Page 126 of Pressure

Now they sat on the sofa again, still naked and Lance sighed and stroked her hair. The short length didn’t make her as self-conscious as it first had.

“So, what about Samuel? I know you said I didn’t get to ask what he does for a living, but what made him leave that way?”

“I honestly can’t tell you. Russell knows him better than most of us and brought me in to provide him a backup safety net but that’s really all I’m allowed to say. Publicity is not his friend and could get him killed. He almost didn’t even become part of Solitaire, but he needs this lifestyle as much as the rest of us. I’m angry that it’s come to this and he feels like he has to leave but I’ll do my best to keep tabs on him and help him stay safe.”

She could tell it was making him sad, so she leaned in and kissed him again.

“Let’s go upstairs and you can continue ‘punishing’ me,” she said lifting her hands and making air quotes with her fingers.

He narrowed his gaze. “I get the feeling you’re not taking me very seriously young lady. I think a trip upstairs is exactly what we need.”

He gave her ass a playful smack as they stood and gathered their clothes to make the trip upstairs to his room.

Marissa finally felt at home again and she couldn’t wait to start her new life with Lance. There were still some things to fix, but they would do it together.

♦♦♦♦

Lance held Marissa’s hand beneath the table as they briefed the board on Solitaire’s newest security measures a week later. They were taking the weekend off from parties so they could purge Art Glenstring aka Grant Sterling from the roster and launch an investigation into how the hell he’d gotten through the membership vetting process. Hopefully, parties would resume the following weekend. Because he hadn’t told them about Samuel yet, he insisted on a board meeting despite the fact that the club was closed. Losing a member of the board wasn’t something he wanted to share via phone call.

David Eastman had already been briefed and was calling in to the meeting via video conference. Lance was hoping to have him, or his wife Emily replace Samuel on the board but that would be a discussion for later.

The past week with Marissa had been invigorating and exhausting at the same time. They were working together at Moss Tech every day. At night, they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other. He’d been reluctant, but they agreed to see a couple’s therapist twice a month. Their relationship was a work in progress, but it always would be, and they were both committed to making each day better than the last. Now, she was here supporting him as he gave his friends the not so great news that Samuel was leaving them.

He glanced at his computer screen one last time before he changed the subject and let everyone know. He’d reached out to Samuel, hoping he would call in and say goodbye at the meeting. So far, he wasn’t responding.

Marissa gave his hand a gentle squeeze, encouraging him to go on.

Clearing his throat, he said, “I’m afraid I have some bad news.”

“If you think you’re leaving us just because you have Marissa back you better think again,” Austin blurted.

Patrick squeezed her shoulder. “Let him finish baby girl.”

“Sorry,” she muttered.

Lance gave her a kind smile. “I’m not leaving. Neither of us are.” He blew out a breath. “But Samuel is. Last week when we caught Forcythe, he asked me to tell you all that he was tendering his resignation. I understand that not everyone here knows exactly what he does, but David trusted him just like the rest of us. We’re going to respect his wishes and find a replacement for him on the board.”

Turning his attention to the screen on the wall, he watched David Eastman’s face. Their founder was stoic.

“Lance is right, we have to respect Samuel’s need for space and privacy right now. It could literally have life or death ramifications.”

Everyone nodded their understanding. No one, not even Dakota, could think of anything to say.

“I wonder if you or Emily would want to sit on the board again now that you’re both on steady ground.”

David flashed his kind smile. “I appreciate that, but I think we both prefer to continue our role as silent partners. I was thinking you could ask Jax Fischer to take his place.”

“Why Jax? You know that man ruffles my feathers,” Dakota complained.

Everyone chuckled. “He’s played a big role in our lives,” Elijah said. “It’s not a bad idea.”

Knowing she was defeated, Dakota shrugged. “Fine. Just gives me a good excuse to give him hell more often.”

Lance looked across the table at Russell. He was the only one not laughing. The news about Samuel would be hitting him hard. Maybe he and Marissa could take him to dinner and talk after the meeting.

The group made small talk for a little while before Elijah adjourned the meeting and agreed to call Jax Fischer.

As the group was standing to leave, a video call came in on his phone.

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