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The limo follows me. I slow my steps as it stops. The driver hops out and opens the back door and beckons toward it, as if I could get in. “Ms. Evans,” he says, as if we know each other. Which we don’t. He’s not Tony or Blackthroat’s driver.
I don’t know what’s going on.
I walk a little closer, eyeing the darkened interior of the limo. I’m not dumb enough to get in a strange car, not even when it’s a limo, but I’m curious.
“Madison.”
I recognize the creepy, rasping voice, before the fair-haired man in a long, dark coat climbs out of the limo. Aiden Adalwulf.
I back away slowly. I’m in a quiet alleyway between brick buildings. The narrow street is a shortcut, and it’s well lit, but typically empty.
Not tonight. Up ahead, a big guy strolls towards me, his sleek suit doing nothing to narrow the bulk of his arms and shoulders. He looks like one of the bodyguards who flanked Aiden when he accosted me at the coffee shop. Behind me, just past the limo, his twin closes in. They’re both huge, taking up more than their fair share of the alley, strolling slowly like they don't have a care in the world. I know without a doubt that they’re here to stop me from escaping before I talk to their boss.
On a scale of one to swiping right on Patrick Bateman, how much trouble am I in?
Aiden is a respectable businessman. Sure, he’s cutthroat, but what Wall Street executive isn't? And yes, he gives off serial killer vibes, but he wouldn’t literally cut my throat. At least not here, in the middle of a bustling neighborhood. Shops and restaurants full of people are only a block away.
Aiden wouldn’t do it himself. He wouldn’t risk blood staining his ten thousand dollar suit.
Better to not flinch. Rule number one. The more confident I act, the more power I hold onto.
I face him. “Yes?”
“I’d like to offer you a job.”
I stifle my first instinct, which is to scream No and run away. I clench my jaw and wait for him to expound.
“Assistant to the CEO,” he continues in that evil robot voice. “Double whatever pay and benefits Blackthroat is giving you now.”
I raise my brows. “Double?” I echo. I once took a negotiating class, and the teacher drilled two basic skills into us over and over. Either keep silent or repeat the last thing the person on the other side of the table says.
“To start. You obviously have valuable skills and experience. It would take very little training for you to get up to speed. On the Benson deal, for example.”
I nod slowly, pretending to think things over. “Thank you for your offer. I’m flattered that you took the time to corner me in a dark alley to give it to me, but I must respectfully decline.” There, just enough sarcasm to get the point across. I pivot away and continue walking as fast as I can without spilling my dinner. The beefy bodyguard looms in front of me, blocking my way, but if I’m fast, I can swing my take-out bag, give him a face full of eggplant lasagna, and hope the surprise gives me enough time to slip past.
“Come back, Madison,” Aiden calls.
I have no intention of obeying, but something in his voice makes me stop and turn. It’s like my body doesn’t belong to my own mind.
“How much does he pay you?”
I hate that I’m walking back to him. I don’t even know why I’m doing it. “That’s none of your business, is it, Mr. Adalwulf?”
His lips twitch, like he finds my rudeness amusing. “I’ll double it.”
“I’m happy with my current arrangement.”
“I’ll bet you are.” His eyes glitter silver under the streetlights. “How long have you been fucking your boss?”
I’ve been expecting someone to say it to me, but for some reason it still gets under my skin. I’m usually great with snappy comebacks, but nothing surfaces, so I whirl on my heel to truly leave this time.
“Madison, did he tell you his secret?”
I stop again. Dammit. There’s nothing more aggravating than a dangled puzzle to solve. “What secret?”
Aiden saunters toward me, his shined shoes clacking on the broken pavement, his long coat flapping open as he steps. I’m both repulsed and fascinated by the spectacle he makes. Even the shadows don’t hide the fact that he’s as handsome as Brick. Fair where Brick is dark. Slick and falsely-friendly where Brick is jagged-edged and surly.
“You don’t know?” His lips twist into a wicked smile. “Interesting. He doesn’t plan on keeping you, then.”
