Chapter 4: Sleeping With the Enemy

Evangeline’s Pov

I got an invite on my phone while I was still in bed, and the text just said, “Company dinner tonight, eight sharp, wear black.” I knew it wasn’t a real dinner because Nathaniel never asked, he only told.

I put on a simple black dress and no jewelry and drove myself to the tower. The valet took my keys, and I walked inside. The elevator went straight to the top floor where the boardroom was.

Nathaniel stood at the head of the table, and the board members were already there. They all turned when I came in. He smiled like he owned the room and me.

“Evangeline, this is your seat,” he said and pulled out the chair right next to him. I sat down and felt every eye on me.

“Thank you,” I said. I looked around and smiled small and sweet like the widow they expected.

The older man across from me cleared his throat and said, “Our condolences again, Mrs Harrow.” I nodded and said, “Thank you, it means a lot.” But inside, I wanted to scream.

Nathaniel leaned close, and his breath was on my ear. He said, “Behave.” I turned and smiled bigger and said, “Always.” He sat back and started talking about numbers and projects.

I listened and nodded when I had to, and under the table, his hand went to my knee and squeezed once, hard.

I didn’t move my leg away. I picked up my water and drank while he kept talking, and his hand stayed there.

The man next to him asked, “What about the south site delays?” Nathaniel answered smoothly, “Handled.” His fingers moved up my thigh a little, and I kept my face blank.

“Handled how?” I asked, and everyone looked at me. Nathaniel’s hand stopped.

“New contractor starts Monday,” he said and looked at me. His eyes said, “Shut up.”

“Good,” I said and smiled, picking up my fork.

Dinner came. It was steak and potatoes. I cut mine slow and ate while Nathaniel said, “Evangeline has ideas about the foundation we set up for the families.” Everyone looked at me.

I said, “Yes, I think we should double the payouts.” A woman down the table said, “That’s generous.” I said, “It’s the least we can do.”

Nathaniel’s hand squeezed my thigh hard and he said, “We’ll discuss it.” I knew he didn’t like that.

“What’s the current payout?” I asked.

The woman said, “Fifty thousand per family.”

“That’s nothing for a life,” I said.

The older man said, “It’s standard.”

“Standard is wrong,” I said.

Nathaniel said, “Enough.” His voice was low, but everyone heard.

Dessert came, and no one talked much. Then Nathaniel stood and said, “Evangeline, come with me.” The others said goodnight, and I followed him out and down the hall to his office.

He closed the door and locked it, then turned to me.

“You did good,” he said and stepped close.

“I know,” I said.

He grabbed my waist and pulled me in, kissing me hard. I kissed back. My hands went to his shoulders and pushed his jacket off, and he let it fall.

“You pushed too hard in there,” he said, his mouth on my neck.

“They need to hear it,” I said.

He bit down, and I gasped.

“They hear what I let them hear,” he said and walked me back to his desk. He lifted me onto it.

I sat there, and he stood between my legs. His hands went under my dress and up my thighs.

“You want this here?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said and pulled my underwear down. I kicked them off.

He undid his belt and pants and pushed them down, then he was inside me fast. I gasped and held onto his arms.

“Slow,” I said.

He looked at me and went slow, watching my face.

“Look at me,” I said.

He did, and his eyes were dark.

“You like control,” he said and moved steady.

“I like winning,” I said, wrapping my legs around him and pulling him closer.

He put one hand on my throat, not tightly, just there and said, “Say my name.”

“Nathaniel,” I said, biting my lip to stay quiet.

“Who owns you?” he asked.

“No one,” I said.

He smiled and said, “Wrong answer,” and thrust deep.

I moaned.

We kept going. The desk shook, papers fell off, and I came first, he followed. We stayed like that, breathing hard.

He pulled out and fixed his pants. I slid off the desk and found my underwear and put them on.

He watched and said, “You’re getting bold.”

“You like it,” I said.

He laughed and said, “Maybe.”

He went to his computer and typed. “Come here,” he said. I walked over.

He pulled up a screen and said, “This is the financial terminal. You can look at the south site numbers.”

I leaned in and saw files and folders.

“Password is your birthday,” he said.

I looked at him and asked, “Why give me this?”

“Because I want you to see,” he said. I didn’t know if he was lying.

“What am I looking for?” I asked and clicked a folder. I saw costs.

“Whatever you think is there,” he said, his hands on my shoulders.

I saw steel prices higher than they should be and labor costs low.

“This looks off,” I said.

“Does it?” he said.

I closed it and turned. “I should go.”

“Next week, same time,” he said.

I nodded and left.

In the car, I called the number. A man answered and said, “Chen.”

“I need to meet,” I said.

“Tomorrow, noon, coffee shop on Fifth,” he said.

“I’ll be there,” I said and hung up.

I got home and changed and sat on the bed, thinking about the numbers. I knew I needed more help.

Next week came. I went to his penthouse, and he opened the door in jeans and no shirt. He pulled me inside and said, “Take the dress off.”

I did and let it drop. He looked and said, “Come here.”

I walked over, and he pulled me down, so I straddled him on the couch. His hands went to my back and undid my bra. I took it off.

“You’re mine now,” he said and kissed my chest.

“No,” I said.

He looked up and said, “Yes.”

I kissed him and moved my hips slow. He groaned, and his hands went to my waist.

“Stop teasing,” he said.

“Make me,” I said.

He flipped us, so I was under him. He took over and went fast. I wrapped my legs around him and said, “Harder.”

He did, and we finished quick and lay there.

“You’re learning,” he said.

“I have a good teacher,” I said.

He smiled.

“I need a shower,” I said.

“Go,” he said.

I went to his bathroom, turned the water hot, and stood under it thinking about everything.

I got out and dried off. He was in bed and said, “Stay.”

“No,” I said and got dressed and left.

Two days later, he texted, “Meet me at the office after hours.”

I went. The building was empty. He was in his chair and said, “Lock the door.”

I did.

He said, “Come sit,” and pointed to his lap.

I walked over and sat.

He kissed me, hands going under my shirt.

“I watched you leave last time.”

“I know,” I said.

“Good,” he said and turned me so I faced away.

He pulled my pants down. I knelt on the chair.

He stood behind me and entered slow. He held my hips and moved steady.

“You learn fast,” he said.

“I have to,” I said and pushed back.

“Who’s in charge?” he asked and went faster.

“You think you are,” I said.

He laughed. One hand went around and touched me.

I came hard. He did too.

We stayed like that for a minute.

“More access tomorrow,” he said.

“Okay,” I said and left.

I met Marcus Chen the next day. He was short and wore glasses.

We sat in the back of the coffee shop.

“What do you need?” he asked.

“Everything on Harrow Industries and Nathaniel Harrow,” I said.

“That’s big,” he said.

“I can pay,” I said.

“Fifty up front,” he said.

I slid an envelope across the table.

“Find the south site truth,” I said.

“Give me a week,” he said.

I left.

I went home feeling tired but good. I went to my room and reached under my pillow for my phone. I felt paper and pulled it out. It said,

“YOU’RE IN OVER YOUR HEAD. STOP BEFORE YOU END UP LIKE DANIEL.”

My heart stopped.