Page 28 of The Date

He gives me a subtle look that I’m pretty sure asks, The Rose? The one you had me investigate?

I shoot him one back that hopefully conveys, Don’t judge me, arsehole. You hired Dalilah when you were fake dating, and not only did you end up marrying her, but she became your baby mama.

“Spencer,” he says, offering his hand to her next. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” she replies, so softly it’s barely audible.

This bashful side of her is unexpected. What happened to the confident, fun-loving, quirky woman who marched up to my table and declared I was her date?

He clears his throat before turning his attention back to me. “What happened to Janet?”

“Resigned,” is my only reply as I pull out Rose’s chair and gesture for her to sit. I’m not here to waste time talking about that nightmare of a woman. I take a seat beside my PA. “So, I’m intrigued by this impromptu meeting. You must’ve found something interesting.”

“How about we order first?” he says, picking up his napkin and draping it over his lap.

His stalling tactic does nothing to ease my concern. If anything, it makes me more curious about what he’s found.

Once the plates are cleared, Rose pulls out her notepad.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Preparing to take minutes of the meeting,” she replies, frowning as though the answer should be obvious.

Spencer arches an eyebrow. “Minutes?”

“Yes.” She looks between us. “You said this was a business meeting.”

I glance at Spencer, who’s fighting a smile. “I’ll let you know if there’s anything I need you to write down, Rose,” I say.

She snaps the notepad shut and leans back in her chair with a sigh. I think she’s realised I didn’t really need her here for this meeting. I just wanted her to come, and judging by the look she’s giving me, she knows exactly what I’m up to.

“I’m still working on decrypting the website, but I found some other interesting facts,” Spencer says. “Let’s start with Morris Edmanson.”

“My old boss,” Rose shrieks.

“Spencer is an IT consultant. My company uses him often. I asked him to look into Whitmore Industries … specifically your old boss.”

“Why?” she asks.

“Because I don’t like him,” I growl.

“You don’t even know him,” she counters.

“I know enough about him to know I don’t like him, Rose.”

Spencer looks between us, clearly unimpressed by our exchange. “Are you two finished?”

I tug on my tie and sit up straighter in my seat. “Sorry, you were saying.”

“Morris Edmanson has a silent partner.”

“Okay,” I say, not really following him.

“His stepfather, who also happens to be Victor Langley. The Victor Langley.”

I feel the blood drain from my face as white noise flashes behind my eyes. For a moment, I can’t hear anything except the accelerated, erratic thump of my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

Victor fucking Langley. A name that still haunts me all these years later. The motherfucker who destroyed my father, took everything from my family, and walked away without so much as a backward glance.