“It is,” he interrupts. “Ricardo is in town. I met with him just before I met with you.” My heart stops at his words, and I can feel myself visibly pale. That means we’re in the same building, that I could have walked right past him. At my reaction, he steps around the desk and drops the folder on top of it. He stops just before my chair. “Ava.” When I look up at him, he tilts his head. “I protect my investments, and I’ll not have my marketing genius harmed.”
I narrow my eyes on him despite my painfully beating heart. “Investment?”
“I’m still a businessman,” he grins. “Tell your boss I agree to all of your terms with an added bonus on your pay.”
“Mr. Fox, you seriously don’t have to?—”
He presses a finger to my lips and everything inside of me lights up, sitting at attention for the briefest feel of his skin against mine. It’s unprofessional to touch me, but fuck if I don’t like it. I want more. And that could be a very bad thing. I need to be more careful. Despite knowing that, my thighs clench together tightly.
“Dagen,” he corrects me. “We’ve passed formalities now that I’m helping you get revenge on your husband.”
“Ex-husband.”
“Oh?” he asks. “Did he sign the divorce papers then?”
I clench my jaw. “How did you know he didn’t?”
“Like I said, I know narcissists,” he replies. “I’ll arrange the meeting with the other potential members of our team promptly.”
I stare at him as he takes a seat opposite me. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he says. “I’m doing this for my amusement. Nothing more.”
“For your investment,” I repeat.
“Exactly.” He grins. “Besides, I really, really dislike Ricardo McCoy.” His eyes dance down my body and I tense. “But you? I find I rather enjoy your company, Ava.” He holds out his hand toward me. “I look forward to this business venture with you.”
My heart throbs painfully in my chest as I clasp his hand in mine and shake it. But it doesn’t throb in fear despite knowing Ric is in this city. It’s anticipation.
And maybe a little bit of arousal for the man before me.
Eleven
Ava
I stare at the message on my phone for long seconds and then look down at the boxes now sitting in my entryway. Men move through the house, opening the boxes and installing the new security equipment throughout. Security lines, alarms, window locks, even new deadbolts and door locks. He literally sent the whole nine yards. All the boxes are emblazoned with the Fox Industries logo, each piece hand selected. I hadn’t even told him my address. If he found it so easily, Ric could, too. I assume that’s why he sent all this stuff.
“What did you do?” Tonya asks, staring around at all the equipment and the professional men installing it.
“I made a friend,” I rasp, watching them work.
“An important one, I’d say,” she replies, looking around with wide eyes.
I nod. “This is a little ridiculous,” I grunt and look down at the message again.
Meeting tomorrow at noon. Already approved with your boss. Address to follow.
Tonya leans over and looks at the message. “Bossy, too, apparently.”
“You have no idea,” I muse, sighing.
What’s crazy is that I’m not even surprised by the security equipment. This is just Dagen protecting his investment again. What completely shatters that concept though is the small boxes that arrived addressed to Elsie and me. For Elsie, it had been a really cool science kit. How had he known Elsie likes science? It’s insane the amount of information Dagen seems to be able to get so quickly. When I open the package labeled for me, it’s to find some of the fanciest hot chocolate packets I’ve ever seen. They’re from Belgium, clearly luxurious and expensive and I have to wonder again how he could have known I prefer hot chocolate to coffee. Perhaps I’ve unknowingly teamed up with someone far more dangerous than Ric. Which is good. I need someone like that in my corner. I just need to be careful he doesn’t ever turn on me. If Ric is going to be burned, I have to make sure I don’t go down in fire, too.
The next morning, I get a text from my team explaining that they’d been given the go ahead and were already working while I have meetings with the Fox Industries people. We arrange everything beforehand so that when I get dressed for the meeting with Dagen, I don’t even have to go into Goliath. Instead, I’m able to take my time and get ready.
What does one wear to meet with people who plan to help you take down your abusive ex-husband?
I decide it’s still best to look professional, if only because it makes it feel like business more than breaking numerous laws, but I’d already worn my red power suit to meet with Dagen. I look through my closet and pull out the leopard print business dress I rarely wear and stare at it. It’s a snug fit, but I can cover it with a blazer to up the professionalism. Ultimately, I decide to wear the dress and pull on a white blazer before sliding on some red pumps. After Elsie goes to school, I have a few hours to sit down and actually make plans for taking Ric down.
