Chapter 1
Note: This is book 3, in the Million Dollar Series. Please read the first two books before proceeding.
Book 1: The Million Dollar Virgin
Book 2: The Million Dollar Revenge
Chapter 1
I didn't answer Adrian.
Even as he stared at me, his green eyes full of anger.
I had no words.
"Right," he laughed. It was dark and cold. Deadly.
He sighed and leaned back, his hand under his chin as he continued to study me.
"You don't even want to try and explain?" he scoffed.
My heart was slamming into my chest. My hands were sweating and shaking.
Would this be the end of it all?
"Are...are you going to kill me or something?" I managed to croak.
He tilted his head at me.
"What do you think Sloane?" he replied quietly. "After everything. What do you think?"
I swallowed and took a deep breath before responding.
"I...I don't know," I stuttered. "But you must know that I never turned over anything to them. Even when I figured out how to get into the network."
He raised a brow at me, "I managed to catch you, before you were able to. Isn't that right?"
I shook my head, "No. I have been able to get into the network, for a long time now Adrian. I didn't tell them-"
"Did you sleep with him?" he cut me off. He pointed towards the photo of Knox and I.
My breathe caught in my throat, but I willed myself to not show any emotion. To not break.
"Stop," I said. "I want to explain about the hacking, I want-"
He sighed, "You want to explain how you betrayed us."
He leaned forward until he was only a few inches from my face.
"How you betrayed me?"
That did it. That broke me.
"And what about you?" I spat back. "What about the fact that you vetted me? That you knew who I was when I signed the contract? How you fucked me at night but were my boss by day?"
I pushed my chair back and stood to my feet, jabbing a finger at him as I spoke.
"I don't even know if I earned this job on merit-or if I fucked you for it," I cackled. "You're a joke. You dare judge me, when you were just as deceptive?"
He stood-slowly. Very, very slowly. It was intimidating, the way he towered over me with such a dark expression.
"Oh Sloane," he said, clicking his tongue. "You are talented, yes. I knew who you were-yes."
He shrugged, "I gave you a job that paid well. I made sure you had every possible advantage. You think that was deceptive?"
I blinked at him, "Are you serious? You gave me those things because I was fucking you-all of you."
He smiled. But not in a kind way. Or in the way he did sometimes during sex.
No.
It was...terrifying.
"Sweetheart, you were the best applicant we have ever had," he said, his voice low and heavy. "You earned the job and the pay."
He stepped a few inches closer. So close that his body heat rolled onto me and I caught a deep whiff of his clean scent.
"As for the car? The credit card?" he said slowly. "The office?"
He laughed as he leaned forward. He was so close, I thought he might be trying to kiss me.
But that would be insane...right?
"Now those things," he said, his voice a whisper. "Those were because we were fucking you."
And for some reason, I did something rather stupid.
The sort of shit that you do right before you're murdered.
I held my hand back and slapped him.
Right across his perfect face.
Hard and fast.
And I didn't hold back.
"Fuck you," I hissed.
But he didn't flinch. In fact, he didn't move a single muscle. He just stayed right where he was-his eyes staring through me.
Then...he straightened his posture.
"See you at home darling," he said softly. As if the dark side of him had disappeared. As if none of this had even happened.
"What?" I said in confusion. "What the fuck do you mean? I'm not going back to your home."
But he ignored me. He walked around me, gave me a small nod and walked right out of the room.
I stared at the door as he shut it behind him.
"What the hell?" I whispered.
Just then, I felt my phone buzz. I sighed and answered the incoming call.
"Sloane Heathrow," I said flatly, my eyes still on the door.
"Sloane," an unfamiliar voice said from the other end. "Evelyn Cross here."
I scrunched my brow in confusion, "Yes?"
"Evelyn Cross," she repeated. "I'm calling about your job application. The FBI contract?"
"Oh," I squeaked, my eyes wide. "Hello."
"So," she continued. "We were wondering...how soon can you get to New York?"
"It's a trap," Georgie said, her eyes wide. "You can't go back there."
"Obviously, I am not!" I said quickly. "I'm going back to my own home."
"No you are not," she said, leaning forward to grab my arm. "You're going home with me. Or-I'm coming to your place. But you are not going to be alone tonight."
"It will be fine," I replied. "What are they going to do?"
"Um," she scoffed. "Kill you? They're criminals Sloane."
"So I'm meant to run away for the rest of my life?" I hissed.
"No," she said firmly. "But what about that FBI job?"
"They offered it to me," I said. "And I'm thinking about taking it."
"What?" she gasped. "It's fate Sloane! Let's just go. Tonight."
"Tonight?" I said, raising a brow. "We don't even have a place to live in."
She nodded, "I am serious." She pulled out her phone and began tapping at the screen.
"What are you doing?" I asked, looking over her shoulder.
"Buying flights," she said quickly. "Send me some money-please? I don't have enough."
I sighed, "Maybe we need to slow down. We should-"
Her head snapped towards me, "Shut up. This isn't just about you Sloane. I'm your best friend and I knew everything. What about me? Am I in danger?"
I felt my body stiffen as a momentary feeling of guilt washed over me. Of course I should have considered how Georgie felt about her safety.
I smiled weakly, "Sorry Georgie. You're right. Book it in while I transfer you the funds."
The work day dragged on. Slow and tortuous. Georgie and I had both decided that we were going straight to the airport after work.
No packed bags. No going home.
Nothing.
Finally, it was late enough for me to leave without arousing suspicion. I was sure to stay late because that’s what I always did. I needed to look like I was going about my day, per normal.
I walked from my office, shutting the door behind me and locking it in place.
“Ready?” a voice said.
I turned to see Georgie looking at me, her eyes darting from side to side. Just as I was about to answer, someone rounded the corner in the hallway, stopping just in front of us.
Luca.
He looked at me with his dark eyes, his expression completely blank.
“Miss Heathrow,” he said flatly. “Heading home?”
I nodded.
“To your apartment?” he asked.
I knew what he was really asking. Was I going home to...them.
I nodded again, “Yup.”
“Sloane,” Georgie said with a forced smile. “I can still drop you home.”
“There is no need for that,” Luca said before she could respond. “I’m taking her home.”
I saw Georgie’s jaw tighten. Then, her expression turned into a fake pout.
“You never do anything with me anymore Sloane,” she groaned, pretending to look annoyed. “What has been going on with you? You promised me pizza.”
I shrugged, “Sorry, Luca already organized to take me home.”
She turned to look at him, her eyes narrow, “Sorry but she is getting pizza with me first.”
Before Luca could say anything else, Georgie grabbed my arm and tugged on it, dragging me towards the elevator.
“See you tomorrow Mr. Hernandez,” she called through the elevator doors.
He stared at us and for a moment and then I saw him hesitate.
He didn’t want to let us go.
But the doors slid shut before he could change his mind.
Georgie turned to me and let out a deep breath.
"That was close," she whispered.
I leaned back in my seat and sighed with relief.
“Thank God,” Georgie said softly. “I really thought Luca had caught onto us.”
“Me too,” I breathed. “I’m sure they will go looking for me soon.”
Then, I felt my phone buzz. I pulled it from my purse and slid my finger across the screen.
A text from Adrian.
Where are you?
Come home now Sloane.
“What do we do with our phones?” she said, reading the text from over my shoulder. “Aren’t they like super-smart nerds like you? Can’t they track us?”
I smiled and turned to her, “Give me your phone.”
She handed it to me. I flipped through her apps until I found the one I was looking for. I tapped on it and put in the requested pin code. A message appeared.
GPS SYSTEMS DEACTIVATED.
“There,” I said, handing it back to her.
“What did you do?” she asked. “And how the hell did this app get put on my phone?”
I smiled sheepishly at her, “No one can track your phone now.”
“But the app,” she said, her eyes narrowing at me. “When did that get downloaded onto my phone?”
I shrugged, “I did it one night when you slept over. I knew it might come in handy.”
“I’m going to pretend like I didn’t hear that,” she shook her head.
I turned to look out the window. We were moving down the runway now. Soon, the wheels of the plane lifted and we ascended into the air.
We were heading towards our new future.
