Fall from India Place (On Dublin Street 4)

“Jason, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—hopefully for the last time. I’m flattered by the offer, but I’m not interested in working for Klinf. Now that’s settled. Answer my question. Why are you being intentionally rude to Kam?”

His grip on her arm tightened. “Because of the two assets presented to me here tonight—Kam’s admittedly brilliant invention, which I probably can’t afford, in the endgame—and your beauty, talent, and expertise, I’d rather have you. Besides, if I play my cards right,” he murmured, “I might be able to have both.”

“What are you talking about?” she demanded, trying to step away from him. He pulled her toward him again, his grip unrelenting.

“You’ve been learning a lot about Reardon’s device, haven’t you? All that valuable firsthand experience? That’s an asset all on its own.”

Her disbelief at his audacity made her stop struggling for a moment. “You’re deluding yourself if you think I can comprehend Kam’s genius. Even if I could, I’d never divulge inside information to you.”

“Does Ian allow you to hold private shares in Noble Enterprises?” Jason asked, switching tracks smoothly. “Don’t bother to answer. I know he doesn’t. He refuses to give anyone a single share of his hoard, not even to you, despite his professed loyalty to you and his supposed inability to do business without you.”

“Noble is privately held,” Lin hissed. “I’ve never asked Ian to buy shares.”

“Because you know he wouldn’t give you the opportunity.” Lin flinched like he’d slapped her in the face, his blunt statement taking her off guard.

“Now that he has a wife and a child on the way,” Jason continued relentlessly, “he’s even less likely to release his tight grip on Noble. It’s a lost cause, Lin. All the time and sweat and tears you’ve put into that company, all your brilliance is being used by Noble to build an empire for his future family dynasty, and you’ll be even more of an outsider,” Jason murmured sadly. “If you come with me, I’ll offer you not only a salary worthy of your talents, but I’ll give you stock in Klinf. Up to ten percent, if you want it. We’ll be true partners, not some hollow partnership like Noble is tossing out like leftover scraps to you. You’ll epitomize the elegance and glamour of Klinf. The company will be stronger and more viable than ever with you by my side. I will be,” he whispered hoarsely, his dark eyes glistening with a hard edge.

Lin saw it coming, but she still cringed when he leaned down to kiss her. She swung her chin aside, avoiding his descending mouth. Could this evening be any more of a disaster? She tried to break loose and stumbled in her high heels.

“Jason, let go of me,” she insisted firmly. His mouth moved on her clamped jaw. She wrenched her arms from his hold, making a frustrated sound when he grabbed her again. He squeezed her arms painfully.

“I mean it. You’re hurting me, damn it,” she grated out.

She was seriously considering a particularly powerful form of the word no she’d learned in a Kung Fu class she’d taken. Something caught her attention first. From the corner of her eye, she saw a large hand tap Jason’s shoulder twice. Jason lifted his head, an annoyed expression on his face.

“What the—” He loosened his hold on Lin to twist around when he was tapped again, harder. Lin’s eyes sprung wide when she saw the thunderous expression on Kam’s face. She instinctively stepped back, knowing a storm was about to break. Kam’s fist struck Jason’s jaw like a jet-fueled hammer. Jason’s spin on his planted feet struck her dazed brain as bizarrely comical. He still had a slightly surprised look on his face when he crumpled to the floor.

Lin hurried over to him, kneeling to touch his temple. “Jason?” He was out cold. “Oh my god,” she whispered, shock vibrating her bones. She checked his pulse in rising panic.

“He’ll be fine,” Kam said from above her, his tone derisive. “I punched him, I didn’t kill him. Are you all right?”

She stared up at him. That thundercloud expression still tightened his features, but his gray eyes looked worried.

“I’m fine,” she whispered. “I don’t know what’s come over Jason tonight.”

Kam rolled his eyes. “I have a wild idea. I thought you said he wasn’t interested? That guy is randy as a goat for you.”

“I said I wasn’t that interested. Besides, he just wants me for Klinf. He’s just trying to seduce me so I’ll work for him.”

“I know, I heard,” Kam said grimly. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want you for his bed, too.”

Jason started to regain consciousness, rolling his head and mumbling something in French she couldn’t understand. Kam grabbed her hand and raised her so that she stood close to his tall form. He lightly brushed his hands across her upper arms, inspecting her. His gaze narrowed dangerously. Lin glanced down to see where he looked. Her skin was abraded and red from Jason’s hard grip. Scowling, Kam used the toe of his shoe to prod Jason’s shoulder. Jason opened his eyes and stared up at Kam woozily.

“Tu as mérite pire. Si tu mets encore la main sur elle, tu ne t’en sortira pas,” Kam told him succinctly. Lin thought she understood, even with her rudimentary French. You deserved worse. If you touch her again, you won’t get off so easy.

Jason looked understandably cowed even through his befuddlement. Kam started to pull her away.