Chapter Two
“SIR, THERE’S A WOMAN out front to see you.”
Noah looked up from his computer and scowled. He hated being interrupted during work. “Why are you telling me this? Get rid of her.”
His longtime butler, assistant, and now friend, never changed his serene expression. It used to annoy Noah, now he welcomed it.
He’d hired Charles Longthistle shortly after his accident to make sure Noah had no need to leave the house. Trained in all aspects of running a household in discreet perfection, his skills were legendary and sought after. Noah never regretted hiring him, having to pay more than anyone else would have. Charles had a distinguished full head of white hair, mustache, and penchant for wearing expensive suits, though no one was around to view him. He brought a solid presence and capability that soothed Noah’s aching soul.
Most of the time, Noah felt as if he would have gone insane far earlier without the man’s company.
As if he heard Noah’s thought, Sammy gave a whimper. Noah dropped his hand to pet the lab’s head in a silent apology, and got a wet nose pressed against his thigh. Between his dog and his butler, he should never regret isolating himself from the outside world. They were enough.
“I tried, sir. Many times. She seems to have camped out at the gates and I’m concerned about her safety. It’s brutally cold and a storm is brewing.”
Noah’s irritation spiked. Years of isolation would make even the most mild-mannered man like a dormant volcano ready to explode without a moment’s notice. “Call the police. She’s probably some dried up reporter who’s desperate to reinvent a dead story.”
Charles hesitated. “I don’t think so. She said it involves a personal matter and she won’t leave until she talks to you.”
Ah, hell. He didn’t need this right now. He was deep into a new deal and ready to make an offer. Distractions were rarely a problem, making his usual laser type focus integral to the close. Sammy cocked his massive head, his inky black fur gleaming in the low light. If only his dog was a threatening presence, he may be able to spook his unwanted visitor. Unfortunately, Sammy adored people and would probably welcome her with licking tongue and wagging tail.
Noah glanced out the office window. Easier than rolling his chair to check the surveillance cameras on the monitor behind him. Most people left once they realized he wasn’t going to give them a show. He’d had that one group of young boys who only wanted to snap a photo of him to post on social media, but after three hours, they retreated. This shouldn’t take as long considering the cold. “Just a tactic to get through the front door,” he said. “Leave her alone, Charles. She’s not going to sit out there in the cold for long. We’ll wait her out.”
His butler nodded, but his gaze held doubt. “As you wish.”
Noah refused to second-guess himself, ever. It’s why he was so good at his job. His fingers flew across the keyboard, and the multiple monitors lit up with stock information and private email messages from contacts planted in the popular sporting goods chain well known for sponsoring the Olympics. A year of work was now moments from the glorious payoff. Besides making a ton of money, the satisfaction of the win fed his greedy soul that had once been nourished by giving to others.
Now he was all about taking for himself. It still saddened him that those boys’ families sued. He would have done anything to help them, including paying for any medical bills. Instead, they turned on him for money. All his past good gestures meant nothing, pushing him to change into the greedy man who now sat in this chair, on this mountain.
It was so much easier to think only of one self.
Hours passed in a blur as Noah carefully watched his deal unfold. He finally made the call. His contact picked up on the other end.
“End it,” Noah said into the Bluetooth.
“Done,” the voice replied.
And just like that, he was now the proud owner of a new conglomerate.
Adrenaline soared through his veins. He ripped off his headset, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Sammy. “We did it again, boy. My net worth just went up another half a billion dollars. Means I can keep you in gourmet bones for another decade. Fun, isn’t it?”
The lab yawned.
“Some partner you are. I think this calls for a celebratory drink, don’t you?” Noah rose from the chair and stretched.
Noah headed out of the office toward the library where he kept his special stash of bourbon. The massive stone fireplace gave off the right amount of heat to stay warm on a cold day like today. The sound of crackling wood sang in his ears, celebrating his new deal. The scent of leather bound books, paper, and smoke filled the air. He took out a crystal highball glass, splashed in two fingers of bourbon, and lifted it to his nose. The sting of well-aged cognac rose to his nostrils. The burning liquid slid down his throat with ease, warming his belly, and he moved toward the screen monitoring his front gate. He had one in every room, just to be safe.
Son of a bitch.
He stared in shock. The woman was sitting in a beach chair in front of the metal gates. Her face stubbornly faced the camera, but even with the grainy feed he noted the paleness of her features, the chattering of her teeth, the slight tinge of blue in her lips, and perhaps a few ice crystals hanging on her lush eyelashes. She wore a plain black wool jacket, and a red scarf was doubled around her neck. Red gloves donned her hands, but they were fisted tight. Her body shook with unconscious tremors, braced against the icy fury of the gusting wind. And damned if she didn’t even duck down for protection when the wind howled, but managed to keep her gaze trained on the camera as if to tell him she intended to freeze to death rather than leave.
“Charles!”
His butler appeared moments later. “Yes, sir?”
“She’s still outside. If she doesn’t take cover, she’ll have frostbite. Call the police. They can escort her out of here.”
“I did. She’s not on your property, so legally, there’s nothing we can do.”
He stared at the camera for a long moment. Frustration coursed through him. Damn her. He couldn’t allow her to freeze in front of him. She’d played her hand well, and rarely did he lose a round of poker.
The snow fell. The wind blew. And for the first time in years, Noah made a decision to allow a stranger inside his sanctuary.
Fine. She wanted to see the beast in the castle. He’d make sure she never forgot the experience.
“Let her in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Coldness washed through him, and the familiar numbness took away any lingering memory of pain and shame. The fire had left him with nothing anyone in the town below would consider human.
Just like he liked it.