I hit the intercom button and a buzz echoes loud, cutting him off. Cynthia doesn’t answer, but I don’t expect one. It’s meant to be a signal, not a request. Within a few seconds, the doors behind Ric open.
“Come in, little bird,” I call, my smile wicked as Ric shoots to his feet and whirls.
Twenty-Six
Ava
Cynthia stands and moves over to the door, opening it so I can step inside.
“Come in, little bird,” Dagen calls.
I frown at the words, but straighten my shoulders and tip my chin up before stepping around the door and strolling inside purposely. My heels clack on the marble floor, the sound loud in my ears despite my thunderous heartbeat. Dagen is already standing, his smile wicked and full of purpose. At the corner door, Steve, one of the security guards, steps into the room, his expression tight as he watches Ric shoot to his feet and spin toward me.
Ric’s eyes meet mine, and his angry expression turns amused. That’s not the reaction we’re going for.
“I’d like you to meet my new marketing director,” Dagen says. “I believe you know her.”
Ric laughs. “This is a joke. Clearly. You’re pulling my leg.”
“No joke,” Dagen says as I bypass Ric, giving him a wide berth, to go stand at Dagen’s side. “Ava here conveniently knows everything there is to know about the little algorithm you were trying to sell me. So much, she was able to direct me to Gabriel Mendoza, the true writer of the program, and he taught my team everything they needed to know. I paid him well for it and he was so grateful.” Dagen tilts his head. “Isn’t that odd?”
Ric flicks his eyes between the two of us. “It would make sense that my wife knows a little about my work and the people I may have conversed with, but I assure you that the program was written by me.”
I snort. I can’t help it. “You’re a bald-faced liar, Ric.”
His face pinches at my outburst, his hand twitching at his side like he’d really enjoy hitting me right now. He’s probably reminiscing about the good old days. “What the fuck is this, Fox?”
“I told you,” Dagen says. “My contract with Aria Tech is severed due to clear fraud on your part. The program belongs to Mendoza, and Ava will market it properly since she knows everything about it. Mendoza sold the program to us for a hefty fee plus royalties.” He grins. “He said you’d promised him only one percent and claimed it was standard. Imagine his surprise when I offered him twenty-five.”
I tip up my chin when Ric looks back over at me. It takes everything inside me not to shake at the angry look in his eyes. He knows I’m in the city. He’s threatened me in broad daylight. But here, in this space, I’ve gotten the edge on him, and he doesn’t like it. And I’m eager to make it worse.
I reach beneath Dagen’s desk and pick up the flowers I’d prepared for this very moment, red roses and white daisies, before setting them on the table. “My condolences on your lost contract,” I tell him. I’m proud when my hands barely shake, when my voice doesn’t waver.
Ric’s mask falls away at the clear insult. “So what? You’re getting on your knees for this asshole now?” he snarls, hatred flickering in his eyes. “I always knew you were a worthless whore!”
I don’t react to his words, not outwardly, but inside, I flinch. The old feelings of walking on eggshells around this man return, but I’m not that person anymore. I don’t have to be afraid of this man. I’m not alone. His connections can’t scare me because my connections are greater now. I glance up at Dagen, as if to reassure myself of the truth of my thoughts, before looking back at the man I’d stupidly married when I thought I was in love.
Dagen crosses his arms, clearly wanting to say something to Ric’s statement, but I hold up my hand to stop him.
“Don’t be petty, Ric,” I find myself saying. “Just because I’m not on my knees for you anymore.”
Ric’s face turns into pure savagery. A narcissist never likes losing, and it’s clear Ric won’t win this fight over the contract.
“I’ll put you on your kn—” he begins, but this time, Dagen really does step up.
“Are you threatening my employee?” he asks dangerously, clearly understanding what Ric had been about to say.
Ric bares his teeth at me. “I’ve always known you were a slut, Ava. I should have treated you like one more often.”
Dagen’s shoulder presses against mine in comfort and it’s the strength I need. His warmth soaks through my suit.
I scoff at my ex-husband, my newfound sense of courage filling me with Dagen at my side. “Sure, Ric. But we both know you only ever brought enough dick to the party for yourself.”
Ric’s face turns red and he straightens. “You’re going to pay for that, wife.”
I tip up my chin, and despite the fear quaking in my chest, I say, “Oh, I’m so scared.”
“You’ll be escorted out,” Dagen says, gesturing to the security guard. “If you enter this building again, you’ll be arrested for trespassing.”
