Page 11 of One Dark Kiss (Grimm Bargains #2)

ELEVEN

Rosalie

H aving finished my breakfast of one healthy apple, I precariously balance my latte in one hand and my briefcase in the other as I approach my office door, before Joseph Cage slides out of a conference room down the hallway.

He moves toward me, his gaze sweeping me head to toe. Rosalie, good morning.

Good morning, I say, the hot coffee beginning to burn my hand through the cardboard wrap.

He looks me over again. You look fantastic today.

I d hurriedly tossed on taupe-colored slacks and a white blouse, hoping I remembered to leave a blazer in my office just in case I unexpectedly get called into court today.

I m wearing a simple angelite mirrored pendant and matching earrings because Alana had once told me that angelite is my stone. Thanks. I begin to move past him.

He grasps my arm. Would you like to accompany me to dinner tonight?

I look up at his handsome face. We tried that. Remember?

Yeah, but, he looks me over again, I don t know. You seem different.

I try not to blush, I really do, but heat fills my face. I do not want to think about why I look different. The answer is no. I move past him and walk into my office. I can hear him hesitate in the hallway, his breath nearly ragged, and then he stomps away.

What a jackass. A familiar head emerges from the other side of my desk.

I gasp. Alana?

Yeah. She shoves herself out from where she s apparently been hiding beneath my desk. How are you? She smiles wide and hurries around toward me.

Good. Let me put this coffee down before I burn one of us. I place the mug on my glass desk and drop my briefcase before embracing my best friend in a hug. I then look surreptitiously around. Wait a minute, you re here without bodyguards.

She snorts. It took me a while to evade them, but I finally made it. She grasps my hand and pulls me over to the small area holding a leather sofa and matching chair. How are you? I feel like I haven t talked to you in forever.

It s been a week. I smile and take a seat. I ve missed her. Her sparkling, greenish-blue eyes light with mischief, and she s pulled her mahogany hair up in a ponytail. For her escape today, she s wearing jeans and a simple white sweater.

I don t even have my phone, she says, smiling.

I laugh. You re not going into withdrawals? As the face of Aquarius Social and now, somewhat, Malice Media, the woman is always on social media.

She nods. Oh, yeah. They can track you through phones, you know. Besides, Cousin Scarlett is taking on a lot more of the Aquarius Social work now that I m engaged to Thorn, and I even have her charging some of the crystals just in case. It s difficult going back and forth.

I can t imagine, I say honestly. The two corporations are clear rivals, and she has to feel torn once in a while.

There s not a doubt in my mind that she ll choose Thorn if it comes down to it, which is probably why she s training her cousin Scarlett to take over for her.

Does Scarlett have half of the power you do with charging the aquamarines?

Aquarius, of course, runs on aquamarine crystals.

Alana nods. Actually, she s much better than I would ve thought. The more she works with it, the better she ll get. Thorn and I are thinking about taking an extended vacation after the wedding, so we ll need to leave other people in charge of the corporations.

That makes sense. Of course, she has been hiding beneath my desk all morning waiting for me. It s a good thing she doesn t want to escape Thorn for long ... because I m not sure she can.

She studies me. You look different. What s up?

Seriously? I appear different to everybody after having just one mind-blowing orgasm that morning with Alexei? I have no idea, I say. Maybe I got extra sleep last night. More heat climbs into my face.

What are you hiding? While Alana looks like a simple party girl if she wants to online, she s actually one of the smartest people I ve ever met. It s impossible to get anything past her.

I m not hiding anything, I say smoothly, definitely not wanting to discuss Alexei right now. I would like to know how you got in here. It s not a surprise to me that you escaped your bodyguards, but last time I checked, we have security on the main floor.

She shrugs one delicate shoulder. Oh, please. I smiled at your security guy, and he knows we re best friends. It s not like he doesn t follow me on social media.

Good point. I have missed her. She s been so busy the last week, as have I.

She leans toward me. Is it true that you got Alexei Sokolov out of prison?

I nod. For now. I m sure there ll be another trial, and I m awaiting the prosecution s filing on that.

She clasps her hands in her lap. Rosie, I don t know. He seems dangerous.

I burst out laughing. I can t help it. Unlike Thorn Beathach?

She rolls her eyes. I m not saying that Thorn is a safe kind of guy, but ...

But what?

She chews on her lip. But we re on the same side now. Are you and Alexei on the same side?

Most certainly not, I say instantly.

She leans back and studies me. What aren t you telling me?

My phone buzzes on my desk, but I don t want to leave the comfort of the sofa. Yes, Eloise? I call out.

There s a Miss Rendale here to see you, my administrative assistant calls back, having no problem bellowing through hallways.

Send her my way, I yell. I look at Alana.

She shrugs. I may have texted Ella that we d be here.

Ella soon fills the doorway. Well, it s more accurate to say that Ella soon stands in the doorway. At five feet tall and probably one hundred and five pounds soaking wet, she looks more like Tinkerbell than the dangerous computer hacker we both know her to be.

Alana, she cries out and rushes forward, almost tackling Alana into the sofa. It s been forever. After hugging Alana, Ella turns to me. I just saw you a couple days ago, but I miss the three of us being together.

As do I, I say. Before Alana and Thorn had gotten together, we d meet often, late at night in a secret basement room of Alana s apartment building to work on charitable programs. I miss our late nights, I add. How much ice cream had we eaten during those nights, anyway?

Alana s face falls. I do, too, but I no longer need to sneak money from my trust fund in order to pay for all of these charities. Thorn is more than happy to do so. Even though it s a kindness, she looks forlorn.

We ll figure out something the three of us can do. Ella plops herself on the seat facing us. I m not sure what, though. She glances at me. You need any help? Rumor has it you got the Sokolov heir out of prison. You want me to put him back in?

Maybe, I say, thinking of that morning and how he forced an orgasm on me. Yeah. That s what had happened. First, I need to figure out who set him up, and then we ll see.

She leans forward. Are you serious? Her blue eyes sparkle.

No, I grumble. I d never put an innocent person in prison.

All right, what s going on? Ella studies me.

Alana chuckles. For a lawyer, you really don t have a very good poker face.

Fine. I relent and tell them about the events of the morning. Alana s mouth gapes open while Ella s shuts tight, making her lips almost white.

We should kill him, she finally says.

Alana snorts. I don t know. I ve never seen Rosalie look this relaxed.

I punch her in the arm, not too lightly.

Ow, Alana says. See what I m saying?

Ella frowns. Is he charging the crystals at Hologrid Hub?

No, Alana and I both say in unison.

He s not, I add quickly.

Alana shakes her head. Please do not create another virus. You nearly killed Thorn.

Ella doesn t look the slightest bit abashed about the situation.

I didn t know you were going to fall in love with him, she protests.

If I had, I wouldn t have tried to kill the guy.

She shifts her gaze to me. I can, however, take out Alexei once he starts charging the Hologrid Hub crystals if you like.

I mean, if he starts charging their amethysts.

I will absolutely keep that in mind. I mean it. Ella discovered how to poison a crystal so it would then poison the person charging it and had nearly killed Thorn. Of course, we all considered him an enemy at that point.

Alana clears her throat. I really can have Alexei taken care of if you want.

I cut my eyes at her. I do not want Thorn killing Alexei. At least not tonight. I have a job to do, and this will get me that office on the top floor. Plus, I do believe the man was set up. I took an oath with my law license to right wrongs.

Today, Ella is dressed in a cute green dress with light silver pumps. She crosses her legs. I like your outfit, but the jacket sleeves are a little too long.

I haven t had a chance to trim them, I say easily.

Alana shifts her weight. Do you need a loan?

No, but thank you, I say. Alana has always been generous with her money, and I ve worked overtime to keep from taking advantage from her.

Now the money would actually come from Thorn, and I don t want to owe him a thing.

I assume the head of the Irish mob has no problem calling in dangerous and possibly illegal favors.

Ella hasn t had a lot of money, either. Her stepmother paid for her boarding school and college, and her trust fund allotted her a set amount each year until her stepmother decided to end the trust.

As if following my train of thought, Ella sighs. If I had any extra, I d give it. In fact, it s time for us to sue for my trust fund.

I nod, already having had drafted the documents a year ago. But why now? Do you think you re in danger?

Ella shrugs. I don t know. If anybody makes a move on me, it will be too obvious who. Yet sometimes I wonder, you know? She ll come for me someday, or maybe I ll go for her.

I believe that Ella has plans to take out her stepmother and stepsisters, at least financially.

She s the smartest hacker around and she s trained all over the world.

She has, however, neglected to share any plans with us.

It could be because someday, I ll have to serve as her lawyer, and I can have no prior knowledge of her planning to commit crimes. At least that s what I tell myself.

There s a rustle and then a murmur down the hallway, and then a couple of shouts. Ah, crap. Alana shakes her head. Well, this was fun. I enjoyed seeing both of you.

I look up to the doorway as Thorn Beathach strides inside.

Even after watching him and Alana be together for the last three months, the sight of him catches me off guard.

He s tall and broad and was probably quite handsome before being scarred completely across his face and down his neck.

I have to admit to myself that he s still handsome.

Right now, his eyes are pissed. Alana?

She stands and smiles. I just went for a walk. I have no idea where the bodyguards got to, Thorn.

He lifts one dark eyebrow, and the air in the room chills. I have to admire her bravado though. Not much scares Alana. I see. We ll discuss this at home. Thorn takes two graceful steps inside my office, ducks his head, and instantly tosses her over his shoulder.

This is absolutely not necessary, she says, her long hair hanging down before she punches him in his upper thigh.

I believe it is. He smacks her butt hard enough to echo around the office.

Want me to try and kill him again? Ella offers.

Alana chuckles.

Thorn turns his dark gaze on her, and she gulps. I believe our deal was for you to do some work for Malice Media.

I did for almost two weeks. She lifts her chin. Your brother chased me off.

Huh. Thorn looks incredibly dangerous in my doorway. Keep away from Justice. I think he wants to return the favor of you trying to kill me.

I know he does, Ella spits. You keep your brother away from me. I have better ways of getting to people than just by messing with their crystals.

I have to give her props. I don t know many people who would dare threaten Thorn. Of course, he currently holds our best friend over his shoulder.

I ll have Justice contact you, he says smoothly and with a smile that is anything but.

She faces him but remains silent.

He nods to me. Rosalie, if you need any help with this Alexei issue, let me know. I ll have it taken care of. With that, he turns and strides out of my office with Alana over his shoulder.

Ella shakes her head. You know, sometimes I think I should probably infect his crystals again.

Alana loves him, I remind her.

Ella drops back into her chair, her lips turning down. Yeah, I know. I don t get it. Do you?

Truth be told, I hadn t. But after this morning, I think I have an inkling.

Another rustle echoes down the hallway. What now? Ella pales. You don t suppose that stupid Justice is coming after me?

I stand. I hope not. As Alexei Sokolov completely fills my doorway, I change my mind. I do wish Justice Beathach was standing there. My knees wobble and my chin shoots up so I can better glare at him.

His smile holds so much sin, butterflies rip through my abdomen.