Trillion(6)

In my experience, powerful men who think they’re the smartest asshole in the room make some of the dumbest decisions … sometimes simply because they can. The world doesn’t tell men like Nolan Ames “no” just as it doesn’t tell men like me “no.”

I hunch over the table, staring down at the circled name.

Sophie Bristol.

“All right. Plan B. We tell him we’re going to pass,” Broderick says, lifting a finger because he knows I’m about to protest. “If he knows you’re willing to walk away and take your excessively generous offer off the table, maybe it’ll light a little fire in him. Level the playing field a bit. Tip the scales in our favor—or at least equalize them.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“Then we move on and find another company to buy.”

I don’t like the idea of moving on. I want this company. I’ve had my sights set on it for years, and when rumor had it he was looking to sell so he could retire early and focus on being a “family man,” I jumped on the opportunity.

“No.” I exhale. Perhaps I’m being petulant in this moment, but I don’t fucking care. There’s a way to make this happen, I’m certain.

“Then we need to find someone,” he says, “someone who’s compatible with you, someone you find attractive, someone who would be an ideal mother, and like I said, someone you can trust. We could have them vetted by a psychologist if you want, a doctor as well to make sure she’s capable of bearing—”

I lift a palm. He shuts up mid-sentence.

“—now you’re getting too many people involved.” I wave his words away, gaze focused on that name. Sophie Bristol. The syllables roll soft and sensual in my mind. I can only imagine the way they’d feel on my tongue. “I want you to look into her.”

I rip the page from the legal pad and slide it toward him.

“She works here,” I say. “No idea what department. I ran into her earlier. She might be a fit for … this.”

Broderick scans the name before folding the paper into fourths, and then he tucks it into the interior pocket of his suit jacket. “I’ll see what I can find out.”





Three





Sophie



Present



I’m in the middle of running a Tuesday report for Miranda in Accounts Receivable when my office phone flashes with an unfamiliar extension.

It takes me three rings to process the name on the Caller ID.

It takes me an additional stomach-dropping ring to answer. “Sophie Bristol speaking.”

In the three years I’ve worked at Westcott Corporation, Trey Westcott has never called me.

“Ms. Bristol, I need you to report to my office.” The commanding tenor in my boss’ voice sends actual chills down my spine—not an easy feat. “Immediately.”

The number of times I’ve physically seen the unknowable powerhouse of a man, I could count on one hand, and all of those times have been in passing—with today being an exception.

From what I’ve heard, a person only gets called into his office when they’re about to be fired. The man likes to dole out pink slips in person. He claims it’s a respect thing, though I can’t help but wonder if he simply gets off on it. Power changes people.

Then again, Westcott’s been powerful his entire life. Born to one of the wealthiest families in the world and orphaned as a teenager, he’s spent the past twenty years turning his $500 billion inheritance into a net worth that tops a trillion dollars.

A hundred times, I’ve tried to wrap my head around that kind of money, but I can’t come close to fathoming it. They say if you were to count to a trillion, it would take two-hundred-thousand years. I don’t think an ordinary person could stay sane with that kind of influence and authority.

Some of the most prominent people in existence are terrified of him—of his capabilities. And the shroud of mystery (and rumors) that surround him only add to his intimidating allure.

I log out of my computer and quickly calculate the odds of it being the last time I do so. He’s got no reason to let me go, that I can think of, but I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve watched some poor, thankless company minion packing their belongings into a cardboard box while they attempt not to break down in tears in front of their staring colleagues. Once they load the elevator, they’re never seen or heard from again.

I don’t tend to fear anyone.

Trey Westcott is an exception.

For the past hour, I’ve replayed the break room incident in my mind on a loop, wondering what he heard and how much, if any, he attributed to me.

He stopped me in the hallway and said, “Thanks for … that.”

Was there sarcasm in his tone?

What if he thought I was the one spreading those ridiculous rumors?

Also, why is he calling me personally? He has half a dozen assistants to do this sort of thing …

“Ms. Bristol?” His brusque voice in my ear tells me I don’t have time to wonder.

“Yes.” I keep my composure and swallow my concerns for now. “I’ll be right there.”

Westcott is my boss’ boss’ boss’ boss’ boss on a zig-zagged chart that makes me dizzy if I stare at it for too long. I didn’t think the man knew I existed.