Angel

Chapter 18

Corey

This day had been utter shit from the moment Trish entered the building. Even before I knew the fucking game she'd pulled with Mattie, she was trying to wheedle her way out of being fired. She cried, blamed, projected, and basically threw a hissy fit when I demanded she sign the documents. When Kevin and Raj brought me the lists with her involvement, I was shocked. She had meddled in cases that had nothing to do with the contracts department. I think I might need an outside firm to come in and do an audit now. Maybe Victor and Kota could do it, at least that's someone I'd trust.

When I finally managed to get the tramp out the door, then I found out the stunt she pulled with my little one. Raven and I had also fired Amanda for her part in the ordeal. Honestly, if she's that close to Trish, I don't want her anywhere near my company. The remainder of the day had been angry glares from Brandon, the silent treatment from Raven, and a never-ending series of phone calls from clients.

My phone buzzed. Brandon: I'm heading home. Marc says Mattie is staying with us tonight to talk. MawMaw is watching Violet.

Corey: Raven and I will be leaving soon.

Raven: I'm done already. We need to run the deposits.

Corey: Okay, I'll meet you at security.

Well, hopefully, I'll get a chance to explain and apologize. When I rounded the corner and saw Raven's expression, I think I'm going to be doing a lot of apologizing tonight. We grabbed the bags and the guard walked us to the car. Once we'd dropped off the deposits and I turned onto the interstate, he finally spoke.

"What the fuck were you thinking, Corey?" he growled. Wow...he used my real name. Raven's really fucking pissed when he uses my real name.

"Apparently, I wasn't," I muttered.

He hit the dash so hard that I'm surprised the airbag didn't pop out. "This isn't funny, Corey. She could have left us. What if she'd left Marc? What if you had fucked this up and cost him a relationship with his own daughter - did you even fucking think about that!"

"Raven, I didn't think they would cross paths. I thought she was upstairs, that's why I had Amanda put us in the lobby room. I didn't want her crossing the threshold of the business offices." I gripped the wheel, gritting my teeth to keep from crying. "I didn't think... I didn't think."

"Damn right you didn't," he huffed. We drove in silence the remainder of the way home.

Brandon

I pulled into the garage, letting out a shaky breath before stepping into the house. When I saw her on the couch, laughing with Marc and Axel, I felt a pang of jealousy. Her eyes met mine and she gave me a soft smile, then crooked her finger at me.

I knelt down in front of her as the guys moved over. "Hey beautiful," I whispered.

She put her fingers on my lips and quietly asked, "Did you ask her to come to the firm? No words, just nod." I shook my head no. "Did you speak with her?" Again, I shook my head no. Fuck, I never even knew that bitch had entered the building. "Is she working for the firm again?" I shook my head no vigorously this time, making her giggle. She smiled, "I believe you," then took her fingers away.

I didn't even hesitate as I crashed my mouth into hers. How the hell did we get so lucky to find her? She smelled like Marc and Axel, and I noticed little bite marks across her skin. She whimpered when my hands went down her back and I pulled away. "What's wrong?" She blushed and gave the guys a side glance. "Hmm, it seems they took very good care of you today, beautiful. May I see?"