my offi

She had only been in her job for a week, yet it felt as if her entire life had

id, his voice lo

ide with caution. Carson sat at his desk, h

nd sit," he urged

old, anxiously tucking

, "I've got a ne

his attention to her. "It is a little outside the scope

her throat was dry. "What

sed over her. "I need you to obtain information on a certai

peated, perplexed. "W

nto a smile. "The kind t

heart skip a bea

need you to look into it. Find out all you can about who makes

as far above her expectations, but what did s

ow if I'm comfor

"You do not have an option, Ashley. You signed the contract or are y

d signed her life away. "What exactly is this har

at is none of your concern. All you have to do is

eling entrapped.

ile grew. "

*

clue what type of technology Carson was referring to, but it didn't sound like anything she

atabases, looking for any hints of the devices Carson referenced.

ease the tension. She couldn't afford to mess th

*

opened, and Ashley jumped. Carson approa

ave what

g on it. I discovered some information

ed across her desk, grabbing its ed

gged. "I'll finish it

rowed. "What have

tlining the limited information she had acquired. Carson liste

ood up, his face frigid.

ss of his disapproval. "I apologize; I

ilures, Ashley," he hissed. "If you can't do the

hley mumbled, her pulse bea

w and menacing. "Do you think this is a game?" This is my life, my

o something boiling beneath the surface. His displeasure was not only professional; it was also p

said, trying to sound bold, "I am

something she couldn't qu

. "I can do it, Carson.

lence, and the tension

forward, his body

ut just don't ruin this up for me. "M

nodded, "I wo

minute longer, his eyes black with unidentified emotions. Then he

does he need t