“Something has come up at the last minute with the merger.”
I force myself to take a deep breath before I answer.
“How bad is it?”
“Pretty bad.”
“Then fuck it. Have the lawyers walk back the agreement. This is not worth it.”
Connor shakes his head. “They had a whistleblower come forward.”
“About what?”
“Financial fraud. The news is going to break any minute.”
My jaw clenches. “What the fuck?”
“I don’t have all the details yet, but they’re not small fish. I think the investigation might extend to our dealings with them, as well.”
Jesus Christ. This is the last thing I need.
“Excellent,” I say bitterly, then turn back to my desk.
“Sorry, Jett.”
“Don’t be. We’re withdrawing. I’ll have legal on it as soon as they can put their asses in seats.”
Connor must sense the conversation is over, because the next time I look up at the doorway, he’s gone.
“Emily?”
She’s at the threshold instantly, her face hopeful.
“I need the legal team here in fifteen minutes. Tell them to cancel their plans for the evening.”
She nods tightly. If she’s disappointed about having to work late, she doesn’t show it on her face. “Would you like me to order in?”
“Yes. It could be a long evening.”
I reach for my phone to send Angelica a text, but think better of it. It’s 5:00 now, so she should be on her way out of the office.
She picks up on the first ring.
“Hey.” She sounds excited and breathless, like she’s taking the stairs down to the first floor. The sound of her shoes clattering against the metal stairwell breaks through the noise cancelling effect on her phone. That’s exactly what she’s doing. “Are you going to tell me what we’re doing tonight, or is it a surprise?”
“That’s what I’m calling about.”
“Change of plans?”
“Something came up with an acquisition I’ve been working on for weeks. I have to be here.” This is a half-truth. Connor could meet with the lawyers without me, but I can’t stand it if one more thing goes wrong on my watch while I’m gone with a woman—even if it’s Angelica.
I wait for her to be upset.
“Ugh, what a bummer,” Angelica says, and there’s no whining disappointment, only empathy in her voice. “Another night, then.”
“Another night.”
“I’ll wait up!” she says, and laughs at her own joke.
As pissed as I am, it puts a smile on my face.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Angelica
Monday is my day to work from home.
Hadley the Profit Queen gives each of her employees one day each month to work at home so that she can put “flexible schedules” on the perk sheet for new hires, and Monday is my day. She’s been so on edge lately that I’d assumed that kind of perk was withdrawn.
Howie, Jett’s personal assistant, has just brought breakfast to the bedroom when the email comes in. We are sitting at a table for two in a sunny breakfast nook across from the living area. The windows on three sides of the nook offer a fantastic view of the city.
“Damn,” I say, around a mouthful of scrambled eggs.
“What?”
“Hadley’s actually going through with it.”
“With...?”
Jett snaps a piece of crispy bacon in two and sticks it into his mouth. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“We each get a day to work from home each month. I thought she’d cancel mine.”
“Are you a subpar employee?”
I stick my tongue out at him, then take a sip of my cranberry juice. “She didn’t cancel it, if that tells you anything.” I open another app on my phone. “There’s a Starbucks three blocks from here. I can set up shop there.”
“Don’t be silly. My office is yours.”
My stomach twists at the offer. Over the last week, it’s like I’ve divided myself in my mind—the criminal Angelica who steals information for some kind of crime ring and the Angelica who’s a little bit head over heels for Jett Brandon. The worst, though, is when the two collide.
Because, of course, offering me his office sets me up perfectly to get the information I need, and working from home will make it easy to meet Charlie for the drop-off.
“You’re too kind.”
“It’s just an office. I have several.”
“Are you bragging about the number of offices you have?” I give him a cheeky grin.
“Just a fact of life,” Jett says. “I can’t offer you any company, though.”