Freedom (Billionaire Secrets 2)

Suddenly, the door swung open and Heather walked inside.

“Oh.” Her eyes went wide when she spotted Everett. “Good morning, Mr. Eastman.”

Everett cast Simon a meaningful glance, as if he was trying to remind him of the task ahead.

Simon knew what the stakes were. If he failed to stop the spy in time, he’d lose Dover. If he succeeded, and that spy was Heather, there was a good chance that he’d lose her. Forever.

“GOOD MORNING, Mrs. Hall.”

Heather was sure she heard a hint of disdain in Everett Eastman’s tone, but she kept her apprehension to herself. She was a professional, and that meant never breaking a sweat at work. Even if Dover’s most powerful board member was currently glowering at her.

Though she couldn’t imagine why he was glowering at her like that. She didn’t like keeping Gary’s last name, but she’d done it for her son. So everyone would know she and Finn shared a last name and always would. If that offended Everett for some reason, that was his problem.

“Would you like me to give you two some privacy?” she asked.

“No need. I was just on my way out.” Without a second glance, Everett exited the office.

“Does he know about the photo?” she asked Simon, anxiety immediately flooding her now that Everett’s imposing presence was gone.

“Yes.” Simon’s blue eyes landed on her, but she couldn’t read the expression on his face.

“That’s why he seemed angry.” She chewed her bottom lip, no longer able to hide her worry. “How much trouble are we in? Has the board called a meeting?”

“No, the board hasn’t called a meeting,” he replied, his tone terse.

“Well that’s good, isn’t it?” She frowned as she watched him take a seat at his desk. There was something distant about him this morning. Heather had been certain that, once they were alone, he would at least acknowledge just how much things had changed between them since the reunion  .

She had promised not to keep her distance from him anymore, but now he seemed agitated.

“It is,” he said. “Everett is doing what he can to help Linda keep the photo from going public.”

“What if it does?” she asked. “We should come up with a plan for dealing with that if it happens.”

“Everett will work with Linda if the photo gets out,” he said.

“That’s surprising,” she said. “I thought a board member like Everett would be a lot angrier about the reunion   turning out to be a disaster.”

“Oh, trust me, he was angry,” Simon said.

Now she couldn’t shake the guilt. Of course, Everett was angry. He had probably given Simon hell for their mistake before she stepped into the office and found them talking. Which meant that Simon had taken the brunt of most of Everett and the board’s anger.

“That’s not fair,” she said. “You can’t take the blame for this. Let me go and talk to him—”

“No,” he said harshly. “Sit down.”

Sometimes it was easy to forget how powerful Simon really was. His command made her want to do exactly what he told her. If he asked her to slip out of her clothes right now, she’d probably do it. He had that much power over her body. Over her mind. And, if she was being honest with herself, he had control over her heart as well.

Doing as he told her, she crossed the office to sit down across from him. She swallowed hard. “Is your job in jeopardy?”

“Not yet,” he said.

“Is mine?”

He leaned forward and looked her dead in the eyes. “No.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “I know my three-month review is coming up and I really want to stay on at Dover. I love working here.”

“As long as you keep up the good work, you’ll be fine,” he said. “Let me, Everett, and Linda worry about the photo. I’ll buy it back if I have to.”

“That sounds like it could be expensive. I don’t want you to have to spend that kind of money,” she said. “Let me pay for the photo. I can pay you in installments out of my salary.”

“That’s not going to happen, Heather.” He gave her a small smile. “I’ll solve this. Please, don’t worry about the photo. I’d rather you focused on work.”