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In those two miserable days, Darcy had started digging. She talked to HR, who barely knew who she was. She finally saw the Addendums to the contract, for the first time.
They had her forged signature.
At first, Darcy couldn’t believe it. Then her brilliant mind began piecing all the shards together and she’d realized what a damn fool she’d been. Sorry. Technically, she’d been an intern–that’s what those documents said.
A fool in love and starved for attention, affection, and recognition, but a fool nonetheless.
When she’d broken up with him, on that awful night, when Richard had finally realized he couldn’t control her anymore, he’d tried a different tactic–threatening her.
And for almost a year, she’d believed him again. That he’d sue her, that he’d tarnish her name in the entire industry. Who was going to believe a lowly intern against the CEO of Archam Tech who had already charmed–and heavily financed–some of the biggest media outlets in the country?
But no longer.
Last night, she thought she’d died. And what had been one of her first thoughts? That she’d had a scared, little life.
Because of what? One shitty relationship and a bad job? Because of the biggest asshole in the world?
“You couldn’t even read my code,” she muttered. Universe, she’d been so blind. “You didn’t know how to turn on the robot.”
“Oh, but I didn’t have to,” he said, condescension dripping from his lips. Darcy had hit a nerve, now he would hit back. “You didn’t grow up with money, so you wouldn’t know. But I have people I can pay to sort those boring details out for me. Just like I had you. You were justmyemployee. A nameless cog–”
“In your machine, right.” A nervous bubble of laughter passed her lips. “You can’t even come up with new insults.”
“Why should I?” His grin returned with a vengeance. “Nothing’s changed. The only difference is that now you work for those aliens.”
He sneered the last word, as if it was true poison on his tongue. But underneath the disdain, Darcy could sense he was hiding something. But what?
“So you tracked me down to tell me all that?” she asked.
“Maybe I just missed you.”
“Maybe you’re full of it.”
His sinister chuckle sent icy shivers down her spine. It was a struggle to go on swimming and keep her head above water.
“You were always smart,” he went on. “I’m guessing your new boss had a chance to see that, since out of all employees, he decided to bring you along to the Forum.”
Darcy tilted her head to the side, eyes narrowing as she looked at Richard.Reallylooked at him. Still the same smug asshole that left her with too many emotional wounds to count. Still wearing the same bespoke suits with a tapered waist and big shoulders, to make him look taller. He’d finally grown a beard that wasn’t patchy, and it made him look older.
The perfectly crafted image of a successful CEO.
So why had he come here to show off in front of Darcy? He hadn’t mentioned any great invention, to rub it in her face. In fact, he was asking about her work.
Her new job.
Her new boss.
Alien Inc.
The realization smacked her so hard, Darcy gasped. The sound echoed on a loop, devouring the remnants of Richard’s sinister chuckles.
“What is it?” he asked. For the first time, he seemed not to be in control. Even when he got mad, there was still that well-rehearsed aloofness in his tone.
Now, he sounded curious. Surprised.
Darcy’s gaze ping-ponged along the surface of the water, as each puzzle piece fell into place. She hadn’t taken her eyes off Richard until now, like a prey facing the biggest predator in the jungle.
Goddamn it, how hadn’t she seen it sooner? It was so obvious.
