Below the Surface

Chapter Twelve

“I don’t know how we’re going to flush out the Djinn,” Tessa said to Marcus the next day as they waited in morning traffic. “He, or she,” she added, willing to be an equal opportunity accuser, “could be anyone.”

“Exactly. Anyone, as in Jonas Chase.”

She exhaled loudly and rolled her eyes. He was being deliberately obtuse, but she didn’t have the heart to be mad at him. Still flying on cloud nine, she couldn’t believe she’d had the nerve to seduce him into a proposal, one that he’d accepted.

Fully expecting him to dismiss her ‘teasing’ in the light of day, she was amazed when at breakfast he informed Aerolus she’d agreed to marriage. Aerolus, bless him, had merely nodded, as if he’d accepted the fact days ago.

Cadmus had been asleep, but she knew the next time she saw him he’d be full of sly innuendo and knowing grins.

“You can think it’s Jonas if it will make you happy.” She patronised him but he only grinned and winked.

“I will, and I am happy.” Charm oozed out of every pore. Marcus was his most formidable when pleased. “You make me very happy, affai.” His eyes blazed, and an immediate warmth pooled in her loins.

She cleared her dry throat and shifted in her seat, aware of his smug male satisfaction.

“And you make me hard,” he continued in a thick voice. “Heavy and throbbing when your mouth covers my cock.” He continued the sex talk all the way to the building, leaving them both breathing hard and wanting when he turned off the engine of his BMW in the parking lot.

“You expect us to both go into work now, like this?” she gasped.

He smiled and adjusted his trousers. “That’s all I have time for now, sertia. I’ll give you what you’re craving later, hmm? Be good and stay away from Jonas, will you?” He brushed her lips with his own and left the car, waiting by her door.

Still breathing hard, she gave him credit for being a devious bastard. She knew Marcus’ moods and how to manipulate him, but he knew her buttons as well. Apparently, he thought to use passion to control her. Damned if it wasn’t working.

She took a deep breath, fussed with her jacket and left the car. “Pretty slick,” she complimented.

“I know,” he said with a quick glance at her groin. “But we’ll get to that later.”

She frowned at how easily he’d mastered her and resolved not to be so easy next time. But thoughts of next time only added to her sexual frustration, so she focused on the real trouble bothering her. Preceding him into work, she wasn’t sure what to do now that her office nemesis had been ferreted. If only they had a way to discover the Djinn as well.

Stepping out of the elevator to the eighth floor, they entered Tomanna’s foyer and went their separate ways, he to his office and she to hers. An hour passed before she joined the morning logistics meeting where Michael Davis waited with a hateful, lust-filled gaze. One eye had a large bruise under it and his upper lip was swollen. He looked as if he wanted to say something to her, but he kept his distance and remained tight-lipped with animosity.

Jonas shrugged, a glint of humour tingeing his gaze, and she studied him surreptitiously while the meeting progressed. Aside from being uncommonly attractive, she didn’t see anything different about him than she’d been seeing since she started at Tomanna.

“I’m sorry, Tessa, are we boring you?” Davis asked with an icy politeness.

“As a matter of fact—”

“Thank you, Michael,” Jonas finished, glaring her into silence. “I think your take on Surell is what we all had in mind.” The others nodded. “Now, to continue to our newest accounts…”

Tessa nodded and made notes for the next half hour. Tomanna would have to take precedence just now since she had so much work to do, and no thoughts at all on the Djinn. “Best to work with what you’ve got,” she murmured to herself, gathered her things and headed out the door with the rest of the staff when the meeting adjourned.

The day progressed with an almost disturbing tedium, databases and spreadsheets taking up the majority of her time. She missed lunch, again, opting for a candy bar Jonas found in his office, and sat through the last half of her day with him, restructuring their present accounts.

“Storm sure brings us a lot of business,” Jonas said casually before rattling off another stream of data for Tessa to input into the computer.

Tessa stopped typing. “What did you say?”

“Only that Storm is as good as they say.” He shook his head, his gaze glued to the papers on his desk, making it unable to read the emotion in his eyes. “I didn’t think a hotshot from nowhere would garner us two of the biggest accounts in the northwest, and that was before the Ryder deal.”

“Your point?” she asked softly, willing him to meet her gaze.

He did, but showed her nothing. “You know, when I first assigned you to oversee his accounts, I was hoping for some spark between the two of you.” She stared in surprise. “He’s the office playboy, and you give off ‘don’t touch me’ signals all the time. I wanted to see what would happen.”

“Jonas?” What the hell was he talking about?

“It was presumptuous of me, I’m sorry.” He sounded earnest, but she just couldn’t read his face. And that bothered her. “But you work too hard, Tessa. I wanted you to have some fun with life.” He flushed and she blinked. “I see a lot of myself in you. Maybe that’s why we never hit it off, you and me, I mean.”

“Jonas, I—”

“Admit it, Tessa. I have women throwing themselves at me all the time, not that I’m bragging.” He grinned, a lighthearted expression that made him seem years younger. “From the minute you started working for me I felt a physical attraction for you but little else. And you never once gave me any indication you felt anything but friendship towards me.”

She blushed, uncomfortable yet fascinated at this personal discussion with Jonas. “I don’t know what to say.”

“That’s just it. You always know what to say. But lately with Storm, you’re different.” He sounded concerned. “I wanted you and Storm to hit it off. He seemed like a nice guy. He’s smart and supposedly decent, if you know which stories to listen to.” He grimaced. “And speaking of rumours, Davis is one source you won’t have to worry about anymore. Which brings me to my point. The way Storm jumped all over Davis made me think maybe you and he are somewhat, ah, involved?”

“Well, I, he,” she flubbed. It was none of Jonas’ business, yet his concern was palpable, and even endearing.

“I’m sorry for butting in, but I think of you as a friend and someone I care about. In a purely platonic sense,” he added hastily. “I just don’t want to see you hurt, Tessa. And especially not because of something I did. If you like Storm, that’s your business. But if he’s making you uncomfortable, I’d be more than happy to talk to him, the way I did Davis this morning.”

And Marcus thought Jonas was the Djinn. A man who was turning beet red because he’d set her up with the office ‘playboy’. She shook her head and smiled.

“Marcus and I are friends, Jonas. It’s nothing you have to worry about.” She sighed. “Frankly, I was putting too much belief into the rumours about him and finally confronted him about it. If anyone would have talked to me the way I talked to him, I probably would have decked him. But not Marcus. He’s a real gentleman.” Who can steal my breath with a look. “Now, I’ll grant you he’s a bit arrogant.”

Jonas gave her a look that clearly said understatement.

“Okay, a lot arrogant. But to be fair, he’s earned the conceit when it comes to business.” And loving, she couldn’t help inwardly admitting. “And decking Davis, that makes him more than special in my book.”

Jonas chuckled, seeming relieved. “I agree to that. I’ve already counseled Davis once about his interactions with some of the female staff, and have been meaning to have another talk with him about harassment, even though you refused to nail him for it the last time we discussed this,” he reprimanded subtly. “But Storm beat me to the punch, literally.”

Tessa grinned, then sobered as a thought occurred to her. “Has Davis complained at all about what Marcus did to him?”

“No. I think if he did, he’d have to explain just who beat him up and why. No one around here has ever questioned Storm, except for you, of course. And now, apparently, the man doesn’t have one person on his bad side except Davis.”

Tessa nodded absently, wondering why she was feeling as if someone had just walked over her grave.

Jonas shook his head and gave her a rueful grin. “I’m a fool for bringing any of this up. I know you have an older brother to look out for you, it’s just that we work together and you’re so,” he paused.

“So what?” she asked, both curious and pleased.

“Hell, Tessa. You’re gorgeous and strong, and strangely vulnerable when no one’s looking,” he said quietly. “And now I’ve made you uncomfortable again. I’m sorry.” He rolled his eyes. “Forget I said anything about any of this. In fact, grab your stuff and go home for the day. You’ve been working your ass off for weeks now. Get out of here.”

She sighed, relieved her non-PC boss had finally returned. “My ass is only too happy to oblige,” she said with a huff and stood. “And I refuse to feel guilty about leaving since there’s only one more sheet to input.”

“Yeah,” he said smugly. “That’s why I’m being such a great boss about letting you leave early. Because you’ve already finished ninety-nine percent of the work.”

Tessa laughed and left him busy by his computer. Nodding to several coworkers, she chatted her way to her office when she was waylaid by Judy.

“Tessa, I need a favour,” Judy said breathlessly, as if she’d been running.

“Sure, Judy, what do you need?” Tessa asked cautiously as Judy followed her into her office. Did the woman want her to plate Marcus’ name in gold and hang it above the employee of the year plaque in the foyer? Or maybe she wanted Tessa to coordinate a Be-Nice-To-Marcus day.

Judy looked both left and right, as if someone might possibly be lurking in Tessa’s empty office, and closed the door behind her to ensure privacy. “Mr. Conklin is expecting a very important and confidential package that right now is waiting in the lobby. The private courier can’t come up here with it due to information we learned today.”

Judy glanced over her shoulder at the closed door before leaning forward to whisper, “We have a corporate spy here in Tomanna.”

Tessa could feel the blood drain from her face. It was starting. Shit. Covington was fired, out of the picture. How was this happening?

“You’re kidding,” she said, her eyes wide with real shock.

Judy nodded furiously. “I only wish I were. Mr. Conklin is stunned and very, very upset, I don’t have to tell you. As of this moment, the only people he trusts around here are me, Marcus, Jonas and you. And since the rest of us are busy, I was hoping you could grab the package. I would but I’m already late for Mr. Conklin’s yearly analysis overview. Damn,” she swore as she noted the clock above Tessa’s head.

“Sure, I’ll get it.” Tessa felt as if she were swimming. Her thoughts floated, just out of reach, keeping her from thinking rationally. Visions of a jail cell and handcuffs reverberated through her mind.

“Oh, thank you,” Judy gushed and turned to the door. “One more thing, the courier is downstairs in the lobby wearing a ball cap and a heavy, denim jacket. Sounds very double-oh-sevenish, I know, but this deal could net us millions if we play it right, and that means keeping mum to our competitors.” She grimaced. “That we have to stoop to disguises and secrets is ridiculous. If it weren’t for Mr. Conklin’s insistence on discretion, I’d call the police right now.”

“Right.” Tessa coughed nervously. “Let me get to it, then.”

Judy nodded and left, and Tessa wanted to run to Marcus with her questions. The idea made her frown. Since when had she needed a man to solve her problems? Granted, this situation was unique, but Judy was talking about company intrigue, not wraiths and Djinn.

Tessa rolled her eyes. No, going to Marcus right now was definitely out. If she so much as mentioned the word ‘threat’, he’d simply point the finger at Jonas and demand answers, answers her concerned friend didn’t have. Judy had said Marcus was busy anyway. This worry could keep until later, if she wasn’t arrested in the meantime. Sighing, she left her office and headed for the elevators.

When she reached the lobby, she found it heavily trafficked with people leaving for the day. “Nice to be able to leave at four, like I was supposed to,” she muttered, trying to find the courier. Hell, she felt like a spy picking up Conklin’s ‘package’ in the damned building lobby.

A black ball cap and denim jacket caught her eye and she angled towards the front of the crowded lobby.

“Excuse me, is that for Mr. Conklin?” she asked the tall man with his back to her. He turned and she froze, aware of a sudden humming in her blood. The man was drop-dead gorgeous, with dark hair, a strong nose and firm lips that grinned at the sight of her. His eyes remained a mystery, covered by black sunglasses. Yet something about him was familiar, for all that he looked like a stranger.

“It’s about time,” he said, his voice deep with satisfaction.

“Sorry I was late, but—”

“It’s been a while, but we’ve met.” ‘Sin Garu stepped out from behind the man with a polite grin and her heart pounded so hard she thought it might explode.

The sorcerer wore a conservative grey suit, his hair cut fashionably short, his teeth bright white but no longer sharp and he carried a briefcase—the image of a typical corporate shark. “Don’t worry about the package, Tessa. Conklin doesn’t really need it, and Davis here, well, he wanted some time alone with you. And from the way you and Marcus have treated him, it’s no wonder.”

At five ‘til six, his last meeting for the day wrapped up and Marcus went in search of Tessa. Spying her coat and portfolio still sitting on her desk, he shook his head. He’d warned her earlier he’d be late, and told her to call Cadmus to drive her home.

Most of the floor was deserted, with the exception of Jonas Chase’s office. Bastard. Marcus seethed as he cut across the floor. Knocking politely when he wished to pound down the door, he had just decided to give Chase a piece of his mind for keeping Tessa late when the door opened.

A weary looking Chase blinked. “Yes?”

“I’m looking for Tessa.”

“Tessa? She left hours ago. You haven’t by chance seen Davis out there, have you?” Jonas looked beyond him.

Marcus tensed. “What do you mean she left hours ago?”

Jonas paused, apparently seeing something in Marcus’ stance that made him wary. “I let her go around four. She’s been working so hard lately. Are you sure she’s not still here?”

“Her coat is in her office.” Marcus shook his head. “I’ll check upstairs.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jonas offered.

About to deny him, Marcus changed his mind at the last instant. Better to have your enemies close, he thought. Except that for an enemy, Jonas looked surprisingly concerned about Tessa. In fact, he wore a pinched expression, as if he too feared the worst.

They walked quickly up the stairs and found only a few executives working, Tessa nowhere in sight. After checking and rechecking the opposite stairwells, they returned to Tessa’s office and studied the area, searching for some hint she’d recently been there.

Then Jonas cursed. “I hate to think this might have anything to do with it, but Michael Davis is late on some correspondence I needed, and he hasn’t answered his phone since a little after three.”

Marcus fisted his hands. “Davis, as in the little asshole I knocked into the wall yesterday?”

Jonas nodded, his eyes full of concern. “The same. I’m probably way off base, here, right?”

“Probably.”

“Look, I have more work to do. I’ll stick around here for a while, just in case she shows.”

“Here’s my cell number,” Marcus said as he wrote it down and handed Jonas a slip of paper. “I’m going home in case she’s headed there already.” But Cadmus or Tessa would have called him by now. “Call me if you see her before I do.”

Jonas nodded. “Can do.”

“And Chase?” Marcus paused, aware he might have made a mistake about the man. “Thanks.”

The minute Jonas left, Marcus reached for the phone. “Cadmus, Aerolus, pick up,” he muttered, wishing he had a touch of Darius’ telepathy. What he wouldn’t give now to be reading Tessa’s mind, to know she was safe at home and all his worry was for naught.

“Yo?”

“Cadmus,” Marcus growled, “is Tessa there?”

“No, why?”

“Because I’m standing in her office and she’s not here. She’s not anywhere in Tomanna, and I’ve got a really bad feeling.”

“Hold on.” Cadmus bellowed for Aerolus, and suddenly his brother appeared in the office.

“When did you last see her?” Aerolus asked calmly, while every nerve in Marcus’ body pulsed, adrenaline surging through his blood on wings of fear.

“I saw her at noon today, but according to her boss she’s been gone since four.”

“Two hours.” Aerolus pondered that while Cadmus swore over the phone in several different languages.

“Cadmus?” Marcus asked. “What’s wrong?”

“A vision,” he rasped, “just whacked me upside the head. It’s the Djinn, Marcus, he’s got her. And he’s not alone.”