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I jab the table with my finger. “It’s not my job to make your situation easier. I’m not responsible for the negative feelings my presence may produce for Cynthia. An auditing company doesn’t have to say who’ll officiate before the day of, and neither does ours. Courtesy has nothing to do with it. You’re just uncomfortable with having to deal with the backlash.”
“Clearly, Cynthia feels threatened seeing you again. I didn’t ask her to be involved with this case. Don’t tell me you didn’t see the gossip train going full throttle when we walked through the building. The news obviously got back to Cynthia, and she came to find us. I saw her behind you, knowing she probably overheard us discussing who would assist you. I’m not surprised she volunteered.”
“She’s keeping tabs on you,” I state, understanding.
He bobs his head. “Not that I want to talk poorly of her, but she’s always been the jealous type. She was extremely resentful of you and felt threatened by your outstanding performance in the company.”
This is absurd. “Why on Earth would she be jealous of me?”
He looks at me like I’m dense. “You never could see yourself clearly. Never could see how amazing you are.”
“Watch it,” Chase warns in a gravelly voice.
Trent holds up his hands in surrender. “I’m not trying to start anything. I’m stating a fact—Simone is more humble than most, not realizing she intimidates other women by just being herself.”
I balk. This is probably one of the nicest things Trent has ever said about me to me that wasn’t superficial, like how nice my boobs are or how good I am in bed.
Trent stares at me with something resembling regret in his eyes. It makes me uneasy.
It’s too late for regrets. He made his bed. Now he can lie in it.
“I’m sorry if my sudden appearance causes issues for you and Cynthia. I suggest having a conversation with her after work, informing her she has nothing to worry about regarding me. You’ve moved on with her, and I’ve moved on as well. Our history together is simply that—history.”
Chase releases a tiny rumble of pleasure, only loud enough for me to hear from where I sit beside him. He throws an arm over the back of my chair, looking pleased.
Trent stares at me a few seconds longer before he swallows thickly. He gives a curt nod. “Yes. A history.”
He quickly scans the rest of the faces before saying, “Okay. Let’s begin.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
CHASE
After walking Simone’s ex through our objectives and plan of execution for the investigation, Trent left to go talk to the board members about our new stipulations regarding keeping our true intentions a secret from the remaining staff. Not thirty minutes later, Trent returns with legal documents agreeing to our demands to continue with the audit.
With everything settled, our team is ready to break into our separate roles. I’m still heated at having my woman three floors above me, but I trust Simone when she says the accommodations on the upper floor make more sense.
As Simone talks about some accounting gibberish with Trent, I motion for Punk to step out into the hall with me. Butch remains behind. He knows to watch out for my woman while I’m away. It’s the MC way, to stand guard over another brother’s old lady when he’s not able to do it himself.
When we’re away from the others, Punk cocks his shaved head at me. “What’s up?”
“The fucker may have been playing nice in there, but I don’t trust his good guy act.”
“Yeah, I got the impression he’s trying to get back into Priss’s good graces. Painting up his new bitch as unhinged.” He shakes his head. “I don’t trust any man who talks bad about his woman, especially when she’s not present to defend herself.”
“Agreed. Trent regrets screwing around with Cynthia. He’s stuck with her. Did you see how the fucker eyeballed my woman in there? He wants her back.”
“I don’t disagree with you, man. But I don’t think you can say or do anything to him while we work this case.”
I grind my teeth. “Maybe not, but I won’t stand by and watch the prick move in on my woman. He’s my problem to deal with, which makes Cynthia your problem.”
He rolls his blue eyes. “Figured as much. I’ll be with Simone mostly, anyway.”
“There’s not a doubt in my mind Cynthia’s going to be trouble. I shouldn’t be putting Simone into situations that could negatively affect her. It doesn’t sit right with me as her old man.”
My job as her partner is to protect her. To shield her from all the people and things that want to harm her. Having her working side-by-side with a two-faced bitch goes against my obligations to Simone.
“Chase,” Punk stresses, with sympathy in his blue eyes. “I get it. I do. But you’re underestimating your woman. Priss is like titanium. Shit can’t break her down for nothing.”
