Blackout Sam

Chapter 3

Mason Black sat at his desk, seething with anger. His fingers were curled into fists and he ground his teeth. How the hell did Samantha Green manage to get wind of his illicit business dealings? Why was she here asking about a merger which was a carefully crafted cover for a change in power within the Italian Mafia? How had she done it? And more importantly, what was she planning to do with that information?

He scoffed at the last question. What was she going to do with the information? Wasn't it obvious that she was going to ruin him? The moment she wrote, tweeted, or hinted at anything at all concerning him, every single law enforcement agency in the country and beyond would begin to look into his business.

"f**k," he cursed. It was the last thing he needed, not now, not ever.

Manson rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. This was not how he had planned things. He had thought he had covered his tracks well enough, but not well enough to fool someone like Samantha Green. He wondered what would have happened if he hadn't gotten the tip earlier and met her at the gate. Miss Green was tenacious and relentless. He'd seen solid empires crumble to her feet.

Mason sighed and leaned back in his chair, unfurling and furling his fingers as he tried to streamline his thoughts. His eyes fell on his computer screen where her profile picture was on display. He had looked her up after their unexpected encounter, and now his eyes were attached to her like they'd been when he found her at the gate.

As angry as he was to see her there, he couldn't help but notice how surprisingly attractive Samantha was. She was beautiful, he couldn't deny that. He had expected her to be a plain, frumpy journalist, but she was anything but. Manson had noticed it when he first saw her, and now, looking at her picture up close, he was struck again by just how attractive she was. Her cropped auburn hair framed her face in a way that was weird and attractive.

Her eyes were a bright, stormy green that seemed to sparkle in the light and betwitch. And her lips... he had to shake himself out of it. He couldn't let himself get distracted by her features. She was his enemy, after all. He needed to find a way to stop her, and fast. He couldn't afford to have his reputation and business ruined by a nosy journalist.

He picked up the phone and called his assistant. "Find out everything you can about Samantha Green," he ordered. "I want to know how she got that information and who she's been talking to. Tighten up any loose ends and make sure there's no way she can find out anything else."

"Noted sir," His assistant responded.

"Before I forget, get me someone that works at her publication. Don't tell me s**t about all of them being upstanding. There's got to be some fool we can use. He mustn't be vile, he can be someone greedy, or jealous or might even be in some sort of competition with Miss Green."

"Okay, Sir."

"I also need information about every single person on my payroll. I need details of their movement for the past week,"

"Yes Sir, the staff has been notified." She responded.

"Good," he said, cutting the call.

Mason leaned back in his chair again, staring at Samantha's picture as he thought of a way to stop her from exposing him. His mind wandered back to their encounter. He had seen her struggling to put her emotions in check as soon as she saw him and noted the look of fear in her eyes when he had warned her to watch her back. But he had also seen something else in her eyes... a spark of something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. It was almost as if she was challenging him, daring him to try and stop her.

He smiled to himself. Maybe he could use that to his advantage. He picked up the phone again as an idea flashed in his head but dropped it back. It was too early for what he was planning. Realizing that he had gotten caught up in thoughts about a woman who wanted to bring him down at all costs he got up from his desk and began pacing about.

Manson needed something, anything to surprise Samantha. When she'd spoken, she had been Cocky and too self-assured for his liking. He wondered what it would be like to kiss those full, pink lips of hers, to run his fingers through her hair, to feel her body pressed up against his...

He shook himself out of it again. He couldn't let himself get distracted by his attraction to her. This was business, nothing more. No, it was even more and it irked him that he was getting distracted.

This phone rang and he dashed toward it.

"Jules," he said to his assistant.

"Sir," her voice wavered and his heart lurched. He sensed that she was about to tell him something that would irritate him.

"Speak Jules," He bit out.

He heard her take a deep breath, then clear her throat. "It's Andrew. He-he was arrested at a crime scene. He's on his way…"

Automatically, Manson pounded his fist on his desk as he growled into the phone. Just the door swung open and Andrew stepped in with a haughty smile.

Manson's head swerved in his direction.

"Thank you, Jules. I'll handle things from here."

"Good evening boss," Andrew said, raking his hair as he strode towards a seat.

"Don't you dare," Manson growled,

Andrew froze in a spot and then observed Manson's expression for the first time.

"Boss?" He said, raising a brow.

Manson slowly straightened his body and crossed his arms as he leaned on the desk.

"Where have you been?" He hissed,

Andrew's eyes grew wide and his jaw slacked.

"You said you'd finished the Cannizzo job without any complications so why the f**k am I hearing that you were arrested?"

Andrew's shoulders immediately slacked, "Nothing's changed boss. An eyewitness description fit my physique and you know the boys are always looking for an opportunity to pin me down," he said easily.

The word eye witness rang in Manson's head.

"Eye witness," he hissed, his lips tightening into a frown and his voice ice cold.

Andrew's mouth clamped shut and his eyes trained on the floor below him.

"I'm sorry boss," he murmured.

"Sorry?" Manson retorted, his face becoming expressionless and his eyes even colder as he straightened then walked back to his chair and sat down.

"Guess who was here today?"

Andrew swallowed, unable to meet his boss's eyes.

"I-I answered their questions, but it ain't me they saw. I swear boss, I don't fit the description…" he rambled, "... It ain't tied to you. Not one bit."

With his eyes fixated on Andrew, Manson began drumming his fingers.

"Do you know who was here today," he repeated cooly.

"If it was the police. I swear to god, they just trying to shake us. They've got nothing and want to pin the blame on the next person. They are desperate. I…."

"Shut up!" Manson growled jumping to his feet. "Samantha Green left this office moments ago. Do you understand what that means?"