The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,11

pity. Ella would have been perfect. Maybe this would have been the first of many partnerships between my company and yours…” He quickened his steps, just a little.

“Wait.”

It was a good thing Antony’s back was to Eric. This way, the other man didn’t see Antony’s smile. After a moment, Antony schooled his features and glanced back at Eric. “Yes?”

“She decides.”

His gut twisted. Fuck. He’d been so close. “Is that standard policy here at Wilde? You let your agents pick and choose their cases?” He tapped his chin. “Is that the best way to do business?”

“You and I both know your situation with Ella isn’t normal. There’s not a standard thing about it.”

True enough. “Agreed.”

“She left your ass when she found out about that side hustle of yours.”

“I wouldn’t call it a side hustle,” he muttered. “More like, you know, me trying to save the world in my spare time.”

Eric cocked a brow. “Really? That’s what you’d call it?”

The guy had no clue how many risks Antony had taken while covertly working for Uncle Sam. He probably thought all Antony did was some hacking. Tech work. But Eric didn’t get how dangerous the Dark Web could be. Or to what extent some enemies would go to destroy the things that others valued most. “One of the reasons why Ella is ideal…” He kept his voice flat with a maximum amount of effort. “It is because she does know about my additional work.” An unfortunate situation that he could no longer deny. Ella didn’t know everything, of course. Only about two people did. But she knew enough that she’d run from him.

And I need her back. Which was why he was in Eric’s office. Lying his ass off about an intruder who didn’t exist.

So sue me. I’m playing dirty. When you wanted something badly enough, you had to be willing to break some rules. For Ella, he was ready to throw away the entire rule book.

“Her call,” Eric insisted doggedly. “If she chooses to stay on her current case, then I will give you other agent options.”

Which Antony would immediately refuse as he moved on to coming up with another plan in what he liked to think of as Operation Second Chance. He needed that second chance with her.

Mostly because he hadn’t realized how insanely much he liked having Ella around, not until she was gone. Then the office had felt too empty. His home had been too cold. And his bed?

It had smelled of her sweet scent. And he’d ached, far too much…for her.

Antony straightened his shoulders. “Let’s do this.” He motioned toward the phone on Eric’s desk. “Can you call her in? I need to get my plans in place.”

“Be forewarned. She’s going to tell your ass no.”

He cocked his head. “Want to bet on it?”

***

Ella hurried by Eric Wilde’s assistant. She paused, quickly rapping on Eric’s door, then she swung the door open. “Okay, boss,” she called out as she entered. “What is the big nine-one-one—” She stopped. Gaped a bit. Eric wasn’t alone.

A ghost from her recent past was with him.

Antony Kyle pulled down the sleeve of his coat. His no doubt, ridiculously expensive coat that didn’t need to be pulled down. He was standing near one of the fancy chairs in Eric’s office. Light glinted a little off the lenses of his glasses, and Antony gave her a wide, welcoming smile.

This is not happening. Ella shook her head. A very definite no. Then she backed up, exited the office, and pulled the door shut.

“Ahem.”

She stared at the closed door. There were designs etched into the wood. Very clever work.

“Ella?” Eric’s assistant crept closer to her. “Is there a problem?”

A huge problem. One that was about six-foot-three, and two hundred pounds. One who had a ridiculously high IQ and a tendency to keep far too many secrets. And of course…a problem I slept with!

She cleared her throat. “Why is Antony Kyle meeting with Eric?”

“Because Antony is his nine o’clock appointment.”

She pulled in a deep breath. Released it. Kept her eyes on the closed door.

“I…think they wanted you to join the meeting,” he prompted.

Yes, she got that. She sucked in another breath. Opened the door.

Antony hadn’t moved. He lifted his brows when he saw her. “Are you going to come inside this time…or will you be slipping out again?”

Her chin notched up as she entered the office. Ella shut the door behind her. She figured that was answer enough. I’m inside. For the moment. Though every instinct screamed that