Derek

One Week Later

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DESPITE MY INSISTENCE that Sam stay home, she was starting to get cabin fever. The team had been disassembled, and I was in the process of hiring a new, permanent security team for my home. I still wanted Sam to head it up, to take the job I had offered her and stay with me. But her leg was still healing, and I felt naked without a security team outfitted to the house.

So, I was in my office vetting potential matches and trying to conquer the world.

Sam was back in the washroom executive office trying to be as discreet as she could, but I knew what she was doing. She was looking into the information on my company’s security. It made me happy, knowing she was considering my job offer. The moment she requested access to the information she needed, like employee records to run background checks and blueprints to the security setup in the building, I was more than happy to give it to her.

I was hoping it would lead her down the path of accepting my job offer.

“You think it’s smart for your girlfriend to be head of your security?”

I grinned, allowing my gaze to pan over to her as she leaned against the washroom doorway.

“It still makes me smile to hear you say that word,” I said.

“Security?” she asked.

“No. Girlfriend.”

“Ah, so we’re not on topic. Got it,” she said. “Probably why the security you have leftover still sucks.”

“Because they aren’t on topic?”

She grinned at me as she pushed off the doorway.

“I’ve been combing through the information you gave me,” Sam said.

“Have you come to a decision?” I asked.

“First, I want you to answer my question.”

“On whether or not it would be weird to have you as my head of security? First off, being head of security is different than being my bodyguard. I’m not hiring you to follow me around twenty-four seven. You do that naturally now.”

“Nope. Don’t think I’ll take the job,” she said with a grin.

“Oh, my heart. It aches with your words. But you know I’m right. And, you were right too.”

“I was what?”

“Right,” I said.

“Say that one more time?”

“Sam.”

“Just once. Consider it banked foreplay?”

“Banked foreplay?”

“You know, do something to pleasure me now, and next time you won’t have to waste your time with foreplay,” she said.

“But what if I like foreplay?” I asked as I stood up.

“One more time. Just for me, Mr. Steele.”

“Mmm. I might have you continue calling me that.”

I leaned against my desk, crossing my arms over my chest as Sam hobbled toward me on her cane. She stood toe-to-toe with me, her sparkling brown eyes gazing up at me.

She was perfection. And she was all mine.

“You were right,” I said.

“Oh, how sweet those words are. Now, you have to specify on what,” Sam said.

“You don’t know?”

“I’m right on everything. I simply want to know what you’re addressing so I can cross it off the list.”

“The list of what?” I asked.

“Of things I’m trying to get you to admit.”

“Ah, there’s a list. Well, right now, we’re talking about how you kept insisting the world was a dangerous place.”

“It is,” she said.

“And with everything that’s happened, I think it’s time I got serious about my own protection.”

“It is.”

“So, with that said, Samantha Williams, will you accept the position as my head of security for Steele, Incorporated?”

“Not for your home?” she asked.

“We’ll get there. For now, my company is what needs immediate addressing.”

“In your opinion.”

“Yes,” I said. “In my professional opinion. Do you accept?”

Before Sam could give me an answer, my intercom started buzzing. Over and over and over again. I drew in a deep breath and rolled my eyes, but Sam’s head whipped over toward my office door. I could see that look in her eye. It was stone cold and curious. I’d seen it many times before when she sensed danger coming, so I shot over to my intercom and pressed the button.

“Emma, what is it?” I asked.

But all I heard was her yelping.

Sam started limping toward the door, holding her leg as I reached out for her arm. I stopped her in her tracks, shooting her a hard glance before I looked down at her leg. She was in no position to go running after my personal assistant. So she drew her gun off her hip as I helped guide her back toward my desk.

Then, the doors to my office burst open.

“FBI!” someone shouted.

“Get your hands in the air!”

“Derek Steele! Get your hands in the air!”

“Ma’am! Put the gun down!”

“Not on your life,” Sam said with a murmur.

FBI agents were filling my office, their guns trained on Sam. She had her gun leveled at the agents, bouncing between them as her eyes took in every single one of them. She was outnumbered. Sorely outgunned and at a disadvantage with her leg. I saw some of the agents had itching trigger fingers, their eyes darting around, waiting for someone to make the first move.

“Drop the weapon,” an agent said.

“Sam,” I said. “Do it now.”

“Derek—”

“Miss Williams, you will drop your weapon,” I said.

Her eyes slowly panned over to me, taking in my hands over my head. My office was filled with federal agents waiting for the moment to gun her down. Her eyes were filled with worry and confusion, and I could see the doubt in herself rolling over her face. She hung her gun from her finger, allowing it to fall to the floor.

Then, she put her hands above her head and surrendered.

“Agents, what is all this about?” I asked. “What did you do with my personal assistant?”

The agents rushed me, pulling my hands down behind my back as cuffs were slapped onto my wrists.

“What the hell is going on?” Sam asked.

“Where is Emma?” I asked.

“Derek!”

I whipped my head up and saw Emma running to the door as agents stepped in her way.

“Derek! Don’t say anything. Just hush,” Emma said.

“What are you talking about? Sam, what’s going on?” I asked.

Her wide eyes were vacant. She was just as blindsided as I was. What the hell was going on? What was I being arrested for?

“You have the right to remain silent,” the agent began. “Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”

“Why am I being arrested?”

“Answer the question, Derek.”

Sam’s voice ripped me from my confused and angered state. The agent ripped me upright, my hands bound so tightly, I could barely feel them. Even with her body shaking with adrenaline, her eyes were unwavering.

She was accepting the position, and now I needed to listen to her guidance.

“Yes,” I said. “I understand.”

“With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?” the agent asked.

“Not until you tell us what Mr. Steele’s being arrested for,” Sam said.

“Mr. Steele here is under arrest for conspiracy, espionage, and violating US government sanctions against North Korea, to name a few,” the agent said.

“To name a few?” I asked. “Where the hell are you getting this information from?”

“Interesting you would want to know that and not decry your innocence,” the agent said. “Come on. You’re coming with us.”

I stumbled to my feet as the agent pushed me along. I could feel Sam’s eyes on me as they grew wider and wider. I was stopped at the door, and I could hear Emma crying, sobbing like a child as Sam stood there, rooted to the floor. I turned my head to take her in, watching as her wide eyes filled with shock and confusion.

“It’s not true, Sam. I have no idea what they’re talking about.”

“The irony of a rich billionaire helping communist North Korea. And after everything you went through with someone trying to take your place in the company. A tip for the wise, Mr. Steele? Let the fall guy have your higher position. Makes it harder for us to track you down,” the agent said.

“Sam, listen to me. I didn’t do this. No matter what they tell you or whatever it is they have, none of this is true. I’m not working with the Koreans!”

The agents shoved me out the door and paraded me in front of my staff. Emma was wiping her tears, and Sam was stuck to the carpet in my office. My head was swirling with a thousand different things, but one stood out in particular.

If Sam didn’t help me, then who would?

THE END