Merina hesitated at calling her father. He’d left so many messages and warnings by the time she’d finished with Ana. Did she want to offer him an opportunity? Did she act petty and not return his calls? Merina didn’t expect any inheritance from him. She never recovered from being sent away to school, which became her home for a significant portion of her life. Her family, after the first year, claimed they couldn’t look after her at home during the second and third year. They hired someone for holidays to mind her. The nanny kept her in the city near the school, making her feel like a prisoner instead of a child on summer vacation. No one wanted her during Christmas vacations. The fourth year Merina refused to return home when her father called for her and as she’d turned eighteen, she went on a holiday trip by herself instead. She learned of her father’s distress upon realizing she didn’t follow the summons. Her rebellion began during that vacation and has con

Merina had the manners to appear on time for their meeting. He’d arranged this meeting not to discuss her career and business plan. Conner aimed to solidify the narrative of their collaboration since the beginning. That way, he could prevent anyone else from trying to charge her for espionage later or questioning that. “Ah, here she is now, gentlemen. The lady we’ve been speaking about, my wife, Merina O’Keefe. Merina, this is Chief Inspector Billings. He’s leading the investigation into the Mandela’s, and this is my head accountant, Gregory Van Clief. The Inspector blinked and raised a finger. “Ms. MacGregor? I’m sorry my connections didn’t pass on that you’d married. I’m happy to see you again. Somehow, I should have connected you to the MacGregor family.” “Hello, Chief Inspector. I wasn’t aware you were connected to the investigation, or I would have called you myself. Conner and I married in haste days ago. No, I tried to keep my fam

“Who is your stepfather?” Jeff knew who her stepfather was. He wanted to hear her admit it. If he knew her family, Jeff would have treated her differently. He wouldn’t have tested her by taking her to places he considered were beneath him. “Jordan Foster.” Jeff watched her. She sounded embarrassed and almost ashamed to admit this. At least, she understood the error she’d made. “Ana. Why didn’t you tell me?” “I don’t tell anyone. His lifestyle isn’t mine.” Jeff knew Jordan Foster as a wealthy man, but few knew about his stepdaughter. It took Jeff the rest of the afternoon to get information on her. It proved challenging because of the lack of resources. She’d been a troubled teen who rebelled against her mother’s second marriage. Then, when she could get away from her family, she’d done so. Though her stepfather tried to force her to stay in touch. “Why did you attend a private school and work for a society girl?”

The meeting went well enough, Conner thought. He caught sight of a new side of Merina. Now he had messages piling up from friends and business associates about information they’d heard. He’d spent his afternoon putting out fires. He’d assume these rumors and hints at financial disaster were Lillian, Joseph, and Gabriella’s doing. It all appeared to revolve around them. “David, you’re not crazy right?” “No, never had a problem. Why?” “Merina is as crazy as you are. As for the police officer stupidity. She knows she’s not a police officer. She has a much more flexible and diverse position. I can tell you that she’s an expert in her field and consults with the police when they call upon her. She works with law enforcement all over the world. That’s why she didn’t come home. The woman tracks electronic transfers of money and information. Agencies, businesses, and people hire her when they need help learning where the money went missing.”

Conner gave her a moment to arrange herself in the ladies’ room on the upper floor. They’d lucked out that the security staff hadn’t done their rounds while they were there. But the wicked thrill had given her heart a workout. Merina would admit to anyone but Conner that his performance was something she’d never tire of. Even now she could feel him giving her his all, and Merina’s knees were still a little weak from her orgasm. It went through her body and didn’t miss overwhelming any of her senses. Every nerve in her body tingled. Conner put naughty and made the forbidden tempting. “Are you ready to make your entrance as Mrs. O’Keefe?” “What we did makes me want to go home and sleep. I think you short-circuited my brain. I can’t form a sentence right now. Merina said. She’d make him rue this day, if he’d made her unable to defend herself in front of these people. Conner smiled at her as he took her arm. “Then you must stand close to me