Page 79 of Denim & Diamonds

“It won’t take me that long. That is, unless I get arrested for murder…”

Luckily, Tobias’s office was only a few blocks away. I’d been there once before, and that was a mistake I didn’t want to remember. The receptionist was on the phone when I walked into the lobby. I didn’t have time to waste, so I spoke anyway.

“Excuse me. I need to speak to Tobias. It’s urgent.”

She gave me an annoyed look and held up a finger, then returned to what sounded like a personal call. But I was too impatient to wait until she figured out who was picking up little Ashley from school today, so I shook my head. “Don’t bother. I’ll let him know I’m here.”

She stood and called after me as I marched through the double glass doors that led to the back offices, but I didn’t stop until I got to the big corner space. Tobias was on the phone when I flung the door open and let myself in. His brows drew together at first, but he quickly got over the initial shock, and a smarmy smile crawled up his face.

Ugh. Don’t even… I held up the package of documents. “What the hell is this?”

“Marty, I’m going to need to call you back.” Tobias hung up his desk phone and stood. “You’re looking as beautiful as ever, February.”

“Don’t bullshit me.” I waved the documents in the air. “Tell me how this came about.”

He stepped around his desk. “You look upset.”

“I am fucking upset!”

Tobias walked past me and closed his office door. After, he put a hand on my hip from behind. “Don’t worry. I’m here to help you work out those frustrations.”

I smacked his fingers away. “Don’t fucking touch me!”

He held two hands up, looking a bit nervous. “Keep your voice down. My staff doesn’t understand the dynamics of our relationship. They might jump to the wrong conclusion.”

“We don’thavea relationship. We used tofuck. Past tense. But I’ve recently been reminded of my value, and you are far beneath the acceptable limit.”

“Is this foreplay? I know arguing with me gets you off, but something seems different right now.”

“Something is different, you dipshit! I just received these documents, and I have no idea what the hell is going on. I’m not selling you my company.”

For the first time since I walked in, Tobias grew serious. His forehead wrinkled. “You didn’t know Connolly solicited me to buy a piece of Amourette?”

“No, of course not.”

“He made it seem like everyone was on board. I had no idea you didn’t know.”

“If that’s true, why didn’t you mention it when you showed up at Sierra uninvited?”

Tobias frowned. “You didn’t exactly give me a chance to speak. I believe your exact words were, ‘Leave and don’t ever come back or I’ll get a restraining order.’”

I held his eyes, looking for a sign that he was lying, but couldn’t find one. “Arthur really contacted you?”

“Why would I lie? It would’ve pissed you off more to say I initiated the offer, and you know I like pissing you off.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. “Thank you.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “How about thanking me with a quickie?”

“Not if your life depended on it, Lucchi.”

Fifteen minutes later, I was back at my office. I rode the elevator straight up to the conference room without stopping to get my laptop or the package of stuff I’d prepared for the board meeting. I was five minutes early, but all of the members were already milling around chit-chatting.

I took my position at the head of the table and cleared my throat. “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”

The room hushed, and all eyes turned and focused on me.

“Thank you.” I looked directly at Arthur Connolly. “This meeting is no longer necessary. I’ll be invoking the buy-back provision in our contract.”