The Price Of Scandal(90)

“However will you celebrate?” I asked, tugging at my tie and reassuring myself that my head was indeed still attached.

Flirtatious again, she fanned her fingers over her mouth and pretended to ponder. “Perhaps I’ll take a new lover.”

Careful, Price. Do not stray too close to the fire.

I wanted to return to Emily’s bed unsullied… and also with a head.

“How very European of you,” I teased.

“You really are impressive, Derek,” she said, laying her hand on mine. She flipped our hands so mine was on top.

Mayday! Mayday! Pull up! I smelled a setup, but I couldn’t figure out the game.

“Am I?” I slid my hand off hers and picked up my drink.

“Not many people could have gotten Emily out of that situation. You single-handedly saved her. You’re quite the hero,” she said, plucking an olive from her drink and sucking it between her lips.

I cleared my throat. “I aim to please.” I couldn’t play this game. Not in good conscience.

“I didn’t think anyone would be able to clean up that mess,” she mused.

“I’m very good at what I do.”

She gave me a long, warm look. “I’m sure you are,” she purred. I felt her foot slide its way up my shin, and every muscle in my body went tense.

Danger! Danger! I couldn’t afford to keep playing. The price was too high. I’d have to go the direct route.

“Lita, I have very strong feelings for Emily,” I confessed, sliding my leg away from her exploratory foot.

“Don’t we all?” Her tone was light, but there was a hard edge of annoyance. I saw it in her eyes. That shocking flash of hatred.

“How did you know Merritt Van Winston was going to be arrested that night?” I asked.

She leaned in close, looking smug. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Derek.” Her fingers climbed my tie until they got to the knot. She gave an uncomfortable tug. “But before you go accusing me of anything, remember that Emily and I have a very long history. She trusts me. And if it comes down to choosing sides, you won’t fare well.”

“You’re awfully confident,” I said, gripping her hand and hoping I wouldn’t need to physically defend myself from a beautiful woman in a very public restaurant.

“I know her better than anyone.”

“Is that how you manipulated her into that date?” I pressed. I wanted her to say the words.

Lita’s phone buzzed quietly on the crisp white tablecloth. I frowned at the name I saw on the screen just before she picked it up and flipped it over.

“I hate to cut this short, but I need to go.” She polished off the last of her drink and stood. “If you change your mind about… things, you know where to find me.”

I grabbed her arm as she started to walk away. “Don’t fuck with her, Lita,” I warned.

She leaned in, eyes sparkling. “Don’t fuck with me, Derek.”





I watched her leave and then made my way to the bar, loosening my tie as I went. There was a seat next to a great ox of a man. No one got too close to Jude Ellis. Not when he had his work face on.

“Still worried?” he asked, nudging a fresh beer in my direction.

“Now I’m fucking terrified,” I admitted.

“Good, because I think she’s dirty,” he said. “Her dumb as shit assistant bought the ‘IT problem excuse’ and let me into her office.”

“Find anything interesting?”

“She’s careful. Better than good security on her desktop. Got a script on her computer that encodes all incoming and outgoing emails. I didn’t have enough time to crack it, but I found a few footprints. Some contact with a few people at La Sophia, Flawless’s rival. Couldn’t get any text from the messages, but a lot of back and forth.”

“Job shopping?” I mused.

Jude nodded. “Possible.”

“It fits,” I muttered. “She’s tired of living in Emily’s shadow.”

“Tired enough to try to destroy her?”

I thought of the name on the screen of her phone. “Yeah. And she didn’t succeed with Van Winston.”

“I fucking hate backstabbing. Why can’t everyone settle their differences civilly in the ring?” Jude complained.

“Then you and I would be out of jobs,” I said, slapping him on the shoulder.

“Would that be such a bad thing?”

“Do me a favor,” I said. “Before you start planning your retirement, run this name through whatever appalling database you’ve got access to.” I scrawled the name on a bar napkin and handed it over.

Jude’s eyebrows winged up. “Seriously?”

“I’m afraid so. Something’s going down, and we need to get ahead of it.” I had a very bad feeling.

“You going to give Dragon Lady a heads up?” Jude asked, tucking the napkin into his pocket.

Lita’s words echoed in my head. “I need proof first.”





42





Emily





I closed my eyes and enjoyed being completely alone for the first time all day. I kicked off my shoes and squished my abused toes in the thick carpet under my desk. Derek, who had been cryptically “busy” last night, was taking care of something in his own office. Lona, my constant shadow, was checking in with her office. And Jane was off either eating a burrito or flirting with a man.