Ruined: A Contemporary Bad Boy Romance Read online

  When his father walked into his office, Edward’s thoughts quickly diminished, as did the screen on his computer at the touch of a button.

  “I have to say, you’ve been doing a hell of a job around here lately. I think congratulations are in order. Maybe a promotion.”

  Edward lifted his eyebrow. “Is that sarcasm?”

  “Not at all. I give recognition where recognition is due.”

  “Since when?” Edward knew his father well enough that the only time he gave praise was when he expected more from someone.

  “Funny guy. I’m serious.”

  “I’m not sure what I did differently, but thanks? I guess. What do you want?” He knew it was something.

  “Listen. I am working on some new strategies, and I think I want to give your ideas a go.”

  “My ideas?”

  “Yes. I know it’s a bit unethical, but I think under a watchful eye it can be done.”

  “I’m not following.”

  “The hacking you do seems to work well when it comes to affecting the opinions of certain companies and their boards.”

  Edward leaned back and crossed his arms. He didn’t like where this conversation was going.

  “I have a meeting tomorrow morning with a company I have had my eye on for quite some time. We were supposed to close the deal, but I just received word that they found another investor to save their asses. I have too much time and money invested in this deal to let it go to hell now.”

  “And what company would that be?”

  “You know damn well which company I’m talking about. I need you to hack back in and destroy their entire database.”

  “You want me to what?” He sat back up to attention and looked at his father as a stranger.

  “You heard me.”

  Edward didn’t respond.

  “I can see you’re troubled by my idea.” His father’s voice did not show any concern.

  “I am—greatly troubled.”

  “Why? Isn’t this what you do?”

  “No, not really.”

  “Well, Edward. Let me make this perfectly clear.” He leaned down and put his hands on Edward’s desk. “This is not a request. Do it. I want to see results by the end of the day today. Your job at this company depends on it.”

  “You are going to fire me if I don’t sabotage another company someone has worked their entire adult life to build? Just so you can increase your returns a bit more?”

  “Yep. That about sums it up.”

  “You are unbelievable.”

  “You’ve done it several times in the past. Don’t give me that shit.”

  “I never destroyed companies. I only showed them how easily vulnerable and accessible their networks were. Never did I ever destroy anything.”

  “Until now,” he said, bearing down on his son with a death stare. “Like I said. I’ll expect something by the end of the day.”

  Without another word, Reese walked out. Edward turned his computer screen back on, Mia’s face on his screen, and an ache in his heart for what he was expected to do.

  He wouldn’t do it as his father demanded. It took him some time, but he came up with a plan to give his father what he wanted and save Mia’s company at the same time.

  He worked most of the morning and was able to hack into her company. He saved a backup of it on an external hard drive, double checked it and hesitated before he wiped her company off their network. Knowing she probably had her own backups in place, he built a cyber wall with a password that would make it impossible for her to access it. Within a few moments, Mia and her entire company would think they no longer had a company to fight for. The rest of the day was going to be hell on her.

  “I promise I’ll make it right, Mia,” he whispered. “Hold on.”

  He unhooked the hard drive and buried it in his case. Plugging another hard drive in, he backed up what was left of her company and then shut it down before unplugging it and taking it to his father’s office.

  It took everything he had not to call her and at least warn her, but he had to make his father think he’d done what was asked of him. That meant making Mia believe her company records were gone.

  Stopping before his father’s office doorway, he heard Jack’s voice, and he didn’t sound happy. Edward pulled his phone out and held it up to his ear for anyone who witnessed him eavesdropping in the hallway. Leaning in, he listened to the heated conversation taking place.

  “I deserve more than that. You know that. I work my damned ass off, and this is how you repay me?”

  “I can’t deny that you have been a valuable player in my company.”

  “So, you show it by giving control to someone else? How does that happen exactly?”

  “It’s what is best for Donovan Technologies.”

  “Bullshit. I’ve done everything you have asked of me.”

  “Jack, listen.”

  “No, old man. You listen. You retire at the end of this year.”

  “If that is what I choose to do, yes.”

  “I’ve paid my dues. If you give this to anyone else but me, you can consider me dead to you. I want no part of it.”

  “Very well. If that is how you want it, you will be severed from all assets and accounts.”

  “Wow. Just like that, huh? I bet you treat the garbage man better than this. I love that. I can’t believe I trusted you all these years.”

  “This isn’t about trust or loyalty.”

  Edward couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It didn’t make any sense. He thought for sure Jack was a shoe-in when his father retired. He also couldn’t believe how calm his father was.

  “That’s plenty obvious to me now. What is it about?”

  “You’re too much of a hot head to run this company by yourself. I know that if I were to pass the torch to you, the first thing you’d do is to let Edward go, change everything to suit your own needs, and hire your own posse. The company might do well for a while, but you will eventually run it into the ground with your anger issues and greed.”

  “Is that what this is about? You’re worried about the financial wellbeing of little brother? Well, rest assured, I promise to keep him on staff someplace in the company.”

  “What happens to this company will be up to him.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “He will be the full controller of Donovan Technologies upon my retirement.”

  Edward’s jaw dropped as Jack lost his cool. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! You’re insane. Are you insane? Why would you?”

  “He has a stronger business sense,” he interrupted. “Face it, Jack. You’re an asshole, and I can’t have a hot head running my company.”

  “You have no idea what I’ve done for this company.”

  “I know a great deal more than you think I do. This attitude of yours is the very reason I was never going to give you control.”

  “This company needs someone with this attitude. Someone with authority. I can do this! I will do this!”

  “You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”

  “No. I’m not. I’ll fight for this. It is my right.”

  Reese looked over Jack’s shoulder toward the door, and by this time, Edward was standing in full view, his back-up of proof in his hand that he wiped MWSA clean.

  “I have some thinking to do,” he said, not taking his eyes from Edward’s face. “I will do what is best for the company.”

  “I knew you would come to your senses.”

  Mia

  Mia walked into Bemelmans and saw her partner Steven almost right away. He had already ordered a drink, and it was half gone.

  “Hey,” she said with a smile, leaning forward and leaving a gentle kiss on his cheek. “Have you been here long?” She looked at the clock on her phone.

  “I got here early.”

  “How are you? How was your weekend?”

  “It was okay but not as good as yours, I hear.”

  “We
ll, it benefits us both, so I guess we both had a pretty amazing weekend. Can I get a glass of chardonnay please?” she asked the waitress when she approached the table.

  “I wasn’t talking about the news you received about the new investment opportunity.”

  Mia furrowed her eyebrows. “Okay, I’m lost. What are you talking about?”

  “I heard about your lunch date on Friday.”

  “How did you hear?” She stopped herself when she remembered the photographer outside the restaurant. She must have made the column after all. “The Post?”

  He nodded.

  “Damn media. I’m sorry. It just, sort of happened. I ran into him on the way to get lunch, and he talked me into eating with him.”

  “Yeah, I got it. You don’t have to explain.” He seemed a lot more upset than warranted, and it confused her.

  “Steven, it’s not what you think. I didn’t think I would ever see him again, and there he was. I couldn’t blow him off.”

  “Wait, he was the guy you met here the night you went out?”

  “Yes. I didn’t even know his name until I asked him during our lunch.”

  He narrowed his eyes and looked at her. “And what did he say his name was?”

  “Eddie something. I didn’t get his last name. Anyway, I tried to give him my number, but he's all mysterious. It’s kind of sexy,” she said, smiling.

  “And you have no idea who he is?”

  “No, should I?” She looked at him curiously.

  “I just want you to be careful. Mysterious men are usually mysterious for a reason.”

  “I’ll be careful. I promise.”

  “Well, now I know why you chose Bemelmans to meet me at.”

  “You aren’t mad, are you?”

  “How could I be mad at you?” His smile was forced, but Mia accepted it and moved the conversation on.

  They talked over a few more drinks, and Mia admitted that for the first time in a long time, she was genuinely happy.

  “I know nothing is carved in stone, but the possibility that everything is going to work out is there, within reach. Everything seems to be falling into place,” she said with a deep breath. “I don’t have to deal with Donovan anymore. Our company is going to be okay, and I think I found someone I really like.”

  “It’s nice to see you happy, Mia.”

  “Anyway, I should go. It’s getting late, and we have a long day at the office tomorrow.”

  He nodded and pulled his wallet from his pocket. “Sounds good. This was nice.”

  “It was. Thank you again.”

  He paid the bill and walked her out. “Would you like me to make sure you get home okay?”

  “No, that’s okay. I’ll be fine. Thank you, Steven.” She smiled and took his hand, squeezing it and not letting go until she saw a taxi headed toward them.

  “You go ahead. I’ll get the next one,” he said, letting her go and stepping back. “I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.”

  Mia walked into her apartment with thoughts of Eddie in her head. Who was he? Where had he come from? She wondered if he was this mysterious with other women. Maybe she wasn’t the only woman in his life. He could be a player. But what if he wasn’t?

  She dropped her things on the couch and slowly pulled her jacket off as her mind went back to that alleyway. His kiss had melted her. She licked her lips where he’d touched them. Her hands slid up her hips and her waist, to where she wanted him to touch her.

  Would he be different? Would she finally feel the things a woman should feel from a good man in her bed? She felt nervous that he wouldn’t; she wondered if he couldn’t. She bit her lip in anticipation that he had to be. She sat on the couch and leaned back against the arm, her hands cupping her breasts, her eyes closing.

  She caressed them, imagining him above her, imagining what his body looked like, what it felt like pressed up against her naked flesh. Her fingertips circled her nipples, which hardened under her touch. Her breathing felt thicker when she slid her hand down her stomach and into her pants. She concentrated on everything sexual about Eddie as her fingers started to play.

  Over her panties, under her panties, she felt her orgasm begin deep inside as she had before. She moved her fingers, forcefully panting as if he was inside her. She squeezed her nipple, feeling a shock penetrate her. Her orgasm slowly moved through her insides, threatening to push forward.

  “Yes,” she whispered. She moved her fingers slowly, forcing the feeling to come through. She smiled when the feeling grew stronger.

  Eddie slowly moved his mouth downward, and when his tongue touched where her fingers played, she felt her orgasm coming on stronger than ever. She moved her fingers in circles, creating a heat within.

  Her phone rang, and she jumped. “Damn it!” She tried ignoring it and forcing herself back into her fantasy, but it kept ringing. After it stopped, it began again. She sat up quickly and huffed at the rude interruption. When it stopped the second time, she shut the ringer off and threw it into her purse. “I don’t care who it is; you’ll have to wait, now.”

  She jumped up and took a shower, hoping to get back to her fantasy in her warm bed with no interruptions. By the time she got out, toweled off and crawled into bed, her eyes were heavy. Within only a few minutes, she was asleep.

  The next morning, she was more rested than she had been in a long time. Her voicemail was from her father telling her to call him as soon as she could. When she tried, he was unavailable.

  “Hey, Dad. Sorry I missed your call last night. I was tired and went to bed early. I hope everything is okay. Call me when you can. Love you.”

  Back in the office, she noticed everyone acting oddly.

  “Good morning,” she said when she passed them. They mumbled the same but didn’t seem happy. She couldn’t wait to spring the good news on them. That would liven things up. She smiled as she walked down the hallway.

  When she reached her secretary, she stopped and watched her. “Good morning,” she said.

  “Morning, Miss Walker,” she said, looking down at her desk.

  “I assume everyone is upset because of the meeting with Mr. Donovan today.”

  “There has been talk about it.”

  “Well, I am hoping to give everyone some good news today that will change all of that.”

  “Miss Walker?” The secretary looked at her peculiarly. “Have you talked to Mr. Alexander today?”

  “Steven? No. I just got in.”

  “He wants to speak to you as soon as possible. It’s urgent.”

  “Is he in his office?”

  “Yes.”

  Mia walked to Steven’s office, with her things still in her hand, and peeked in. “Good morning,” she said with a smile.

  “Mia. Come in. I need to talk to you.”

  “I don’t like that look. What happened?”

  “The meeting with Donovan in two hours is still on.”

  “What? Why? It is no longer necessary. I don’t understand.”

  “I was hoping it was just a system glitch, but it looks like more.” He looked down at his drink.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I worked on the goddamned thing all day yesterday, and there’s no other choice. Maybe the investment firm will help.”

  “What are you trying to say? You’re starting to scare me.”

  Mia’s phone interrupted them. She looked at the caller ID and turned away. “It’s my dad. One second, okay?”

  Steven nodded and looked away.

  “Hey, Dad. What’s up?”

  “Mia. I’m afraid I have some news.”

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “The firm called. In their research into your company, they found out you don’t have enough evidence to support a healthy company, and even with my retirement funds backing it, they’re pulling their proposal.”

  “What? Why? Everything was all set. I don’t understand.” She turned toward Steven, wondering if the two were linked somehow.
>
  Her mouth went dry. Steven wasn’t looking at her.

  “I’m so sorry, honey. I did everything I could.”

  “Steven? What’s going on?”

  “The company database has been wiped clean.”

  “So pull the back up.”

  “It’s inaccessible. I’ve tried everything.”

  “This can’t be happening. Dad?” She held her phone back to her ear.

  “I will keep trying to talk to them, but I’m afraid that with no financials, they won’t be persuaded. I’m sorry, honey. I’ll call you if I have more news.” Her father hung up.

  “This can’t be happening. Everything is falling apart.”

  Steven looked up at Mia. “I need to tell you something about your mystery guy.”

  “Not now, please. I can’t think about that.” She got up and grabbed her purse. “I have to figure this out.”

  Before Steven could say another word, Mia was gone out the door. She couldn’t handle anymore crushing news, especially if it involved Eddie. She closed herself in her office and went through her computer. Everything Steven told her was true. Everything was gone, and no matter what she did, she couldn’t access anything.

  Right before the meeting was supposed to start, Steven knocked on Mia’s door and walked in. “Are you doing okay?”

  “I don’t understand what happened. Where did it all go?”

  “I don’t know. Either it was some sort of virus that wiped it all, or someone sabotaged our network. At any rate, the good news is that the meeting was canceled.

  “I don’t know how that is good news, but okay.”

  “I know they were going to push for a hostile takeover. They aren’t doing that now. I don’t have any of the details yet, but at least we have more time to figure out what has happened and what we can do about it.”

  “What can we do about it, Steven? Where the hell is my company?”

  “I called a tech. He’s good. He will be here within the hour.”