He spent the first hour after Harmony arrived at his office building telling her how wonderful he was.How he gave back to the community and was a supporter of different causes.It felt… rehearsed.Like he needed her to know how great of a person he was.
She didn’t care.
Sure, it was good that the man she supposedly saved was a decent guy, but that wasn’t why she did it.Harmony would have made that call no matter what building those men were breaking into.That it happened to be Grant Pickens was irrelevant to her.
And then to parade her around and keep her away from work for half a day… Harmony was done.
“I should get back to work, Mr.Pickens.I appreciate the tour and knowing more about you.It sounds like you are great for the city.”
“I am,” he said, his smile tipping into threatening, reminding her of the first press conference she saw with him when she felt exposed.Vulnerable.When she decided not to meet with him before his relentless efforts wore her down.“It’s not an act, Ms.Gibbs.”
“I didn’t think it was.”
“You can’t leave yet.”
Harmony’s spine tingled.“Uh, excuse me?”
They were on the penthouse floor, thirteen stories above the rest of the city.The view was spectacular, but it didn’t do much for Harmony.Even less when she was told she was a prisoner.
“The media will be here soon.I’ve arranged a press conference for us.”
“I… I wasn’t aware of that.”
“Well, who wouldn’t want to tell the world how brave they are?”
“Um, me?I really wasn’t that brave.I just made a phone call.”
“A phone call that saved my life.One that meant I’m here to continue doing all the good things I do for the city.That makes you a hero in the eyes of a lot of people.”
A knock on the door interrupted them before Harmony could say she wasn’t interested in being a hero or being in front of a camera.The police found no evidence of a second or third person that day, and Mr.Pickens insisted there was only one in his office, but Harmony knew what she saw.If they were still out there, would they come after her?Would they want to silence her?
“Mr.Pickens?They’re almost ready,” his assistant, Jasmin, said.The woman was stunning in her sky-high heels with red soles and red pencil skirt.The white blouse she wore was a little too on the see-through side for Harmony, but she wasn’t about to judge the woman for the way she dressed.If she was confident in her appearance, she needed to dress in a way that suited her.
“Thank you, Jasmin.”He turned to Harmony.“We should go.”
Harmony nodded and followed the man out of the office.He walked to the elevator and held the door for her to step on with him.When the doors slid closed, he spoke.
“I would have thought you’d be more grateful for my appreciation, Ms.Gibbs.I’ve looked into you.I know you are buried in debt and are not the top pick for staying on after you finish your education.”
“Excuse me?”Harmony stammered.
“Ms.Gibbs, we both know what’s going on here.”Mr.Pickens turned to face her, scanning her with a sneer that said how he felt about her.“You’re playing innocent, but we both know you’re not so innocent.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He narrowed his eyes at her.“I thought we were going to have a productive meeting, Ms.Gibbs.I’m disappointed.”
Before Harmony could ask what the fuck was going on, the doors opened, and they were swarmed by lights and cameras.
The man next to her stepped forward, shoving Harmony into the middle of the chaos.He smiled at the crowd, but there was something in his eyes.Something dangerous.Something… wrong.
Something directed right at Harmony.
Damien wascurious whether Harmony would accept whatever reward Grant Pickens wanted to bestow on her.He forced himself to stay away from Sunrise Brews for the last week, knowing if he returned, he’d find the answer but also find himself fantasizing about the gorgeous woman who’d already captured his attention and all his spare thoughts.
He couldn’t afford to get more lost in her.
After a short job that kept him offline for five days, he came back to the news that there was going to be a press conference at Pickens Systems Inc.
