Brigit sprang a look at Colton. Anger clouded his normally bright eyes. “This setback involves my future, my career, and a company I willnotgive up,” Colton said. “Brigit, I need you now more than ever.”
Brigit went tight everywhere. Jaws and hands clenched. Neck and back stiffened. Losing Francesco had become very real. She started shaking and as the room began to spin, she grabbed the sofa arm.
Chad eased her onto the cushion. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just light-headed.” She took a long pull of juice.
“Finish your food,” Colton said. “You’ve hardly eaten.”
“I can’t,” Brigit protested.
“Sorry to have barged in,” Chad said.
“Relax. Both of you.” Colton handed Brigit her half-eaten plate of food. “Brigit, eat something. Chad, what do you know?”
Brigit placed a forkful of cold scrambled eggs into her mouth and almost gagged. Appetite lost, replaced by nausea.
“MobiCom has been discreetly buying stock,” Chad said. “Not so much that they can do serious damage, but enough to show their intention is real.”
“How do you know this?” Colton asked. “Never mind. Don’t answer that.”
“I have a friend at the SEC,” Chad said.
“One ofthosekinds of friends?” Colton asked.
“What does that mean?” Brigit asked.
“I’m a hacker,” Chad said. “No, Colt, this was legit.”
“Fuck. This cannot be happening, not when everything is at stake. MobiCom is definitely building their position. Brigit, I need that cash.”
She leapt up and the plate tumbled off her lap. “Oh, what a mess!” She grabbed the remnants of her scrambled eggs and lobbed them onto the plate. “I have to get ready.”
“We haven’t finished our private conversation,” Colton said.
“You’ve said plenty.” She quickly collected her things and bolted from the room.
Scurrying down the hall, she gritted her teeth. If she had any chance of saving her beloved Francesco from being absorbed by MobiCom, she’d have to join forces with the one man who’d taken it from her. The same man who took her breath away and made her blood boil. Losing her company and failing her parents all over again seemed inevitable.
31
THE SAUNA
Brigit closed her bedroomdoor and bit back tears of frustration.I’m so stupid.Going forward, she would act like the consummate professional. Colton’s comment—this shouldn’t have happened—infuriated her. But she knew better. Having sex with any client was taboo, but twice with the same man? Never mind how phenomenal a lover he was, or how she felt while in his arms, Colton Mitus was not to be touched.
Her focus would remain fixed on the urgent business at hand—protect Francesco from MobiCom’s merger play.
Saturday afternoon she texted Colton.Can you meet Sunday to review my investment strategies?He replied,Sunday morning, ten thirty.If he spent the day at home, she’d not seen him. Relieved, she worked with several staff on their investments.
At ten twenty Sunday morning, she sipped strong java while staring out her office window at the spacious grounds. Her phone buzzed and she read the incoming text from Colton.Can’t meet until Monday. Sorry for the last-minute change.
What could be more pressing than losing Francesco?His kinky sexual needs, she thought.
Though grateful for the additional time to let the tension cool, she caught herself daydreaming about their fiery romp more than once.Never again.While working in her office Monday afternoon, Colton’s deep voice broke her concentration.
“Any calls?” he asked.
“Several,” Red said. “Only Marjorie McAllister’s was urgent. I handled the others and sent you a summary email. The invitation you requested is in your center drawer. I hope your emergency was resolved.”
