I winced away from the investor's grasp around my waist, his hold just a fraction too hard before I was able to extract myself. Tobias stood two feet behind me, but already I could feel the tension in his stance. His normally good-natured self bristled up, his jaw working double time with tension as his eyes narrowed even more.

"Mr. Caldwell," I spat coldly, moving away from his touch. "Pleasure to see you."

"Good, my pleasure," he replied with a disarming, self-satisfied grin as he ran his ...