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twelve

It was quieter today, right?

It definitely seemed quieter.

Abagail narrowed her gaze as she looked through the glass wall that blocked off her office from the rest of her team. She could see Ivy Villegas sitting at her desk and talking animatedly on her phone across the hallway.

Was Abagail the only one not really working that day?

She was a staunch perfectionist about making every minute in the office count toward work, but today she was staring at her personal bank accounts and the numbers on her phone that Nicola had texted her. It was time for her first payment.

And it churned her stomach.

Last night had been some of the best sex that Abagail had ever had. Nicola had taken her up from the library to the guest bedroom where Nicola was staying for now, and she’d thoroughly fucked Abagail until she’d fallen asleep face down into a pillow. Her entire body had protested getting out of bed in the morning. But Abagail had known simply that the sooner she moved, the better it’d be in the long run for her body.

Though sitting in her chair on her brutally spanked ass was still difficult halfway through the day. It was a sweet reminderof what she and Nicola had shared the night before, and it left a smile on her lips. Abagail focused back on the computer and inputting the account number and routing number to Nicola’s bank account.

She’d never paid anyone to spend time with her before, and it felt… dirty.

Still, Abagail had made a promise, so she transferred the money and set herself to be done with it entirely. Maybe if she didn’t think about it, then it’d be fine for her in the long run. Especially if Nicola planned another night like last night in the near future.

The phone on her desk rang, and Abagail picked it up instantly. “What?”

“A Warren Kerrbox is here to see you?” Her secretary was sweet as ever, always wanting to make sure that whoever was there was actually supposed to be there.

Warren, however, wasn’t on Abagail’s planned schedule for the day.

But he was her nephew. She couldn’t even remember the last time he’d come to her office to visit her, actually. Had he ever?

“Ms. Kerr?”

“Yes, send him right in.” Abagail hung up the phone. She’d changed her last name unofficially solely for business purposes. It added separation. Though she wasn’t sure how many of her staff actually knew that about her. She worked hard to keep her personal and private as separate as possible.

Warren looked around like a lost puppy while her secretary showed him the way to Abagail’s office. Thank God, because if he’d been left to wander the room, he’d probably head off in the wrong direction entirely.

“Here she is.” Her secretary’s voice was smooth and pleasant like it always was.

“Aunt Abagail!” Warren seemed almost relieved that he had finally found her.

Abagail gave him a patented small smile before flicking her gaze to Ivy, who was curiously looking at the understated commotion in Abagail’s office. She was curious, and Abagail really didn’t want to have to explain who Warren was to anyone.

“Warren.” Abagail stood up, her ass screaming at her as she came around her desk and leaned against the front of it. Any time she was in a conversation with Warren, she wanted to make sure that she had the upper hand. He was petulant and entitled and that always put her on the defensive. So why not just get there now?

“I wanted to talk to you about Nicola.”

Abagail tensed. He didn’t know, did he? Nicola hadn’t told him, surely. Abagail’s heart raced. Then again, the entire point that first night had been for Nicola to get revenge on Warren, so maybe Nicola had told him. Abagail crossed her arms and set her jaw. She nodded toward her secretary to send her on the way. “Shut the door.”

She complied, and then finally she and Warren were left in silence. Abagail wasn’t going to prompt him with anything. This was now a fact-finding mission for her. How much did Warren actually know about what had been going on at Abagail’s house in the last week? Because if he knew that she’d just sent Nicola five thousand dollars for the first week of delicious sex, he would wither and crawl—at least she hoped he would. But in reality, he’d probably scream and yell and make a huge scene.

Which was the last thing that Abagail wanted.

“What about Nicola?” Abagail asked when Warren didn’t continue whatever he was there for.

“Oh, I just…” He flinched. Was he scared of her? Good. He should be. Abagail didn’t want him to think that she was his personal bank account. “Did she bring the ring back?”

Abagail sighed heavily and relaxed slightly. So that’s what this entire conversation was about. He couldn’t even be man enough to deal with the consequences of breaking it off with his fiancée to get the ring back, and left his aunt to deal with cleaning up his mess.

“It’s a family ring, Warren.”