Page 35 of Boss

Part Two

Chapter 8

The burn and strain in her eyes had her stretching them wide to stay focused. She’d been at it for six long hours, fell asleep for four, and woke up to start again for another three hours. She had access to everything. Before he succumbed to his pain and drifted to a restless sleep he gave her the code to his briefcase. She was able to see contracts and agreements that were pathetic attempts to expand their drillings into the Campo Basin.

Daniel would have a field day. The evidence of collusion with government officials was overwhelming. She’d done it. She’d finally got the leverage to destroy the Marshalls once and for all. And all she could think of was why he carried Clarissa’s picture in his wallet.

Kassidy used her iPhone to take pictures of the contracts. Out of pure boredom she started working on a counter proposal. Something to mitigate the financial risks for such an investment. And once she started she couldn’t stop.

“Angela,” he groaned.

She looked up from the computer screen. Tarek had turned over to his back. She got up and went over to him. The swelling hadn’t gone down. And the bruises were darker, a few with cuts that she needed to have looked at.

“Bathroom. Can you help me?” he asked.

“You need to see a doctor.”

He groaned but didn’t answer. She sighed and moved the covers to help him out of the bed. He held on to her. She got him to the bathroom where he was able to piss on his own. He found his strength and told her he was fine. He asked her to give him a minute. She left him to give him privacy and paced outside of his door. Checking the time on her phone it was now seven in the morning.

There were women who prepared meals for the men here. Older women who could possibly have medical supplies. If she went out and found her way to the kitchen she might be able to get something to help him with the pain.

The toilet flushed and the water began to run. Kassidy glanced to the door and recalled the man taunting her on the outside. She had no weapon. What if she ran into one of those men? Tarek wouldn’t be able to help her.

Kassidy wore her panties and a sleep shirt. She pulled it over her head and tossed it. She went to her suitcase and found a bra and put it on. Tarek came out of the bathroom. He looked at her and paused.

He then glanced to the laptop she worked on with all the contracts spread around.

“Found anything?” he asked.

“Yes. I found plenty. See for yourself.”

He walked stiffly with his hand to his side. He pulled back the chair and sat down. She saw him straining to read. His eyes were puffy and bruised.

Kassidy continued to dress. At first he didn’t notice, or care. When she put on her boots and began to lace them up he spoke. “What are you doing?”

“Going to the cafeteria. I want to get you something to eat and maybe a first aid kit.”

“No.”

She looked up. “I’ll be fine.”

“Did you hear me? We don’t separate. Ever. I’ll be ready to go in an hour or so. We’ll meet with Yegor and...”

“You can barely stand.”

“I fucking said no! I can handle it.”

She frowned.

He glared at her.

“You’re the boss.”

The answer seem to satisfy him. He went back to looking over the new proposal she put together. And after thirty minutes of trying to be patient she gave up. “I’m leaving.”

“Angela!” he yelled said and tried to stand. She headed for the door. There was a knock. They both paused. She grabbed a pair of boxers for him out of the suitcase and handed them to him. He put them on with her help.

There was another knocking.

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