“We’re running out of time.”
I pace the apartment, frustrated as fuck despite the fact Keely’s just been down on her knees, giving me a gold-star blow-job. Usually her wet little mouth is enough to make me forget my name, but this is different. I can’t relax. “It’s only two days left until the big board meeting. Brent’s going to call a vote on the takeover, and if we don’t find something to stop them, it’ll go through.”
“Vaughn, try to calm down.” Keely gives me a worried smile. “You’ve barely slept in days.”
“How can I?” I demand. “Excaliber Finance will buy out the company, and Martin Ridley -- the man who blackmailed Ashcroft and ruined my father’s life -- will get what he’s wanted all along.”
“He hurt my family too,” Keely reminds me. “But Ridley and Brent must have been planning this for months. I don’t want you to take it personally if they manage to force the vote.”
“It doesn’t matter about the vote,” I say. “That bastard is going to suffer for what he did to my family. I’m getting answers, no matter what.”
Keely bites her lip. “Are you sure that’s the best idea? This has controlled your life for so long. Maybe it’s time to let it go.”
“What are you saying?” I scowl. “I let the guy walk without knowing the truth?”
Keely sighs. “No, I just wonder... If the past should stay that way, that’s all. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Ridley’s the one who’s going to hurt,” I vow. “Right after he tells me everything about my father.”
Keely doesn’t look happy, but she doesn’t argue. “I’m going to take a shower,” she says instead. She gives me a flirty grin. “Want to come help me clean off?”
I exhale. “Later. I’m going to go over the files again, see if we missed anything.”
Keely strokes my hair softly. “Don’t stay up too late. This will be over soon,” she adds, trying to comfort me before she goes down the hall to the bathroom. She doesn’t realize this will never be over. Not until I’m eye to eye with Ridley, and I know exactly what shady shit that guy was into that drove my father to suicide.
The doorbell goes. I check the security cameras. Cam. What the fuck is this guy doing on Keely’s doorstep at eleven at night?
I yank the door open. Cam looks surprised. “Vaughn?”
“What do you want?” I demand.
“Is Keely here?” he asks. “I want to talk to her.”
“She’s in the shower.”
“Can I come in?” he asks. “It’s important.”
I stare at him a moment before letting him in. I don’t trust him, especially not around Keely, but maybe he’s got information that can help us out.
“I didn’t know you were still in town,” Cam says, walking into the living room.
“Surprised to see me?” I watch him, wondering what he’s up to.
“Glad, actually,” Cam replies. “I’m happy Keely has you with her.”
“Sure,” I snort, going to fix a drink.
“Despite what you think, Vaughn, I’m not your rival.” Cam sounds amused. I turn. “Who do you think brought you together in the first place?” he asks. “I’m the one who gave Brent your details. He hired you to seduce her because I gave him the idea.”
Wait, what?
“You’re working with Brent?” I demand, ready to go smash his fucking face in.
Cam quickly holds up his hands. “I was working for Ashcroft,” he corrects me. “Back in the months before he died, Ashcroft got nostalgic. Guilt, I guess, wondering what happened to his old friends. He had me track down Keely’s mother, that’s how we found out he had a daughter after all this time. And he wanted me to find you and your family too. He never forgave himself for what happened to your father.”
I gulp down the whiskey, and pour another glass. “Go on,” I demand.
Cam sighs. “He knew things would be tough for Keely, inheriting the company. He thought maybe you could be a friend to her, watch out and protect her against Brent and all the rest. But when I found you...” He gives me a look. “We both know you wouldn’t have given her the time of day. Or if you did, you would have fucked her and moved on.”
I feel a ripple of guilt. He’s right. A couple of months ago, I would have shot a load over Keely’s ripe tits and walked straight out the door without another thought.
“I didn’t know how to make it work. It was one of Ashcroft’s final wishes, that the two of you be together somehow. So when Brent came sniffing, wanting to get Keely out of the picture, I realized he could hire you to seduce her.”
“That’s fucked up,” I say shortly.
Cam shrugs. “But it worked, didn’t it? You’re here, protecting her, just like Ashcroft wanted. He was a few cards short of a full deck by the end.” Cam grins. “But I guess his instincts were right about you.”
I try to process it. Old man Ashcroft was the one behind my seduction all along? What the fuck?
“So where does Brent come in?” I demand. “Sounds like you guys are pretty fucking friendly.”
Cam shakes his head. “I’ve been trying to keep an eye on him. Ashcroft had me playing double agent -- getting close to Brent, making him think I’d switch teams -- then reporting back. That’s why I’m here tonight.”
“You found something?”
“No, that’s the point.” Cam looks grim. “Ridley’s got the vote locked down. We’re all out of options to save the company.”
“Are you sure?”
Keely’s voice comes. We both turn. She’s in the doorway, wrapped in a bathrobe with wet hair.
“How long have you been there?” I ask.
“Long enough.” She moves to stand beside me, placing a hand on my arm. I wait for her to say something about Ashcroft, to get mad again over how I was hired to seduce her, but instead, she gives me a soft smile. She turns to Cam. “Are you sure it’s over?”
“I went to Brent myself,” he says. “Acted like I could be bought, if the price was right. Sway some votes in exchange for a job at the new company. But he said he didn’t need me. They had it all sewn up.”
“Dammit,” I curse. “That’s it then. We’re fucked.”
“Maybe not.” Keely looks thoughtful. “They might not need you on their side, Cam, but they would definitely want me. I mean, a hostile takeover doesn’t look good. It shows division, and could affect the share price. But if I go to them myself and offer to strike a deal, keep the company out of the headlines, they might take the bait.”
“And then what?” Cam frowns.
“Then I demand to see Ridley, to negotiate directly. Just the two of us, face to face.”
“Over my dead body,” I exclaim. “Fuck, Keely, someone tried to kill you!”
“This guy is dangerous,” Cam agrees. “You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
“I’ll be fine,” Keely insists. “We can set up the meeting so you’re right in the next room. Don’t you see? It’s our only shot. If I can get him to say anything incriminating about what happened with Ashcroft and your father, then it’ll be worth it.”
I scowl. Fuck. She’s making sense, but I don’t like it one bit.
“I’ll be right there,” I say. “And if he lays so much as a finger on you--”
“He won’t,” Keely decides. “Why would he? As far as he knows, I’m just some girl in way over her head. He thinks he’s gotten away with everything. That now Ashcroft is dead, there’s nobody to investigate what happened back then. So let’s use that, and make him talk.”
I exhale, fighting to control my anger and worry. Sending Keely straight into the lion’s den goes against every instinct in my body. But we’re running out of time. And she’s got that look in her eye like she won’t take no for an answer.
“Let’s do it,” I say. “But we do this my way. I’m not putting you in danger,” I growl. “I’m going to be right there with you, as close as possible. That bastard won’t hurt anyone again.”