15 The Lonely CEO

Dane

Dane said goodnight to the security guard in the reception area of his penthouse, then dropped his keys in the little glass bowl he'd found at some street market. He loved the color of blue that swirled through it, flecked with silver.

With a heavy sigh, he stood for a moment in the entryway of the massive penthouse apartment and just stared.

His apartment took up almost the entire top floor of the building. It wasn't the tallest building in the city, but that was because he hadn't wanted to draw attention to himself. But even without that, he loved it. This apartment had floor-to-ceiling windows in every room except the bathroom and bedroom.

He couldn't stand the feeling of being closed in. How people lived in those boxes of apartments with tiny windows and dark walls . . . he couldn't understand.

Here, from this central part of the Penthouse, with no lights on yet, he could see all the lights of the city on two sides, and knew as soon as he stepped through the door to his right, he'd see another open wall of light and space. It helped him relax, having so much air and light around. Even in the dark, the Penthouse was never without light.

He flipped the lights on and the whole place came to life—the dark squatting shapes to his right became brown leather couches that made a huge U shape in the center of the living area, facing the wall with the television on it. The black lines near the window materialized into a full dining set, twelve feet long that could seat a dozen people comfortably.

To his left, a wide doorway led into the Chef's Kitchen he'd had installed when he arrived. The previous owners had been too full of their own importance to do something so menial as to cook. But Dane loved to cook. So much that sometimes he wished he had others to cook for.

Snorting at his own pathetic self-pity, he walked deeper into the Penthouse, toward the bedroom to change his clothes.

It was a relief to be alone, he told himself. He'd always made sure that any housekeeping or restocking of the kitchen was done by trusted staff, and only while he was at work. He didn't like having anyone else in the house while he was there. It made his neck itch.

The important staff were all in this building, and accessible if he needed them. The corner of this floor that wasn't made up of his residence housed a conference room that could seat twenty, and a smaller, central database bay like his office.

If he'd needed to, he could have avoided going to the office altogether. But Dane had always felt it was important to be seen by the teams. He could feel when there was a problem, and it meant he'd always be close if something went wrong.

The mental image of Delilah flipping Christian popped into his head, and he grinned again. That was the funniest thing he'd seen in years. That's the kind of thing he would have missed by taking advantage of his ability to work from home.

No, he would always force himself to go to the office and be a part of what was happening there. It was the only way to ensure everyone was as diligent about watching over the clients as Dane did himself.

Then his memory shifted to the moment he'd seen the horror on Delilah's face. The way her hands trembled.

He frowned, and pulled off his shirt and tie of with quick tugs, carefully folding the pants over a hanger, but throwing the shirt into a laundry basket in his closet before heading into the bathroom for a shower.

On his way, his eye caught on the picture of the beautiful young woman that sat on his bedside table. He paused for a moment and picked it up, examining the photo that had become so familiar, he almost wondered if he would even remember what she looked like if he didn't have it.

"We got a new staff member today," he said quietly, his voice gruff. But he knew she wouldn't care. Whenever he'd been moody or sullen, she's just teased him and laughed at him until he smiled. "She is... interesting. But I think someone hurt her..."

Dane swallowed and touched the woman's face, but refused to let himself sink into the memories that waited for him in her smile.

He had a purpose in this world, now. Thanks to her. That's what he had to focus on.

He replaced the picture, making sure it was at the right angle to be seen when he woke up, then started, naked, for the bathroom. He held his chin up and remembered his resolve.

He had lost one woman, far too young. But it had set him on this path.

Dane Daniels would do his damnedest to make sure no woman he knew would ever die a violent death again.

Ever.

No matter what lengths he had to go to.

Rolling his neck, he quickly washed off the sweat and grime of the challenging day, pulled on a soft sweater and his favorite lounge pants, then headed to the kitchen to see what inspired him.

He hummed a quiet song as he pulled out steak, mixed a marinade, then began to chop vegetables. His mind kept turning back to Delilah Farris. She was a puzzle. Somehow strong and weak at the same time. Courageous despite her fear. Bold, despite her weakness.

He didn't understand her, and that tugged at him like a thread caught on a nail.

Whatever she had been through, or whatever she faced, he was glad she was in the building now. At least he could provide that level of safety to his staff. All of them.

She just better learn to stop pointing fingers and talking to him like he was a child. He liked her. Was intrigued by her. And he had hope that she'd be able to help him save his business from his brother's stupid mistake.

But she better understand who was boss, or they were going to have some problems.