When I walk into Ace’s office I’m surprised to find Noah there, and Colton. And another man who could only
be their older brother. He’s gorgeous, like they all are, but in a more corporate, serious-minded way. His suit
probably costs more than my entire year’s salary.
They all stand up when I walk in. All six-foot-something of the four Maddox brothers. Billionaires and the
four most “eligible” bachelors in Manhattan, according to some article I read online. They all exude power, wealth
and testosterone like they’ve been dipped in it. It’s a little intimidating.
“Dusty Rose,” Ace says, and it sounds strange hearing him say my actual name, “you’ve met Noah and
Colton. And this is my other brother, Alexander. Alex, meet Dusty.”
“Hey, Tex,” Alexander says, grinning at Ace’s feral glare at the mention of his nickname for me, but not
before taking in the look of me, slowly, from head to toe. “Now I get it.”
“I have to say,” Colton adds, “if we weren’t so worried about your effect on our brother, this would all be
highly entertaining. The poor boy can’t even see straight.”
So they know about... us. “Oh,” is all I can manage. Ace walks toward me but I take a st ep back. I don’t want
him touching me right now because the two of us are so combustible. I can’t predict how I’ll react to him. It’s best
to ke ep some distance.
“You want coffee, Dusty?” Colton smirks, totally reading the charged chemistry between me and Ace.
“I’d love one, thanks.” I give Ace a subtle you-told-them? look. At least I hope it’s subtle. “I had to, baby.”
Baby? I bite my lip but apparently he’s letting all our cats out of their bags. “If I can’t stand to let you out of my
sight for more than five minutes, they need to know how insanely fucking crazy I am for you.”
Wow. Colton doesn’t hold back. “It’s glaringly obvious he’s totally lost his marbles, Dusty. And the sparks
between the two of you are practically visible. We would have figured it out.”
I mean, it’s not ideal, but I guess Colton has a point. And since I’m here to tell them about Rylee, once they
confront her with the accusation, they’ll find out anyway. Because she’ll tell them.
Noah motions toward the couch. “Take a seat, Dusty. Cash said you had some information you wanted to
share with us.”
Colton places a cup of coffee in front of me on the table. And I’m aware of this major plot twist in my life.
Only a few short months ago I was an underling’s underling. Now, I have four of the most powerful men in New
York hanging on my every word. And one of them is watching me like a tiger about to devour his prey in the most
carnal way imaginable.
“Thank you. Yes.” I guess there’s no point beating around the bush. I take a de ep breath, trying to center
myself. “Well, as you might already know, I stayed at Ace’s—uh, Cash’s place over the weekend. And I’d
forgotten to take my apartment key with me. I realized I’d left it on my desk when I finished work on Friday
afternoon. So I came in early this morning to get it. That was just before five a. m.”
“Go on,” Noah urges, ignoring Colton’s playfully raised eyebrows. Here’s the part where I ruin Rylee’s life.
Which I really don’t want to do, but it’s either give them the truth or watch their company burn to the ground. I
either ruin Rylee’s day or Ace’s, and that makes the decision a lot easier. “Rylee Winters was here when I got here.
She was working in one of the communal offices. As soon as she saw me, she logged off and started to leave, but
not before telling me she already knew that I’d gone to Cash’s apartment on Friday. She used to use the Madison
Avenue entrance too.”
I slide a dark glance at Ace (I can’t help it) and his sapphire eyes are leveled at me. It’s a look that says, don’t
you dare doubt me. I already told you how I feel.
“Dusty,” Colton says, for my benefit alone, “You should know that he couldn’t stand her, from day one. She
made him miserable in the few short weeks they were together. But for you, he’s willing to completely ignore
some very real issues that have to do with the company he’s spent the past four years obsessing over. Trust me
when I tell you that Cash has never behaved this way before. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I wasn’t worried.” And it’s true. As always with Ace, even from that very first day, I believed him. And I
believe him now. I’m speaking more to Ace than to the others when I continue, but they’re all riveted. “She has
someone watching that door. She said she’s the jealous ex type and she ke eps track of who’s coming and going.”
All four of them are clearly pissed off by this. It’s obviously crossing a line. “That ended months ago,” Noah
comments.
“Bitch,” Colton mutters. “She didn’t want anyone to know she was here early. She said if I mentioned it to
anyone, she’ll make sure the whole office knows I spent the weekend at my boss’s apartment. Which means that
everyone will assume I sl ept my way into my job.”
“Then we’ll set the record straight,” Ace growls. “Which computer was she using, Dusty?” Noah asks. “The
one in room 411. The room with the neon sign that says ‘Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your
reality.’” Somehow, it’s fitting.
Noah pulls his phone out of his pocket. “I’m going to get Jared to bring up the activity records on that
computer.” For my benefit, he adds, “He’s one of our IT guys.”
As he makes the call, Ace comes over and sits next to me on the couch. He doesn’t touch me, but his nearness
is enough to make me want to lean in. He’s so damn gorgeous in his perfect suit, which fits him like a glove and
strains over his muscles. I love that I know what he feels like under the civilized layers of his clothing. How warm
he is, how big and hard. I love that I know the sounds he makes when he surges and comes. The bass notes of his
voice when he groans my name. “You okay, Texas?”
“Fine.” But he’s right. There’s something unnerving about being threatened by someone you’ve backed into a
corner. Especially when she’s
still pining after the man of her—and my—dreams.
“You ran out on me again,” he accuses softly. Before I can answer him, Noah puts his phone call on speaker.
“I’m letting the others listen in, Jared. What are you bringing up on the activity log for 411?”
The guy on the other end of the line doesn’t speak right away but there’s the sound of his keyboard clicking as
he types. “An email account was deleted at 4:22 a. m.”
“Deleted?” “She’s trying to erase her tracks,” Alexander offers. “She can’t,” Jared says. “Activity logs can’t
be completely deleted. They’re still in the system, even though this email account is encrypted. Whoever sent it
has some pretty sophisticated coding skills. It’s encrypted from the back end, but I’ve just managed to bypass the
key. The email address is officeinfo@investedenterprises. com. There are seven sent emails, all to Sanderson
Fitzpatrick, dating back several months. The address they were sent to is fucm@sandersonfitzpatrick. com.”
“Bingo.” Colton pats Ace on the back. “Jared,” Ace’s voice is graveled with rage. “Can you email me those
records? CC Noah and Colton. Is there a video camera in 411?”
“No, but there’s one in the main office. Let’s see...” Jared pauses. “... this morning at 4:44 a. m., two women
were in the office. I recognize one of them but not the other. Do you want me to send you this footage?”
“Yes,” Ace says. “Send me everything.” “Right. Sending it now.” Ace’s, Noah’s and Colton’s phones buzz
simultaneously. Ace immediately opens the email and there we are, on the video, Rylee’s hair smooth and
platinum, mine not even coming close to disguising the fact that I’d just spent an eventful weekend in bed.
“Thanks, Jared. We’ll want to meet with you once you go through everything you’ve got. Can you come to my
office this afternoon at one?”
“Of course. See you then.” After they’ve ended the call, Ace turns to Noah. “Call Rylee and tell her we have
something we’d like to discuss with her. Immediately. I’d do it myself but if I go ballistic on the phone she’ll never
show up—and I’m not sure I’ll be able to restrain myself. Tell her to come now.”
So Colton refills all our coffee mugs as Noah makes the call. “Hey, Rylee, it’s Noah. Yeah. Good. Listen,
Cash and I would like to meet with you in his office. Yes. Now, actually. Are you free?” There’s a pause as she
says something to him. “No, it can’t wait. No, I’m afraid it’s somewhat urgent. Yes. Good. See you soon.”
I stand, clutching my bag in front of me. “I should probably leave you to it n —”
“Oh no you don’t, gorgeous.” Ace pulls me back down to the couch. I glare at him but he’s pinning me with a
dark look that’s half stern and half... pleading. I’m not sure why, but his imploring need touches something inside
me. He wants me here. “Stay.” It’s not so much an order as a sincere request.
I fucking need you. I don’t know if I’ve ever been needed before. This big billionaire with his suit porn and his
fancy office in the Manhattan skyscraper he actually owns... needs me. “Okay,” I whisper.
Ace barely nods, then he stands. And paces. A few minutes pass while everyone drinks their coffee and waits.
Alexander is leaning back in the swanky leather office chair, his feet propped up on the corner of Ace’s mahogany
desk. “I think I need to work here too. This is so much more fun than Maddox Enterprises.”
Before anyone can respond to that, Hayley’s voice comes over the intercom. “Rylee Winters is here to see
you, Mr. Maddox.”
We all steel ourselves before Ace goes to the door and opens it.