Varden

I gazed out my floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking San Francisco and gorgeous Bay Bridge. My admin had just brought my third cup of coffee for the morning. My late night drowsiness had been chased off by caffeine, only to be replaced by the jitters. And to be honest, some disappointment in the way Saffi had hit the road.

Crazy. Our “thing” could never go anywhere, anyway. And I was a shit for deceiving her. But on the other hand, I’d been able to come. I couldn’t pretend that wasn’t a big deal.

A knock sounded at my office door.

“Come in.”

Our newest associate, an attractive young woman named Dani, walked in. She wore a snug dress outlining her curves and those high-heeled ankle boots that all the women seemed to be wearing. No wonder the younger guys in the office were going crazy over her.

“Dani. What can I do for you?”

“Well, Mr. Gallagher—”

“Dani, I told you to call me Varden.”

She blushed. “Right. Varden.” She approached my desk and gingerly touched its beveled edge.

“Did you need something?” The coffee jitters had given way to a pounding headache, leaving me in no mood for someone who couldn’t get to the point.

“I did. I mean, I do. Need something,” she said, looking down at the desk.

I waited.

She took a deep breath. “I need some help with the valuation of that new company we have coming in.” She finally looked at me. “I was wondering if we could work on it over drinks or dinner sometime this week.”

Jesus Christ. Last thing I fucking need right now.

“I’m happy to work with you on this, but we’ll be sticking to office hours.”

She walked around my desk to half-sit on the corner of it, parting her knees so I could see the top of her thigh highs, and…oh, shit. She wasn’t wearing panties.

Was she really doing this? Really?

“What do you think?” she said softly.

It was all I could do to keep from kicking her the hell out.

“I gotta tell you right now, this is not gonna happen. I don’t hook up with my employees. Ever.” I stood to put some space between us.

She looked surprised. A beautiful woman unaccustomed to being told no. She crossed her arms. “Okay. That’s fine. Then I’ll quit.”

“What?” Was she insane?

“You heard me. I’ll quit if that means I can sleep with you.” She stuck her chin out.

“Actually”—I shook my head—“it does not mean anything of the sort.” I had to admit, however, that her ballsiness was hot.

I rose from my chair, and without turning my back on her, made my way to the office door. Pulling it open, I peeked outside for my admin. She was there, thank god. I sent her our secret signal—the okay sign— that said I needed saving. I’d used it in several instances over the years, although never for one quite like this.

She rushed right in and Dani popped off my desk, her skirt sliding back to its proper place.

“Dani,” she exclaimed, heading straight for her with long, fast strides. “Someone was just walking down the hall, looking for you. I think I heard something about an urgent meeting?”

“Oh! On my way.” Dani went running out of the office, her heels clicking down the hall until she could no longer be heard.

“Whew,” I said. “Thank you. I owe ya.”

“My pleasure. Is everything all right?” Her gray hair and glasses hanging from her neck reminded me of a librarian. But she was the best admin anyone could ever want.

“Yeah. Do me a favor. Don’t let her in here again unless it’s with a group of people. She could be trouble. And not the good kind of trouble if you know what I mean.”

“Gotcha, boss.” She smiled like the smooth diplomat she was and pulled the door closed behind her. God bless that woman.

Not that I would mind fucking that little Dani senseless. But there just was no way I’d pull shit like that in the office. I’d worked too hard and wasn’t about to blow it on some pussy. There was enough of it around I didn’t need to look for it at work.

Which sent Saffi right back into my thoughts. And I was about to meet with her dad.

Christ.

As if on cue, my admin stuck her head back in my office. “You’re ten a.m. is here, Varden.”

“Thanks. I’ll be right there.”

I entered the crowded conference room and headed right for Hugh Bartlett. I shook his hand.

“Hi, everyone,” I said to the room. “Thanks for gathering this morning. Welcome to the office, Hugh. Good to see you.”

“You, too, Varden.” He nodded in greeting.

The meeting came off without a hitch, and the analyses of some new potential investments were looking good. Very good.

After the room had cleared, I walked Hugh to the door. “Thanks for coming by this morning, Hugh.”

“My pleasure,” he said, smiling.

He should smile. He made a small fortune every time the firm made a new investment.

“Say,” I asked, “how is your lovely daughter? What was her name? Saffi?”

Like I could forget the name of the woman I finger banged the night before…

Hugh’s face lit up. “Oh, thanks for asking. She’s doing great. Working on some big story, she tells me. Top secret.” He patted me on the shoulder.

That didn’t sound like Little League bullshit.

“Well, good for her.” What was she up to?

Hugh nodded. “Yeah, hopefully this will help her move up the ladder, make a little more money. She’s banking on her new story to be her break-out. Something about a club. A private country club or some such.”

My stomach dropped to the floor. I leaned against a wall to steady myself.

Breathe…

“What was that, Hugh?” I had to work to steady my voice. “She’s doing a story about a club?”

“Yeah, sounds interesting, doesn’t it? I can’t wait to read it. The kid can write. Just like her mom.” He extended his hand. “Listen man, gotta run. Let’s do dinner again soon, okay?”

“’Course.”

As soon as he was gone, I rushed back to my office, slammed the door, and locked it.

“Varden?” My admin’s voice rang from the other side of the door. “You okay?”

“Yup. Just a little headache,”

Shit, shit, shit.

What in the holy fuck?

She wasn’t doing a story on a country club. She was doing a story on a fucking sex club! How did I not figure that out? And I was probably going to be part of it.

I fell into my desk chair and buried my head in my hands.

I was pissed. Pissed at myself for doing anything that put me—and the firm—in harm’s way.

I paced the office. Miss M had been right to be suspicious. Jesus, her instincts were good. I could learn a thing or two from her.

This is what happened when I let my dick lead me around.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

’Course I couldn’t be too furious. After all, wasn’t I doing some deceiving, myself?

I had to get in touch with Saffi. If she knew who I was, she’d never reveal my identity.

Right?