Page 77 of Power

I allowed them to quickly review her analysis, noting hownaturally they interacted. Professional. Comfortable. No hidden tension.

“Thank you, Thomas,” I said, tentatively checking him off my mental list. “What other work did you do on Friday, Ms. West?”

One by one, I pulled them up. One by one, I watched. Each time, her posture remained professionally neutral, sometimes even genuinely engaged. Not once did I catch the wariness, the subtle recoil I was looking for.

After repeating this until we had gone through her entire week of work, I was gripping my pen so tightly, I wondered if it would snap. I massaged my hands together beneath the table. She had given up nothing. Not one damn thing, and look at her standing up there, her lips threatening to curve up in the barest hint of victory.

Told you, her raised eyebrow seemed to say.

Inhaling an incredibly frustrated breath, I said, “This was insightful, but I still have not gleaned the information I was hoping to get.” The admission cost me, and from the slight tilt of her head, she knew it.

“I’m sorry you’re disappointed, Mr. Lockwood.” The way she said my name—formal yet intimate—sent a current through the room that only I could feel. “If you’d like me to create another presentation?—”

“This isn’t over,” I said, my tone making two executives straighten in their chairs.

39

SCARLETT

I stared up at the sky, the warmth of the setting sun caressing my face, and I couldn’t help but smile with the surge of relief that washed over me. I’d survived that conference-room showdown without revealing Marcus’s identity to Jace.

At first, I’d been furious that Jace staged that meeting, but you know what? Maybe I needed it. It proved I could keep this secret. This was within my control. The first semblance of control I’d felt since the harassment happened. Now, I was confident I could get through this without destroying my career. Without failing to pay Mom’s rent. Without giving Dad the chance to get his hands on her. All I needed to do was keep my head down, do my job, and this nightmare would fade to black.

Another thing that had me smiling was the outcome of my father’s bail hearing. I’d learned my father would not be released from jail while awaiting his day in court. Instead, he’d be detained, and he was facing felony-level charges rather than misdemeanors, which carried significant jail time. It seemed the tides had turned on the dark storm of my father, and for the foreseeable future, the threat he posed to us was gone.

I walked along the sidewalk, my high heels click-clacking against concrete as I headed up the staircase to the “L” train thatwould take me home. For a fleeting moment, I caught movement in my peripheral vision that made me turn, but no one was there. And, hello, even if there was, this was the busy “L” platform. People came and went all day, so why had that flash of movement put me on edge?

Why was my body still firing off warning shots? Unsure, I rode the public transportation to my usual stop, then quickened my pace, crossing the last intersection before reaching my apartment building. Practically diving inside. It wasn’t until I stepped off the elevator into the safety of my hallway that I exhaled the breath I’d been holding hostage.

Walking toward my apartment door, I heard the ding of the second elevator signal its opening. Then heavy, deliberate footsteps behind me.

I spun around, ready to face whatever random neighbor was innocently heading to their?—

Holy shit.

The man standing before me was none other than Grabby Hands himself: Marcus.

“Did I frighten you, Scarlett?” His tone was creepy AF, like he was hoping the answer was yes. But even though my heart jammed itself into my throat, I refused to give him the satisfaction.

“Stalking is a crime, you know.” I crossed my arms, channeling my best impression ofyou don’t scare me.

“Stalking.” He smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets so casually, the movement itself was disturbing. “If you think this constitutes stalking, you clearly are unfamiliar with the term.”

A veiled threat. Lovely.

“So, by the sound of it, you must be an expert.” I cocked my head. “What’s your specialty? Workplace harassment with a side of home invasion?”

He took a step forward, broadening his shoulders to block the light behind him. Which was when I suddenly realized just how alone we were. I mean, in theory, one of those elevators couldopen at any moment, or a neighbor could emerge from their apartment, but I knew the patterns in my building. My immediate neighbors didn’t typically get home until late, so they wouldn’t be here to interrupt … well, whatever the hell this was.

Breathe, Scarlett. He has nothing to gain by attacking you. This is just intimidation tactics 101.

“Why are you here?” I demanded.

“After that dog and pony show, it seems you and I have something to discuss,” he answered.

“You think that was a dog and pony show? Wow.” I cocked my head, trying to look more annoyed than terrified. “What exactly do you and Ineedto discuss that couldn’t happen at the office?”

“You told Jace someone sexually harassed you,” he accused.