“No.” I pause my scrolling and look over at the report Leo is working through.
“Here. Look at this.” He points to a sentence in the most recent set of accounts that mentions Sinclair Properties and how Peak has loaned the company quite a substantial amount of money. “I thought it was strange, so I looked on the Companies House website at Sinclair Properties and the director is one of the top associates at Peak. I was expecting to see Ezra’s name if I’m honest.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m really not sure, but the money trail seems off.”
“Brent?” the barista shouts, and I walk forward to collect our coffees to take into the office.
“Thanks.” I pick up the tray, and Leo loops his arm around me, taking the tray as we head to leave.
“You know that’s the first time you’ve used my name.”
“Is it?”
“Well, it’s the first time I’ve heard you use it, and it felt fucking fantastic.”
“It feels good saying it.”
“Would you look at this. Mr. and Mrs. Brent out in the wild. Method acting at its finest.” Ezra slow claps as he walks next to us.
“What do you want, St. Claire?” Leo sighs.
“Just wondered if you had told Cole you were pulling out yet?”
“Move along, Ezra.” I start to speed up my steps to get away from him, and Leo keeps in step.
“I’ll take that as a no.” He cackles. “You’ve got until Friday. I expect you to email me to say it’s done by midday. If not, I’ll send him the video.” He breaks away and heads in the other direction. “Tick tock, Brents.”
I pull Leo in the opposite direction. “Come on; don’t let him get to you.” As he starts to walk in step with me, his phone beeps with an incoming email.
Who is that?” I ask, frowning as his face drains of color. “You look pale. Everything okay?”
“Huh?” He shakes his head and gives me a fake-as-shit smile. “Yeah, everything is fine.”
“You don’t look fine,” I press as we continue to walk toward the offices.
“No, Ria, it really isn’t okay if I’m honest, but I think we need to talk about this away from prying eyes and ears.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“I mean, I need to fire someone,” he growls as he passes me his phone.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Tick Tock
Dear Mr. Brent,
If you think you can intimidate me then you’re sorely mistaken.
Your little display in your office was cute, but I’m cleverer than you are and know more than you think I do.
It would be a real shame if a recording of your unprovoked attack made it to Mr. West. I very much doubt someone as upstanding as he is would appreciate a bully maintaining his investments.
You need to think this through very clearly because you may think you’re safe, but trust me, if you don’t contact Mr. West and tell him you can’t look after his portfolio, I will not only release the video of your deceit that will ruin Ria’s reputation, but I will take the harassment in your offices further. I bet you look good in gray. I hear that’s the color they put the criminals in here.
