Not much later, someone brings me a chair. When I look, Jian is standing there and hands me a cup of tea. I nod in thanks, and she gives me a knowing smile.
Sitting down, I sip on the warm brew. I’m not sure what time it is, I didn’t set a timer like I implied I would, when Abaddon slumps back in her chair.
Her shoulders drop, but her voice is full of ire. “A freaking cookie recipe? Seriously?”
“What else did you expect it to be?” I set my cup of tea on her desk.
“But it’s not even an original recipe. It’s Nestle Tollhouse!”
“It’s a good recipe,” I argue.
“Whatever.” She shakes her head. “Where’s my hundred thousand?”
Reaching into my inside jacket pocket, I pull out the roll I stashed there earlier and hand it to her along with my business card. “Show up on Monday. If you complete the job, you’ll get five hundred.”
Her eyes almost pop out of her head, then she looks down at the little piece of paper. “RHL Solutions. Hunter Reed, CEO.”
“That’s me.” I tilt my head.
“Reed?” Her eyes widen.
“Yep. I’ll see you Monday.” I snag the jump drive and rise to my feet.
She stops me with a question. “What makes you think I’ll show up?”
Showing her my watch, I tap the glass. “You’re ambitious. You got me the recipe in half an hour.”
Turning on my heel, I walk away, leaving her gaping behind me, and I wear a sly smile on my face all the way to my car.
When I slide into the backseat, I direct Sterling to take me home, and I toss the little memory stick in the air and catch it.
While she was completing the test, a secondary hidden software program was copying all of her information. So when I get home, I’ll know everything I need to about my Heartbreaker.
CHAPTER 3
RORY
If I stare at these spreadsheets any longer, I’m going to need surgery to fix my brain because I swear it’s melting. I may be the numbers guy, but even I have my limits.
“I’m heading home.” Shutting my laptop, I hop up from the couch in Luke’s office. I think I spend more time in his office than I do in my own. While the view I have of the city is astounding, I hate being in there all alone. Luke is kind enough to let me work in here when the silence becomes too loud.
“Oh?” Luke looks up from the work he’s had his nose buried in for hours, with his black rimmed glasses perched on his nose.
He’s the COO, but he spends more time on the innovative technology side of our business than doing his job. But no complaints here. He’s always coming up with new designs to improve our security systems and new ways to keep our private security clients safer.
Gathering my papers and laptop, I tuck them away in my briefcase. “Yeah, I’m beat. I can’t find anything here that would indicate someone is stealing from us, and my eyeballs feel like they’re going to fall out of my face.”
Luke removes his glasses and rubs his hand over his face. “I’m still sifting through code here, and I’m not sure Hunter has made any headway either. He said we should have some help on Monday.”
His exhausted malachite irises pierce me, like he’s searching for something, but I don’t know what it is he’s trying to find. All I know is that every time he looks at me like that, a tender ache forms in my chest, and I don’t know why.
And just like the times before, I look away.
“I’ll see you at home,” I call over my shoulder as I leave his office.
After a quick stop by my own office, I take the elevator down to the lobby and walk out the doors. I should wait for my driver, William, especially since it’s so cold outside in the early evening. The car would be warmer than this, but I’d rather stretch my legs. If I'm unable to handle the low temperature, I’ll call William.
I only make it a few blocks before I’m ready to cave. Instead of reaching for my cell, I duck into the nearest open business. As I step through the doors, I’m encompassed by warmth and the energizing aroma of coffee beans.
