Embraced by Fire (11 page)

“I don’t know. I always picked you with guys like Edward.”

“Edward, our accountant, Edward?”

“Yes, he’s polite and a snappy dresser. He knows his wines and likes the opera. He epitomizes the civilized male. Sex with Edward is all please and thank-you. Mac, on the other hand, is raw, barely-tamed masculinity. Sex with him would be fire and fervour.” Rachael crossed her legs and squeezed her thighs together with a shiver.

“I don’t know where to start with that statement. That you’ve obviously had sex with Edward—”

“Yes.”

“Or that you think I’d suit a man like Edward—”

“Yes.”

“Or that sex with Ryu would be a conflagration.” Fire and fervour indeed, this time Kait was the one to shiver.

“Ooo, good word. And yes, oh yes, to that last one. Except he’s gay.”

“Stop saying that.”

“I just wanted a reaction.” Rachael sniggered. “I can’t believe you fancy him.”

“I’ve kind of liked him for years,” Kait confessed reluctantly.

“What?” Rachael’s eyes widened.

“I went to school with him.” Kait fiddled with her broken pen.

Rachael leaned forward. “Oh. My. God. He’s your high school crush.”

“Yes.” Kait felt herself blushing.

“Does he know you liked him?”

“No.” Realising she was almost shouting, Kait moderated her voice. “If you tell him, I’ll kill you.”

Rachael zipped her fingers across her lips. “My lips are sealed.”

“He was always nice to me. He stopped some kids teasing me for being a carrot-top once.”

Rachael looked over at Ryu who was juggling unlit torches. “Seriously, Kait, nice is the last word I’d used to describe him. People change. He might have been a great kid but...”

“I’m sure he’s changed. Everyone’s changed since school, but I don’t think your fundamental nature changes. Even back then, he was nothing like Edward.” Kait added the last with a glare, still struggling to cope with the idea Rachael saw the accountant as her type.

It made her wonder how Rachael really saw her, how other people in general saw her. She tried to shrug off the depressing thought that everyone only saw sensible-Kait. They never looked deeper to see the crazy-wanton-adventurous-Kait she was inside. Ryu probably only saw sensible-Kait, she thought, depression refusing to be shrugged away.

“Did he have loads of girlfriends?” Rachael asked, watching Ryu and, damn it, she was licking her lips again.

“No, I only remember two in the year before he left school and they were both short lived.”

“I hate to say it but that backs up my gay theory.”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” Kait stood and looked at her clipboard. “Not only don’t I want to, but I don’t have time. Plus, I need to find a new pen.”

“Don’t think I’m going to give up on this one,” Rachael said, as Kait walked away. “If I’m wrong about him being gay, I’ll cede you first shot at him. Just for the fun of watching you struggle to tame him.”

Kait looked over her shoulder. “I wouldn’t try. Men like him are no fun once they’re tame.”

****

Ryu put down the torches he was juggling and pretended to look over his setup while actually keeping a sharp eye on the Fantasia Alive staff. Rachael finished talking to Kait and began a series of warm-up stretches that made him wince. People weren’t supposed to bend like that.

He watched the blonde contortionist for a while. She’d worked at Fantasia Alive long enough to be involved, and her conversation with Deron was still in the back of Ryu’s mind. But she seemed more interested in managing men than managing a con. However, he hadn’t been in the business this long without learning appearances could be deceiving.

Screeech!
He jerked his head around to where Johnny stood in front of the sound system, the feedback squeal ringing in his ears.

“Sorry, everyone,” Johnny called out cheerfully, pushing his long chestnut hair out of his face.

Johnny had also worked at Fantasia Alive long enough to be involved, although Ryu hoped not for Kait’s sake. He watched as the other man pulled on headphones and began bobbing his head to a beat only he could hear as he adjusted sound levels. After talking to him earlier Ryu was sure Johnny had the technical savvy to be involved.

Johnny had also been around long enough to have the low down on the rest of the staff and he didn’t hesitate to gossip. A trait Ryu encouraged. He grinned as he remembered the way Johnny warned him about Rachael.

“She eats men and spits them out, Mac. You want to be careful around that one.”

“Maybe I’ll bite back.”

Johnny laughed. “I tried that, her teeth were bigger. She’s one hungry woman.”

Thinking about food, Ryu turned his attention to Debbie and Mike, the caterers Fantasia Alive worked with. They hadn’t been around long enough to be involved, so unless they were late entrants he could rule them out.

Ryu let his gaze rove and saw David, the MC, talking to Mike. David fell into the same category as Johnny, not only had he been employed long enough, but he appeared to have the tech know-how. Ryu mentally ticked through the other four performers scoring their likelihood of being involved.

“Five minutes, everyone.” Kait’s voice broke his train of thought.

Ryu had been impressed with her organisational prowess at the kid’s party and again tonight. It was no surprise Victor left her in charge. Victor “Secret-room” Strange almost never turned up to events. Neither did the accountant, Edward Heath, for that matter. They were both long shots. However, they could be involved behind the scenes or acting as the masterminds. Edward had the skills, but Ryu wasn’t sure he had the
chutzpah
.

Victor was a more elusive prospect. Ryu’s intuition told him there was very little the man couldn’t do. The part of Ryu that was always dragon recognised another predator. Victor had a history of working in powerful companies, and you didn’t get those positions without being tough. However, just because the man could, didn’t mean he would.

Laughter and shuffling feet alerted him to the approaching crowd before the doors swung open. He picked up a few household objects and began juggling them. Kait had suggested he didn’t start using fire until the dinner show when the lights dimmed, as it would make more impact.

Of course, the end of dinner wasn’t the end of the evening. Once the dancing started the performers would mingle and continue impressing the punters. Ryu winked at a pretty woman who was staring spellbound as a vase, cell phone, coffee mug, and screwdriver spun around his head. The woman blushed prettily and called one of her friends over to watch him.

More people drifted over, while others stared in amazement at the way their conference room was transformed for the night. Mini ice sculptures decorated each table, lit from below so they glowed with an eerie blue light, while fake stalactites dangled from above. There were two long buffet tables; one covered with ice and serving chilled delights, the other served hot food and had several large candelabras down the middle, fake silk flames dancing high.

Bracketing the entrance were two large pillars and the huge boards they’d painted the other day. One for ice, the other for flame. The staff were also dressed to represent either flames or icicles. Ryu’s costume was similar to the one he’d worn to the kid’s party. Black trousers with flames up the side, but instead of a plain black shirt, the front and back panels of this one were embellished with embroidered flames.

The tablecloths were patterned like snowflakes and the bar looked like it was made of ice. There were disco balls with lights changing through the night from the cold blues and ultra-violets of ice, to the reds and oranges of fire. A huge, erupting volcano filled the stage backdrop, and clever lighting finished the effect, making the walls look alive with flame.

Having helped decorate the room, some of the magic was lost on Ryu. Besides, his focus wasn’t on the décor, it was on the Fantasia Alive staff. For the data thief, tonight was a perfect opportunity—and Ryu was ready.

Chapter 12

Kait leaned against the wall in the corridor outside the main conference room, and let out a deep satisfied breath. Music seeped through the closed doors, a sign of the ongoing gaiety inside. The show had gone off without a hitch. The CEO had come over after dinner and given her his thanks in person, something that didn’t always happen. Now everyone was enjoying themselves, dancing and watching the performers who moved through the crowd.

Ryu in particular was a big hit, especially with the women. Kait had seen his charm in action when he auditioned for the job, but it was even more evident tonight. She rested her head against the wall. She was kidding herself if she thought she stood a chance with him. Dynamic, sexy men were never interested in her. Why had she thought, even for a minute, that was going to change? Oh, and Rachael thought he was gay. Wasn’t that just the icing on the cake?

Her euphoria over a satisfactory night drained away. She slid down the wall until she rested on her heels. Rachael had been shooting her roguish looks all night, taunting her to make a play for Ryu. Kait knew the other girl expected her to fail spectacularly. Rachael’s lack of faith hurt, especially since Kait felt the same pitiful lack of confidence.

The soulful creak of the door opening made Kait press back further against the wall, hoping a potted fern would hide her. It was probably someone coming to find her and she didn’t feel like going back yet. She wasn’t quite ready to smile like nothing was wrong.

Crouching as still as possible, she listened. The sound of footsteps was curiously absent. She glanced cautiously between the fern fronds. A man stood in front of the closed door, his back to her as he peered down the corridor.

She squinted in the dim light, trying to identify him. He turned his head, looking toward her, and the light shone clearly onto his face. It was Johnny. She was about to stand up and let him know where she was, when he turned and began walking down the corridor away from her.

What the hell?

Where was he going? He was supposed to be manning the music not wandering about. There were restrooms off the main room so it couldn’t be that. A puzzled frown crept between her eyes as he stopped in front of the bank of elevators and pressed one of the buttons. She didn’t like the way he kept looking over his shoulder to check the corridor was empty.

The lift chimed, the door slid open, and Johnny got in. The light inside the elevator revealed he was holding a small black bag. This was weird. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Kait stood up and hurried over to see at which floor it stopped.

Six.

She glanced over her shoulder, the corridor was still empty. She reached across to press the “up” button then stopped, her fist clenching. She didn’t know why, but she didn’t want Johnny hearing the lift bing when it got to the sixth floor. Another glance at the empty corridor and she walked quickly over to the stairwell.

Her breath was fighting its way out of her lungs in sharp pants by the time she reached the sixth floor. Cripes, she was out of shape. She rested against the wall for a moment, then pushed open the door, wondering what the hell she was doing.

Her mind rebelled at the idea Johnny might be up to no good, and if he was, she was hardly qualified to stop him. Although, as a friend she should at least investigate. She poked her head around the doorjamb and looked about nervously.

No one.

Excruciatingly aware she shouldn't be here, she stepped into the corridor and walked quietly around the corner toward the cubical farm making up the majority of the floor. She scanned the room for Johnny, but couldn’t see his head poking above any of the partitions. Crud, this was creepy.

Wiping sweaty palms on her skirt, she walked further into the room, her ears pricked for any sound. Although how she was going to hear anything over her frenetic heartbeat she didn’t know. A sharp tapping from her right made her gulp and duck behind a partition.

Apprehensively she waited. When the sound continued uninterrupted she let out a relieved breath and made her way, half-walking, half-crouching, toward it. Her heart beat in time to the tapping—far too fast.

The sound suddenly stopped and with a clench so did her heart.

She blinked hard. Her heart started again with a thump, although her breath refused to move from where it lodged in her throat. Keeping low, she leaned around the corner of a partition. Johnny was kneeling next to the wall, screwing a white plug cover back in place. The frown between her brows deepened and her fingers dug into the carpet.

Huh? This was seriously not right.

Johnny began picking things up off the floor and putting them back into his bag. She leaned further forward, trying to get a better look at what he was doing.

Crack!
She leaned too far, bumping into the partition she crouched beside and smacking it against a desk.

She froze.

Johnny froze.

Time seemed to slow as Johnny turned toward the sound. Shit! She pulled her head back, hoping he hadn’t seen her. Shit.
Shit!

She saw his head above the partitions as he leapt to his feet, and she heard him grab his bag. She scrambled backwards as fast as she could. Had he seen her? Her foot bumped the corner of a desk. The shadowy darkness underneath beckoned and she saw her possible salvation.

She darted under the desk.
Please don’t see me
, she whispered silently.
Please don’t see me
. Rapid footsteps approached her hiding place. Ice flooded her veins and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Please don’t see me
.

The footsteps didn’t stop.

They hurried past.

She opened her eyes. The footsteps slowed, then halted altogether. Crud. She could imagine Johnny looking around for the source of the sound.
Looking for her
. She held her breath as he retraced his steps. Whatever he was doing, he obviously wasn’t finished. She heard him muttering under his breath as he went past. Had he seen her?