Chapter Two
Garrett stared into the bottom of his scotch, its burn still fresh on his lips. Darkness crept into his soul, the grief consuming him. Fear wasn’t a word in his vocabulary, yet he couldn’t scrub the sight of his friend’s lifeless body from his mind. Unlucky. That’s what first responders had called it. Words like ‘accident’ and ‘casualty’ were tossed about, but he refused to accept their initial findings. Garrett had pressed the prosecutor’s office for a special investigation, suspecting foul play.
As far as he was concerned, there was no such thing as luck. Strategy? Yes. Hard work? Most definitely. Accidents happened to other people, not Evan. Every single jump, he’d been meticulous when checking his rig. Some might even go so far as to call him obsessive compulsive, but Garrett knew it was what made him the very best. There was no fucking way he’d concede that his friend, the one who’d first taught him how to skydive, had simply succumbed to human error.
Garrett slammed his glass on the copper bar and slid it toward the bartender, nodding at her. The perky blonde barkeep promptly brought the Macallan, poured two fingers and set the bottle in front of him. She gave him a sympathetic smile. As she turned around and bent over to give him an unobstructed view of her assets, he swore. Not even that perfect heart-shaped ass was enough to stir his dick. Garrett shook his head in disgust, aware he needed to get his shit together. As he ran his forefinger along the edge of his drink, a familiar voice caught his attention.
“Hey.”
“You’re late,” Garrett responded, giving his friend a glare.
“Yeah fuck you too, G.” Lars smiled at the bartender.
“Hi, baby. What can I get ya?” she asked.
Lars glanced to the whiskey that sat in front of Garrett. “A glass. We’re taking the bottle.”
“You sure about that now?” She raised a judgmental eyebrow at him.
“Yep, it’s that kind of night.” He shrugged. “Looks like you’ve started before me. You driving?”
“Nope. I’ve got a driver tonight.” Garrett glanced to Lars, whose not so subtle eye roll told him he’d gone too far. “Is there a problem? No, don’t answer.”
The last thing he needed was a fucking lecture. Sensing one was coming, Garrett shoved out of his seat and snatched the decanter, gesturing to a secluded table in the corner. He sighed, settling into a well-worn leather chair and caught Lars’ shadow flying by him, right before he took another swig of the amber liquid.
“Nice club,” Garrett commented.
“Best jazz in the city. Got a special surprise I think you’ll like.”
“Oh yeah?” Garrett swirled the glass, never taking his eyes off the golden vortex.
“I thought you could use a distraction.” Lars smirked, pouring himself a drink.
“That right, huh?”
“Listen, G, I know it’s been a few weeks since…”
“Evan…”
“You and I both know this was no accident, but we’ve both got contracts to fulfill. Business goes on. It sucks, but if you don’t start looking for his replacement, we can’t…”
“What do you think I’ve been doing? I’m in the office. Day in. Day out. Even though Evan’s not here, the world keeps spinning.” Garrett gave Lars a sideways glance. “But I’m sure as hell not going to let it go. Something happened up there.”
Over the years, Garrett had taken Emerson Industries from a garage start-up into a billion dollar corporation. Not only did Emerson’s civilian suppliers count on timely shipments, government contracts needed to be fulfilled. Ongoing research and development took place on campus, ensuring the most advanced equipment in the world, and Evan had been a critical player in its success. Finding a suitable replacement for him was imperative, but it wouldn't be an easy task. Since the accident, Garrett had been operating in a daze, attending to small matters, but had neglected the critical infrastructure projects that needed intensive attention from a chief technology officer.
“Maybe, but you have to let the authorities handle it,” Lars commented, his eyes falling onto the singer who’d stepped up on stage and picked up the microphone.
“I can’t let it go. I’ve got to find out what happened. You know as well as I do that Evan used to be in the military – Airborne Division. He taught us all our shit. There’s just no way he made a mistake. It’s almost as if it’s…” Garrett’s words trailed off as he followed Lars’ train of vision, the gorgeous creature capturing his attention.
The bar went silent as her golden voice resonated throughout the room. The jazz band transitioned into a sultry version of You Put a Spell on Me, and the seductive beauty stepped down from her perch, passing by a couple who sipped martinis. Garrett noted how she effortlessly weaved her way through the crowd of patrons, not allowing anyone to touch her. With a tantalizing flair, she turned her head toward Garrett and flipped her long blonde hair. The playful glint in her eyes told him she’d come for him next, a glimpse of desire hidden behind the violet contacts she wore. She stopped mid-song and slowly peeled away her gloves, tossing them into the crowd.
Lars laughed, and it was at that moment that Garrett realized he’d brought him here not just to distract him, but for a purpose. Momentary anger was promptly quelled as the blonde stepped out of a shadow. Her pale blue corset hugged her curves. Again she caught his gaze, slowly lowering the side zipper on her black pencil skirt. A drum solo began and the garment dropped to the floor, revealing ruffled panties. A cream-colored garter belt secured black thigh-high stockings. His cock jerked as she trailed her fingertips over her thighs, blowing a kiss to the quiet sophisticated crowd that continued to order drinks from passing waitresses.
Garrett wanted to be pissed at Lars, but he knew that his friend cared about him, how profoundly he’d been affected by Evan’s death. It’d been months since he’d indulged in the fairer sex. Despite the temptation, he had no intention of initiating contact with the sultry performer.
The fragrance of her perfume drew him out of his contemplation, and through his peripheral vision, he spied his stealth singer. Tendrils of her hair brushed the back of his neck as she descended. Having given up on his resolve to show no interest, he glanced at Lars, whose eyes flashed to the entertainment. Delicate hands clutched his shoulders and Garrett slid his chair from the table to get a better view of her. His temptress ran her fingertips down his cotton shirt, causing his nipples to pebble in response. Shit, I’m not here to fuck anyone, he thought to himself as the blood rushed to his cock.
His eyes locked on hers as she straddled him, trailing her hands over his pecs. When her palms slid over his bare forearms, he fought the searing arousal that threatened his control. Garrett sucked a breath as she sat firmly on his lap, and her eyes snapped to his as they both registered his erection pressing through his jeans onto the thin fabric of her panties. It was in that moment that she gave him a small knowing smile. Rather than standing, she slowly tilted her hips, dragging her groin down the length of him. From a distance, no one would have seen. He resisted the urge to grab onto her waist. The fantasy of flipping her onto the table, tearing off the wet strip of nothing she called underwear and fucking her in front of the entire audience flittered through his mind, and he wondered if she’d like a little public action. The mere idea of it turned his dick into concrete, and he attempted to shift in his seat to relieve the growing ache.
If control was an Olympic sport, Garrett would hold a gold medal. Whether plunging out of a plane from eighteen thousand feet or plunging into a woman, his blood pressure never rose a single point. But despite his cool demeanor, Garrett failed to will his erection into submission. He took a slow breath, irked that a burlesque singer had cracked a sliver in his composure. He caught a glimpse of Lars, whose smile had faded. Fuck me, he knows. Why the hell does it matter to him? Is he dating her? Yes, that’s it. He knows her. Serves him the hell right for bringing me to this place.
The lovely creature rose gracefully off him. Presenting her posterior like a meal on a plate, she arched her back and gestured to the black ribbons laced up the back of her corset. When he didn’t respond, she abruptly sat on his thighs, jolting him back into his aroused state. She glanced back to him and grinned, tugging one of the strings. Her soft fingers met his, bringing them to the laces.
“I think that’s good enough,” Lars commented.
“What?” After this was over Garrett was going to kill Lars for fucking with him like this. He shook his head, confused as to what the hell was happening.
“A little help,” she whispered, ignoring Lars.
Garrett noted that she’d turned her face away so he couldn’t read her expression. He broke his resolve and began to pull open the tight threading, loosening the corset. He despised his body’s lack of response to his demand to cease the arousal. His cock was harder than piling and the only relief he’d be getting tonight was from the palm of his hand.
The soft silky fabric brushed his hand as she pushed off him and made her way back to the stage. Holding her arms across her breasts, she stopped to wriggle her bottom, allowing the fabric to fall to her feet. As she turned for the big reveal, a velvet bra covered what the audience had expected to be bare. She wrapped both palms around the microphone, setting it back into the stand, and resumed her song. Like an angel, her alluring voice filled the room, and not a soul appeared disappointed that she hadn’t bared more skin.
Garrett struggled to conceal his interest, aware that he should leave, but he sat captivated until the last note. A small chuckle drew his attention to Lars, who wore a broad grin.
“What’s so funny?”
“You like her?”
“And? So what? She’s beautiful. Moves well. Smells nice. Assertive…wasn’t going to take no for an answer with that corset. What’s not to like?”
“I’m glad you like her, I really am, but you might not want to sport that hard-on around her in the office,” Lars said, nervously flexing his fingers.
“What the fuck is this about?”
“I’m about to help you is all.”
“I saw the way she looked at you. What’s going on between you and her?” Garrett asked, his voice tense. “And why exactly would I be seeing her in my office?”
“Just hear me out, bro.”
“What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything. Just chill a second.”
“Yet?”
“I know you, G. You’re stuck on this thing with Evan,” Lars noted.
“Thing? He’s fucking dead,” Garrett stated coldly.
“I hear you haven’t even tried to replace him.”
“What the hell did Chase say to you? You know what? I don’t care what he said. The last time I checked, I ran Emerson. I don’t need a babysitter.” Garrett picked up his whiskey and glared at Lars. Of course he hadn’t replaced Evan. No one could ever replace him. “You need to mind your own business. Seriously. Besides, whoever takes that position has to be one of us…someone I can trust implicitly. That’s not gonna happen overnight.”
“Exactly. And this is where she comes in.”
“You’re joking, right? The stripper?”
“Singer.”
“Singer,” he conceded. Garrett took a swig of his drink and set it forcefully down on the table.
“MBA. Wharton.”
“Her?” His eyes darted to the stage. He watched with curiosity as she quickly wrapped herself up in a robe, concealing her costume. “So she’s smart. So what? It’s not enough. This isn’t just some tech job. Evan had his hands in all sorts of shit. He was working on several major projects. There are so many requirements for whoever comes into his position it isn’t even fucking funny. I’m not going to rush this.”
“She’s got clearances.”
“Not enough.” He glanced up and caught her staring at Lars. The flare in her eyes told Garrett that she wasn’t happy with him.
“Listen. I’ve known her for ten years. She’s the real deal. She’s brilliant. Has rocked all my top accounts.”
“What did she do for the government?” Garrett immediately wished he hadn’t asked. There was no way this would work.
“Hacker. White Hat. She’s in tune with problems our clients don’t even know exist.”
“Okay, great, well, we’re very specialized. You know this. Does she jump?” He held up his hands to Lars as his friend glanced away. “No? Okay, great. What does she do? Does she do anything?”
“She’s not so adventurous, but she can help you get the outsourcing project back on track, recruit for a permanent replacement,” Lars responded, ignoring Garrett’s question.
“What kind of a burlesque dancer doesn’t actually take her clothes off?” Garrett paused, putting together the pieces of the puzzle. “Don’t get me wrong, she was sexy, but it wasn’t lost on me that the ending was a little anticlimactic.”
“Give her a break. I just told you that she’s a singer, not a dancer. This is just kind of a hobby, anyway. It takes guts to get up and perform like that. She may be a little more cautious than most people, but she’s working on it.”
“Working on it?” He laughed.
“So she’s a little repressed, okay? What the hell difference does it make, if she can do the job?” Lars asked with a sigh. “Listen, I promise you that she is what you need now. Yeah, you’ll find someone to take Evan’s position eventually but it’s not going to be anytime soon. At least this way, you can keep things moving forward with our deal. Listen, you know I would not fuck with you. I’m telling you that she’s the best. And she’s tough. In fact, she’s probably going to kick my ass for bringing you here.”
“Why would she do that?” Garrett found it amusing that he’d misread the situation. Perhaps it hadn’t been lust in her eyes; she’d been pissed at Lars. Whatever this meant to her, apparently it had been a secret and she wasn’t at all pleased he’d mixed her worlds.
“She, uh, doesn’t really want people to know she does this.”
“Why did you bring me here then?”
“Because you need to get out and do something other than wallow in the office. And besides, if I’d told you about her without you actually seeing her sing, you’d have shot me down. This is the only thing she does that, you know, is risky.”
“Risky? Are you high? I’d hardly call singing a song risky.” Garrett laughed and rolled his eyes.
“You get up there, then, if you think it’s so easy.” Lars’ smile fell away as he grew angry with his friend’s resistance. “Look, this is the deal. I can loan her to you. We just ended the Elkinson account. I moved a few people around. She may not be Evan, but she knows her shit. I know you’re going to vet the hell out of her anyway, even though she already technically works in your network. Evan’s death has been hard on all of us, but you’ve got to keep these deals moving. You need help, and I’m offering it to you. She is what you need.”
“I need you to mind your own damn business.” Garrett blew out a breath, staring at the bottom of his glass.
What Lars had said about her already being in the network was somewhat accurate. All the subsidiary corporations were independently owned, yet Garrett had a minority share within each, ensuring the viability of Emerson Industries. But clearances to work in the corporate building were a stricter, higher level, having access to covert government contracts.
Regardless of his opposition to Lars’ suggestion, Garrett was aware that it could take months to find a suitable replacement for his chief technology officer. In the meantime, he’d been given a gift. A nice shiny one…very attractive and hard to resist. How he’d like to see what was underneath the wrapping she’d failed to peel away. Fuck it all, he knew he was thinking with his dick, but the temptation remained. It wasn’t as if she’d really be his employee anyway.
“Two weeks. That’s all she’s got. If she doesn’t add value, she’s gone.” Garrett shoved the chair out from the table and stood. “But if she screws up, she’s out. I’m not in the business of taking on interns. If she doesn’t hit the ground running, she’s done. I’m not messing around.”
“Good…because I don’t want you messing around. We should, uh, maybe have some rules.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Come on, G. I know she’s attractive but this is business. She’s not like us.”
“Yeah, I get that.”
“She shouldn’t come to our events.”
“We haven’t had any events since the accident.”
“True, but she’s not into jumps or any of our other extracurricular activities.” Lars wiped his mouth with a cocktail napkin.
“I saw her looking at you. Are you fucking her?”
“Oh, no. Come on, man.”
“Don’t give me that shit. What’s going on between you two?”
Lars shook his head.
“Spill it or we’re done here.” Garrett wasn’t sure why it irritated him to think Lars had been intimate with her.
“We met in college. That’s it.”
“Anything else?”
“No, we didn’t click that way. But we stayed friends over the years. She came on board five years ago.”
“And you never brought her around? Ever?”
“No, she’s not like us. Besides, you saw the look she gave me. Nothing’s lost on you.”
“She’s pissed.”
“Yeah, I just told you. I knew she did this, but I don’t usually come to watch. So she’s probably wondering why the hell I’m here.”
“I’m sure she’s going to love that she basically just had an interview with her new boss.”
“Let’s not get crazy now. I’m her boss. You have her on loan.”
“This isn’t going to work…”
“She’s the best you’re going to get, considering the circumstances.”
Garrett just shook his head. Yeah, I just undressed her while she ground on my cock. Great way to start a business relationship. Awesome.
“What? She’s not going to care that you were here.”
“You’re delusional. No wonder you can’t keep a woman.”
“Glass houses, bro.” Lars shrugged. “There is one tiny thing…”
“What?”
“You can’t fuck her. And before you go all CEO on my ass, this is a deal breaker.”
“You’re a dick, you know that. Why bring me here to see her like this?” Garrett raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.
“I told you. I brought you here so you could see her in her element, doing something that pushes her a little outside of her comfort zone. She’s no jumper, but she’s brave. If I hadn’t done this, you wouldn’t have ever considered her. You are sinking fast, my friend, and desperate times call for desperate measures. It worked. I got you to say yes.” Lars set his palms on the table, his expression serious. “For years I’ve kept her away from that side of my life, away from you. She’s my golden goose. I’m proud of her. There’s nothing she does half-assed, including what she just did. I love you, Garrett, and because I love you, I’m not going to let you fuck up business. This thing with Evan…I can see how this is affecting you and I don’t like it a damn bit. So I’m letting you borrow one of my finest assets. But I care about her, and because of that, she’s off limits. Got it?”
“Fine. Whatever. Bring her to the office and we’ll talk. I’ve gotta go. She stays two weeks, that’s it.”
“Two weeks,” Lars repeated.
Garrett wasn’t sure if he believed the words he was speaking but they sounded good. He caught the raised eyebrow Lars gave him, but ignored it. With a slap to his friend’s shoulder, he saluted goodbye and headed toward the door. He hated that Lars sometimes knew him better than he knew himself. For the first time since Evan had died, he’d been distracted by something else, someone else.
Granted, he couldn’t be sure whether or not she was going to be as good for his business as Lars promised. But considering his depression, he had to admit that for those few seconds she’d brushed against him, she’d taken his mind off of his grief. Despite his attraction, he’d promised Lars he wouldn’t touch her. Garrett told himself it would be easy to ignore his feelings, and rationalized his arousal as temporary lust. A couple of weeks was all he needed to get the search for Evan’s replacement on track. He’d put her in charge of the outsourcing deal, and she’d be in and out. Hopefully, he’d be able to stick to his word and not be in her.
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