Everything He Demands Read Online Free Page A

for me.
    Grabbing my purse since it had a pen in it and I didn't want to show up empty - handed, I headed down the hall. My heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Rock again, and I had to make an effort to slow my breathing.
    I knocked on the door.
    “ Come in. You don't have to knock on my bedroom door. Only do that when other people are around. ” Rock's smooth voice made my knees weak as I walked in.
    “ All right. ”
    “ Good. Come on over here and take a look at what's going on with Regal Enterprises. ” Rock's features were aligned in a deep scowl.
    I noticed a laptop open to a spreadsheet in the corner.
    “ That's yours to use from now on. You can take it to your room when we're done. ”
    I tore my gaze from Rock. Evening stubble graced his chin, and I wondered what it would feel like against my clit. His tanned skin glowed against a white polo shirt, and he filled out a pair of khakis to perfection.
    I gulped and sat down, gluing my stare to the information in front of me. It took me a few minutes to get my bearings with the myriad sheets of profits, losses and more, but I did.
    “ My God, ” I whispered, my stomach dropping.
    “ Tell me what you see. ” Rock stood behind me, his hands on the back of the chair, but even his sexy presence couldn't distract me from what I'd found.
    “ There's money missing — a lot. The balance sheet isn't adding up. ”
    “ Right on. ” He sighed. “ The question is...who's stealing from me? That's what I intend to find out on this little vacation. I needed to get away from the vipers who surround me so I could think. ”
    I turned halfway in the chair, glancing at him.
    Lines riddled his face. He was so tense, I wondered if he'd spring at any minute and start pummeling the way. “ I'm sorry. ”
    “ Don't be. The main thing is fixing it. I have investors who are going to find out about these numbers in two weeks. Time is running out, and I won't have my business destroyed by a thief. ” Rock walked to the window, gazing out upon the city lights.
    “ I'll help you in any way I can. ”
    “ Good. Figure out when the money started looking off. I'm the only one who's looked at these numbers. These are side deals, and I handle many of them myself. As you can imagine, this makes me look pretty bad. ” Rock slumped, his voice growing softer.
    “ Yes, I can see that. ” I swallowed hard. Now I understand my role in all of this. Bookkeeper was only a small part of it. Distraction was the name of the game.
    “ So, tomorrow you will help me immensely. We're getting engaged in a very public way and having a party to follow. That should get some people worried. There's a snake in the grass, and my having a wife won't make him happy. ” Rock paced, his tone growing hard.
    “ Do you know who's done this? ” I got up, not sure what to do.
    “ I have an idea, and if I'm right, he's expecting to siphon off my fortune as he can. My having a wife who is also keeping a sharp eye on the books won't be his idea of fun. I've handled it in the past, but he knows I'm busy now. Too busy. ” Rock ran a hand through his hair and sat on the couch.
    “ I see. ” But I didn't entirely.
    “ Well, why not fire him or put him on leave and sort it out later? ” I crossed the room slowly, but I could see from his face that Rock was in another world.
    “ Not going to happen. ”
    I perched on the edge of a wingback chair.
    “ Oh. I guess I don't understand. ”
    Rock laughed, a mirthless, cold sound. “ Few would. He saved my life when I was a child. I owe everything I am to him in many ways. ”
    “ But you can't let him steal from you. ” My voice rose in indignation.
    “ What do you know about my life...about what I will or won't or can or can't do, Ms. Pate? ” Rock's tone was like ice.
    “ Nothing. I'm sorry. ” I moved my hands in a fluttering motion.
    “ Exactly. Don't question me. I'll take care of this. You're here to do a job...to keep an eye on the books and to act