Page 29 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

“Fuck off. That man gave me nothing.” She snapped.

“This place is not nothing.”

She shook her head like he had no idea. “What do you know about him? About dear old Alfred?” She asked calmly then.

He shrugged. “I know he’s a billionaire, he’s good with numbers, obviously.”

“He’s also a massive prick. He’s on his fourth wife now I think…” She stated.

“Oh so that’s it, you’ve got daddy issues because he ditched your mum for a younger model?” He smirked.

“He didn’t ditch my mother. He wasn’t even with her.” She replied.

“So it was a fling then?”

“That’s not what the courts said.” She said folding her arms subconsciously.

“What?” He narrowed his eyes.

“Look it up if you want, you’ll have the clearance to see the file, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the read.” She muttered before taking a sip of coffee.

He looked her up and down then as though assessing her and she looked right back at him.

“So Kelsey Lee is the sister you were talking about?” He asked and she nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Wow.” He said almost deadpan.

“If you hang around long enough I’m sure she’ll turn up. You can try all that obvious charm on her and see how she likes it.”

“She’s not my type, too blonde for my liking, besides I’ve seen the video.” He said.

“Who hasn’t?” Maddie quipped. She doubted anyone had missed it, it had done the rounds for a month despite the embargo.

“But we’re not here to discuss my dad, or my slutty little sister. So start talking Cole before I get bored and kick you out.” She said.

He smirked looking her up and down. She was certainly full of surprises and he made a mental note to keep digging on her despite what Brandon thought. It wasn’t that he was suspicious now, they had proof she wasn’t involved but still, he wanted to know everything about her, every last skeleton.

“Brandon came to see you today.” Cole said.

“We both know the answer to that.”

“It wasn’t a question.” He stated.

She rolled her eyes.

“He said you refused him.”

“So you’re here to what, make me change my mind?” She half scoffed.

“I don’t need to make you Maddie because you’re going to whether you like it or not.” He replied.

“You can’t tell me what to do.” She half growled.

“This case isn’t a joke. It’s not just your teammate who’s been killed, we’ve lost six agents since we’ve started working it.” He snapped back at her.

“That sounds unfortunate but it doesn’t change it.” She stated.

“Do you not get it or are you too bloody minded too? They’ve singled you out. This is the first move they’ve made in almost two years, the first tangible move.”

“And do you not get it that I don’t like being forced into things. That I’m not just going to let you all make that decision from me.”

“So it’s a control thing then?” He asked.

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