Vested Interest Box Set Books 4-7 Page 4

  “I hacked in to their system and sucked fifteen million from them and put it in an account elsewhere—I never planned to keep it. I sat back and waited for them to come to me so I could show them how it happened and what they needed to do to stop it happening again. I planned to give the money back. As I said, I was young and stupid. I thought they would be thrilled at my ingenuity and offer me a job.”

  Aiden began to laugh. “That’s not what happened, I’m guessing.”

  “Nope. I was arrested on a bunch of cyber-based crime charges. They threw the book at me to set an example, and I spent four years in prison, finally getting out with good behavior.”

  “Did you return the money?”

  “Yes.”

  “That didn’t help?”

  “No.” I met his eyes. “I did my time. I learned my lesson. But no one will touch me.” I sucked in a long breath. “This is the first time I’ve made it past ‘I was in prison,’ to be honest.”

  Before he could say anything, I leaned forward, my hands locked in fists on the table. “I’m a hard worker, Aiden. I can overhaul your systems, make them tighter than Fort Knox. No one can out hack me. I was, am, one of the best, even if part of the terms of my release prevents me from active hacking. Plus, I can do anything with computers. Write any program you want. Rebuild and maintain the machines. Add all sorts of improvements and features. Keep you up to date and running faster than you ever dreamed. Anything to do with a computer, I’m your guy. I have tons of talent, and I just need a chance. Someone to give me one chance to prove myself.”

  I slumped back with a shake of my head. “That’s all I’m asking for. A chance.”

  He studied me, his fingers tapping the wooden table.

  “I’d do a good job for you. You wouldn’t be sorry.”

  “I need to think about it.”

  I nodded, defeated. At least he’d listened to me. That was more than I usually received. I stood and shook his hand. “Thanks.”

  At the door, I paused when he called my name. “Reid.”

  I looked back.

  “Come back tomorrow. One o’clock. I’m not promising anything, but I want you to meet Maddox.”

  It was all I could do not to launch myself at him and hug him. But I resisted.

  “One. I’ll be here.”

  I shook my head over my musings and glanced at the clock. It was a few minutes before nine. I almost sent Becca a text asking if she was ready for me, then cringed at my words and changed it to asking if it was a good time. Her reply was prompt.

  Can we make it ten?

  I replied with a fast yes.

  I poured another cup of coffee and returned to memory lane.

  Maddox Riley was quiet, observant, and somehow scarier than Aiden. His eyes saw everything; right down to the cheap pants I had purchased last night in order to look the part. I had persuaded the woman who ran the rooming house to let me use her iron, and I was at least wrinkle-free, but the shirt and pants I wore probably cost less than Maddox’s socks.

  Still, he was professional, kind, and surprisingly nonjudgmental, even though he made me nervous. I relaxed after a few minutes as he went over my resume the way Aiden had done. He rested his chin on his hand.

  “Aiden told me of your prison record.”

  “Yes. I don’t put it on my resume, but I don’t hide it either.”

  He nodded. “Aiden runs intense security checks. Best to be honest.” He sat back. “Why’d you do it?”

  I shrugged. “Young, stupid, and arrogant. I thought if they saw the problem with their own eyes, they would be impressed.” I laughed abruptly. “I didn’t consider the fact that they might think I was actually stealing their money. I left a trail so plain even an idiot could’ve followed it. I only wanted their attention.”

  “And you got it. But not in the way you hoped.”

  I nodded, unsure what to add.

  “How did you take courses in jail? I would have thought you’d be banned from computers.”

  “I was for the first while. But surprisingly, one of the bankers disagreed with the decision and came to my defense. He helped my lawyer get that removed as part of my rehabilitation. I was able to take courses and use the computer with supervision. He was fascinated by what I had done.”

  “Did you have ways to get around the supervision?”

  “Yes,” I replied honestly.

  “And did you?”

  “At times.”

  He tapped his cheek as he stared over my shoulder.

  “Why aren’t you working for him now?”

  I stroked the edge of the table, my voice quiet. “He died of a heart attack.”

  “Have you been involved in illegal activities since going to prison?”

  “No.”

  “Would you if given the opportunity?” Maddox’s gaze was intense.

  “Since I highly doubt BAM is involved in illegal shit, the answer is no,” I huffed. “I made a mistake, and I paid for it.” I leaned forward, suddenly pissed off with his question. “I was a kid. I fucked up. I paid the price. All I want is a chance to move on and put all that shit behind me. For one person to believe in me.” I tapped the table with my finger in fast jabs. “If you or Aiden needed me to do something, I would follow orders. If it were for the good of the company, I would do whatever I had to do. Would I do something to benefit myself? No. It was never about that. It was simply a bad decision.”

  Our eyes locked. Maddox’s gaze was shrewd, but not unkind.

  “What did you do with the money, Reid?” he asked quietly.

  “I gave it back.”

  One eyebrow rose in disbelief. “You had it for over six months. Fifteen million yields a lot of interest in that time frame.”

  “They got it back with interest. The same rate they were making when I ‘borrowed’ it.”

  “And you expect me to believe someone as smart as you had it in a safe place making minimal interest?” He ran a finger along his chin. “Especially once you were arrested and were facing jail time?”

  I was about to tell him to fuck off. He was a numbers man and smart. He had already figured it out. I knew I had lost my shot at the job, so I had nothing left to lose. I glared at him, furious he had gotten to me. Furious that I had allowed my hopes to grow when I knew better. He would never give me a chance to work at BAM.

  Crappy jobs and an equally shitty life were all I had, and all I would ever have because of my past.

  “I put it in bitcoin. I paid them back every penny they were due. The rest of the interest I kept and it’s still in either bitcoin, or various long-term plans. Every month, someone receives a donation to help feed their kids. Buy them new clothes. Get out of an abusive relationship—whatever they need it for. They never know where it comes from, and they never will. I got nothing then. I get nothing now. I wanted nothing. But once the fuckers decided to make an example out of me, I made sure someone got something good out of it.” I stood, pushing back my chair, the bitterness almost choking me. “Thanks for your time. I won’t take up any more of it.”

  I made it to the elevator, pushing the button repeatedly. I had to get out of there before I broke down. I didn’t even stop to say goodbye to the nice woman, Sandy. I had liked her and looked forward to knowing her more. I had wanted to get to know them all more. I couldn’t believe how badly I had wanted the job. The disappointment was crushing.

  “Reid!” Aiden grabbed my arm before I could step into the elevator. “Hold up.”

  I shook off his grip. “What?”

  He grinned, shaking his head. “A bit of a hothead, aren’t you?”

  “What you do want, Mr. Callaghan?”

  “For you to come back into the boardroom and finish the interview.”

  I ran a weary hand over my face. “I thought I was finished.”

  “Nope. We have a couple more questions, and you’ll have to meet with HR and sign some papers.”

  I grabbed the side of the elevator, my knees threatening t
o buckle. “What did you say?”

  He pulled me out of the elevator, leading me down the hall. “You’re in, kid. I like you. You’re exactly what I need, and even Maddox likes you, despite your temper. He wants to know more about bitcoin and how you got so smart about investing. Numbers fascinate him. Bentley might be unhappy, but he’ll come around.”

  “Are you shitting me?”

  He stopped at the boardroom door. “No. You want a chance? I’m gonna give it to you. Maddox and I are putting ourselves on the line for you, Reid. Do you understand?”

  “I won’t let you down.”

  “I know.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  Aiden paused, his hand on the door. “I checked you out, Reid. You’ve had a shit life. I get that.” He tilted his head toward the boardroom. “We both get that. We believe in second chances, because we both got one.” He eyed me sternly. “You are gonna have stipulations and guidelines.”

  “I can work within your boundaries.”

  “You are gonna work hard.”

  “Not an issue.”

  “I will be all over you if I suspect anything but your best.”

  “Noted.”

  “And here’s a tip—all the cursing isn’t the best interview technique. But we’re cool.”

  Unabashed, I grinned. “Sorry, my mouth runs faster than my brain sometimes.”

  “I can’t wait to see you in action.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Let’s go, kid.”

  I followed him, knowing that my life was about to change.

  I loved my job. I threw myself into it wholeheartedly. I worked mostly with Aiden, but Maddox was often part of my meetings, Bentley joining in on rare occasions. I was one of four IT people, all of us answering to Aiden since the head of the department had recently left.

  After a week of working nonstop, I went to Aiden, showing him some huge gaps in their system and ways to improve the performance and firewalls. He put me in charge of the project, and a month later, gave me the job as lead guy in IT.

  With the pay increase, I found my little apartment and was able to begin to enjoy life. When Bentley’s girlfriend, Emmy, was kidnapped, Aiden came to me, asking for my help.

  “Whatever you need to do, Reid . . . I know you’re banned from hacking, but forget it. Break any law—I will cover you. Do you understand? I need her home and safe.”

  Once that happened, again, my life changed. Bentley’s gratitude knew no bounds. A corner office, a new title, and access to all the equipment and software I could dream of. Those alone made me happy.

  The massive wage increase was the icing on the cake. But the best thing of all was the sense of finally finding my place. I was one of them. Not on a wealth scale, but as their friend. A trusted ally. It was their trust I valued the most. Their faith in me. They had my back as much as I had theirs. When Maddox needed my help, I was glad to be able to return the favor of his trust. We had gotten closer during my time with BAM, but it cemented our relationship. I felt as if I was no longer alone in the world. I had three brothers, whom I would do anything for, and I knew they felt the same in return.

  Life was good.

  I glanced at my watch, picked up the heavy bag, and slung it over my shoulder. It was time to go to Becca’s.

  Now, if I could take my brothers’ advice and man up, life would be great.

  Reid

  On my way to Becca’s, I stopped to pick up coffee again. The old woman was outside puttering around her pails of flowers. When she saw me, her face creased into a deep smile.

  “Your girl, she like the daisies?”

  “Very much.”

  “You see her today?”

  “Yes.”

  She plucked a single lily from a pail. “You give her this. Beautiful.”

  I took the single stalk. It was heavy with blossoms, the deep pink and white color majestic. I dug into my pocket, but she held up her hand.

  “No. Not today. I give to you, you give to her.”

  With a grin, I leaned down and kissed her cheek. She patted my face with a smile so wide, her eyes disappeared.

  “Good boy,” she muttered. “Go see your girl.”

  I grinned and made my way to Becca’s. She opened her door, gasping in delight when I presented her the flower with a flourish.

  “Milady.”

  This time, I got the kiss on the cheek. Her lips were soft, and they lingered on my skin. I had to resist turning my head to feel her mouth on mine.

  I followed her down the hall, once again admiring her pert ass. She had a towel flung over her shoulder, and I noticed the dampness on her skin. I thought she had just come out of the shower until I walked into the open area of her apartment and saw the pole.

  Holy shit.

  Becca had a stripper pole. A real, actual stripper pole. And she had been using it this morning.

  “Oh God,” I uttered. “You weren’t joking.”

  She slid the lily into a tall, slender vase. “No. It’s great for core workouts.” She indicated her laptop on the counter. “I take online classes. I ordered a new pole and it arrived yesterday, so I set it up last night after you left.” She laughed lightly. “I’m a bit out of practice.”

  “Oh,” I croaked, trying desperately to stop the barrage of images floating through my head. Becca on the pole, graceful and sensuous, her body fluid and supple. Becca dancing for me. Me grabbing Becca off the pole and pulling down her leggings. Becca under me writhing and moaning.

  Shaking my head to clear it, I had to turn away as my cock decided he liked the images far too much.

  “I-I hope I didn’t interrupt.”

  “Nope. All done.”

  I cleared my throat and handed her a coffee, grateful the counter was separating us. I pointed to the pole. “Is it, ah, safe?”

  “Oh yes. I can’t do every movement since it’s not anchored the same way as in a studio, but I use it more for the exercise than the extreme moves, you know?”

  “Uh-huh,” I muttered.

  “It’s not like anyone sees me, and I’m certainly not planning a career as a stripper.” She paused with a wink. “Unless, of course, my job at BAM doesn’t work out.”

  I gaped at her, then realized she was teasing. I chuckled. “Well, let’s hope it goes well.”

  She leaned on the counter, the damp cotton of her T-shirt sticking to her body, and her position mashing her breasts together. I swallowed, trying not to stare at the perfection of her tits.

  “Would you come see me, Reid? If I did?” she asked, her voice pitched low.

  “If you did?” I asked stupidly.

  “If I had to pole dance for a living?”

  The thought of her on a pole in front of other people—men—ogling her, made me stiffen with jealous rage. Nobody was seeing her on that pole except me.

  “I’d buy every dance,” I said through gritted teeth. “Every night.”

  She stood, lifting her cup to her mouth. A smile played on her lips. “Okay, then.”

  I nodded. “Okay, then.”

  “Shall we put up the shelves?”

  I drained my coffee. “Yeah.”

  * * *

  Becca

  Reid Matthews was a complete mystery to me. I had never met anyone like him. The day he stumbled into the boardroom, he had captured my attention. His wild hair, ragged T-shirt, and jeans were so out of place in the business setting, but I soon forgot about that when he began to speak. He had a low, deep voice that was hypnotic. He used his hands as he spoke, drawing attention to his long fingers and wide palms. He yanked off his glasses when making a point, his hazel eyes swirling blue and green under the lights. He was well-spoken and smart, and his knowledge of computer components, operating systems, and how everything worked together evident. When asked a question pertaining to anything business-related, he was brilliant. But when it became personal, he changed, drawing into himself. His smile was tentative, his words chosen carefully, and his demeanor guarded. I wanted to know w
hy.

  Often, I caught him staring at me during meetings, but his gaze would skitter away. Before I arrived in Toronto, he had been in constant contact, calling and texting me daily about the oddest things to do with my computer needs and things for my office. I found it endearing and always tried to extend our chats, but once I became personal, he shut down.

  He was the first person I saw the day I walked into BAM to begin my job as a liaison for The Gavin Group. He was standing in his office doorway, his intense gaze focused on the door when I entered. The expression on his face when he saw me made my heart stutter. It was open and welcoming. He showed me around the office, excitedly presenting the incredible system he had set up for me, pointing out all the different features of the monitors and programs he had installed. He stood behind my chair, leaning over me as he tapped on the keyboard.

  “It’s amazing, Reid,” I exclaimed. “Thank you for doing all this for me.”

  Our eyes met and held. He was close enough I could smell his scent. It was clean and masculine. Fresh-cut cedar and pine. It suited him. The thick, dark glasses he wore emphasized his heavy brows and the beautiful color of his irises. His jaw was sharp, covered in scruff, and his bottom lip fuller than the top one. I wondered if it would be soft if I ran my tongue over it.

  My breathing hitched at the thought, and I inched closer, stretching my face toward him.

  Reid’s eyes widened and he stood, running a hand over the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. “Okay, I’ll let you get on with things. I’ve bothered you long enough.”

  Without a thought, I laid my hand on his arm. “You haven’t bothered me at all, Reid.”

  His gaze jumped from my hand to my face and back again. He stepped away.

  “If you need me, I’m down the hall. Next door. Right there.” He pointed to the right, then turned in the opposite direction and hurried away.

  His reaction had mystified me, and I realized I had probably crossed a line. Since that day, I had only become more confused. He was hot and cold. Some days, I was certain he was as interested in me as I was in him, and others, I was sure I had only imagined the spark between us. There were moments I swore he was going to grab me and kiss me.