Page 59 of My Office Rival (Keep Your Enemy Closer #2)

JASON

J onah’s upstate house was insane. As we pulled up the private drive, past the row of massive conifers, the mansion came into view.

It was a warm beacon in the crisp air, with multiple wings, a magnificent porch, and stately grounds.

I unfolded myself from Jonah’s “weekend car”—a Bentley SUV—and stretched.

Miles was needling him about how much time he’d spent on the phone while driving. “We pulled over three times so you could send emails. Just have Lou drive us next time. Or me.” He grinned.

“You are not getting behind the wheel of this car,” Jonah responded shortly. “You are the worst driver I know.”

“It’s a competition,” I muttered, sucking in the cool country air.

We’d been coming here for years, and Miles liked to pretend they were regular guys up here. Jonah wasn’t interested in being regular, but he went along with our plans. We would grill, use the pool on hot summer days, hike, and go to local bars.

We grabbed our bags and pushed open the front door. The house would be ready for us. It always was. Jonah had staff who bought all the groceries, changed the linens, and thought of his needs before he could even ask. It was good to be a billionaire.

Not an hour later, I was ensconced in what Jonah called “the library,” which we’d slowly modified to be more of a pool-hall-slash-den-of-debauchery.

There were pool and poker tables, a massive sectional, a flat-screen TV, and a hidden bar.

I pressed a button and the wall slowly retracted to reveal a gleaming bar that jutted out into the space.

“Man, I’ll never get sick of seeing that.” Miles grinned and sauntered into the room, wearing a surfing T-shirt and what I assumed were designer sweatpants.

“You know you’re rich, right? You could have this in every room of your penthouse.”

He waved a hand and walked over to grab a bottle. “Come help me pick the most expensive Scotch before he gets here.”

“I heard that,” Jonah called from the stairs.

Miles winked and poured three glasses. “Cheers.” We clinked, and all took hearty swallows of whiskey.

I closed my eyes as I savored it and opened them to find both of my friends staring at me, arms crossed.

“What? Why do I feel like this is an intervention?”

“Because it is.” Jonah dropped into a chair, and Miles followed. “Sit,” Jonah ordered.

“We spoke to our security team, and they were able to pull up location data, cell phone records, and some other interesting information,” Jonah said.

“All this based on a few texts?” My heart started to pound.

“We asked them to use whatever means necessary.” Jonah smiled, and it was more a baring of teeth. “And I told them not to worry about being ethical.”

“The number is registered to a man named Jax,” Miles said.

I fought for breath. “The oldest son in my foster family,” I said quietly. “He used to beat the shit out of me behind the bar where I worked.” The scar on my left arm twinged, and I rubbed at it.

Miles’s eyes flicked to it, and he winced. He’d seen the evidence during our morning runs.

“Yeah, well, he’s in Tennessee still. And based on his location data, he hasn’t left in four years,” Jonah said .

“So you can stop worrying,” Miles cut in. “No one is coming for you. He got arrested for an aggravated DUI and intent to distribute meth six months ago, and he’s been wearing an ankle bracelet ever since. He can’t leave the state without the police being alerted.”

My chest loosened slightly.

“And the others?” I asked roughly. Jax had been the worst offender, but his parents had been neglectful. And they had been the ones to go to prison when they were caught.

“Jason. They’re not getting out of prison any time soon. They had a freaking meth lab in their basement. That means serious federal charges,” Miles said gently.

“Did you think they were on their way after you for all these years?” Jonah actually sounded sympathetic.

I nodded shortly and took a gulp of whiskey. “I did. I really did.” I hung my head briefly and loosed a shuddering breath. They weren’t coming for me. I was safe. I could hardly believe it. The need for anonymity, security, and wealth had driven every decision I’d made for years.

“Now what?” Miles’s words mirrored my thoughts.

I looked at each of my friends. “Now, I get the girl.”

“Okay, what if you show up at her house while she’s packing and you do a grand gesture?” Miles asked, as he lay on the floor with his whiskey balanced on his stomach. I reclined on the couch, my thoughts a little fuzzy.

“You mean like the boom box thing?” Jonah asked, his tone crisp as ever.

“You are emotionally stunted,” Miles tossed back, as he did a crunch to take a sip of his drink.

“She is so not a boom box kind of girl,” I added. “She would slam the door in my face.”

“Have you texted her?” Jonah asked. He was surprisingly invested in the outcome of this, for someone who hated all things soft and emotional. Maybe it was the seven whiskeys he’d consumed.

“Nope. I mean, I’ve thought about it, but I haven’t.” I had been too scared that she wouldn’t respond.

“Do it,” Miles said decisively.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Maybe when I’m sober.” I would say something idiotic with this much whiskey in me.

We lay in silence for a minute, listening to the hisses and pops of the fireplace.

“What if you showed up in Texas?” Jonah blurted.

“Showed up, like at her door?” Miles sounded skeptical.

“You’re Mr. Romantic. Doesn’t that sound like a good idea? Something a weak-chinned idiot in a rom-com movie would do?” Jonah grumbled, and I huffed a laugh. Weak-chinned was such a Jonah thing to say.

“I don’t even know where she’s going to be.”

“So find out,” Jonah retorted.

Miles sprang up, nearly spilling the whiskey he had placed on the floor. His eyes were wild. “No, this will work. This is a good idea. Find out where she’s going to be, and then be there when she arrives.”

“So you’re saying I should stalk her?” I replied.

“Yes, that’s what we’re saying.” Jonah sounded so casual.

“I think the money is going to your heads.” I heaved myself off the couch to pour another drink and wobbled to the bar.

“You’re rich too, asshole.” That from Jonah.

“Focus, guys,” Miles cut in. He was pacing unsteadily. “Who do you know who can point you in her direction? She’s probably getting a new apartment or something.”

I frowned. “Margo.” At their questioning looks, I added, “Her best friend. They tell each other everything. And her contact information is public on the firm website.”

Miles looked uncertain. “You sure her best friend is going to help you out?”

I hadn’t thought of that. If Cynthia had told Margo half of the things I had said, then it was just as likely she’d hang up on me the second I said my name. My stomach clenched. This had to work.

“Should I call her now?” I was desperate for any crumb of information.

“No,” they chorused.

“Take his phone away. He can’t be trusted,” Miles commanded Jonah.

Jonah stuck his palm out and made a give it here motion. I sighed and passed him my phone.

“It’s for the best, dummy,” Miles said as he clapped me on the shoulder. “So what are you going to say when you see her?”

“I have no idea. You’re the ones who talked me into this stupid idea. I have no fucking clue how I’m going to get her back, just that I need to.” I sank onto the couch and ground the heel of my palm against my eye. “I’m too drunk for this.”

“We need to practice,” Miles retorted. “Besides, seven whiskeys deep is the only time you’ll ever get this asshole to entertain a conversation like this.” He jerked a thumb at Jonah, who just crossed his arms over his chest and raised a brow.

“Fuck, this is not how I wanted to spend my Friday,” I grumbled, before closing my eyes.

What would she want to hear? More importantly, what did I need to say?

I sucked in a breath. “Okay, how about this? Cynthia, I’m sorry, I’m in love with you and I was too fucked up and self-centered to realize it.

I’ll do anything to make you mine, including moving to a godforsaken town in the middle of Texas.

Please forgive me.” As I said the words, the rightness of them spread through me like warm honey.

I pictured her smile, her soft eyes as I pulled her close.

She would look into my eyes and say them back .

I opened my eyes. Miles looked stunned. Jonah looked pissed, which was normal. They shared a look.

“Yeah, that’ll do just fine.”