I walk over and wrap him in a hug. “I’m sorry. I promise I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Evan glances over my shoulder. “As long as you bring boss-man.”
Chuckling, I pull away. “As long as you stop calling him boss-man.”
Evan winks, and Jax wraps his arms around me. “I know there is something up with you,” he whispers into my hair. “And I’m going to get it out of you soon. I haven’t forgotten.”
Tears well in my eyes without warning.
I step back, and I know Jax can see all of it. He always could.
Jax leans in and whispers in my ear. “He’s a good one, you know. Not all pretty men will break your heart.”
This one most certainly will, and I suddenly want to know what Jax would say if he knew the whole story.
He pulls away from my ear, and I stare at him pointedly.
“He’s my boss,” I mouth, trying to get him to understand that he’s not just my boss at Regenerative Industries—he’s my assignment.
Jax shrugs, pretending to not understand. Or perhaps he does know but somehow doesn’t believe it. Either way, he gives me a sympathetic smile and a pat on the shoulder.
“Nice to meet you, Owen,” Evan shouts after us.
Owen turns and waves. “Nice to meet you, too.”
When we’re in the parking lot, Owen opens the car door for me.
“Are you ok to drive?” I ask, not remembering how many drinks he had.
“I’m perfectly sober, Miss Riley. I only drank sparkling water with lemon.” I must look shocked because he laughs. “Get in the car, Miss Riley. I promise I won’t kidnap you, and you’ll arrive at your apartment in one piece.”
I do as he asks, not saying a word. Far too many things are going on for my brain to process at the moment, and it leads to my mind aching to turn off and my body that’s desperate to sleep despite not being able to.
We don’t speak for most of the thirty-minute drive back to the city. I want to learn everything Owen knows about the companies he acquired. What information am I missing? Did he really kill those men? But, of course, I can’t ask him any of that.
“What I wouldn’t pay to know what’s going on in that brain of yours right now, Miss Riley,” Owen says out of the blue, and when I glance at him, I realize he’s probably been studying me for most of the thirty minutes, and I’ve been oblivious.
“How about a thought for a thought, Mr. Mills?”
He smiles—a devious sort of smile.
I don’t choose the question that might lead me to answers. Instead, I ask the one that’s been simmering ever since visiting the school Owen’s charity built. “You have the money and power to do whatever you want. Why give it away?”
Owen doesn’t say anything for a minute, and the smile disappears as he loses himself in thought. “I figured that was obvious, Miss Riley. I want to help. To use my money and power for something good.”
“Those are dangerous things, Mr. Mills. Everyone is after them. You must have enemies.”
I regret the statement the second it leaves my lips. Gone is the teasing man who was laughing with my best friends, replaced by something much darker.
“As I said earlier, money and power do not buy you friends, but you’re correct. They can buy you enemies.”
I don’t know what to say to that. His confession all but confirms my suspicions about the person I followed, but I don’t know how to ask the questions I need or how to get him to keep speaking.
For the first time in my career, I have no idea what I’m doing.
“A deal is a deal, Miss Riley.” He finally cuts through my swirling thoughts.
Of course, I don’t tell him what I’m really thinking. Instead, I selfishly try to bring back his easy smile. “I was thinking what a lovely threesome you’d make with Jax and Evan.”
