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Tony chuckles.
“Okay, technically, he’s your boss, but he’s not here, and if you keep calling me Mrs. Astor, I’m going to walk.”
“You wouldn’t make it,” Elliot says, shaking his head.
“He’s right. It’s pretty far,” Tony says. “Even if you made it, your shoes would never make it.”
They’re both right and it’s annoying. “Yeah, well, no one asked for your logic. Call me Cassia, okay? If Mace gives you shit, tell him I demanded it.”
“All right, Cassia.”
With a nod, I slip into the car and glare at the house. How am I going to seduce Mace if he keeps pissing me off?
eighteen
CASSIA
It’s impossible to seduce Mace when he’s hardly home. I expected to see him more. All the times I’ve walked around in a simple oversized T-shirt were wasted on an empty house or Chef, who seemed less than impressed with my attire.
All that to say, the week has been a complete waste. I’ve spent most of my nights alone at the pool, hoping he’d come in and see me nearly naked and the rest would be easy, but he gets home after I fall asleep.
I fuel all my frustration into dealing with Larry, Mei’s douchebag husband. With the help of Orion’s forensic accountant and my new mentor, we were able to flag some suspicious transactions. I’ve spent the last few days tracking where they went, how much he’s been stealing, and compiling the data. There are a few fiscal years of questionable transactions.
What an asshole.
Larry is the type of guy who does whatever he can tobenefit himself, no matter the cost. He doesn’t care about his wife or his clients.
Outside of Mei, several people have contracted Orion, and the work is beginning to pile up.
Orion escorts another new client out, closing the door, nodding at Tony, who is in his usual spot, and turning to me. His eyes move over the piles of paperwork.
I tug off the headphones Mace gifted me. They’re really nice. Like really, really nice, but I won’t be telling him that. “Hey, boss.”
“How’s Mei’s case?”
“I’m almost done. Larry is a naughty boy. Three hundred thousand and counting.”
“Let me know when it’s ready to review. I’m going to head out to meet a friend for lunch.”
“Sounds good.”
Orion leaves, and my attention shifts to the monitors. I slip my headphones on and immerse myself in finding ways to destroy Larry as angsty lyrics serenade me.
Right as I’m getting into the groove, the door opens, and I withhold an irritated huff and slide the headphones down.That was the best part of the song.I paste on a smile, glancing around the monitor to greet the customer, then let it fall.
Paige, in all her pantsuit glory, meanders through the office. “Hello, Cassia.”
Tony shifts in his seat.
Time to put on a show. “Paige, I wasn’t expecting you. How can I help?”
“Just checking in. Do you have any information for me?”
“I have some updates. We can go over everything in the conference room.” I grab a random file and grin at Tony. “Don’t get into trouble.”
He rolls his eyes. Better he think I’m dumb than wonder about Paige. As soon as we’re in the conference room, we take our seats.
Paige drums her fingers on the table. “Well?”