Only if you ask nicely.
A dark smile crosses my lips. Perhaps it’s time for another of Violet’s lessons.
I’m going to ignore that last comment and put it down to workplacestress. Albert will pick you up. Wait in the car like a good girl.
VIOLET
Yes, sir ??*rolling eye emoji.
My damn cock swells, and I have to take a few deep breaths before swiping out of my messages and pulling up Devlin’s contact. Time is running out—if we want any hope of salvaging this contract, we need answers. Now.
He picks up on the first ring.
“Devlin, I’ve got a situation. Austen and I believe someone inside the company is feeding information to Elliot about theMonarch contract. I don’t want to get into the details over the phone, but I need you in my office now.”
He doesn’t hesitate. “On my way.”
I hang up and buzz through to Bethany. “Devlin’s coming up. Send him straight in.”
Drumming my fingers against the desk, I stare out the window. If it comes to it, I’ll have Elliot followed. Nothing is off the table. One thing I know for damn sure—he won’t win this time. Or the next. Because with Elliot, there’s always a next time.
I check my watch as the car door swings open, and Violet slides in, wearing the smile that makes me weak.
“You’re late,” I tell her, giving her a once-over.
“Hi Albert,” she says, ignoring me as she begins to fasten her seatbelt. “The meeting ran over. Which isyourfault, by the way. You forced Mark to push forward on timelines.”
I grab her wrist before she clips the belt, pulling her into me. “You forgot something.” Her eyes blink as she glances at Albert nervously. I press a soft kiss on her lips. She tastes of her honey and vanilla lip balm, that I love. She jolts back, eyes wide. “Stop, Albert will see us,” she whispers.
“Albert is watching the road, not us. Plus, he’s picked me up from your apartment in the early hours of the morning almost every day for the past two weeks. I think he probably knows.” I lace my fingers through hers, my voice dropping. “Speaking of which... when are you going to stay at my place? As much as I love being pressed up against you all night, it’d be nice to have some space to actually breathe.”
She hesitates, worry flickering across her face as she pulls back to buckle up. “My sister’s leaving soon, so I want to spend as much time with her as possible.”
I don’t push, but I sense it’s more than that.
I stretch my arm across the back of the seat, letting my fingers brush against her shoulder, steering the conversation in a different direction. “Come with me this weekend. I’m taking Austen’s kids out for the afternoon.”
Surprise flickers across her face. “Austen has kids?”
“Yeah. Two.”
She tilts her head. “How old?”
“Four and five.”
Her expression softens. “That’s a fun age,” she muses. “And you agreed to this voluntarily?”
“I like a challenge,” I say, watching her. “That’s why I like you.”
She shakes her head, amused. “And what exactly do you need me for?”
I lean in slightly, my mouth close to her ear. “If you want to see me completely owned by a four and a five-year-old, say yes.”
A laugh spills from her lips, warm and easy. “Oh, I definitely want to see that.”
“So that’s a yes?”
She lifts her gaze to the ceiling like she’s pretending to consider it. “Will there be ice cream?”
