Page 7 of Money Reigns

I straighten my tie. “He’s got a death wish if he thinks he can use Mandy to get under my skin.”

Wesley glances up from his laptop, one eyebrow raised. “What did you expect? He’s always been like that. You’re not going to hand over the building, and he knows it.”

“I don’t give a damn about Korsakov or whatever alliance they’ve cooked up,” I say, trying to tamp down the fury burning inside me. “But he’s not going to pull that shit with Mandy.”

The room falls quiet.

Then the door opens again.

I look up, expecting another hitman or asshole to walk through.

Instead, it’s awoman.

She’s new. And she’s impossible to ignore.

Her brown hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, framing a face that’s all big, brown eyes and cherry-colored lips. Not glossy, not overdone, just naturally vibrant. But it’s not her face that keeps my attention.

It’s her body.

Curves.Real ones. A blouse stretched tight over breasts that would look better with my hands on them. A skirt that clings like a fucking invitation, tag still tucked in like she’ll run it back to the store after today.

New.

Cheap.

Desperate.

I can smell her need before she says a word. She’s not here for ambition, she’s here tosurvive.And that makes her interesting.Because survivalists will do anything. And I want to see what “anything” looks like on her knees.

She’stempting.

I force my gaze back to her face, but she isn’t looking at me.

Her attention is on Wesley.

I don’t like that.

Wesley stands, smiling warmly as he extends a hand. “Ms. Baker, right?”

She nods, shaking his hand firmly. There’s a confidence in her grip, even though I catch the slight uncertainty in her eyes.

“Yes. Olivia Baker.”

Damn.

Her voice.

I feel it in my chest, low and warm, with just the right amount of huskiness. Like melted honey and something I suddenly want to hear a lot more of.

Her eyes flick toward me, just for a second, before darting back to Wesley. The moment is so brief, I might have imagined it.

But I know I didn’t.

I sit up straighter, my interest piqued in a way that hasn’t happened in a long time.

Chapter four

Olivia