“Does this have to do with your hot boss?” she teases.
I ignore her little comment. “I need some off-record digging.”
“What are you up to, Nova?”
“It’s probably nothing, but I found an interesting link between the three companies Owen acquired. It doesn’t help with evidence against him, but it might lead to an interesting motive.”
“We’re on a first-name basis now?” she teases a second time.
Once again, I ignore her comment. “Can you have Eagan look into the personal lawsuits against each of the three victims leading up to their deaths? And lawsuits against the companies themselves? Most are not public record and were handled behind the scenes, but I want to know specifics.What they were about and how they were settled. You think he can do that?”
“He’ll have no problem, but Nova, this sounds like you might get into some trouble if Dec finds out.”
I take a deep breath. “I know. I’m willing to risk it.”
I don’t want to leave Declan out, but I’m going a bit against protocol with my digging, and I don’t want this to reflect poorly on his career if I’m caught.
Ella doesn’t say anything for a few seconds. “I’ll have Eagan start today.”
“Thanks, Ella. I owe you both big time.”
She laughs. “We’ll be expecting a very fancy dinner.”
“Deal.”
“Oh, and Eagan hasn’t found anything suspicious with those charities, but I’ll have him keep digging.”
“Thanks.”
“Tell Jax hi for me!” she chirps.
“I will,” I reply before hanging up.
I stand and flush the toilet to make it sound like I was in the bathroom for a reason, before changing out of my regular black suit jacket and black pants and into a pair of jeans and a tight-fitting, red top. I pair the outfit with black Converse. Finished, I step out of the bathroom.
Owen’s stare is instantly on me. “Date tonight, Miss Riley?” he asks with a hint of a smirk.
“I’m meeting Jax and his boyfriend, which is really none of your business,” I snap back at him.
His smile only grows. “Need a ride?”
“Not from you.” I gather my phone and stuff a few papers into my bag before meeting his gaze across the room.
“Ouch. I just thought it’d be a nice way to say thank you for not killing me this morning and helping me out.”
I narrow my eyes.
Owen laughs. “I’m not going to kidnap you, Miss Riley.”
I roll my eyes at his attempt at a joke, throwing his own words in my face. “We’re meeting at his restaurant. You sure you want to drive all the way out there?”
I’m secretly hoping he says no. Or am I hoping he says yes? I can’t quite seem to figure out how I feel about this man.
He gets up, grabbing a jacket from the back of his desk chair. “I don’t mind.”
“You sure you don’t have someone you need to meet?” I ask, perhaps hoping he does. Or maybe I’m curious.
He looks at me, and I can’t read him. “Not tonight.”
