After I Fall (Immortal Billionaires #1) - Melissa Sercia Page 0,32

at Dolce Sale. It’s been good. The owner is a bit unusual. He’s got us working some party at his upstate house tomorrow night. But he’s giving me an opportunity to train as a cook in the kitchen so I can’t complain. And I love your apartment, Piper. I feel really comfortable here.”

There was a moment of silence and I thought the call had dropped. “Piper?”

“Uh, yeah, I’m still here… So you’re working for Ozi?”

My stomach dropped. There was an uncertainty in her voice that wasn’t there before. “Do you know him?” I asked.

“Not personally, but I know what he does. Raven…just be careful around him. He’s a powerful man who’s used to getting what he wants. Don’t let him take advantage of you.”

Did he have a reputation for sleeping with his staff? Why would she warn me about him? “What do you know about him, Piper?”

Another long pause. “I gotta go, Raven. Just please keep your guard up around him. That’s all I can say for now.”

She hung up before I could respond. I almost got the impression that someone was next to her. Someone she didn’t want listening to our conversation. Between the burner phones, the fancy apartment, and now the warning about Ozi, I was beginning to wonder just what kind of world Piper lived in.

As I tucked myself into bed, I replayed our conversation over again in my head. There was something dangerous about Ozi, but that could just be the billionaire vibe he gave off. Either way, I couldn’t stop thinking about him and our kiss. But the way he showed up at my apartment without asking, the way he pinned me against the wall with that feral look in his eyes, it made me shiver with both fear and excitement. No man had ever pushed my buttons like that before. As I drifted off to sleep, his parting words echoed through the stillness of the room…

I will break you.

We brought out the good linens, the expensive china, and the real crystal. The back yard was tented and lined with paper lanterns and white twinkle lights. This party had to be spectacular. All of my associates would be attending as well as potential investors.

Raven would be here too… I felt this need to impress her. To show her what my money could provide. Though, I had never met a woman less impressed by wealth than her. It was refreshing, but that still didn’t stop me from wanting to try. However, I made myself scarce when Enzo showed up with the vans. Something about the thought of her was dangerous. Camille was back in town, lurking, and Raven was an innocent woman with no idea what kind of monster I really was.

“Mr. Ozi, Mr. Cassius is waiting for you in the study,” my doorman stated.

Ah Cassius. Nothing like an introverted werewolf to dampen my mood with talk of numbers and eternal doom.

I snatched a bottle of whiskey from the cellar first and then made my way to the study. “Please tell me you’ve fixed our little hacker problem,” I said as I entered.

Cassius sat on the edge of my desk, drink already in hand. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I have my best people working on it and we cannot circumvent this guy.” His long sandy blond hair was tied up into a top knot on his head.

I loosened my tie and sank into one of the leather chairs. “For fuck’s sake, Cassius, we need to figure this out, or close that account.”

“We can’t close it. There are too many moving parts. Too many threads. For now, all I can do is counter block and redirect.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about but that sounds like it will have to do for now.” I hated talking about these things. Cassius was the brains behind our operation, Lux was the muscle, and I was the pretty face with the charming accent that our investors loved to party with. We balanced each other well. There was one other member once. But we don’t talk about him anymore. He couldn’t handle the life and went rogue. That was a long time ago.

“So is that pretty girl from the Met going to be here tonight?” Cassius smirked.

“You mean my employee? Yes, she’s working the party tonight.” I did my best to downplay it.

“I know you too well, brother. She means more to you than that. I think it’s about time that a woman got under your skin for