Chapter 3 The Dosier

Cooper

I hadn’t been able to get her out of my head last night. I had already planned to show up for orientation to find out her last name and hopefully more about her. I had thought perhaps if I indulged in some pussy, it would put me off of her, since I had no idea what had really attracted me to her exactly. When that idea turned me off rather than on, I knew I’d have to follow through with my plans to come to orientation today and find her. 

Dean Winslow was more than accommodating, as I already knew she would be. She was married with two college-aged kids herself, but that never stopped her from flirting with me. I had seen her watch my interaction with her new student very closely. Harley hadn’t even blinked when she’d heard my name, so evidently she had no clue who I was, and I found that fascinating. She also obviously wanted to get away from me. 

That sparked something very new that I hadn’t experienced with a woman: intrigue. She made that predator in me perk up at the thought of needing to pursue her. When so many women threw themselves at my feet and offered up anything in exchange for spending time with me, and perhaps getting their hands on some of my money, the idea of a woman who wanted nothing to do with me and ran the opposite way was very intriguing. 

As soon as she left, I didn’t stick around long. I immediately called Duncan and gave him her full name. By tomorrow morning, he would have a full dossier on her, and I would know everything about her. I found myself almost salivating over finding all of her secrets out. I wondered if there would be something I would be able to use in order to convince her to spend some time with me. I also wondered if I might find out something that would cause me to lose interest.

Somehow I didn’t really think so. In my line of work, my instincts were crucial. At times they could even be considered life and death. When you crossed that illegal line all too often in business, your instincts had to be top-notch to keep you and your business safe from the other sharks that swam in my ocean. I considered myself more of a megalodon than a mere shark, honestly. 

I wasn’t mafia or anything of the sort. I didn’t belong to some simple crime family. Nope, I was the one who all of them came to in order to handle their money, their most precious asset. I was an expert on finances and laundering their money. I owned banks and corporations all over the globe. I could topple governments with the funds at my disposal, and they all knew it. So, they came asking for my favor and my business, not the other way around. To keep on that level, my instincts had to be killer. I also had to love the danger and the kill, so to speak. There was no line I would not cross when it came to being successful and getting what I wanted. 

I wondered how much that might translate to a certain Harley Jacobson. Would I need to figure out a way to bend her to my will and introduce her to the predator that very much existed inside of me? I wondered how she would indeed react to him. She seemed very steady and no-nonsense for one so young, but I’d find out for sure soon. I found myself licking my lips in anticipation. 

The next morning, when I arrived, as I very much expected, Duncan was standing beside my office door waiting for me. I opened it and ushered him in as he handed me the file. He then sat in a chair on the other side of my desk while I perused the information he’d gathered. 

“Is there a particular reason why you had me check her out? She’s one of the most squeaky-clean people I have ever seen. She had perfect grades, almost, but no social life whatsoever. Her grandmother, the one who raised her, however, is most definitely not.” I nodded as I looked over things. 

“She’s never had a boyfriend? Is there a chance she’s had one that just didn’t show up on social media or something?” He shook his head. 

“I dug deep. This girl doesn’t really even have social media; her account page is pretty much empty except for the occasional picture or some sweet thing she saw. She went to school, and that was it. She had a part-time job as a waitress, but even that was rather cut and dry.” I nod once again. 

The thought forming in my head is pounding away, and it surprises me. It is a thought I have never once had before. I will definitely have to think about this for a while. Then I’ll decide how far I want to pursue or push this. I will say this most definitely changes the game entirely. 

I look at Duncan, who happens to be a friend as well as such a valued employee, “I honestly couldn’t tell you why I wanted this. I saw her while driving by, and she caught my eye, and caught it hard enough that I had Pete pull the damn limo over and got out. I went inside some stupid coffee shop on campus in order to talk to her. I annoyed her, and she didn’t want to talk to me. She has no idea who I am at all, and so far has given me the brush-off. I went back to campus yesterday to meet her and get her last name, which she refused to give me at the coffee shop. She couldn’t get away from me fast enough.” He laughed out loud. 

“Oh my god, I can’t remember the last time you got the brush-off. I’m not even sure you have ever gotten the brush-off.” I nodded. 

“I am honestly not sure where this is going, if anywhere. I just knew I had to get my hands on all of her information. I also know that I am intrigued by her, and her brush-off has actually made the predator in me perk up. So, I need to figure out what it is about her that is hitting me so hard.” He nodded. 

“Well, just keep me in the loop. If you decide to do something with all of this and I end up needing to cover your ass, I need to be aware of what’s happening to do that.” I laughed and nodded. 

That was another reason he was such a good friend. His ability to cross that line right along with me and not blink. Now, I just needed to figure out what it honestly was about Harley that had me mesmerized.