Tease Me (Private Listing #4)

My blood turns to ice. I release her. “So you admit to compromising our business and that you were the one who talked to Robert.”

She seems a little confused as I draw away, but she nods. “Robert was a mistake. He couldn’t follow through, but he definitely seemed like the kind to kidnap the girl. I did it all for you and me.” She sets her hand on my thigh and looks at me like I’m the prize. “I wanted to make sure you knew I cared about you. That I wanted you to be number one. You don’t deserve to be Seth’s lackey. You should be the boss and I’ll stand beside you. We can do it together.”

“You’ll hear from our lawyers soon. Potentially the police.” I stand and nod to the bartender to close my tab.

“The police? What?” Her blue eyes blink up at me.

“That’s what happens when you break the law, Andrea. And I want to thank you for proving that Madison is the only woman for me.”

She laughs. “This is a one-time deal, Blake. You can take me now or join your friends as your business crumbles around you.”

I shake my head and walk out of the bar, pulling up my text messages. I need to check on Madison. There are no new text messages.

Me:

Where are you?

Madison:

. . .

I get in the car and Tim heads in the direction of the office. All the while those three dots appear and disappear and then stop. My pulse races. My hands are clammy. When I text the others, I don’t get any responses. I pull up the app I installed on Madison’s phone to track her location.

I’ve never needed to use it, but it’s standard on our corporate phones in case someone loses it. It’s at her old apartment. I open up the group chat with Seth, Coop, and Noah.

Me:

Does anyone have their eyes on Madison?

Turning to Tim, I say, “Change of plans.”

I give him the address for Madison’s apartment, and he turns the car around. There’s no way I’m letting anyone else get their hands on the love of my life.

Noah

The meeting drags on. I tap my pen against the conference table and think about Madison. Every night with her is amazing. Last night was no exception.

This meeting should have been over twenty minutes ago.

Adam keeps talking about the differences between last year’s numbers and this year’s. I should take notes. Instead, I’ve been worried about what happened yesterday. The stalker almost had her. His bruises formed on her skin this morning.

More fucking bruises.

If he can get to her here at work, he can get to her anywhere. Though I’m all for making it as hard as possible for him. The problem is, we still have too many suspects. I know the guys are focused on the stalker being a man, but there’s still a slim chance it could be a woman. Or multiple people.

A dangerous obsession with Madison could drive anyone mad. But she’s my obsession, ours. I keep going over conversations in my mind, trying to figure out who the stalker could be.

“Mr. Burns?”

I wince at the name, but Phoebe is new. “Just call me Noah. What can I help you with?”

Phoebe blushes and glances over at Adam. “Um, we don’t have anything more to report.”

I rise and close my laptop. “Good. Meeting adjourned.”

Before the others even gather their materials, I’m out the door and opening my phone.

Blake: