Page 102 of Forbidden Billionaire
“Let me know if you need anything, Mr. Blackwell.” Without offering a beverage to either man, she nods and heads toward the door.
Walt’s voice is ice. “You should probably stay, Ms. Hollis. This regards you.”
Stopping, she frowns, looking at Walt then at me.
What the fuck is going on here?
Reynolds crosses to my desk and slides the folder across the mahogany until it’s in front of me. “We don’t know what she’s been telling you. But we’ve reviewed the analysis at length, and the Lockhart numbers are solid. The deal’s viable.”
The air thickens, the office’s sterile hum deafening.
“Xavier…?” She’s still, her hands fastened together in front of her.
I flip open the folder, scanning the figures—polished, optimistic, nothing like the damning report she showed me. My pulse spikes, a slow thud in my ears. I flip to the last page, with her signature affixed.
This isn’t the report I reviewed yesterday.
Scowling, I look at her for an explanation, but Walt’s words from the Braes claw at me. “You sure you can trust her?”
“Can I see that?” she asks.
I flip the damning thing closed and send the file sliding across the desktop toward her. She manages to catch it just as it goes flying off the edge.
“There’s more.” Walt’s tone is ice, and he drops a second folder on my desk, as if it’s a hand grenade. “Evidence of her real intentions.”
Inside are printouts of emails.
The top one is dated over a week earlier.
From: Alyssa Monroe
To: Seraphina Hollis
* * *
Ms. Hollis,
* * *
I hope this message finds you well.
I’m reaching out on behalf of Marchand & Co., who have asked us to identify high-level talent with a background in financial analytics and crisis management. Your name was recommended by one of our research analysts, and after reviewing your profile and recent work, I believe you’d be an excellent fit for an upcoming strategic role.
While I can’t disclose full details at this stage, the position involves oversight of sensitive financial transitions—perfect for someone with your Blackwell Enterprises experience.
If you’re open to a preliminary, confidential conversation, I’d love to set up a brief call to go over the opportunity.
Let me know what works for your schedule.
* * *
Warm regards,
Alyssa Monroe
Senior Talent Advisor, ExecuTalentSearch Group
A response, from my loyal assistant, follows.
