Page 47 of Set In Stone

I looked up when I heard a knock on my office door. Stephen poked his headin.

“Come on in,” I told him. “Where’sBryan?”

“He’s just down the hall, chatting it up with some new intern. He’ll be here in a minute I’msure.”

“Christ! He knows the rules. Go tell him to put his dick back in his pants and get inhere.”

Stephensmirked.

“Sure. The rules. Go ahead and tell him that yourself. I’m pretty sure he’ll remind you of how your relationship with Krystinastarted.”

I scowled athim.

“That’s not thepoint.”

“Ah, come on. Cut the poor guy some slack. He’s always so serious and buried in numbers all day. Let him get his kicks when hecan.”

“Last I checked, Bryan didn’t have any issue finding his kicks,” I stateddryly.

My statement wasn’t meant to be funny, but Stephen found it hilarious for some reason. I pursed my lips in annoyance. He was still laughing when Bryan finally decided to saunterin.

“What’s so funny?” Bryanasked.

“Your dick,” Stephenannounced.

“Huh?” Bryan asked and raised aneyebrow.

“Yes, your dick. It’s not allowed in the interns,” I reminded him. My statement caused Stephen to laugh evenharder.

“Shit! Did you just make a joke,Alex?”

I rolled my eyes athim.

Always thejokester.

Bryan, as if sensing my irritation, sat down in the chair next to Stephen and held up his hands insurrender.

“Sorry, Alex. I’ll keep it tomyself.”

“You’d better,” I warned. “She’s probably too young for youanyway.”

“Well, Krystina is a lot youngerthan–.”

Stephen howled with laughter again, his face turning ten shades ofred.

“I tried to warn you, Alex,” he said when he caught his breath. I shook my head, but couldn’t help but to crack asmile.

However, my smile was short lived, as I had important matters to discuss. I was about to lay a bombshell on my accountant and lawyer. Because they were also friends of mine, I knew they’d be more than a little shocked over what I had to tell them. My only defense was that I had met them in college, and well after I changed my name to Stone. I would explain it to them like I had explained it to Krystina, and say Alexander Russo no longer existed. I could only hope that they didn’t feel betrayed like shehad.

“Alright, recess is over you two. I have something important to tell you both. It isn’t good. Stephen, depending on how things shake out, I’ll more than likely need you and your legal team,” I toldthem.

My overly serious tone caused Stephen to sober immediately. Both of them looked at me curiously. A ball of dread formed in my gut. In a few minutes, I would show themThe City Timesinterview given by Charlie Andrews. Once I did that, even more people would know about my past. After all these years of keeping it hidden, it only took one conniving weasel to blow it allup.

“What’s going on, Alex?” Bryanasked.

“Bryan, as my accountant, I’ll need your input on protecting my assets. Again, depending on what happens, I don’t know the financialramifications.”

“What the fuck, Alex! Spit it out. What’s wrong?” Stephendemanded.