Tia hadn’t felt so good in years, her stride as confident as ever. She’d been careful not to reveal her growing sense of insecurity, to remain poised and always in control, no matter what the situation. And those two things had increasingly become one and the same.

And both were in equal parts threatened and revitalized. It was more than just the amazing marathon three-way she’d enjoyed with Marcus and Denise. She’d had sex often, but more often than not it was in the services of the company, auditioning new service providers being chief among her sources of sexual release. But with Marcus there had been a connection which had survived the years. It was different. It was exceptional.

It was love.

But it wasn’t going to be that easy. This was more than some courtship; this was a strategic battle to the end, winner-take-all.

He’s got one kidnapping on me already, she knew. I can’t afford to have him get the jump on me a second time. And I can’t afford to fail to nab him either. I’ll have one shot and I have to make the most of it!

But there was a rush of excitement to it too, and it was more than merely the thrill of the game. Seeing Marcus had brought out things in her that she thought were long dead, a girlish rush, a sense that she wasn’t alone in the world. It was more than his incredible cock and amazing stamina, it was his personal power which was unmatched by any man she’d ever met. He was coming after her and her beloved company, but he was also coming to her, coming back to her. She wanted to succumb to him the way she had in her youth, but she also knew that time had passed. This was the time for Marcus to submit to her.

Shin Lu followed Tia into her huge corner office, reading from a computer tablet in her hand. “The custom shop can have the limo done by Thursday.”

“Tomorrow,” she said, “tell them I need it by tomorrow. What else?”

Shin Lu checked the tablet. “Got a call from our team in Paris, having some trouble with the local cops.”

“Trouble? What kind of trouble?”

“They’re asking questions; our man there said one tried to sneak his way into an appointment, but his woman spotted him and they dodged the bullet.”

Tia sighed as she gazed out the window. He was out there somewhere, coming at her from every angle.

“Call Paris; tell them I’m working on it.”

After a dubious pause, Shin Lu asked, “Anything I should know, in particular?”

Tia turned with a sharp snap of her head, red hair bouncing on her shoulders. “What did you have in mind?”

Shin Lu considered, then shrugged. “Any way in which I can be of service?”

Tia gave it some thought. It’s true, Tia reasoned, Shin Lu didn’t have anything to do with what happened yesterday. She could be invaluable to me the way Denise was to Marcus. That’s the kind of strategy I need, that kind of trickery.

No, Tia’s inner skeptic told her in that protracted pause, that’s what Marcus will be expecting. And something about Shin Lu—I dunno, I’m just not sure.

So Tia said simply, “Not at the moment. I’ll keep you posted.” Shin Lu nodded and glanced back down at her tablet. “How are you, Shin Lu?”

Shin Lu looked up from her tablet, slightly confused. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“You seem, I dunno, even more tense than usual, repressed, ya know? And it occurs to me that we’ve been working together for, what, six years now. You’ve been with me almost since the beginning. But we only ever see each other in the office; we don’t really have much of a relationship outside of business.”

Shin Lu glanced around the office. “Perhaps that’s best.”

“How so?”

“Personal relationships can be chaotic, undisciplined, and those things can never be good for the State.” After a brief second thought, Shin Lu corrected herself. “For the company, I mean.”

Tia gave it some thought, nodding as she crossed to her desk. “Still and all. You have family, as I recall?”

“Back home in Seoul. I am a rebel with my world views. But…they are still family.”

“Ever think about taking a trip back, maybe flying them out for a visit?”

Shin Lu tried to smile, but the effort seemed to be too much. “I can’t afford it. Rent here is so expensive.”

“Sure is. Are you not getting by? Do you need a raise?”

“I’m getting by,” was all she said.

Tia considered with a long, slow nod. “I’ll talk to the boys in payroll, see what we can do. You work hard, Shin Lu; you do a good job. If I’ve never thanked you for that—”

“No thanks are necessary, Ms. McBride. I do what I am called upon to do and am paid fairly for my efforts. I should thank you for the opportunity.”

Tia huffed out an amused chuckle.

“It’s good for the State.” Shin Lu replied sternly, not sharing Tia’s amusement, returning to her resting scowl.

“Anyway, what else? You have a boyfriend?”

“No,” Shin Lu answered, quick and low.

Tia leaned forward in a curious pause. “Girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Oh, okay, I see. I don’t either, not for a long time anyway. It’s funny, considering what we do, that we’re as alone as we are.” Shin Lu offered no answer, and Tia didn’t really want one. She was thinking it out for herself, knowing the answers lay within. And Shin Lu was resisting Tia’s attempts to reach out; there was little benefit to pursuing it. “Any other business then?”

Shin Lu checked the tablet. “Bookkeeping said the IRS has requested three more years of receipts.”

“Three more years? Christ.” Tia sighed, dropping herself into the chair behind her desk. She thought about Marcus, about his promise to help, his steadfast refusal to admit that he was the one who sent the Feds after her.

Maybe he really didn’t, Tia had to consider, and maybe he really can help. Half a company is better than no company at all.

“Ms. McBride?”

Tia shook it off. “Oh, nothing. Have them turn the receipts over, whatever Uncle Sam wants.”

Shin Lu stood there, a cold expression fixed on Tia, before she turned and crossed the big office, leaving Tia alone in the seat of power. Tia wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to hold it, or who’d replace her in it.

One thing Tia knew for sure; things were changing fast.

Shin Lu opened the office double doors but stopped, stooping to pick up a small gift bag sitting on the floor. She turned, holding the bag up. “I think this must be for you.”

She crossed back to the desk and set the bag on the desk. Tia stood, a cold knot tightening in her stomach. She and Shin Lu glanced at one another and, impulsively, Tia opened the bag and pulled out its contents: another Raggedy Ann doll, this one with a knife-like letter opener stuck through its belly.