Page 15 of Power Move

“Not quite, but also probably in your eyes, yes. It’s more of a compliance role?—”

“Please do not tell me this shit has anything to do with internal audit. I do not care about control mapping—whatever the hell that is.”

I grabbed the edge of the computer, pulling it free from the cords on top of it. I needed the charger.

“I mean, my job largely deals with GRC frameworks. In fact, a first order of business for Claire and I is to choose?—”

“Can you help me fix my laptop?” I asked. “It keeps getting stuck as it boots up.”

“Mr. Delphine, that is probably a better question for the support desk. I’ve never done end user support and can assureyou, I don’t have the patience to troubleshoot something like an OS or driver.”

“I have no idea what any of that means.” I finally grasped the charger.

“The OS is your operating system. I’m assuming you mean an OS update?—”

I spun around, laptop and charger in hand and stared at a beautiful face I knew. Her slight smile faded as she realized we were here—face to face—very much clothed. I’d cursed this woman three weeks ago and now she was here in the flesh as my sister’s friend and direct report. I tried to keep a hold on the computer and charger as I approached my desk once more but tripped over the charger and lost my grip.

The useless machine’s body separated from the battery in a spectacular crash. Eva jumped in to assist, kindly picking the battery up and helping slide it back into the case. I said nothing and tried to be useful, all while resisting the scent of her perfume or glimpsing down her blouse. The skirt she wore only emphasized every bit of her. She wasgorgeous.Why was Eva only back in my life as an employee? Why couldn’t she have just texted me?

6.MAKING ENEMIES

Eva

Listeningto a CEO dress me down about tech supportseemedtypical. However, watching the millionaire—scratch that, billionaire—CEO of a massive holdings company losing his mind over me was not in the books. Finding out the man who fingered me to completion in a club bathroom was now my big boss, wasn’t on my bingo card. Now I knew why I found him so familiar. He was Daphne’s older brother!

Instead, Davey—David Delphine—dropped the laptop. The poorly built brick’s case shattered. The bottom panel flew across the room and exposed the battery with a loud crack, releasing it. I helped Davey pick the thing up and he sat, unsettled and annoyed with me.

“Sit, please, Miss...” He looked at his briefing, realizing neither of us shared our surnames. “Miss Pav-lack?”

“Pavlak,” I corrected. “It’s Polish. You say it like ‘pauv-lock’.”

Davey nodded. “Okay. I will remember that Miss?—”

“Actually,” I corrected Davey, “it’s Ms.”

He rubbed his temples, annoyed. “Ah. Alright,Ms.Pav-lak. And what brings you to our fine place of business?”

Confused, I furrowed my brow. “I’m your new BISO. Daphne said?—”

“Oh, shit, yes.”

This man was anepicdisaster! Why wasn’t Daphne in charge? He barely held it together!

“Sorry, sorry. I’m… well, you’ve put me in a weird predicament.”

“Me?” I gasped. “Youcame on tome!”

He set his jaw, looking handsome as hell. The man was gorgeous, and I hated him for it. I feasted on the visual as much as I marveled at how big of an ass he was. Daphne and Claire saidheneeded me. Yet, he acted like a hot mess dickhead.

Davey closed the door to muffle our conversation.

“I believe the feeling was mutual and all left fully satisfied.”

“Speak for yourself, Davey,” I growled. “You dressed me down and?—”

“I told you that you were pretty! So fucking sue me, Eva!”

“You laid it on thick. And I was right. Someone like you doesn’t end up dating a girl like me.”