As
she gracefully kept pace with Ogilvie's rude path through the crowded
room, Nyx listened to the chatter of the guests around her. Mostly it
was inane party babble but here and there she picked up a phrase that
told her the guests were talking about a recent cyber-crime that the
media had gone crazy over. A hacker had gotten into the law enforcement
databases and scheduled the release of several prisoners, all of whom
were known to have ties to a computer crime syndicate. Only two inmates
were actually released before law enforcement caught on to the breach.
While local officials made light of the releases, saying that one of
the two was due to be released in six months anyway and neither
criminal was violent, the media was exploiting the breach of security
in a very big way. There was a manhunt of sorts going on for the two
criminals but they seemed to have simply vanished, which was another
hit to law enforcement's public image. With the media milking the
story, it was naturally a story on everyone's lips.
Rufus Ogilvie came to an abrupt stop and Nyx rocked back on her high
heels to keep from colliding with him. Her aqua eyes flicked past his
round form to focus on the lithe, wiry form of a man barely taller than
herself. Dressed in a crisp, gunmetal grey suit and black silk
turtleneck sweater that screamed wealth, the man gazed calmly back at
her. He stood in the languid pose of the bored, but Nyx wasn't fooled.
His body was coiled tight as a spring and his dark eyes were sharp and
intent.
"Jared, it's good to see you again," Nyx murmured, extending her hand
like a good socialite.
The man took it and brushed his thumb across her knuckles caressingly.
"So formal!" he admonished her, his dark eyes glinting. "As your former
boss and fiance, shouldn't I rate a bit more warmth?"
Rufus Ogilivie cackled with laughter at this exchange, obviously
thinking that there was personal tension between the two when in fact,
it was the professional tension of two prizefighters sizing up one
another. "Time for you children to bury the hatchet!" Ogilvie boomed,
grasping Jared's arm with his free hand and forcing the two to keep up
with him as he blazed another path through the crowded room. He
didn't stop until he'd taken them out of the main reception room and
into a less crowded, semi-private indoor garden room, filled with
exotic plants and little intimate groupings of chairs. The night sky
could be clearly seen through the skylit ceiling and huge windowed
walls. The icy sleet had nearly stopped and the light from the room
glinted on the rivulets of water running down the outside of the panes.
Ogilvie stopped a waiter and retrieved a tray of champagne, which he
extended to Jared and Nyx. Both took a glass and Ogilvie took one as
well. He waved them toward a group of plush burgundy velour chairs
beneath a semi-circle of palm trees. Nyx perched on the edge of a
chair, knees primly together, her champagne glass cradled in both
hands. Jared leaned back in his chair across from her, crossing his
legs and swinging one foot casually. Of the two, he seemed more
comfortable to Ogilvie, who plopped his bulk onto a settee.
"Two of the finest computer minds in the world within arms reach of
me!" he grinned. "I am flattered!"
Both Nyx and Jared hid smiles at this flowery pronouncement. Ogilvie
was known for being over the top in everything. Rufus Ogilvie was a
shrewd businessman. He owned the largest group of art galleries and
auction houses in the world and billions of dollars funneled through
his company every year. Ogilvie's reputation was spotless and he was
known to be fanatical about security, which is how his reputation got
to be so sterling. Handling works of art worth millions required a
willingness to never stint on the best security money could buy and
then some. One theft could ruin his reputation and his business
forever. In the wake of all the recent, highly publicized security
breaches, Ogilvie had become more paranoid than usual and was looking
for someone to revamp his company's security systems. That was the
reason Nyx and Seth, as well as Jared, were at Ogilvie's party.
Nyx smoothed one hand over her gleaming chestnut hair. "You know,
Rufus," she murmured, "I appreciate the thought but Jared and I aren't
the enemies you think we are."
Jared nodded his agreement, his chin length dark hair sliding against
his silk collar. "It's true," he smiled at Ogilvie. "Nyx and I parted
amicably. We were smart enough to realize that a relationship cannot
survive when both partners wear the pants in the family." His dark eyes
twinkled at Ogilvie in amusement.
Nyx's smile was more cool than amused. "Just because we don't have a
personal or professional relationship any longer doesn't mean we hate
each other. I have a lot of respect for Jared Ainsley Security Systems."
"As I do for McClaren-Cameron." Jared abandoned his casual pose and sat
forward, putting his untouched champagne glass on the side table. "You
know how very much my company wants your business Mr. Ogilvie. You must
know that Nyx and Seth want it very much as well."
Ogilvie waved a pudgy hand at Jared. "Oh, I know." He smiled widely,
his teeth flashing white within the frame of dark goatee. "In fact, I'm
of a mind to give you both the contract." When they gasped in surprise,
he went on, " Nyx and Seth have the edge when it comes to anything
computer related. You, Jared, have the edge with personnel and event
security planning. I want the best for my company and I intend to pay
top dollar for it. You two are the best...but can you work together?"
Nyx relaxed then. She set her untouched champagne glass down and
clasped her hands together on her knees. "It might be possible.
However, I cannot speak for Seth." Her blue green eyes stared intently
at Ogilvie. "I need an outline from you stating what areas would be
under our control. Seth and I will discuss it and let you know if we
think it will work."
"That works for me as well." Jared reached over and shook Ogilvie's
hand, then stood. "I'll speak with you tomorrow then. Goodnight, Mr.
Ogilvie, Nyx." With a nod in Nyx's direction, Jared walked away through
the crowd.
Nyx looked reproachfully at Ogilvie. "That wasn't the most wise thing
you've ever done."
He shrugged his big shoulders. "Perhaps not. But it needed to be done.
Better to have snakes where you can see them, wouldn't you say?" Nyx
hissed at him warningly and he chuckled. "He's gone. He can't hear. And
besides, everyone in this room is employed by me. No one else is
allowed in here."
"But you never know which of your employees might be listening," said
Seth Cameron as he came out from behind a palm tree and took the seat
Jared Ainsley had vacated. "I gather he took the bait."
"Of course he did," snorted Ogilvie. "He would not pass up an
opportunity to work with Nyx again."
Seth's eyes came to rest on Nyx. She appeared as calm and cool as ever.
"You left his gun by the compromised machine, right?" he asked.
She made a face. "When have I ever messed up an assignment?"
A boyish grin lit Seth's handsome face. "Well..."
Laughter bubbled up from Nyx and her sea crystal eyes glowed green as
she gazed at him with affection. "Never mind. What you were thinking
was not for public consumption nor did it have a speck to do with my
work!"
Ogilvie hefted his bulk from the settee with a deep chuckle. "I will
leave you two alone now. Work is complete for the night. Have fun now!"
He waved at them and disappeared into the greenery.
Seth stood and took Nyx by the hand. He moved around to the settee
Ogilvie had vacated and sat down, pulling Nyx down beside him. "Have I
told you lately what an exquisite hacker you are?" he murmured in her
diamond studded ear.
A throaty laugh escaped her and she rubbed her hands up his arms,
feeling the strength of his muscles beneath the fine fabric. "You tell
me daily," she whispered, her heavy lidded eyes locked on his. "But I
love hearing you say it."
"You have a way with code that makes me..." His words muffled to a halt
as she pressed her coral mouth to his in a hot, wet kiss.
|
