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it’s the agency behind it, which wouldn’t surprise me. My father had me shadow people after they took leave. We needed to be sure they weren’t doing, well, exactly what I’m doing.
    I can’t make any mistakes this time.
    “Mark,” my tone is serious. “We need to talk. In here.” We enter my very seemingly girly office.
    “Never pegged this one.”
    “You make an awful lot of assumptions, buddy.”
    I know I’m not the typical girl. I don’t give off the makeup and hair vibe, but I’m the fox in sheep’s clothing. I should buy stock in Sephora with as much as I spend. I love to feel like a woman, especially because I live in a man’s world. It’s my one indulgence. Well, that and shoes. And purses. Okay, I’ll just say I have a serious shopping addiction. Just because I fight like a man doesn’t mean I can’t feel like a lady.
    He steps close, and I defend myself against his presence. The fact that he affects me at all doesn’t bode well. I’m not sure why this man out of any can make me slip even a little. Could be because I haven’t gotten laid in far too long. Sure, I’ll go with that. I need sex, and then I’ll be over this little . . . whatever it is.
    “I think you’ll be happy to know I’ve been wrong more often than right. You’re nothing like I expected. I imagined your office would be colder, sterile, like the illusion you give off.” His eyes don’t move from mine. “Instead, it’s warm, beautiful, and comforting, which is what I think you are deep down. You have a tough exterior, but inside, I think there’s more.”
    “Don’t pretend like you know me.”
    “I know more than you’d like,” he jeers.
    “You think that.”
    “Princess, there’s a lot a man can tell about a woman when her tongue is in his mouth. I know you wanted me. I know your breathing was shallow, your heart was racing.” He steps closer. “You loved fisting my hair, pulling me into your body. You kissed me like I gave you life.” He shifts even closer. “I could do it right now, and you’d let me.”
    I move toward him this time. I see in his eyes that he’d be all too happy for another round. I’m not playing this game, though. I’m here for one thing—to avenge my father’s death. To destroy the people who’ve made my life miserable. This is an assignment I can’t lose, and Mark won’t be the variable to thwart my plans.
    “I’ll tell you what I want.” I smile and then take my lip between my teeth. Seduction is a game I’m very good at. “I want you . . .” I pause, closing the distance. “To let me show you . . .” My body moves sensually as I push nearer. My hand presses against his chest as I move him back.
    His eyes darken. “Show me what?”
    Putty in my hands.
    “Trust me?”
    He smiles and wraps his fingers around my arms like a vice. “Fuck no, I don’t. I see through you, Charlie. You may be good at playing this game, but you don’t know who your opponent is.” Mark pulls me against his body. “You underestimate me, but I sure as hell don’t think you see me as a threat.” His lips close in.
    What is going on? This isn’t what should be happening. Again.
    “Which is your biggest . . .” He glides closer. “Fucking . . .” His lips ghost across mine. “Mistake.”
    He can read me. He sees through it, but I’m the world’s best actress. It’s time to play as if I expected this. “Ahh!” I step back, smirking. “And you just played right into my trap. If we’re going to work together, you’ll need to be better at figuring out the end game.”
    He releases me and bursts out laughing. He clutches his stomach as it rolls through him. “Okay, Charlie. Whatever you say.”
    This new emotion runs through me. I’m not sure if it’s embarrassment or fear, since I’m not acquainted with either. He terrifies me, though. The fact he can sense when I’m bluffing seeds doubt. What if Mark is somehow involved in all this?
    “Maybe we should talk another