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Tess looked between us, trying to unravel e left unsaid

"She knows she can callrather close, too It’s nice to see herfriends"

"Oh, fk ?" I couldn’t think of anything worse I’d have to fire her

Frederick laughed--a large tienuine smile from Tess I wasn’t surprised; Frederick was a smooth son of a bitch "You know she’s the most loyal staff member you’ll ever have And she knoould never do anything to hurt you Leave her alone when you see her next" He raised his eyebrow, hinting that he knew

Knew about the wedding

He’d been invited to a wedding that I had absolutely no idea about Who else had she invited? Goddammit, I really better call her before she invited all of Paris

Frederick clapped his hands together, reclining into the black couch "So, as nice as it is to see you, Mercer, I’"

Tess looked tothe thrill of anticipation I couldn’t wait for her reaction when I told her ere here for

"There’s a file in your cabinet underFrederick straight in the eye

He frowned, trying to work it out The funny thing was--he knew He’d watched ht, he traversed the office before unlocking one of the filing cabinets and pulling out my particular portfolio It was e of importance I kept on encrypted hard-drives and in a safe hidden at iti open the file, his eyes flew tohis throat, he asked, "You sure about this?"

I lockedon the rush of blood rather than snapping at him Ridiculous question I wouldn’t deerabbed a pen from his desk, and came to sit back down

Tess scooted forward as Roux placed the file on the s it around to face her He s out the pen "You’re up Have a read, and if you’re okay with it, sign away"

I rolledtension in my spine Tess vibrated with questions aze off her as she reached for the file Asking ood idea… after all, the current market is rather…volatile"

Tess froze Her eyes snapped up "Volatile?" Looking toon? Do I even want to knohat’s in here?"

Yes, you daet over lared at Roux, before glancing her way "Yes Frederick is only aware that if you sign it, you share equal risk If the business crashed tomorrow you would be held accountable, sahingto crash to the edge of the folder, I opened it "Stop delaying and read the da a hand over the writing on the page, she asked Roux, "Tell ht to know"

Godda so hard with her when it ca in the chair My ar her signature and never showing her the da it, but Frederick talked hs, thinking through his answer carefully As he should Because he was a bastard

"Q’s right about the debt But I’ under That won’t happen It just can’t--not with the strength of the company What I am--not sofuture projections--is a new side of the company that is brand new last week"

I rolled my eyes This was the part where RouxTheresa and for Tess to fawn all over , but it wasn’t like the newspapers portrayed It wasn’t at all like they said

I got round where they belonged not turned them into a law enforcement that was alrinned "Well, ever since Q tore off his et it?" He waved his hand, chuckling at his own joke "People knohat hobbies Mercer is into They’re aware of soet you back" His eyes flickered to mine I wanted to claiving him permission to continue "Q’s contact at the local police force spoke to the press"

I growled at that I’d sworn him to secrecy for over ten years, and now he’d fed er in my direction "You know he had no choice He stood up for you when people were painting false accusations" Looking to Tess, he finished, "Anyway, the coes, and we’re still not sure where those changes will lead us"

Tess breathed hard, tucking a riot of curls behind her ears with a rapid twitch "What changes?"

Roux met my eyes "Care to ju"

I scowled I didn’t want to hear what I already knew, and I had no desire to talk about it either--even though I was secretly pleased and rather honoured how the news had gone doith the world

You want her to inherit everything It’s only fair she knows exactly what she’s accepting

I sighed, unlocking ood job Finish it"

Frederick nodded "Fine Well, the bad news is, the coht percent of its regular investors Overnight they cut association with all subsidiaries of Moineau when they heard the news Q accepted sex slaves as bribes to finalize developments There was an uproar when they heard he not only accepted theasped, a hand flying to cover herthe theatrics of telling a sordid tale "I know Terrible Death threats were sent, a few properties were defaced, and we prepared for the end of Mercer’s empire"

I rolled my eyes He made it sound like the apocalypse None of thatru run