Dangerous Attraction Romantic Suspense Boxed Set (223 page)

“Absolutely, sir. That’s what I’m here for.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Well, I’ve got to get going. We’ll talk soon, Alex. You keep an eye on that Janet Maple girl.”

“I will, sir.” Alex hung up the phone. Just how was it that Janet always managed to get in the middle of it, was beyond him: first Borrelli and now David Muller.

Alex closed his eyes. Janet Maple. While most women were nothing more than a paragraph, or at most a page, in his life, Janet had been an entire chapter. They had started dating toward the end of his senior year of law school. At the time he had just broken up with another one of his girlfriends and needed a quick replacement. With final exams only a few months away and the tedious bar exam looming before him, he needed a girl with substance. When Alex took a second look at Janet’s long chestnut hair, the luster of which could not be diminished even by the drab ponytail she usually trapped it in, her green eyes surrounded by full, long lashes that were lowered studiously, while her long, elegant fingers gripped a pen with furious determination and frantically scribbled every word uttered by their boring professor, he had decided that Janet Maple was the girl for him. They studied for all the exams together. Alex’s grades soared, and he aced the bar exam.

After graduation, both of them got positions as assistant district attorneys at the New York County District Attorney’s Office. The job did not pay much, but then it was mostly nine to five and Alex did not relish the idea of long hours that young lawyers were subjected to in private law firms. He would much rather try his hand at politics, and the DA job was the perfect launching pad for his ambitions. All he had to do was play his cards right.

He had kept his relationship with Janet secret at work. The DA’s office did allow coworkers to date, but not in the same department, and he sure as hell was not transferring out of Investigations, which was the most prestigious department in the organization. Besides, he had liked being assigned to the same cases as Janet. The girl had killer instincts. She had cracked every single investigation that she and Alex had been assigned to. Alex was happy: not only was Janet great in the sack, she also did his work for him. All he had to do was report to his boss and wait to be noticed.

Jake Andrews, Alex’s boss, had begun to take a real liking to him, often inviting him to drinks after work. Things had been going really well when Janet began investigating Borrelli Capital. Shortly afterwards, Jake Andrews had summoned Alex into his office. “Alex, you are now the lead on the Borrelli Capital case. It’s imperative that you keep me in the loop on all the latest findings,” Andrews had said.

Alex got the hint immediately. As per his boss’s request, he reported each and every finding that Janet dug up.

Then one afternoon Alex was surprised to find Andrew’s boss, Cornelius Finnegan, at the meeting. “Jake’s been telling me about the wonderful job you’ve been doing on the Borrelli Capital case, Alex,” Finnegan remarked.

Cornelius Finnegan had an oblong-shaped bald head and a hefty body that made him resemble a giant potato, but when Alex felt Cornelius’s narrow blue eyes fix on him, he immediately understood that Cornelius Finnegan had not reached his position by being a dimwit. “Thank you, sir. I’m glad to be of service.”

“I am glad to hear that.” Finnegan rubbed his chin. “How would you like to have Andrews’s spot?” he asked.

Alex shot a worried look at Jake Andrews: Andrews was still his boss. Andrews merely nodded benevolently.

“Relax, Alex,” Finnegan grunted. “Jake and I have already discussed the matter. Jake is being promoted, and I need a man I can trust to take over his spot. What do you say? Are you the man for the job?”

“Yes, sir,” Alex replied calmly. “As the head of the group, I will ensure smooth and efficient operations.” He could barely contain his excitement: finally, he was graduating to the big leagues.

“And most importantly, you will keep your superiors appraised,” said Finnegan. “Let’s cut to the chase, Alex. We’re going to close out the Borrelli Capital investigation with no action.”

“And by the way, our budget has been reduced. We’ve been told to make cuts. You need to select one person to downsize,” Andrews added. “As the new head of the group, the decision will be yours to make, Alex, but I hope that you will heed my input. My opinion is that we should downsize Janet Maple.”

Alex felt his throat tighten. Yes, he was willing to sacrifice his principles to get to the top, but kicking Janet out would be a new low even for him. “Perhaps we could consider a warning or a performance improvement plan?”

Andrews shot a fleeting look at Finnegan.

“Alex,” Finnegan said, placing his hand on Alex’s shoulder, “I think that you’re a very talented young man. You could have an excellent career here. Now, please don’t make me think that I’ve overestimated you. Do you have what it takes to get the job done?”

As Alex looked into Finnegan’s eyes, which had turned into mere slits, he knew that his prospects were hanging by a thread. This was his chance, but it could also turn out to be his undoing. Judging by the way Finnegan and Andrews planned to dispose of Janet, they would not think twice about doing the same to Alex. In an instant Alex made his decision. “Yes, sir, I most certainly do. I realize that ability to make tough decisions is part of being a manager, and I can make these kinds of decisions, sir.”

The next day, Alex got Andrews’s job. His first decision as the group manager had been to downsize Janet. At least he did not have to tell her himself: Human Resources did the dirty work for him. Getting to the top was not for the squeamish.

Several weeks later, Alex found out from Andrews that Nicholas Borrelli, the owner of Borrelli Capital, had given personal loans to half of Washington. Needless to say, Borrelli was getting off the hook.

Alex cracked his knuckles. For reasons he did not know and had no wish to find out, Muller had Finnegan’s protection. Alex’s task had been made clear to him. He was to ensure that the individuals responsible for the investigation were either frightened into silence or dealt with accordingly, meaning fired. Alex had already requested background files on all of his subordinates, and Janet Maple’s file, along with that of Dennis Walker, were right at the top of the pile.

* * *

Alex’s handsome—yes, despite his base nature the man was handsome—face materialized before Janet’s eyes: the magnetic look of his dark eyes that could morph from passionate to persuasive to humorous to impenetrable in a matter of seconds, the perfectly chiseled structure of his V-shaped nose, and the sensual curvature of his lips. Yes, Alex was a very good-looking man. From the taut musculature of his body to his confident stance, everything about him exuded an aura of success. The only trouble was that Alex was determined to succeed by any means possible. It had taken Janet almost five years of her life to learn this simple truth. By the time Alex was through with her, she was unemployed and alone.

Her job at the Treasury gave her a chance to turn over a new leaf in her life. But just as she thought that the past was safely behind her, all of her efforts were in danger of being vanquished by Alex’s demonic hand. Yes, the man truly was the devil incarnate. Janet decided that this was going to be Alex’s new nickname. But even devils could be exercised with holy water, and this time Janet was not going to surrender without a fight.

Janet’s ruminations were interrupted by Dennis Walker poking his head through the doorway of her office. “Are you going to the staff meeting?” he asked.

“What staff meeting?”

“The staff meeting with our new boss. Don’t you check your emails?”

Janet turned her attention to the computer screen and saw a slew of unread emails. One of them was a staff meeting request from Alex. The meeting time was five o’clock. What kind of a jerk would schedule a staff meeting for five o’clock? The answer was simple: Alex Kingsley. “Crap. I was hoping to get out of here early today.”

Dennis’s eyes narrowed. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been avoiding me all day.” Dennis took a seat in a chair that stood across from Janet’s desk. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s going on, or do I have to pry it out of you?”

“Nothing is going on,” Janet snapped. She was not going to let Dennis Walker interrogate her. “We’d better hurry or we’re going to be late for the staff meeting.”

“Some thank you I get.” Dennis shook his head. “Had it not been for me, you would have blown the meeting altogether.”

“Thank you, Dennis.” Janet rose from her chair and grabbed her notepad. “Now, can we please go?”

Dennis held the door open. “After you, my lady.”

Staff meetings always took place in the main conference room, and, at least in this regard, Alex’s regime was no different. When Janet entered the conference room she saw that most of her colleagues were already there. The conference room had one long, rectangular table in the middle with about fifteen chairs around it. These seats always became the spoils of those who arrived early and were, at the moment, all occupied. Normally, there were additional folding chairs placed against the wall but now they were nowhere in sight, leaving those who had not been sufficiently speedy in their arrival standing on their feet. “Great,” Janet grumbled, leaning against the wall.

“Hey there, Janet.” Peter Laskin nodded at her. “How is it going?”

Peter Laskin was the department’s top analyst. Unlike Dennis, Peter rarely worked the field, but he was a whiz at analyzing data.

“Is that a new shampoo you’re using, Peter?” Dennis cut in. “Your hair looks really bouncy today.”

When Janet first met Laskin he had been bald and wore glasses. Then, after an extended leave of absence, Laskin returned with a full head of hair and glasses-free. This transformation became an endless source of jabs, which Dennis unleashed on Laskin daily. “Why thank you, Dennis. Yes, as a matter of fact it is,” Laskin replied. “I think that people should never stop improving themselves, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I agree completely.” Janet could not help having a soft spot for Laskin: all those hair plugs must have hurt a great deal.

Their conversation was cut short by Alex entering the room. He was accompanied by a statuesque blonde with long legs and very large breasts who looked to be about twenty-five years old. She was dressed in a low-cut blouse and a black miniskirt.

Alex stood at the head of the table. As much as the sight turned Janet’s stomach, she had to admit that Alex projected dominance. Instantly, voices quieted and complete silence filled the room. “Thank you all for meeting with me on such short notice,” Alex began.

As if anyone here had a choice, Janet snorted inwardly.

“I would like to begin by introducing myself. As most of you already know, my name is Alex Kingsley. I am the new head of the Investigations department.” Alex paused. “I know that Hamilton Kirk, the former head of this department, was greatly respected and loved by all of you.”

There were several nods and excited yeses, which quickly faded under Alex’s glare. “I have been asked to assume this post for several reasons: my experience at the DA’s office and my management style. We’ve got a great deal of work to do, and it will require everyone’s unwavering dedication.” Alex paused, surveying the room. “I will be frank with you: there have been reports of questionable techniques being used during investigations. And I will tell you right now that I will not stand for rule infractions of any kind.”

Alex’s glance fell on Dennis and Janet, making Janet wish she could fall through the floor right then and there. “Now, I do not know how true these allegations are,” Alex continued, “but I am determined to find out. I will be meeting with each and every one of you to review the cases that you have worked on in the past year. I expect your full cooperation in this process. My assistant”—Alex motioned toward the blonde—“Georgiana Russell manages my schedule and will be scheduling the meetings shortly.”

I wonder what else she manages, Janet wondered, remembering how unceremoniously Alex had discharged Ham’s former assistant, Ann. But then Ann was neither tall nor blond nor young, which were skills that Alex obviously considered to be vital in an assistant.

“That’s all for today,” Alex concluded. “Thank you all for coming.”

As they filed out of the conference room, Janet caught Alex’s sideways glance. She shuddered to think of the changes that Alex’s reign would bring.

Chapter Four

Alex Kingsley leaned against the back of his luxurious leather chair and surveyed his new office digs. Not bad for a day’s work, he thought. Alex had had the men working overtime, delivering furniture and hanging paintings. The place had been a dump and needed a complete overhaul. Just how had his predecessor managed to stand his crummy office surroundings was beyond Alex, but then his predecessor did not have the favor of the state attorney general.

Poor Hamilton Kirk. Alex smirked: he did not feel the least bit compassionate toward the former head of the Investigations department who had been so unceremoniously discharged. It was survival of the fittest, and those who did not possess keen political judgment were forced out. Ham Kirk had been a loyal and diligent servant of the Treasury, but just like Janet’s principles had not gotten her anywhere at the DA’s office, Kirk’s diligence did not get him any accolades at the Treasury. On the contrary, it had gotten him sent out on early retirement. On the other hand, the chief of Treasury’s Enforcement, Hank Dooley, was a much more reasonable man. Dooley had gotten the drift regarding the Emperial case right way and diligently postponed the hearings in response to Finnegan’s directive. Now, it was rumored that Dooley could very well be destined for Senate or Congress.

Alex rubbed his hands in self-satisfaction. Finally, he was getting where he wanted to be in life. Finnegan trusted him, and Alex was certain that once he got the Treasury Investigations department under control, Finnegan would propel Alex to roles of much greater importance. Finnegan’s name reminded Alex why he had been assigned to his new job in the first place. Today he would have his first meeting with that reprobate Dennis Walker. Alex had requested the background file on Dennis Walker and was surprised to learn that Walker was a former crook himself. A partner of a rogue hedge fund, Walker had been barred from the financial industry but had been spared further prosecution by the Feds for his cooperation. After that, Walker had been recruited by the Feds and had worked for them for several years until he was hired as a senior investigator by Ham Kirk.