Shaking her head, Brigit continued playing with the group.
No alcohol. You’re pregnant with my child.
Their rock band fun ended when Shane announced dinner and the hungry team bustled toward the dining room.
“Glad to see you’ve still got some ‘Saturday Night Fever’ moves left in you, Colt,” Vanessa said. “I’m going to let Brigit know how much I enjoyed our afternoon.”
Vanessa plunked on the bench, wrapped her hand around Brigit’s shoulder and glanced back at Colton. He could always count on Vanessa. She was a loyal Mitus employee. Vanessa spoke quietly, but when she removed her hand from Brigit’s shoulder, Brigit left the room, head down.
What the hell happened?
Vanessa rushed back to Colton. “That is one strange chick. She might be your best accountant and she plays a mean piano, but she’s not all there.” Vanessa tapped her skull.
“What happened?”
“I told her how great she played. She told me she didn’t need my approval and to stay away from her.” Vanessa’s eyes glistened and she choked back a sob. “Why doesn’t she like me?”
Why would Brigit lash out? That made no sense. If it happened again, he’d speak with her. Draping his arm around Vanessa, he tenderly patted her shoulder. “Thanks for your efforts. You know how much I appreciate you.”
Vanessa lifted her tear-streaked face. “I do, Colton, and that meanseverythingto me.”
41
THE MISSING MASK
At one minute pastfour the following afternoon Brigit hollered, “Woo hoo!” and jetted out of her desk chair. The stock market had just closed for the week and she was ecstatic. Her plan had worked. Francesco’s stock price had jumped a whopping twenty-four percent after their technology innovation announcement.
Colton strode into the office, whisked her into his arms and spun her around. “Great work! Your strategy was ingenious. This will shut MobiCom down.”
Brigit laughed. Seeing Colton this happy was infectious.If only.“Okay, hotshot, you can put me down now.”
“Oh, yeah, I don’t want you getting nauseous.” He set her down as if she were a porcelain doll.
After one twirl?“I’m not that fragile.”
He placed both hands on her shoulders and shot her a stern look. “No more secrets. You and I are in this together.”
She jumped back. “Wait, what…um…uh…what are you talking about?” Her heart rate skyrocketed. Did Tucker uncover her true identity? Had Marjorie given away their secret? No, she’d never do that. Colton didn’t look angry. He looked concerned. Hopeful, even. If he’d found out who she really was, hope wouldn’t be springing from his soulful brown eyes. He’d be a spewing volcano of scalding lava.
Colton’s phone rang and he sprinted into his office, calling over his shoulder, “Probably Marjorie.”
She followed. Colton pressed the speaker button on his desk phone console. “Mitus.”
“Colton, Colton, it’s Wilson Montgomery. How are we doing today?”
His singsongy voice sent goose bumps careening down Brigit’s arms.
“I don’t have time—” Colton’s tone changed in a nanosecond.
“Make time.” Wilson’s voice turned staccato.
His eyes narrowed. “The takeover isnevergoing to happen.” Colton’s chillingly cold voice scared her.
“MobiCom is well prepared for anything you or your little underlings might throw our way. Driving up Francesco stock won’t stop us. We have a laundry list as long as my–—well, let’s just say it’simpressive—of reasons why shareholders should, and will, vote in favor of the acquisition.”
Colton grew rigid. “You keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better.”
“I will win, becauseI’ma winner. You will lose, C-C-C-Colton, because you are a l-l-l-loser. And I can pro—”
