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“Over my dead body,” Simone snaps.
Atlas runs a hand down his face. “Simone—”
“Don’t,” she warns her brother-in-law. “Don’t you dare remove me from the team.”
“Jo would kill me if that sleazy fucker is around you again,” Atlas states adamantly.
Simone stomps up to Atlas—a David facing Goliath, completely unaffected by his intimidating size. “Atlas,” she pleads. “Don’t. I need this.”
Atlas is silent for a long moment, eyeing Simone, almost like he’s assessing if she can handle being on this assignment. Whatever he sees makes him release a sigh of resignation.
Ah, fuck me.She just had to play on his emotions. I need to swing this back around.
“It’s a conflict of interest,” I state firmly.
Simone turns her storm-colored eyes on me, glaring daggers. “And where was this conflict of interest ten minutes ago, when you asked me to join?”
“A poor oversight.”
“Chase, you want her on your team. Her history with the company and her vast knowledge of accounting are a massive asset. Had this assignment fallen into our laps a year ago when she left the company, that argument may have worked,” Atlas counters.
“It’s not about the company, but who’s still at the company,” I amend.
Atlas gives me an apologetic smile. “She needs closure.”
Frustrated, I toss my hands in the air.Unbelievable.
Prez looks at his sister-in-law. “You’re in.”
“Yes,” Simone hisses in victory.
“However…” Atlas pauses, making sure he has Simone’s undivided attention. “This case has nothing to do with your ex and his mistress. If you go into this like it’s a witch hunt, I will pull you out myself. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal,” Simone replies. “I’m a professional. My feelings won’t interfere with the assignment.”
“Make sure it stays that way,” he warns her. Atlas addresses me. “We got a problem?”
I shake my head at the wall before meeting his cold glare. “You’re such a fucking hypocrite.”
“Come again?” Atlas marches into my bubble. We’re chest-to-chest, both ready to hash it out.
“You heard me. When Jo tried to work with her ex-boyfriend on the new headquarters build, you threatened to take the project away from her unless she sent him packing.”
“That was different,” Atlas growls. “The fucker wanted in her pants.”
“And you think Simone’s ex hasn’t been hounding her over the past year to get back into hers? Doesn’t matter if he’s still screwing Simone’s ex-boss. He wants what’s mine.”
Simone huffs. “For the love of God! Knock it off, Chase. I’m not some meek person who’ll roll over and take Trent back. And this possessive shit is getting old. You’re not my boyfriend.”
I point a finger at her, giving her a measured look. “You’re right. I’m your man. Get used to my overprotective side. It’s here to stay, baby.”
“Simone’s out for blood, brother. You don’t need to worry about Trent getting anywhere near her pants. She’ll bite the bastard if he tries.”
“I’ll do worse than that,” Simone vows, crossing her arms over her ample chest.
This outcome isn’t acceptable. “Atlas, I don’t trust him. She can hand him his balls all day, but the creep doesn’t take no for an answer. If he did, he would have left her alone a long time ago. I’m going to be stuck in their security room or in their main computer servers—there’ll be no eyes on her.”
“I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” Simone interjects.
