Page 193 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

They now know that I was inserted into their company under false pretenses. They also know that I loved working with them and gave them my best. And I ended with one question. “Could you ever forgive me?”

It’s silent, and no one has answered yet. Everyone’s watching me. Surprisingly, my legs are as strong as steel. I guess it’s true what they say—confession is good for the soul. Whatever the team decide, I will accept it.

The awkward silence lingers as Hercules shoots to his feet. He has such an immense presence that everyone watches him as if they’re turning to him for direction on how to feel about me. He rests his palm on my back, and in an instant, I feel less alone.

“Paisley, that was sweet of you to offer them an opportunity to accept your apology.” He glares at the faces seated around the table as though he’s on the verge spewing fire from his eyes. “But she will be leading you through our next phase of software development. So be nice and jump when she tells you to.”

Nat casually raises a hand. “Well, Hercules, I never thought I needed to forgive her. I didn’t know Lark Davenport was Paisley Grove until this morning.” She swivels in her chair to look at Mason. “And you never told us the part about her working under false pretenses.” She spins again to set her focus back on Hercules. “And I’ll definitely jump when she tells me to. We’ve been missing her. And we need her.”

“Agreed,” Harv says. “We made a lot of progress under her leadership.” He presses back in his seat, making himself more comfortable. “So… I don’t care. I’m ready for more.”

“Same,” Rina says. “I mean, we know the company’s in trouble. Lark. I mean, Paisley Grove.” She says my name carefully as if she’s asking me permission to use it.

I nod.

“Well, Paisley is the one who pulled us out of the frying pan. If she wants to jump back into the fire, then so be it.”

Lim stops tapping the tip of his finger on top of the table. “Actually, I knew.”

The room falls deathly silent, then a chorus of “What?” and “You did?” erupt.

“I thought her working for us was supposed to be a secret. Any software developer worth their salt knows Paisley Grove created Killer Firewall and TRANSPORT. I also knew the Groves and Valentines don’t like each other. But I heard the two of you were friends in high school.” His finger shifts between me and Hercules. Then he shrugs. “I figured she was doing you a favor. Heck, she was doingusa favor. I like my job. If she’d screwed things up, then I probably would’ve outed her. But Paisley turned things around, and quickly too. So…” He raises both thumbs. “Let’s get back to work.”

Everybody concurs with Lim. And I can’t stop grinning. All of a sudden, the conference room door swings open, and everybody posts their attention on the good-looking man with dark hair, intense eyes, and a physique and suit that rivals Hercules’s.

“Achilles, what the hell are you doing here?” Hercules asks, glaring at his brother.

Achilles’s eyes lob daggers at me, making me freeze like an ant about to be squashed by a heel.

“I’m stopping whatever you think is about to happen.”

Chapter Sixty-Five

The Fallout

Paisley Grove

9:57 a.m.

Ican’t stop trembling as I ride in the back seat of Hercules’s SUV. Every now and then, James’s compassionate brown eyes glance at me through the rearview mirror. It’s as if he wants to say something, but he remains silent.

I can’t stop reliving the scene Achilles caused. I thought Hercules’s eldest brother was a lot like Max, but he isn’t. My brother never would’ve behaved that way.

“I want her to get the hell out of my company,” he roared.

“Hey,” Hercules barked back. “Watch how you speak to her.”

Achilles belted a mocking laugh that sounded like pure evil. “You don’t know what the hell you did, do you? The two of you ruined everything. You know what?” He slammed his palm against the wall, breaching the plaster. “Out,” he roared. “Everybody back to work”—he jabbed his finger at me—“and she leaves.”

Hercules narrowed his eyes to slits as he glared at his brother. I couldn’t move an inch as Mason held the door open so the team could scamper out. Then Mason gave me one final raised-eyebrows look of solidarity before closing the door behind him.

Hercules put a hand on my shoulder. His palm was damp. I think he was nervous, and rightfully so. “Paisley, go to my office until I clear this up,” he said in a gentle voice.

“No way,” Achilles yelled. “You know the deal. I want her away from you, now.”

Hercules froze as if debating whether to follow his brother’s order.

“Hercules!” Achilles bellowed so loudly that I jumped.