Page 120 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

He glanced across feeling her eyes on him and he practically did a double take as he looked her up and down. She smirked and then looked away. He was busy, she could see that and she didn’t want to distract him, besides she wasn’t his plus one here, and more than that this was a work event, he needed to be Cole Black CEO, not Cole Black the man that delighted in taking her control away and making her scream at every opportunity.

“You look incredible.” He half whispered in her ear and she jumped turning to face him.

“How did you know it was me? I’m wearing a mask.” She stated.

“So am I but you still recognised me.” He said and she could see the glint in his eye.

“It would be hard to confuse you with any other man.” She said and he raised an eyebrow at her words.

“What are you doing here, don’t you have more important people to be talking to?” She said quickly, ignoring the heat rushing between her thighs already.

“Why would I’d choose to stay talking to a bunch of bureaucrats when you look like that?” He replied and she sighed.

“I don’t want to distract you. This is work.” She stated.

“Then why did you wear that dress?” He said staring down at her cleavage like he hadn’t seen her breasts before, like he hadn’t realised she had breasts.

“You think I put this dress on solely for you?” She asked smirking.

“Didn’t you?”

“No Cole Black, it might surprise you but not everything in this world revolves around you.” She stated.

“Now I know you’re lying.” He said.

She laughed.

“In all seriousness I need to tell you something and I need you to promise not to react.” He said pulling her more aside.

“What’s happened?” She asked suddenly concerned.

“Nothing but just listen, Black Industries is a publicly listed company…”

“I know that.” She replied cutting across him.

He gave her a look to shut up and she bit her lip. “We have investors from all sorts of financial institutions.”

“Why do I not like the sound of this…” She said.

“One of them is Midas Capital.” He stated watching her face for a reaction.

“As in…”

“Yes. We send invites to all our major shareholders and normally Midas send a subordinate but this time they didn’t.” He explained.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” She asked.

“He’s here Maddie. Your dad is here.” Cole said.

She shook her head suddenly furious. How dare he? Had he done it on purpose? She thought but how could he have, he didn’t know anything about her, didn’t even know what she did as a job or who she worked for. She’d deliberately never told Kelsey that information not just to keep him in the dark but to protect herself from shit like this.

“I don’t want you to do anything.” He said.

“You mean like punch the man?” She snapped and he gave her a hard look.

“Relax Cole. I know how to behave and I’m not going to ruin your event because he’s an arsehole.” She said sounding way calmer than she felt.

He nodded before sizing her up again. “You need a drink.” He said.

“I need more than a drink.” She muttered and he laughed.

“That will have to wait till later.” He stated.

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