Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
You have investors?”I nodded.
“Just a few. People I know who chipped in when I started out.” That was a lie. Sebastian was my only investor.
“The Accounts Receivable Turnover is going to give them a heart attack.”
“Maybe I can help,” Fabrizio offered.
“How?” I gave him a look.
“Don’t tell me you’re a secret CFA.”
“If I were, I wouldn’t have nearly drunk myself to death over Valmont’s numbers.” He smiled weakly.
“No, but I know someone who is.”
“Thanks, but I’ve already got a CFA.”
“This one’s different.”
“Different how?”
“He knows how to polish the books. Make them look cleaner.”
“You mean, he cooks them?”Fabrizio shook his head.
“Nothing that crude. Technically, it’s not illegal. If anyone found out, there might be questions. But it’s not a crime.”
“Huh.” My pulse picked up. This was the guy Silva needed “What’s his name? Can you send me his contact info?”
“I don’t save his number. He doesn’t like that.”
“A business card then?”
“He doesn’t give those out.”
“Does he at least have a website? An office?”
“No site. But wait, let me think. I know his number starts with a 6. His office is on…”I leaned forward.
Someone called my name. I ignored it.
Then someone tapped my shoulder.
I was so annoyed, I nearly snapped.
Assuming Silva had jumped the gun, I spun around It wasn’t silva “Sebastian! What are you doing here?”
I couldn’t tell if I was more shocked or furious at the worst possible interruption.
But I knew exactly what Sebastian felt.
“Murderous” didn’t even begin to cover the look on his face.
I instinctively took a step back.
“Mr L-Laurent.” Fabrizio had staggered to his feet and extended a hand.
Even drunk, he remembered his manners.
Sebastian ignored him.
His gaze locked on me, making the hairs on my neck prickle.
“Let’s go.”
“Go? Where? Wait, I can’t!”Fabrizio had been about to give me the name of the man who helped him cook the books. With that, I could close the case and finally get my money back.
“Why didn’t you call me? And how did you even know I was here?”Sebastian reached for my wrist.
“Don’t!” I yanked my hand free.
“I said I’m not leaving.”
I glanced nervously towards the restaurant entrance, half expecting Silva to storm in.
Is dinner with him really that important?” Sebastian’s voice was a low, dangerous growl.
“I’ve got news. Important news.”
“Whatever it is, it can wait. I’m in the middle of something “I gritted my teeth, leaned close and whispered in his ear, “This dinner matters. A lot. I’ll explain later. Right now, you need to disappear.”
He stated at me “You’re asking me to leave? For him?
I let out a loud, trustrated breath.
“This isn’t the time for another jealous outburst, Sebastian, Just leave, all ???
I turned back to Fabrizio with an apologetic smile, which froze when I spw him shaped in his chair, chin on his chest, softly snoring He was out cold Stal signalled for the bill and asked the waiter to it the testaurant owner, a friend of Fabrizio’s When the man arrived, I said.
“Could you see that be pro safely ?o Hegisted at me. Fabrice and Seb do pave wing sinile, and said, Sure Iraded out the dos “Let’s p Sebastian followed, silent but visibly furious.
“My car’s over there,” he said as we stepped onto the kerb.
I ignored him and kept walking, my own anger bubbling up, blood boiling from tonight’s wasted effort.
I’d been so close.
“Where are you going?” Sebastian caught up to me easily with his long strides. He tried to grab my hand again, but I shook him off.
“Don’t touch me.”I turned the corner and walked straight to a beige utilities van parked in front of a closed shop.
Before I could knock, the door swung open. Silva jumped out, scowling.
“I didn’t get the name,” I said.
Silva nodded.
“I heard. Not your fault.” He shot a look at Sebastian.
“This your fianc??”
“Yeah.” Though, after tonight, I wasn’t so sure for how much longer.
“What now?”Silva glanced back at the van, where a computer and surveillance setup sat unused, two uniformed officers ready to call it a night.
“We regroup. I think I know who Fabrizio meant. I’ll dig into it. You should go home.”
I unclipped the tiny camcorder button from my blouse and handed it to him.
“Here.” I didn’t want anyone listening in on what was coming next.
I headed back to Sebastian’s car and climbed into the passenger seat.
I was tempted to flag a taxi instead, but that would only delay the inevitable. I wanted the fight over and done with.
Sebastian slid behind the wheel and started the engine.
Neither of us said a word during the drive back to the hotel.
When we reached the suite, he spoke first.
“We need to talk.”I need a shower first.”I’d matched Fabrizio drink for drink and reeked of wine My head was swimming, but not enough to cloud my judgement. If anything, the alcohol stripped away my usual hesitation, I knew if I didn’t say what needed saying tonight, I’d lose my nerve by morning and, as Yvaine would say, go back to being a coward in love I didn’t wait for Sebastian’s reply. I headed straight into the shower, turned the temperature as high as it would go, and let the scorching water batter me. The heat matched my mood.
I scrubbed hard until my skin was raw, then got dressed and brushed my teeth.
When I came out, Sebastian was on the balcony, an unlit carette dangling from his fingers.
“Let’s talk,” I said.
He turned.
In his usual dark suit, with that unusually grim expression, he looked like the embodiment of night itself.
That had been part of the attraction when we first met. He’d looked dangerous, and dangerously good- looking.
I looked away and sank into an armchair.
My temples throbbed, and the alcohol, amplified by the hot shower, was burning through me fast.
“Who was the man in the van?” Sebastian demanded.
“Don’t talk to me like I’m one of your employees,” I snapped.
“I get to ask first.”He visibly tried to rein in his temper, but the veins on his clenched hand stood out even in the dim light.
” Fine. Ask.”
“How did you know I was at that restaurant?”
“I made some calls.”
“Too vague. Not good enough.”I hired someone who specialises in that sort of thing. He tracked your phone.”
“You mean a private detective.”…Yes.”
“So you hired a PI to follow me.”
“Not follow. You weren’t answering your phone. I had to find you.”Bet you were gutted when you didn’t catch me shagging Fabrizio in a hotel room. The sarcasm slipped out.
“Is that what you thought? What you’ve always thought ever since you met him? That he’s fancied me, and the second you left Paris, the two of us jumped into beds that what this is?”Then it hit me.
“Is that why you left Paris so suddenly? You didn’t actually leave, did you? You just pretended to, hoping I’d fall into his arms so you could catch me re-handed.”Sebastian tried more than once to cut in, but I steamrolled right over him.
He’d always had stalker tendencies. Isaw that the day he bought the flat across from mine. Then he showed up at a bar I’d picked at random. When I moved into Oakwood Apartments, he bought the entire building.