Page 157 of Handsome Devil
“I assumed when Trey appeared and showed us in here, this wasyournew office. Like you decided to get an office here for Valhalla or something.”
“You assumed wrong.”
“The agency can’t afford this, Dane.”
“I can.”
She crossed her arms, studying me. “Are you playing Daddy Warbucks again?”
I strolled over to the window and looked out. “Why? Does it turn you on? Should I shave my head?”
“Dane.” She walked over to me and looked out the window. “Jesus Christ. This place is amazing. You seriously got this for the agency?”
“Yes.”
She looked at me as I looked out at the water, watching a small yacht drift by. “Why?”
“Just seemed like it might make my wife happy.”
“Bullshit.”
“That office you’ve got is sad,” I informed her. “A high profile agency should have a high profile office.”
Devi kind of sputtered. “It’s the Vancouver way, okay? None of the agencies in town have fancy offices.”
“Well, now this one does.”
She didn’t say anything, just looked out the window, shaking her head a little.
“You don’t want it? I can talk to Trey. I can probably get out of this if it’s not something you want…”
“Oh, stop it. Obviously, I’m not gonna say no to this.”
She turned and walked down the hall, heading deeper into the office. She passed the glassed-in meeting room off reception, then wandered into the first private office. Then she continued up the hall, poking her head into each room. Then she wandered back.
I strolled into the first office and she followed me in. I’d already done a walk through with Trey last night. This room was the biggest one and had an amazing view. I’d thought about using it for myself while I was in town. In the past, I would have.
“Be honest,” Devi said, and I turned to face her. “If that’s possible for you to do. Is this about you controlling my life?”
“How would this be about me controlling your life?”
“You know. Taking control one piece at a time. Not just winning the game but owning the board.”
“What?”
“It’s a power play, right? You’ve one-upped me.”
“If you say so.”
“Is that your plan? Keep making move after move until I can’t keep up?” She looked around the room. “Keep whittling away at my defenses, one seemingly kind act at a time? Until I wave the white flag in surrender?”
“Can’t it just be kind?” I said dryly.
“Coming from you? No.” She paced deeper into the room, looking around at the furniture. The office had come fully furnished. “The Bugatti… Fancy dinners. That room at the penthouse I’m in? It’s nicer than any room I’ve ever lived in. And I expected that stuff. Well, I didn’t expect the Bugatti. But I knew there would be luxuries. And I’ve tried to take them in stride.” She met my eyes. “You have to know thatthisis a big deal for me, though. But it’s really nothing for you. You have literally billions coming your way and you always have. I’m not sure you even know how much this is worth to me.”
“It’s worth a lot. I get that. And yes, it was easy for me. So why not just let me do it?”
She said nothing, just stroked her fingers across the surface of the desk. I walked over to her. Stood right next to her.
