Looking up from my laptop, I took a moment to take her all in. She was still as striking as the day I’d first noticed her. Same gorgeous looks with a rack men would weep over.

My body had taken note of her before, but today… nothing.

I only needed her for one thing, and it didn’t involve my dick.

“Lauren,” I replied with authority, ignoring her earlier comment. “I actually have a question, and you might know the answer.”

“Sure,” she answered, her voice obviously shaken by my abrupt tone.

Besides our back-and-forth banter that night in the lobby, I didn’t think we’d exchanged more than a few words to each other.

But I could say that for the majority of people who worked in this building.

I was, after all, the evil overlord.

“My assistant, Cara, mentioned to me the other day that her boyfriend works for a prominent accounting firm here in New York. I want to know the name.”

“Of her boyfriend?”

I stared blankly.

“Sorry, I’m just a little confused as to why you would ask me,” she said, her voice recovering its normal confidence.

“I’ve heard the two of you talking outside my door. I don’t work in an iron vault, unfortunately.”

“No, of course not. Um, she doesn’t really talk about him much, but I believe the company is called Blythe.”

“Great.”

“Can I ask why you want to know? Another acquisition? Need an accountant?” She laughed at her own joke.

I settled my steely gaze upon her.

“Right. Never mind.”

I had the name. Now, all I had to do was the dirty work.

Lucky for me, I excelled in all things dirty.

Chapter Fourteen

The leaves on the trees had finally begun to turn all over the city, giving it that classic postcard look New York was known for. Central Park was filled with families bundled in wool coats as dedicated runners flew by, hoping to get in a few more runs before the first frost appeared.

It was a part of the year I was used to—the changing of seasons. In the Midwest, winter was always the highlight of most conversations from about mid-September on. How much snow will we get? When do you think it will start? How will the crops fare?

And, although the conversations might be slightly different here, in my new home, I could still feel the anticipation as November swiftly took root. The holidays were just around the corner. Summer was well behind us, and soon, the streets would be blanketed with fluffy white snow.

Just like it was supposed to be.

It gave me a sense of peace, knowing at least one thing in my life was still predictable. Still normal.

Especially when everything else in the last few weeks had gone topsy-turvy, leaving me hollow and confused.