“And I hate when you don’t let me ignore them,” I reply, stepping behind my desk and setting the file down, only to have the intercom buzz and Jessica announce, “Seth is here.”
Seth appears in the doorway a moment later, shutting the door behind him. We exchange a look of understanding, both of us stepping to my window, staring out at the city, while I update him on my morning. “This is not a good time for me to leave the country,” he says.
“I don’t trust anyone else to go to my father and A, keep this confidential and B, actually convince him to sign the documents.”
He glances at me, his expression tight. “There isn’t anyone else,” he concedes. “I don’t trust Ramon to leave and stay gone. I’ll need to meet with Nick and ensure he has Ramon under his thumb while I’m away.”
“Just make sure your people let me know when he does leave.”
“Just assume he hasn’t left even if he seems to have left,” Seth says. “That’s the safe bet here.”
It’s not the answer I want, but I give a nod, and he immediately moves back to the topic of Germany. “When will you have the contracts ready for me to take?”
“A few hours.”
“Then I’ll book the last flight out tonight to ensure they’re ready.” He heads to the door, and I’m already sitting at my desk, opening the file Emily gave me, my mind on the need to have my father sign off on a purchase if we make one. And after a quick scan of the numbers Emily has promised look good, I’m impressed enough to pick up the phone and call the analyst I have working with Emily.
“Make an offer,” I order. “But keep this between us. I want it to be a surprise for Emily.”
We talk through terms, and when I end the call, a smile curves my lips. Emily was forced to give up her legal career or risk being found by her brother’s hacker thugs, but this fashion brand excites her. So I’m planning on offering her more than a ring when I propose. I’m going to give her a future that’s her creation and pride and joy, not just mine.
EMILY
I text Cody my plan to go downstairs to the mail center, as well as to the coffee shop, giving him an FYI on my every move, even in the building, as he’s instructed me to do. Once I’ve sent the message, my phone in hand, I head to the elevator, stepping onto the car, where I punch the button for the lobby level. The car starts to move, and my phone buzzes with Cody’s reply: We’ve got eyes on you.
Stuffing my phone into my dress pocket, I crinkle my nose, finding it a bit unnerving to know that if I make a funny face in the mirror or fix my hose, someone has eyes on me. But it’s short-term, as little as two weeks, it seems, and I can handle that, and do so with a smile. I mean, I’m in love with a brilliant, charming, sexy, smart man who I can bare my soul to, be just plain naked inside and out with, and feel safe with. How can I not smile?
The elevator dings with my arrival to the lobby, and I exit, my steps light as I walk to the mail center and stop at the desk. “You should have a delivery for Mr. Brandon of Brandon Enterprises,” I say to the fortysomething female customer service rep.
“I do,” the woman confirms, handing me an envelope marked David Brandon—Urgent. Brow furrowing, I step away from the desk and open it, finding a handwritten note:
Emily,
This is Teresa. I’m Adrian Martina’s sister, and I’m in love with Derek. I need to talk to you. I’m in the coffee shop. I know you have to call your people. And that’s fine. Just please don’t let them make a big scene. I can’t let it be known I was here, and I mean you no harm at all, but, of course, they will worry that I do.
A friend,
Teresa
I inhale, remove my phone from my dress pocket, and dial Cody, filling him in on the situation when he answers and then reading him the note. “What do you think?” I ask.
“I think it’s odd,” he says, offering nothing more. “I’m in the building. Stay there, and I’ll walk with you to the coffee shop.”
“You think it’s okay for me to talk to her?”
“If she’s really alone, then I don’t see why not. But I’m going to have our team check the security footage before we head that way. I’ll see you in about one minute.”
“Got it,” I say. “I’ll be here waiting.” We end the call, and I pace the tiny mail center until Cody rounds the corner, dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt, no gun in sight, but I am comforted by the idea that somewhere on his person, there’s one hidden.
“We’re just waiting for a call from my team to clear us to go to the coffee shop,” he says, taking the letter from me and reading it himself before handing it back to me. “This is interesting, for sure.”
“You said it’s odd.”
“And interesting.”
“I think it’s about Derek,” I say.
“Seems like a reasonable assumption.” His phone buzzes with a text, and he pulls it from his front pocket and glances at it before looking at me. “We’re good to go,” he says, sticking his cell back into his pants pocket. “Nothing suspicious on the security feed, aside from a drug cartel princess being in the building. She’s wearing a blue scarf over her head that looks suited for the blue dress she’s wearing, which kept her from being flagged.” He motions to the lobby. “Let’s do this if we’re going to do it.”
Anxious to find out what Teresa has to say, worried for Derek, but also worried she might deliver news that jeopardizes Shane’s plan to exit Brandon Pharmaceuticals, I start a brisk walk across the lobby to the coffee shop. “I’m staying with you,” Cody announces as we arrive, both of us pausing in the entryway and scanning to find Teresa sitting at a back corner table, reading a book, unaware we’ve arrived and clearly prepared to wait all day if she has to.
“She won’t talk with you at the table,” I say. “You can’t sit with us. You can see me from here.”
“I’ll sit at the table next to you,” he stubbornly insists.
“Cody—”
“This isn’t a negotiation.”
I sigh. “Fine. But let me sit down with her first and tell her who you are.”
He gives a short incline of his head and I step forward, weaving through displays and small tables, until I am sliding into the seat across from Teresa. She looks up and then jumps, her brown eyes going wide before recognition fills them and then relief. “You’re here.”
“Yes,” I say, struck by the sweet quality she naturally radiates. “And so is my security person.” As if on cue, Cody claims a chair at the next table, just out of hearing range.
Teresa glances at him and waves, which isn’t at all what I expect. “He’s smart to protect you,” she says, looking at me. “My family isn’t exactly angelic.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
“Completely. Thank you for talking with me.”
“Of course,” I say.
She laces her fingers together. “You know Derek and I are dating, I assume.”
“I do,” I say.
“I love him. Lord knows, he makes that hard at times, but I do, which is why I need to know something from you. I hope you can help.”
“I’m listening.”