Catching Sam: Book 2 of 5: The MacDonald Brothers by Emily Matthews (best mystery novels of all time TXT) 📗

“You guys are doing a fantastic job. I appreciate all your hard work on this. You already know how important this is to Samatrix. When this launches, it’s going to be a game-changer for the company. I’ll keep you all in mind for the VP spots that will open up in the new division.” He winked, and everyone laughed.

“I love hearing that you all have some fun things going on outside this place. The job is important, but not the only thing in life to focus on. Work hard, play hard, right? Have a great rest of your day, everybody.” He sat, and everyone started talking at once as they packed up to get back to work.

Annie was quickly gathering her things, preparing to bolt when she felt him behind her. Shit.

“Could you stay for a second?” His sexy, masculine voice sent a shiver down her spine.

The question mark was courtesy only. It wasn’t like she could say no. Everyone had been remarkably quick at clearing out of the room, damn it. Only Phil remained.

“You want me to stay?” he asked Sam.

“No, I’ll just be a minute.”

Phil grabbed his portfolio and waved a silent goodbye on his way out.

“I really should get back to my office,” Annie said.

“Sit,” Sam ordered.

Sighing, she sat, resigned to having a conversation she was sure she could live without.

“You lied to me.” Sam glared as he sat in the chair next to her. He swiveled to face her and rested his arm on the long, polished table. Damn, he looked good in that suit. “You knew who I was when we met and that you’d be working for my company.”

“So I knew who you were? Who cares? Everyone knows who you are. You never asked if I knew you. You never asked where my new job was. I didn’t lie. I just didn’t fall all over you like everyone else does. Is that why you’re mad?” She figured the best defense was a good offense. “When you introduced yourself as just Sam, I figured you wanted a break from being the Sam MacDonald, so I gave it to you.”

“That’s a lie of omission then,” he said a little less vehemently.

She let out a long breath. “Look, if you would have asked me directly or mentioned who you were or what company you worked for—well, owned—I would have said something. When you left it all out, I followed your lead and did the same. It wasn’t malicious, I swear.”

He paused, apparently contemplating what she’d said. Did he believe her?

“Were you just following my lead when I pushed you up against the door of your cousin’s apartment?” She blushed at the memory.

“Yeah, about that. I never should have let that happen. I know it’s not an excuse, but it all happened so fast, and after a minute, I wasn’t thinking straight.” You kissed the common sense right out of me went unsaid.

“Are you saying it wasn’t consensual?” Sam sat up straight, eyes locked on hers, intense and serious, verging on panic.

“No, no. I’m not saying that at all. Of course, it was. I basically jumped you. Geez, paranoid much?”

He relaxed into his chair. “Actually, yes. I’m resisting the urge to get something in writing right now.”

“Look, you can relax. I’m not that kind of person. I’m not going to tell anyone, and I’m not going to sue you or blackmail you. Can we just pretend it never happened?”

Ignoring her question, he asked, “Why didn’t you call me back?”

“You know that was not an option for me. That would have made everything all the more awkward today. If I’d have kept up the charade that I didn’t know you, you would have been even more pissed. And if I’d have come clean, you’d have transferred me back to San Fran before I even showed up.”

“I’m not used to being ignored,” he said.

If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was pouting. The thought made her chuckle. “Oh, I’m sure you’re not. Sorry to be the first woman to not fall at your feet.”

He looked up, clearly surprised at her bluntness, and tried not to smile.

“What’s with the bitch routine?” he asked. She sobered immediately and tried to return to her alter ego.

“I was trying to be professional,” she said defensively, holding her head high.

“Well, you came across as arrogant and bored,” Sam countered. “There’s a lot riding on this project, and we handpicked the best for it. Group dynamic is essential to us and to this project especially. Project Denali will be a team effort, and if no one wants to talk to you, that will affect everyone. We brought you in because they said you were easy-going and friendly.”

“By that, they meant a pushover and everyone’s lapdog.”

He sat up again. “Did they treat you poorly in San Francisco?” He seemed genuinely concerned, which caused her eyes to burn.

“No, they were fine,” she said, resigned. She didn’t want anyone getting in trouble for something that ultimately, she was responsible for. “It was my fault for letting people walk all over me. In the beginning, I just tried to be helpful, but after a while, I started catching all the shit jobs nobody wanted. People automatically assumed I would help them out of a jam, usually by doing all the work for them. I never spoke up or said no, so that’s on me.”

“Still, that’s unacceptable,” he said.

“I don’t want to get anyone in trouble. To be honest, it kept me busy and kept my mind off my other problems. If I’d really wanted to start saying no, Dan—he was my life coach—would have made me. It’s done, and I just want to move on.”

She took a breath and looked up. Sam was staring at her with a look she couldn’t read. When he didn’t say anything, she forged on.

“That’s why I have to put my foot down here right away. People have to know I won’t be taken advantage of. I’m sorry if I