"Agreed," I said.
"Not to pat yourself on the back!" Marnie said with a laugh. "Look," she continued, her tone serious. "I've reached out to the FBI. They've already been looking into Anke."
"For defrauding people?" I asked, feeling sick. "I thought it was just you and me."
Marnie shook her head. "Not just people—banks. The agent wouldn't give me specifics, but it sounds like Anke has been running some sort of lending scheme where she convinces a bank to give her a loan for a fake business idea or investment. They give her the loan. She spends the majority of it and uses the rest as collateral to secure another huge loan."
"Like how much?" I asked, feeling faint.
"Millions of dollars," Marnie said.
I looked down at the table. The server brought our drinks. I took a big swig of mine, but I could barely taste it.
"You should go to the FBI," Marnie urged.
"What's the point?" I asked finally. "It's doubtful they care about what happens to me. The banks are going to get their money back first." The drink was sour in my stomach. "The only thing that's going to happen is that my name is going to be attached to the whole scandal. People—Mace—will know I'm a complete idiot. I'll never see a penny of that money. I'll have to testify. There will be stress eating and drinking." I took another sip of my drink. "I just don't see why I should."
"Just think about it," Marnie said.
"I will," I told her, easing off the barstool. "I have to go. Mace's presentation is tomorrow. I have to make sure he's ready."
I trudged back to the hotel.
And things had been going so well.
Surely if the FBI was involved, Marnie would have told her boss, Greg Svensson, what had happened with Anke. Word would get back to Mace soon. It was only a matter of time before my charade disintegrated faster than the cotton candy in that viral video of the raccoon washing it in a puddle.
As I headed back to the hotel, I noticed through the window of a little French restaurant someone who looked like Anke. She was talking to a rich-looking older couple along with a doughy, sweaty man I thought I recognized from somewhere. I couldn't place him.
I wanted to stare longer, but I didn't want them to look up and see me. I didn't know what Anke was doing, but I knew, I justknew,she was up to no good.
54
Mace
My presentation was that morning at eleven a.m. I was up at five a.m. to make sure I wasn't late.
"It's so early," Josie murmured when I turned on the light. She pulled the covers over her head, and I kissed her through the sheet. She was naked under them. I knew because I had taken all her clothes off last night. "Go back to sleep," she mumbled.
I ran my hands over her through the sheet, kissing down her torso and sucking on a nipple through the soft cotton. She moaned slightly. "Or I could wake you up," I said. "Morning sex is better than sugary cereal to get you moving."
"It is?" she asked, her breath slightly hitching. I reached one hand under the sheet. She was warm and still slick from our lovemaking the night before. I drew my fingers through the wetness. Her back arched slightly, and she pressed back against my hand.
"You might need to prove that theory," she gasped. I rolled on a condom, my other hand still stroking her.
"We'll have to have a lot of morning sex," I told her. "You have to have several data points."
I kissed her neck then slid into her, feeling satisfied as she whimpered through her nose. I moved in her slowly and methodically, stroking her clit in time to my thrusts. She ground her hips against me, then I flipped us over so she was on top of me, riding my cock.
"Now are you awake?" I asked.
"Yes," she said and moaned.
I held her hips as she rode me. I moved her up and down, feeling her tighten against my cock as I stroked her clit. She tipped forward on her knees over me, and I thrust up into her, hearing her high-pitched little moans every time my cock rubbed against her clit.
Her nails dug into my shoulder as she came. Then she collapsed on top of me. Her breasts were soft as she rested against me.
"You know what would make this perfect?" she asked as her breathing slowed.
