Page 31 of The Billionaire's Masquerade Ball

The desk inside Looking Glass’ lobby was empty, the chair pushed up against the desk as though no one had come in yet. “Hello?” Wyatt called.

There was some shuffling from the hallway off the lobby. Wyatt stepped back reflexively and Xander clenched his teeth as the two women Gail had introduced him to at the ball emerged. They were wearing suits, but their button-down shirts had at least three buttons undone at the top and their skirts were obscenely short. Wyatt moved out of the way as they were clearly headed straight for Xander.

“What a surprise,” one of them said. Xander was normally great with names, but couldn’t remember either of theirs.

“A good one,” the other said.

Xander wanted to run from their predatory gazes but felt like standing firm was the best defense. He had the sense that if they spotted weakness, they would go for blood.

“I’m here to see Gail. Is she in?” Xander asked.

One of the girls glanced at the empty desk and frowned. “She is. Normally our secretary would handle this, but she hasn’t shown up yet today.” Her expression brightened as it moved back to Xander. “But that’s better because it means we get to help you! Follow us.”

The two girls led the way down the hallway, shooting Xander teasing glances over their shoulders as they walked ahead of him, hips swaying.

“Yuck.” Wyatt said under his breath.

“Got that right,” Xander whispered back.

Each step was a sashay, designed to bring Xander’s eyes to their bodies. He carefully and intentionally avoided looking at them. Thankfully Gail’s office wasn’t far. He hadn’t realized what a small company Looking Glass really was. Which made it all the more likely that Cynder worked for one of the vendors they had hired. Disappointment flooded through him.

At Gail’s closed office door, the two women exchanged glances before knocking. “Yes?” Gail called out from inside.

“Xander Callahan is here,” one of the women said.

“Well, let him in!”

They opened the door but did not enter, instead flanking either side. Xander gave Wyatt a pointed look and the younger man walked in first. Xander could see visibly how he swallowed back whatever nerves he felt, jerking his shoulders back and standing taller as he entered. Xander followed with an exaggerated leisure. Xander firmly closed the door behind him and swung around to Gail.

She stood and smiled from behind her desk, but looked guarded. She was probably smart enough to know that if he was here, it wasn’t for a good reason. Gesturing to the two chairs, she said, “Welcome, Xander. And …”

“You remember my associate, Wyatt,” Xander said.

“Of course. How lovely to see you both.”

Gail lowered herself into her chair, a hand fluttering up to her hair. It was a nervous gesture and as soon as she realized she had done it, she clasped her hands in her lap, regaining utter control. Xander hadn’t given Gail enough credit in their previous meetings. He had missed the level of control and the thinly-covered desire for … what, exactly? Power, perhaps? He hadn’t recognized the coiled tension that he saw so clearly now.

Wyatt watched Xander, waiting to see if he would sit. The power play would be to stand, but Xander wasn’t making a play. He had all the power. He sat and Wyatt, looking slightly relieved, sat next to him.

“To what do I owe this unexpected visit?” Gail asked. “We were preparing a follow-up document for you I was planning to send over later today. Unfortunately, it’s not quite completed.” Again a hand drifted up to her hair, but Gail caught it more quickly this time, snapping her hand back down to her lap.

Xander waved a hand dismissively. “I’m not here about that, actually. But I’ll welcome your report. There were several … shall I say, surprising things Saturday. One of which I wanted to speak with you about personally.”

He noticed Gail clenched her hands more tightly, placing them on the desk and leaning forward. Trying to control her tics. She feigned a concerned expression. It was a good attempt really, except for the coldness in her eyes.

“Please go on,” she said.

Xander stood then but shot Wyatt a glance that kept him pinned in his seat. Xander began pacing behind the chairs, partially to make Gail uncomfortable, but also in part because he was still feeling a surge of emotion that he needed to work out. Maybe later he would run on the treadmill in his private gym. His muscles were screaming for some kind of release.

“I witnessed something quite disturbing Saturday with one of your employees,” Xander began. Without glancing directly at Gail, he could see her shoulders stiffen. “While I was visiting the kitchen, just to ensure things were running smoothly, I saw Patrick sexually harassing one of the other staff. It took me forcibly removing him from the room to put a stop to it. I also saw him making inappropriate advances toward one of the guests earlier in the evening. He reeked of alcohol and may have been under the influence.”

Xander paused, turning to face Gail, gripping the back of his chair. Her cheeks were flushed and he could see her jaw clenching.

“Patrick, you say? Are you certain?”

Xander gave a tight, humorless smile. “You introduced us at the beginning of the evening. And this young woman in the kitchen spoke to him by name when she asked him to take his hands off her.”

Gail’s mouth tightened, but then she took a breath and loosened up with her next breath. “Do you happen to know which employee? Just so I can make sure I take care of the situation fully.”

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