Page 71 of Savage Prince
When I step into the dressing room, my mind is only half on the lingerie, and the other half is firmly on the ridiculous company name.
None of your business. Really?
Does that mean my stranger is a con man, or he just has a sense of humor?
As I slip on a gorgeous red lace bra that reveals more than it conceals, I can’t figure out an answer.
When Ariel arrives, I’m just slipping back into my street clothes and have selected my armor for tonight.
“Rhett tried to come with, until I told him that I wouldn’t buy anything unless it was going to be a surprise, and then he conceded. I swear, even the strongest man can be brought low with the right lingerie.”
Yve gives her a quick hug. “Damn right. Now, did you bring that fancy computer of yours along with your big brain so we can figure out Temperance’s mystery?”
Ariel raises her arm and points to her large purse. “I barely leave home without it. But first, tell me you have something in lavender. I don’t know why I’m obsessed with that idea, but I have a feeling it’s a good one.”
“I’ll give you lavender as soon as you figure out who Mr. Sex Club is.”
“I see. That’s my carrot.” Ariel glances around. “Now, where are the whips?”
Yve winks. “In the back corner. Get to work.”
Ariel blushes. “On it.”
She leaves Yve and me behind to make herself at home on the stool behind the checkout counter. As soon as she has a laptop in front of her, it’s like watching her morph into a different person.
“You sweep this place for bugs? I’m assuming Titan would, but we can never be too careful.”
Yve’s brow arches. “Just do your thing and let me worry about this place.”
“You wouldn’t be so cavalier if you were the one risking federal prison to find this stuff.”
“Oh my God,” I blurt out. “Are you serious? If that’s the case, then don’t—”
Ariel cracks her knuckles with a grin. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to get caught.”
Then she goes to work. It takes her less than sixty seconds to start spouting off information.
“Nunya Holdings is a domestic corporation, but the only shareholder listed is another company.”
“It’s a front?”
She shrugs without looking up. “Not necessarily. It could be part of an overall entity structure. I have plenty of companies that only have another company as a member.”
It’s so strange to think that this little redheaded spitfire is the CEO of a huge conglomeration of companies.
“Did you know I’m a billionaire today? Bitcoin for the win!” Ariel says, totally offhand, and goes back to typing.
Yve looks from Ariel to me and laughs. “That girl is nuts.”
I’m not sure if I should agree with her or not.
Within minutes, Ariel is three layers deep into the corporate structure when creases appear between her swooped eyebrows. “They’re actually really damn good at this stuff. Everything goes back to a generic registered-agent company and their database is encrypted, so it’ll take me a bit longer to find some answers there.”
“So you can’t—”
“Never say can’t. I just need to look somewhere else. Somewhere you don’t need to know exists.”
Yve’s arms are crossed over her chest again. “You’re doing that dark-web shit, aren’t you?”
