putting you in this position if I felt like I had any other choice.”
He scrubbed his palm down his face. “What are you looking for?”
I shrugged. “He might owe someone money, but he won’t tell me. I’ve got a bad feeling and want to make sure he’s safe.”
“Okay.” He placed his hands on the table and nodded. “As long as that’s all there is to it. But you’ll owe me. What’s his name?”
“Tom Lennox.”
He paled. “I didn’t know your last name was Lennox. Willow…” He reached across the table and took my hand. “We’re already looking into your brother.”
“What?” I repeated, shock chilling my insides.
He glanced over his shoulder and leaned forward. “I can’t share the details, but from what I’ve seen, you’re right. Your brother owes a lot of money and he’s in over his head in something rotten.”
My stomach plummeted. Suspecting the truth was one thing. Having it confirmed was another. “Thank you for telling me.”
I shot to my feet, my movements jerky.
Tom had dragged me into something shady, and my gut told me that Ronan was going to use it as leverage for a takeover. Why else would he order an investigation? I’d known Ronan was up to something. Damn him, and damn Tom for not being upfront with me.
“Wait,” Oliver called. I stopped and looked over my shoulder. “I just wanted to let you know that it’s not part of an investigation for a client.”
I cocked my head, not sure what he was getting at.
He sighed and pushed a hand through his hair. “When an investigation isn’t connected to a client file it’s usually because one of the directors has a personal interest in the subject. If I were you, I’d talk to Ronan.”
My jaw firmed. As I’d thought. “Thanks, Oliver.”
Following his advice, I beelined for Ronan’s office. Just as I reached for the handle, Fiona leaped in front of me, barring the entrance.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. King is busy.” Her sympathetic expression made me think she had some idea of what was going on. “I can’t let you in.”
I ground my teeth together to avoid snapping at her. “I need to see him.”
“He’s busy,” she reiterated. “If you come back in half an hour—”
“Please, it’ll just be a moment,” I interrupted. “Look, I’m sorry, but we’re overdue for a conversation.”
With that, I darted around her and let myself into the boss’s office, coming up short at the sight of two men seated at the table along the wall. Zeke, and a mountain of a man I assumed must be the other partner, Kade. I didn’t let their appearance put me off. My hands landed on my hips, and I glared at Ronan, who sat behind his desk like a king holding court.
“When did you start investigating my brother?”