Page 69 of Brazen Obsession

When he lifts his head, my heart is bursting. “I love you, boss.”

Chapter 23

Cooked Books

Finn

Monday seems to last forever. My mind is still spinning on the files Tom had that we’ve been reviewing. But right now, I need to focus on the financials I’m auditing for a client.

I keep coming back to the idea that there has to be something additional we can use in Tom’s files. Something we just haven’t found yet.

Theo hasn’t finished unencrypting some files, but his time on them is limited to outside his normal workday. Morrigan Technology is busy. Just like we are. Tom being gone for weeks and us missing the week before last made us fall behind.

I’m tempted to call my dad and ask him for his help finding a way to stop Alexander from coming after us. There are things he knows that might push us in the right direction. After all, he gave something to the Feds to help with their case.

He might help us find a way to neutralize Alexander as a threat. But would he help us without insisting I marry Sara? Much as I love her and want her to be tied to me in all ways, I’m also not selfish enough to think that any one of us marrying her wouldn’t hurt this budding relationship.

We need to figure out how to move forward in society and around our families with all of us dating Sara. Without making one of us seem more important than the others. Because without all of us, this falls apart.

A knock on my open door makes me glance up. Sara’s smile captures my attention as she moves into the room.

“Close the door, flower.”

Her eyebrow arches, but she closes the door before coming forward. “I need to talk to you about work.”

“Good. I need a break.” When she tries to sit across from me in the chair for visitors, I shake my head. “No, I’m definitely going to need you closer.”

Her lips tip and her eyes sparkle with mischief. She rounds the desk.

“How close were you thinking?”

I turn my chair to the side and pat my thigh.

She arches her eyebrow, but sets her notes on my desk and sits on my lap. I turn us both so we’re facing the desk and put my chin on her shoulder.

“Show me.” I want more, but just being this close to her and inhaling her citrus scent into my lungs will be enough until tonight when I can have her all to myself.

She sets her papers in front of us and runs through the trial balance. It’s not balanced and she can’t seem to find the error. Together we search through the source documents and I pull up the account to make sure there isn’t an error in the spreadsheet.

We have it narrowed down right when the door opens.

“Hey, Finn, do you know—‍” Tom looks up from his tablet and covers his eyes. “What the fuck?”

“Calm down,” I say. “She’s sitting on my lap, not my dick.” I smirk. “Well technically, she’s sitting on my dick, but not in the fun way.”

Tom gapes at us for a few seconds more.

“If you had a sister—‍” Tom runs his hand through his hair.

“You wouldn’t come anywhere near her because my dad would have had your head if you pulled any of the shit you normally pull.” I let Tom see that hard piece of me I don’t bother hiding anymore. “What do you need, Tom?”

Tom sighs and looks between me and Sara. If he’s hoping I’ll move her away from me, he can go fuck himself.

“There’s something different about this file.” Tom takes the chair Sara tried to sit on earlier.

She leans back against me, watching Tom. But she doesn’t say anything. Someday she’ll forgive Tom because she loves him that much. I don’t think I’ll ever forget he did this and what it almost cost me. But I might learn to live with it. Only because Sara is safe in my arms.

“It’s one of the encrypted files Theo unlocked and sent over.” He swallows and looks at me from the page. “With your background, I wanted your opinion on what you think this looks like.”