Page 54 of Double Down

He hooks a finger under the hem of my dress and drags it up to my hips, knuckles grazing my skin. “Off,” he orders, voice low. I shuck it, heat licking up my throat. He thumbs my bra strap, smirks, and leaves it twisted and useless. “We’re not walking you like this through the lobby,” he adds, already palming the contracts. “Back hallway.”

He steers me through the staff door by the service corridor—cool air, bleach and linen in the vents.

I send a nervous glance up, wondering if Atticus is watching. It looks like the cameras here aim for the intersections, though, leaving several blindspots. I clock each as I shuffle along behind Con, trying to keep my arms at my sides like it doesn’t bother me to walking down the hall completely naked.

Anyone watching would only catch a quick flash of skin.

A nondescript door opens into an office antechamber—the area Mr. Masterson’s blonde assistant guarded faithfully—that now sits empty and barren. The bookshelves are bare, the desk stripped of everything but the Tiffany lamp. The desk is just as empty. Only a notepad with a message and a pen remain.

Mr. Masterson,

I took everything you told me and shipped it to the London office as directed.

Thank you for the severance package, sir. If the young Mr. Masterson needs an assistant, he need only call. I’ll happily fill in until he finds a suitable replacement.

— Margot.

“Motherfucker,” Con says, crumpling the page. “The son of a bitch planned this. He knew weeks ago and never gave us a heads-up.”

His face flushes, and something bigger than rage crosses his eyes. It’s gone too fast to be sure, but I think it’s hurt. He’s hurt that his father planned to set his own son up to fail.

Fuck him.

My heart kicks a steady staccato as my decision is made for me. I straighten and square my shoulders.

FuckMr. Masterson. Conrad’s father is the worst kind of man. The kind who isn’t loyal even to his family. I always knew he was an ass, but I thought he cared for his son, at least.

I thought that’s why he told me years ago I wasn’t good enough—and I believed him.

I already know I’m not good enough for Con, or any of the Titans for that matter, but his father would never understand why. It has nothing to do with my lack of net worth.

Eventually, I’ll have to leave. But not until I help prove to that sack of shit exactly how amazing Con and the others are—not because of their parents’ money and influence, butdespiteit.

“What can I do?” I demand.

“Nothing. I just have to?—”

“No.” I step in front of Con, forcing him to look at me. “Your father doesn’t get to decide your value. He can dump obstacles in your path, and you’ll climb over them, because you’re Conrad Masterson—and you have something he doesn’t.”

“What’s that?”

“The other Titans. You guys have each other. And me.” I hold his gaze. “You have people who are loyal because they love you, not because you pay them. We will beat whatever bullshit he lays at your feet. Together. Now give me a fucking order and let’s get this done.”

“Fuck, she’s even hotter when she gets all feisty,” Mav says from the doorway, and Con shoots him a smirk.

“It won’t stop her punishment,” he says.

I roll my eyes. “Fine. Punish me, spank me, put me back on my knees, or fuck me. I don’t care. But when you’re done, give me something to do. Do you want me to call Margot? I take it she’s the blonde dragon who was always in here guarding your father’s gold?”

“Fuck no,” Con and Mav say together. “And yes, that was her.” Conrad adds.

“Then what?”

Con studies me. Appreciation warms his eyes—then shifts to something darker.

“You’re going to be my secretary for a few hours every day. If you do a good job, I’ll reward you. If not, you’ll be punished.I wonder what you’ll like more, your punishments or your rewards.”

Mav comes up behind me. I can feel him, hot and huge, at my back. “What are you doing?”