Page 13 of Recovering Ivy

“Why does it matter to you?” I asked.

“Fuck if I know. But it does. I’ve spent the entire day fucking irate that you slipped out.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Zane’s mouth twisted into a grimace and his brows knitted together. “I’m an asshole and a liar now?”

“I’m exhausted, Zane. I didn’t sleep last night. I was late to work. All I wanted to do was go home and sleep then Forester told me he needed me at an investor meeting. Now I’m here, bone tired, and I want to go home. Please tell me what you want so I can go home.”

Zane leaned back, and I studied him, studying me.

He looked different in a suit. Last night he was in cargo pants and a t-shirt; he looked hot as hell. But in a suit? Even being a dick, he made my insides flutter. There was an air of caution that surrounded him, but tonight, looking delicious, it was leaning far right into the danger zone.

“Tell me what you know about Forester.” His tone accusatory and assessing, I didn’t much like it and had no problem telling him.

“Nothing…”

“Cut the shit, Ivy. You’ve worked with him for nine months. You follow him. What. Do. You. Know?”

“He’s a scumbag. He hires hookers like three times a week.”

“Why do you follow him?”

“Zane. That’s none of your business.”

His fist came crashing down on the table with a bang, making me jump back in my chair. He leaned in, the look on his face scared the shit out of me, and left no room for argument - I may’ve peed a little.

“Fucking hell. I’m trying to help you.”

I thought back to all the times I’d heard that before. I’m trying to help you, Sarah, here’s another hit. I’m trying to help you, Sarah, here’s another pill. How many times had my father plied my mom with drugs to keep the upper hand? More times than I cared to remember. In my experience, no man was just trying to help you. They wanted something in return. They helped themselves first and foremost.

“You don’t want to help me. You want to help whatever investigation you have. You don’t even know me. Why would you want to help?”

“We’re back to that, are we?” he replied.

It was time I turned the tables on him. I needed to know why he was looking into Forester and what he knew. The last thing I needed was him fucking up my plan when I was so close to nailing him.

“What do you know about Forester?” I queried.

“He’s a plant. He works for Smart Technologies and was sent to Techwatch to steal their launch plans and pricing structure. You’re the last loose end before we turn our file over to Smart Technologies and the Feds. He’ll be charged in the next few days.”

Holy shit. That didn’t work.

“No. You can’t,” I blurted.

“Really? Why’s that, Ivy? What’s your involvement?”

“I have nothing to do with any of that.”

Shit. He was going to screw everything up. I was so close. I almost had all the proof I needed.

Forester Grant was going to go down.

Zane’s face turned to granite. “Are you fucking him?” he growled the words and pinned me with his stare.

Fucking him? The thought made me want to throw up.

“Are you kidding me…”