Page 12 of Badass Alien Boss

She hesitated then admitted, “They’re mine. I can explain—”

“No explanation can justify bugging my apartment and violating my privacy.”

“I have to be sure you’re safe when I can’t see you!”

“Let’s be clear. My brother hired you, but you work for me. You report to me, you answer to me, you follow my rules.Imay not be able to fire you, but I canhaveyou sacked. One call to GAL Friday telling them how you bugged my apartment withoutmy consent—that’s illegal on Luturna, by the way—and they’ll yank you back to Earth. Is that understood?”

“Does that mean you’re willing to work with me?”

Chapter Seven

“For the time being, provided you agree to my terms,” Ruyn said.

“I agree.” What choice did she have? Besides, if he worked with her instead of against her, it would make her job easier. She eyed the spycams, wondering how he’d found them. She’d thought she’d hidden them well, planting them in inconspicuous places before he learned she’d been hired. “How did you find them?”

“Despite having gotten myself attacked—I am security conscious. I do regular sweeps of my apartment. Imagine my surprise when it was bug free a few days ago, but this morning, it was infested. And, by coincidence, my very own bodyguard moved in next door.” His expression hardened. “Did you spy on me all last night?”

“No! After verifying no one had been lying in wait, I switched off the monitor.”I’d better tell him the rest. If I don’t, and he finds out on his own, he’ll call GAL Friday.“In the interest of full disclosure and a gesture of good faith, you should know I rigged your door. I get an alert when anyone enters or leaves the unit.”

“I discovered that, too, but left it intact. As I said, Iamsecurity conscious. I assume the system keeps a record of entries and exits.”

“Yes.”

“It’s not a bad idea to monitor it, ensure no one is entering when I’m away.”

Her gaze shifted to the spy cams. “If someone broke in, and we got them on camera, we’d know their identities—or at least have a better chance of figuring it out,” she suggested.

“Right,” he said in a tone laden with sarcasm. “Including the identities of my female guests—in various stages of undress. You bugged my bedroom.”

The heat rushing to her cheeks signaled she’d turned blotchy. She hadn’t considered…guests. She recalled how his bare muscular chest had gleamed with perspiration, the power behind every punch, the almost-sexual intensity on his chiseled face, and the erection she’d felt against the small of her back when he’d held her in the headlock. Of course he’d have an active sex life. “I didn’t think about that.”

“I’m injured, not impotent.” There was no mistaking the bitterness.

“I’m sure you are functional in every aspect,” she said primly like an old maiden aunt, more embarrassed than she’d ever been in her life. “My intent was to ensure no one killed you in your sleep. I handled this wrong, but it’s not entirely my fault.”

“Whose fault is it?”

“The job requirements changed. When Korsan hired me, he said you would never go for a bodyguard, so I had to try to protect you without you knowing I was protecting you.” She was betraying a client’s confidence, but she’d been presented with an unfair, unworkable assignment. “Now that you know, I can be open.”

“You’d better be.”

“I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot. Can we start fresh? I promise to keep you informed about everything I do.”

“I want to know everything you dobeforeyou do it.”

“Agreed. But I won’t be window dressing. If you intend to veto and stymie everything I suggest, there’s no sense in me being here. I’ll quit right now. Believe it or not, I do know what I’m doing. You need to listen to me.”

He had his conditions; she had hers. But, would he accept them? With everything out in the open, and having taken a stand, she had nowhere to go from here, except, literally, home.

He rocked in his chair, saying nothing. Deliberating, she realized. He was still unsold on the prospect of her staying. In hindsight, she’d overstepped a little by bugging his apartment.

Please don’t send me packing.Working on Luturna wasn’t a punch-in, punch-out workaday gig. This case challenged her. Having caught the whiff of conspiracy, she itched to get to the bottom of this. Ruyn was a brusque, tough badass who needed a bodyguard like a vegan needed a rib eye steak. But hecoulduse an investigator to figure out who had attacked him and why.

“I will listen to your counsel and give it due consideration, but I will make the final decisions,” he announced.

That was as good as she was going to get. “All right.”

“I guess we have a deal.” He surprised her by extending his hand across the desk.