Page 75 of Heist

Patrick watched Austin’s hackles raise. She was submissive to him, but she didn’t like taking orders outside of the bedroom.

Dakota, ever observant, cleared her throat. “Lance, honey, why don’t you pull your head out of the damn computer for two minutes and explain to Austin what it is you want to do with her devices before she just hands them over. She’s already been compromised on some level, she might have trust issues.”

Patrick mouthed, “Thank you,” in her direction and she gave him a thumbs up.

Lance rolled his eyes at Dakota and shoved his laptop aside. “I could just hack into them, but since I’m a mostly ethical hacker, I won’t do that. If I can run scans on your devices, I can see if your information leaked somewhere it shouldn’t have.”

Austin stood. “I get it. I’m just not quite ready to have you ordering me around, Master Lance,” she said, attitude dripping from her tone.

Lance glanced at Patrick, expecting him to scold her, but he shook his head. Austin was struggling, they didn’t need to push her, and she’d remembered his title so that was something.

Lance chuckled. “Very well, miss Austin. You have a point. May I please borrow your phone and your tablet?”

Austin gave him a sweet smile. “Of course you can. I’ll just run get them.”

Dakota smirked as Austin walked out. “I like her.”

“Of course you do,” Patrick said. “I’m rather fond of her too, but we’re asking her to do something difficult given the circumstances, so I’m going to ask you dickheads not to be too hard on her. Someone pass that along to Russell too.”

Dakota looked around. “What are you asking her to do? I feel like I missed something.”

“Sorry. We hadn’t gotten that far yet. On paper, Austin is going to be Lance’s trainee. In private, she still belongs to me, but until we know where the leak came from, we’re not taking risks by connecting the two of us. It will cause too many problems with the media and it might make her asshole boss fire her.”

Everyone was solemn then. Samuel spoke up. “What if we gave her a bracelet like the one Dakota wears when she’s playing house sub?”

Patrick hadn’t thought of that. “It would put her in a weird situation. Lance is the only one she’s comfortable with besides me, but it’s not a bad idea. We’ll give her a choice.”

Holly had remained quiet the entire meeting. “How do you feel about this Patrick?”

He smiled. Of course his sister would be concerned about him. “I’m not a fan. I’ve grown attached to her and I like playing with her in the dungeon. But I’m not going to risk her career or her safety. I’m facing potential prison time. I don’t need that stress hanging over me as well.”

“So are your legal troubles as serious as all that?” Dakota asked.

Patrick nodded. “It would seem that way. I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet and we have a few months until the trial so I’m trying not to focus on it.”

“I have another idea,” Holly said. “Hunter, you might have some opinions on this one.”

The man leaned forward to listen, as did Patrick.

“Provided Austin is up for it, I think y’all should quit worrying about whether or not people think you’re a couple. In fact, I think you should go in the opposite direction and make sure they know you’re a couple. Tell the reporter who asked about her membership here that she doesn’t comment on her personal life and ignore them. Just go about your life and date each other publicly. Take her to a red-carpet event, or some other highly publicized function.”

Patrick frowned. “Why?”

“Because, the press loves a good love story.”

“Woah, slow down. We’ve barely been together for two weeks.”

Holly rolled her eyes. “I’m not saying you have to get engaged, I’m just saying kiss her in public or something.”

“I’m all for it,” Austin said as she came back with her phone and tablet, “But my boss has a clause that says I can’t date my clients. I would get fired and wouldn’t be able to take my client list with me.”

Patrick hated that he was even considering this, but he smiled up at her and said, “so quit and start your own firm. We can have the paperwork filed on Monday.”

She rolled her eyes, but Patrick let it go.

She handed the tablet and phone to Lance and sat next to Patrick. She looked exhausted. She would be taking a nap later.

Hunter steepled his fingers, his elbows on the table. “Holly makes a good point. Obviously, if you’re not comfortable doing it, you shouldn’t. But I think it would have fewer negative ramifications than you think. The public does love a good romance, so I say give it to them.”

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