Corporate Ties (Silken Ties Book 1) (6 page)

"I don't see why it's any of your business."

"It is if you slept with me because of 'said' business."

"Ha, you flatter yourself, Mr. Stein. I had no idea who you were, can you say the same?"

Stein looked around making sure no one was watching. "You...you think I knew who
you
were?"

She folded her arms over her chest and cocked her head to one side.

He rolled his eyes. "No, of course I didn't know. I never would have..."

Olivia cut him off. "Well, neither would I, so I think that's something we can both agree on. Good evening."

He watched as she grabbed her dress, raising her train so she wouldn't trip and left him standing there watching her, mouth agape. She had a habit of leaving him unexpectedly. His hands rose to his hips and he shook his head. If she thought for one minute that he needed her to get Matasuki to choose Stein, she was delusional, beautiful, but still...really? His thoughts drifted back to that night. She was amazing, she asked for what she wanted, knew exactly what he needed, damn it. He strode straight to the bar.

"Double bourbon neat, please." He leaned against the bar as it was poured and swigged some, the amber liquid burning the back of his throat for a moment.

"Wow, what's got you double drinking?"

"A woman, what else?" He glanced over to his partner and brother, Eric. "Did you say hello to Matasuki?"

"I did. He brushed me off. Did you have any better luck?"

"Just said hello, he was with Grant at the time."

"Dolby's no problem for us Adam. They haven't gotten a client we've been interested in for two years."

Adam stared straight at Olivia. She glanced over, obviously annoyed and turned away. "Yeah, well things may change this time." Eric followed his line of sight.

"Wow, she’s why you're drinking?" Adam nodded, still scowling. "Maybe you've finally met your match," he said, and slapped Adam on the back.

"She's the one handling Matasuki for Dolby."

Eric's eyes widened. "I'll have what he's having." The bartender chuckled as he poured another bourbon. Eric raised his glass and took a long sip, both still staring at Olivia. "Damn."

"Exactly." Adam used his finger tips to shove his glass toward the bartender and strode away.

Brian watched Olivia, intrigued by everything about her, and after seeing the exchange between the man and her, wondered what was going on between them. She seemed angry and he seemed upset. Was this an ex-boyfriend? He took several more pictures and when Olivia walked toward the kitchen, he waited a few minutes and then followed.

"Did you see Matasuki's ghost arrive? It's creepy the way she lurks around him."

"Her manner is subservient, Olivia, not lurking. Yes, I'm on it."

Olivia frowned. What did he mean by that? "What's the matter? You seem as annoyed as I am."

"Who was the guy that grabbed your arm just now?"

"Adam Stein, a competitor of Dolby, and a jerk."

"So you two aren't..."

"No. I could kick myself.” She paused, deciding. “Okay, you might as well know. I hooked up with him, once, and that's it, done. This is going to sound bad, but I didn't know he was 'that Stein'." She couldn't bear to tell him she hadn't needed to know his name. "I wouldn't put it past him to use it against me now. If not with Matasuki, then my boss."

"Maybe. If he does, he really
is
an ass. You however could take away his power. If it's mentioned, shrug it off. It didn't mean anything. It
didn't
mean anything did it?"

"No it didn't," she agreed. "
But it sure was great sex
," she thought.

Brian was surprised how much the thought of Olivia’s having sex with Stein bothered him, especially since he didn't really even know her, but on his side this, whatever
this
was, it had become more than just business, at least to him.

Olivia took a deep breath. "I can handle this. I'm okay. Is there anything I can do to help, instead of mess things up?"

Brian smiled and shook his head. "I'll let you know."

"Thanks. Oh, I almost forgot. I heard the shadow woman tell Matasuki that 'It was done', whatever that means."

Brian's face pinched in a frown. "Tell me exactly what she said."

"In Japanese, she whispered 'It's done.'"

"You speak Japanese? Does he know that; does anyone else know? I mean, did you study it in college where it may show on a transcript, or use it in another job, show it on a resume?"

Olivia shook her head. "Yes, I speak Japanese and no, he doesn’t know, no one does and this is exactly why. I took Spanish in school; found that I had a knack for languages, so I studied many others on my own."

"Good, so they have no reason to believe even if they were overheard, you actually understood them?"

"Right. I better get back."

Brian watched her walk across the room. Beautiful and brilliant, for her, a two-edged sword. Clearly there was so much more to her than her looks, and he was sure it hadn't been easy to get people to realize it.

Olivia accepted a flute of champagne and began circling the room, counter clockwise like she always did. Tyson smiled at her as she passed him and she simply tipped her head in acknowledgment, her focus on her objective: to make sure she made a lasting impression on Isamu.

His shadow, the mystery woman, the only one of his entourage facing her way, glared at her as she approached. She leaned in and spoke to Isamu. He turned, this time Olivia saw his eyes sweep over her body and she knew the choice of dress was indeed the right one. Actually, the dress fit more like a second skin than a dress, and she was
working it
. The shadow's eyes narrowed as she continued speaking to Isamu and narrowed further when Olivia stopped in front of him.

Pointing to his champagne flute, she asked, "Can I get you more champagne? Something else, perhaps?"

"I can think of many things."

Olivia smiled. "I hope your accommodations are to your liking."

"They are. Do I have you to thank for the tea olive blossoms?"

She nodded. "I wish you to be as comfortable here as you would be at home. So, if you require anything else, please let me know."

He bowed slightly, so Olivia bowed in response, hers, appropriately, just slightly deeper. She was very careful not to do anything that might offend him. There were protocols in the Japanese culture which needed to be followed. He hadn't offered introduction of the woman and Olivia knew not to ask.

She walked over to where Samantha was standing. "Did you get it?" she asked as they scanned the crowd.

"Piece of cake, everyone has to sign in. Since, she wasn't on the guest list, security protocol required she be verified by them before being allowed to enter. Although, I wasn’t present for that, I’m sure that Matasuki had something to do with the fact she was cleared in record time. What else do you need me to do?"

"Call Lorelei. We need to start buying some stock. I can't own it, but she can, and tell her to use any other companies or trusts she has influence over. Nothing can be traced back to her. We need a lot of voting stock and control of voting proxies."

"You're really something, Liv. I'll call her as soon as I get home.” Samantha pointed to the desk. “Oh, top, right side drawer. You'll find just what you need."

Olivia took her turn greeting the stragglers still entering the event. Taking a seat at the small regency desk, just outside the ballroom door.

Finally, when everyone was directed to the dining room, Olivia opened the drawer. Inside was a small manila envelope. Taking the envelope she rose and walked a few steps to the door linking the ballroom with the kitchen by the server’s hallway. She closed the ballroom door behind her and entered the loud and bustling behind-the-scenes area of the Met.

Brian watched Matasuki be seated at Tyson Grant's head table. The mystery woman was nowhere to be seen. He watched as servers cleared and replaced Matasuki’s champagne, before he crossed the room and joined Olivia.

He jerked his chin toward Matasuki, "She's gone."

"We had her sign in." Olivia handed the envelope to Brian and he put it in his breast pocket.

"Good, it's a start. I have people at the hotel and soon we'll have ears and eyes there also."

"Thank you, Brian. I just hope we can find Paul before it's too late."

He nodded stroking her bare arm. "I hope so, too." In his mind, Paul was most likely already dead but he didn’t say that. Let Olivia cling to hope, it was all they had right now.

When it was time, Olivia took her place at the table between Tyson and Isamu, just as the salads arrived.

"You've done a wonderful job with everything, Olivia," Tyson said loud enough for those at the table’s benefit.

"Thank you, but like I said, it was a group effort. I have enjoyed the process and with any luck we'll easily reach our financial target for the charity. That's really what it's all about after all, isn't it?"

Their table also included several Dolby, Inc. division heads and their wives. Portia Gregory was one of those wives, her husband Cal was head of accounting. She pushed her salad around and glared at Olivia.

"I'm sure you have many amazing talents, just waiting to be unfurled," she sniped while smiling innocently. "Cal tells me you're sky-rocketing up the ranks."

"Olivia, is one of the smartest and hardest working people at Dolby," Tyson defended, recognizing a jealous executive wife when he heard one – catty bitch.

"Tell me, where did you go to school?" Isamu wondered.

"Here in New York at N.Y.U. and then Cambridge, Massachusetts, where I received my MBA from Harvard Business School."

"Both in record time, and with honors," Tyson added. Olivia glanced at him and blushed. He was smiling proudly.

Portia's smile was now more a sneer than anything else. "Well, aren't you just perfect?"

Salads were exchanged for the entree. Olivia had chosen fillet of beef, Kobe beef to be exact. Her choice earned more cold glances from the other women, who had each chosen light menu items, which Olivia knew they were either going to throw up later or just push around their plates. Matasuki however, seemed amused by her choice of entrée.

"A splendid choice and a decadent one."

"The Kobe was a donation by a very generous patron. I'm glad you're pleased," she said, frowned and looked away. Why had she phrased it that way?

Tyson too, was surprised by it and he glanced at Matasuki to judge his reaction to Olivia’s personal remark. Matasuki wore a smug smile, and Tyson's gut twisted. Matasuki might have enjoyed the submissive tone of her response, but he certainly didn’t. This was all wrong, and no amount of money or business accolade was worth it.

Brian's phone vibrated and he checked it. "Jon, keep an eye on Olivia. Don't leave her. I have to go back to the office. Call me if anything changes." He slipped out the back and made his way down town.

At the office Brice was studying his computer screen, when Brian burst into the room. "Okay, I'm here, tell me what you’ve accomplished, Brice."

"We have eyes and ears. Both at the hotel and in the leased limo which we can also now track."

"Inside the room?"

Brice nodded. "I confiscated the dry cleaning and set the bugs. They only come on when body heat is sensed, or motion is detected."

"So, they won't find them if they did a sweep?"

"Nope, not this kind."

"Excellent. Jimmie, how about you? Oh, and I have more pictures and a name, maybe even prints of the shadow woman," Brian advised, handing him the envelope he received from Olivia and the digital camera from his lapel.

"I found some very interesting information. Not a lot of it matches what they put out in the Matasuki’s bio. For one thing his mother is not dead and still lives here in China Town. He also has a brother, or at least a half-brother."

"That
is
interesting. Why kill off your mother...?" Brice wondered.

"Maybe someone needs to go ask her."

"None of us. Who do we know and trust in that community?" Brian asked.

"I know someone, she works over there," Jimmie said.

Brice settled back in his chair and there was silence for a minute.

"Are you talking about Lin?"

He nodded.

"She's a hooker."

"Escort," Jimmie clarified. "And they know how to keep secrets. I trust her."

Brian glanced to Brice, who shrugged. They had many connections with people of questionable backgrounds, deemed essential assets in their line of work for information gathering.

"Okay, go for it. Wire her up. I want to record everything. Do it as soon as possible, we don't have time to waste. We need to know as much as we can. Old friends, where's this brother, what does he do? And follow the money."

"I’m sure Matasuki works through a set up of dummy corporations, and that'll slow us down."

"All we can do is get things started and try to turn something up. Listen, this guy is dangerous; don't underestimate him or those around him. Especially her," he said holding up the shadow's picture. "Let's concentrate on her, right now."

With dinner over, desserts, champagne, and more dancing were featured. Olivia checked and double checked everything in the kitchen before re-joining the guests. The chandeliers sparkled, casting rainbows of light over the room, as the orchestra played another soothing melody. She smiled and sighed. Everything had turned out beautifully and was, for the most part, drama free. Spotting Adam Stein heading straight for her, she let out a groan and looked for an exit, but it was too late.

"Dance with me?"

"I..."

He laced his fingers through hers and pulled her onto the dance floor. Rather than make a scene, she followed along as he guided them to a less crowded corner.

"This has turned out to be an interesting evening, hasn’t it?" He whispered as he slipped his hand around her back, offering the other in formal, slow dance posture.

"Yes, it certainly has been," Olivia agreed, as she looked over his shoulder.

His arm tightened around her waist and he pulled her closer. She glanced up; annoyed with him and further annoyed by how attracted she was to him. Even after everything, those brown eyes, with their flecks of gold held her like a hypnotist and his scent intoxicated her.

"I want to warn you about Matasuki."

Olivia pressed back. "Warn me; what do you mean?"

"I mean, I don't know why you have this account, but Matasuki is not for a beginner."

Her face felt hot, and her stomach clenched. "Would you be saying this if I was a man?"

"I'd think it, but I probably wouldn't go so far as to warn him. Listen, I understand why Tyson is high on you, with your obvious talents. I just think you're over matched here."

Olivia jerked away. "You think one night of sex, gives you any idea who I am or what I'm capable of? You're an ass,
Mister
Stein. Good night." She stormed off toward the restroom and once inside, braced herself against the counter. Shaking with anger, she stared into the mirror and knew she had to prove them all wrong.

Once she'd gathered herself and said good night to Tyson, she sought out Isamu.

"Thank you so much for coming, I enjoyed meeting you and on behalf of Dolby, Inc., I look forward to our meetings next week. Enjoy your stay." With a slight bow of her head she made her exit. Tyson Grant noticed and pushed his way through the crowd to cut her off.

"Olivia, wait."

She stopped, her heart pounding against her ribs. "I'm not feeling very well. I think I just over did it today. I'll see you on Monday."

He guided her down the hall, away from the ballroom’s doors. "I've changed my mind about Matasuki. We don't need his business."

"What? You too? If you take this account away from me, I quit." She picked up her skirt and rushed through the corridors, across the vaulted reception lobby and out into the night. The cool, fall air prickled her skin as she looked for the valet. Spotting him, she motioned to get his attention, gave him her ticket and waited as he called for her car and driver to be brought forward for her.

The doorman held the door and she strode inside. "Hello, Marvin. I need a key."

"Of course. Is everything all right, Miss Grayson?"

"I'm tired and I have a headache, that's all." Marvin retrieved a key card for her. She had just stepped into the elevator as Brian came into lobby.  She held the doors open and waited until he joined her.

"Any news on Paul?" she asked as they rode up to their floor.

"I'm afraid not. I have some other things to talk to you about though."

The doors dinged open on their floor, and Olivia stepped out, immediately tripping on her dress’s train. Brian caught her and swiveled her around.

"I got you."

"Yes, you do, thank you." His devastating smile was just inches away. She leaned in closer and gently kissed him. "This is a really bad idea," she sighed.

He smiled again. "Terrible." Scooping her up into his arms he walked to her door. The card disengaged the lock with a click; Olivia turned the knob and kicked the door open.

"Down the hall, first door on the right."

Kissing her hungrily all the way to the bedroom, Brian set Olivia down in front of the bed and stepped back. Smiling coyly, she slipped the thin straps of the gown over her shoulders as she watched him take his jacket off and loosen his tie. The gown drifted slowly down her body and pooled at her feet, leaving her clothed only in her skimpy, one piece, nude spandex under-garment and her red heels. She stepped out of the dress and moved sinuously to stand in front of him. Reaching out, she placed her palms on his chest, next to his collar. Luxuriating in the feel of his firm muscles and the heat of his body through his shirt, she kissed him, and moved her hands down, and began slowly to unbutton his shirt. While Olivia continued from button to button, Brian held her head and explored her mouth, running his tongue over and around its sensitive roof, until, when she’d undone the final one, she pulled his shirt from his pants. He broke their kiss and moved his mouth in slow kisses along her jaw line, before traveling slowly down her neck to that sensitive point where her neck met her shoulder. His hands touched and massaged her back and sides, finally pulling her sharply in and grinding his hips into hers. She gasped and then moaned, roughly shoving the shirt down his arms, undoing the cuff-links. He shrugged the shirt off as Olivia moved to his belt. As she unbuckled it, her fingers scraped over the distended bulge just under his waistband. Brian drew a sharp breath in through his teeth. Olivia yanked down his zipper and examined the extent of his arousal.

She took one step back, peeled off her thin under-garment and kicked off the heels. Her eyes never left his as she retreated to the bed, sat and then scooted back. Taking the jeweled comb from her hair, she placed it on the night stand, and ran her fingers through her long wavy locks, loosening them. In a flash, Brian had stripped off his slacks, boxers, and socks, to join her. His hard shaft bobbed as he crawled to her. He stopped and sat back on his knees. Her body heated as his eyes roved over her, resisting the urge to squirm as he took his time to luxuriate in the beauty of the woman before him. Olivia longed for him to touch her but submitted to his gaze, feeling it move and rest on her more tantalizing contours, before moving on again. When his eyes reached her breasts, Olivia couldn’t help herself, she closed her eyes and arched her back, her fingers finding, tweaking and pulling on their jutting tips.  She heard Brian’s quick intake. Opening her eyes, she looked into his smoldering dark ones, his expression of restrained passion and held her breath as he slowly reached out to touch her. He caressed her ankles softly and then smoothed his hands up, massaging her calves, the back of her knees. Olivia sighed and opened her legs, the invitation clear. More urgent now, he gripped her thighs and pulled her to him. She reached down, stroked his hardness once before rubbing the head of his cock up and down her slickness, and set it between the soft wet folds at her opening. She gasped as he pulled her firmly up his thighs pressing into her, and bent to cover her mouth with his.

Later she woke fully satisfied, softy moaned, and smiled in the darkness remembering.  Brian was curled around her, sound asleep. She kissed him; he squirmed and turned over. Slipping out of bed, her feet padded along the wood floor and onto the marble of her master bath. She washed her face, careful to remove all the night’s makeup, cleaned up, and pulled on a robe. Now, wide awake she crossed the apartment, her nightlight the beautiful sparkling lights of the city as they shown through the living room window. In the kitchen, she opened the fridge, pulled out a quart of milk, and drank straight from the carton. Her laptop sat on the island counter and she decided she might as well check her business email. Swiveling on the stool, she opened it, entered the password and clicked on mail. “Seventy-five messages...just great.”

Scrolling, and deleting as she went along, she was almost to the end when one caught her eye. Although it consisted of only numbers, she knew what it meant, so instead of opening it, she closed the business e-mail account and logged onto her personal one.

"Come on already," she said, impatient for the software to load. Finally the yellow envelopes appeared and she scrolled through them, clicking on the one that interested her.

There was no message, only an attachment. She double clicked on it and sat back. Seconds later it opened. Paul's Matasuki files from the FBI. She glanced at the clock, four-thirty. "I'm going to need caffeine."

Brian's nostrils flared - fresh brewed coffee. Now fully awake, he smiled as the memory of their night flashed through his mind. He blinked his eyes in the dark, swung his legs off the bed and stood up. Retrieving and pulling on his boxers he wandered out, following the enticing scent.

Squinting, he approached Olivia. "What time is it anyway?"

"Almost five," she said without looking over. Brian ran his hands across her shoulders and kissed her neck.

"That coffee smells great."

"Help yourself."

Brian walked around the bar and poured himself a cup. He knew she wouldn't be the ‘doe-eyed, I-think-I-love you-after-one-night type’.

"You always up this early?"

"Yeah, usually. Here look at this. It was sent yesterday." She twisted the laptop around for him and he leaned forward.

"What is this?"

"Files on Matasuki, from the FBI."

He flashed her a surprised glance, before starting to read.

"This is an open file; did it say it was from Paul?"

Olivia shook her head. "No, but it came to me with the same 'heads up' code we always use. Both he and my lawyer use numbers sent to our work email so we know to look at our personal email accounts for a message."

"Do you have an email address for your contact with Matasuki?"

"Not directly to him, but to his secretary."

"Is that the 'shadow'?"

"No I don't think so."

"Okay, I need inside and I can do it simply by you sending an email with a link I'll give you. It'll be related to whatever you're talking about, but once they click on it. I'm in. All the way in."

"Hmm, the fact that's even possible is a little disconcerting. You don't really think you can get by the sophisticated security software Matasuki undoubtedly has, do you?"

Brian raised an eyebrow. "Humph, the links we’ll be using are cutting-edge, and I guarantee once he clicks on one his cyber security is not good enough to keep me out.”

Brian scrolled through the first few pages of Paul’s file. “This is incredible stuff, and you said it was sent yesterday. Paul disappeared on Thursday, right?"