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2.54% Secretly Loved By the Dangerous CEO / Chapter 7: The Real Problem

Kapitel 7: The Real Problem

Dane

He and Delilah were staring at each other as he measured his options, when Dane faintly heard the elevator door ding out in the reception area.

Tank and Chris were here. He couldn't be talking about this when they walked in! He sprang from his chair so quickly Delilah startled. Circling his desk, he started for the door, then paused next to her chair. Without though, he placed one hand on the back of her seat, his fingers brushing lightly the material of her suit jacket. Did he imagine that she noticed? She hadn't twisted to follow him with her eyes, but her chin turned, her eyes on his hand. Her jaw tense.

She wasn't loyal yet. Dammit. He wanted to tell her, wanted to hear what she might think of it that hadn't occurred to him. That was her job, right? but the risk . . . if she was a plant. If she had been brought here because she was the problem . . . Why hadn't he seen this Becky woman coming? He gripped the chair tighter and Delilah's eyebrow rose. When he didn't say anything, she twisted in the seat and lifted her chin, craning her head back to meet his eyes as he loomed over her.

"Dane," she said, her voice clipped and professional. "My job is to help my clients avoid . . . problems. And to overcome the potential pitfalls of problems they already have. In order to do that I'm often required to receive information that is . . . unpleasant."

A little burst of adrenalin in his chest made him freeze.

She continued, with a warning look at him. "Your privacy, as my client, is my first priority—unless you are harming people."

He scowled. So she did listen to the rumors, then. And she thought—

"If you are hurting your clients, you should fire me now—before I know anything other than that you are a successful man, with a sketchy client, and a vendetta being played out in the media. Because right now I can honestly tell the world that to the best of my knowledge, you're a good man who doesn't deserve the attention he's receiving. But if I find out you're—"

"Nothing you find will ever tell you any other than that I have an obsession with keeping women safe," Dane muttered. He leaned down to meet her eyes. "I would never harm a client, even if they instructed me to," he said with more intensity than he'd intended to show her. She blinked, but didn't pull away. "But you should know, I'm not a good man. And if you breathe a word of this situation to anyone—anyone at all—before we've had a chance to find out who can be trusted, I will destroy you. You will not work in this city again."

She blinked again, but didn't break his gaze. He didn't move.

"Are any women being hurt by—"

"No," he snapped. He could hear deep, angry voices in the hallway outside now. "But I cannot tell you more than that right now. Because we need to finish this conversation when we won't have an audience. Can you keep quiet until I've dealt with my brother and Tank? Or do I need to fire you after all, Miss Farris?"

Her throat bobbed and for a split second his eyes dropped to the creamy skin, that little v where her collarbones met, the soft way wisps of her hair curled around her face and jaw. Then he blinked and forced himself to meet her gaze again.

Something passed behind her eyes—uncertainty. He gripped the back of her chair tighter. He didn't want to fire her yet. She might prove useful. But if he couldn't trust her to follow instructions . . . If she thought she was on some kind of crusade—

They both startled as the door flew open and the two strongest men Dane knew stumbled in—Tank, his biceps the size of Dane's thighs, laughing as Chris cursed and almost fell, because Tank had him wrapped in those massive arms. Chris was strong enough to do it--or at least, to make a good try at it. But, despite his obvious struggles, he wasn't willing to use any of the moves he knew would hurt his friend and colleague in order to get free. Dane had banked on that. So apparently Chris had been, quite literally, dragged into the office. Dane closed his eyes for a second. His brother was a problem he didn't know how to fix--but a different kind of problem. A problem he didn't have time for right now. He let go of a breath then started toward them.

But a soft warm hand caught his as stepped away and he jerked to a stop, turning his head to find her.

She licked her lips and shook her head. "No," she murmured, under the noise of the two men struggling. "You don't need to worry, or fire me. You can trust me to keep your secrets. From anyone."

Dane blinked. Did he imagine the softness in her eyes when she touched him? He didn't have time to wonder. "Good," he said, then tore his hand out of her grip as Chris cursed again, and Tank laughed. There was a thump as their combined weight glanced off the wall.

But he found he couldn't quite stop staring at her--and she stared back--both of them searching, for another half a breath. It was Dane who finally broke the gaze, nodding once.

And as he growled at his brother to stop acting like a twelve year old, he very intentionally ignored the fact that his skin tingled where she'd touched it.

.

.

*** Thank you so much for reading! If you're enjoying this book, please vote daily. If we reach the top 10 of Power rankings (about 45-50 votes per day), I'll mass-release 5 extra chapters! ***


Kapitel 8: Elephant vs. Rhino

Lila

Lila was so locked in Dane's gaze she'd barely noticed the two men who'd stumbled into the office, one cursing and spitting like a cat, the other chuckling and taunting.

"Get your hands off me, you rat bastard!"

"Settle down, son. I'm just following orders."

There was a crash as something—a lamp, Lila thought—tumbled to the floor and broke. Lila braced for Dane to start roaring. Again. But was surprised when he just folded his arms and shook his head, watching the two men.

When she was able to tear her eyes off his broad shoulders and the way the little muscles at the back of his jaw twitched, she finally made herself examine the two men.

She'd already seen Chris earlier, but not like this—not throwing his full strength into struggling against the viselike grip of what had to be the largest man she'd ever seen. Her mouth dropped open. Chris had lost his jacket at some point, so struggled in a black t-shirt and dark jeans, his face red from the effort, veins and muscles popping in every direction. Yet, despite his clear frustration, even she could sense he was holding back. Avoiding hurting the man that held him. But that meant he'd been unable to break the grip that kept him chained. His own reluctance was losing him the fight.

She was reminded of her Karate-do Soke's words in training. "The greatest battle you will ever fight is in your own mind. If you can win that one, you'll win every other fight you step into."

"You know I could break your arm, right?" Chris snarled.

"And I know you won't. Because you're a good little boy who listens to his brother."

Chris roared and tried to pull the other man off his feet. But the man's greater weight pulled him back up. Chris's brass colored hair was slicked in sweat—as was the face of the older man that held him. His brown hair peppered with gray. His arms so huge they looked like steel beams. If they weren't so huge, and Chris wasn't so obviously angry, Lila might have laughed. It was like watching an elephant wrestle a rhino.

"Okay, Tank, let him go," Dane said quietly.

As if the words were a switch, the older man—Tank, obviously—released Chris and the two sprung apart, Chris whirling to face him and still muttering insults. Tank just stood there, wiping his hands on his broad thighs. Dane sighed and Chris turned on him.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? I was working! You're just lucky the guy wasn't there, if they'd seen that you might have blown my—"

"Sit down, and shut up. We have bigger problems," Dane snapped.

Chris's mouth closed with a click, but he still fumed.

"Thank you, Tank. It's good to know you take my instructions so literally."

Lila would have sworn Dane's lips twitched toward a smile again. She was definitely going to have to figure out what would actually make him laugh.

Tank winked at Dane, then clapped Chris on the shoulder as he passed. Even though Chris shrugged it off, Lila could see that he wasn't really angry with Tank—just embarrassed. He wasn't used to being the weaker person the room.

Then Tank was passing her. His eyes widened and he stepped back. "Well, hello pretty lady!" He said. "To what do I owe this very special honor of—"

"Oh, shut it, Tank," Dane growled.

Tank winked at Lila and offered her a hand. "I'm Tank," he said with a grin. "And you must be the angel God sent to battle all us demons into submission?"

Lila laughed. His massive hand engulfed hers as they shook. "Lila. Lila Farris," she said. "And I promise I'm no angel."

From the corner of her eye she caught Dane's gaze snap to her face, but he didn't say anything.

Tank's eyes widened again. "Lila Farris? The Lila Farris? Your father is—"

"Yes, yes, Tank, that's her," Dane muttered, ushering the man out. "And now she's here to save our asses, so get yours out of here . . . please."

Lila lifted a mocking eyebrow at Dane, which he ignored. Tank kept moving towards the door with Dane on his heels, but his smile was gentle and Lila hoped they'd get another chance to talk more. Despite his intimidating strength, he was obviously a sweet man. She leaned past Dane to wave at him, and he winked again as Dane closed the door on him.

She was embarrassed to hear herself giggle like a little girl. She pulled herself together as Dane turned on his heel, glaring at Chris. She opened her mouth—maybe she could stop them shouting at each other so they could all actually get some answers? But Dane silenced her with a look, then turned back on Chris.

"We have a problem. And you weren't answering your phone."

"Didn't that give you a clue that I was in the middle of something important?" Chris spat.

"Not as important as this." She was surprised how calm Dane had remained. He was clearly angry, and obviously tense. Yet he wasn't shouting. For once.

Chris seemed to notice the difference too, because he went still. "What is it?"

"Becky is a plant." Dane said, eyes locked on Chris.

Chris didn't respond, but his throat bobbed. "Who's behind it?" He asked finally.

"We haven't worked that out yet," Dane murmured, then looked at her. A reminder to keep silent, and a cue to step in?

"I, uh," she started, then kept going when Dane didn't shout her down. "I was hoping you could tell me a little more about what you know about her and why you felt she was trying to get back at you?"

Chris snorted, but sank forward, head in his hands.

"I didn't feel like she was targeting me. I knew she was," he sighed. "The whole thing is just a fucking mess."


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