by T N Lowe
The blond-haired receptionist looks up from her computer, inconvenience written on her face, “You are….?” She asks in a high pitched, nasally voice.
“Rylie Love,” I answer.
“Take a seat,” she instructs, pointing to a small sitting area. “I’ll call and see if Agent Ramirez is available.”
Walking to the seating area my heels click on the tile floor, I sit in a hard, plastic blue chair and pull my phone from my Coach purse. As I wait for Tomas, I type an email to a junior partner about an upcoming merger case he needs assistance with. Hitting send, I look up to see a man in a dark suit walking towards me. The man comes closer, and I see it is Tomas, “Wow, you clean up nice,” I joke. “I almost didn’t recognize you.” Looking him over I see hits of his tattoos peeking out from under his shirt collar and cuffs.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” Tomas quips back. “But I have to say, I like the sundress better than the power suite.”
“Me too, but my law firm has a strict dress code. And sundresses didn’t make the cut.”
“Their loss. Now what brings you all the way to Virginia?”
A genuine giggle escapes my lips, “You make it sound like Virginia is a different country.”
“With the traffic you had to of fought coming from Columbia Heights, it could be.”
“It wasn’t too bad this morning. To answer your question, I came to thank you for helping Shauna and me escape from Calvo’s place. I also wanted to apologize for my brother’s behavior. He can be a bit overprotective at times.”
“You don’t have to thank me for saving you or apologize for your brother. I’m protective of my family too.”
“Will you at least let me take you to dinner to say thank you for everything?”
“No, but I will take you to dinner. Our first date,” Tomas, says with a cocky gleam in his eye.
In response, I narrow my eyes, “You think you’re so smart, don’t you?”
Tomas chuckles, “I am smart. I’ll pick you at eight,” he says then walks back to his office.
Dumbfounded by how this visit went from me thanking Tomas to him asking me on a date, I walk to the door and hear the receptionist whisper, “Lucky bitch,” as I push through the front door.
I slide onto the leather back seat of the black Lincoln Town Car Patrick insisted I use while Erin and Fi-Fi try to locate the mole.
“Where to ma’am?” The driver asks as I shut the door.
“The law firm, please.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the driver answers, pulling away from the building.
An hour and a half later, the driver drops me off at the law firm, Field, Love, and Reyes. Thanking the driver I rush into the sixth story glass building. “Welcome back,” Linda, the front desk person and operator, waves as I walk through the door. “Mr. Love would like to see you right away.”
“Thank you, Linda,” I say, giving her a sweet smile. Linda has worked at this firm for as long as I can remember. Dad worked here before he became a judge. When I was little Dad used to bring me to the office, I would lie on my belly in front of his desk and color or read a book. When Dad had to meet with a client or another lawyer, Linda would take me to the ice cream place down the street.
The partners have offered her promotions, and to even send her back to school to become a legal secretary or paralegal, but Linda has refused every time, saying she is happy where she is. To be honest, she is probably one of the highest-paid receptionists in the city.
Stopping by my cubical in the bullpen area, I toss my purse in the top drawer. Moving to the elevator, I take it to the sixth floor where Liam’s office is, Dad’s old office. Liam’s door is open, so I walk in and plop in the seat across from his. Liam is the spitting image of our dad when he was younger with black hair and bright green eyes. Sitting across from him, it’s like I’m five years old again. “What’s up, big bro?”
When Liam took Dad’s old office, he didn’t change a thing. He eased into the old creaky leather chair and got to work. The walls are a dark hunter green, the floor-to-ceiling windows are still covered by old, white plastic vertical blinds, and, much to the cleaning crew’s dismay, the floor is covered in the same dark brown shag carpet.
“Hi baby sis,” Liam smiles, coming around the desk. Tugging me from the chair, he hugs me so tight I squeak in pain. “Are you okay? Did those monsters hurt you?”
“No, they didn’t hurt me. They wanted to use me for my connection to Patrick. Shauna was not so lucky; her father-in-law did quite a number on her.”
“You sure you’re okay? Are you ready to be back a work? It’s only been a few days.”
“I’m fine and work will help take my mind off of everything.”
“Okay, but if you need anything, tell me.”
“I will. Now, how are my nephews? I plan on coming to see Hui and the boys this weekend.”
Liam married Hui Chin five years ago. Like other couples in The Family, they had an arranged marriage. Hui’s father is the leader of the Chinese Triad; he was amendable to his daughter marrying Liam to solidify his membership to The Family. Liam and Hui’s story isn’t as dramatic as Patrick and Lena’s, Erin and Landon’s, or Shauna and Maks’, but it wasn’t easy either. It took them a year of dating and a year of marriage before they became the perfect couple they are today.
“The boys are perfect and Hui will love to see you. She has been beside herself with worry for you two. And now with this whole mole situation, she is driving herself crazy,” Liam confesses, returning to his seat.
“Tell her not to worry; Erin and Fi-Fi are looking into it and they’ll find him or her. And Maks will not stop until he finds whoever is helping Gennadi.”
“True.”
“I guess I should get back to my desk. I’m sure it is overflowing with work,” I say standing.
“Wait,” Liam orders. “I have a case I need your help on,” he says, walking to the door and shutting it.
“Me? I’m a first-year associate,” I question.
“We both know you have a better legal mind than most of the senior associates. I need you because this case requires a sharp eye for mergers and commercial contracts. You worked in the Kindred Corp legal department for the last two summers, and their contracts are absurd. So these shouldn’t be a problem for you,” Liam admits, walking to the large conference table on the far side of the room.
“Okay, send them to me, and I’ll take a look at them.”
“No, Rylie. They cannot leave this office. This case needs to stay as quiet as possible.” Liam swings his arm over the three large boxes sitting on the table. “I need to you go through these and tell me what you find.”
“When do you need them by?”
“Two weeks.”
“I’m good, but what you are asking for takes time, Liam.”
“I’m sorry. I looked through the files, but they are not like any other merger contract I’ve ever seen.”
“Fine. I can’t stay late tonight though. I have a date tonight.”
Liam’s hackles rise, “With who?” he demands while walking swiftly to my side.
“No one, you know,” I answer moving towards the table and taking the lid off the first box of contracts.
“Rylie, who is he? I’m not playing around. Tell me now, or I will call Dad, Patrick, and Dylan, and we will camp out in your living room,” Liam threatens.
Wow, I was not expecting that reaction from him, Liam is usually the calm brother. “Fine. Calm down. I’m having dinner with the man who helped save Shauna and me, Tomas Ramirez.”
“Is that a good idea? What do you know about him? Are you sure he is not working for the man who took you? He could be playing the part of the savior as a ploy,” Liam says. Coming to my side, I see something in his eyes I’ve never seen before … fear. I know he is scared for me, of what happened to me, and what Tomas could do to me.
“Liam, he is CIA. He put his life on the line to save Shauna and me. So, yeah, I think it is safe to s
ay he is not working for Hector Calvo and keeping tabs on me.”
“So you say. I’m calling Patrick and asking him to look into this Tomas Ramirez before I let you go anywhere with him.”
“Whatever,” I respond, pulling some highlighters and note pads from Liam’s shelves and getting to work.
After hours of reading and re-reading the contracts and getting nowhere, I decided that Liam was right; these contracts make no sense. The alarm on my phone chirps that it’s time to leave and get ready for my date. Packing up the contracts, pens, highlighters, and sticky notes, I put the top back on the box as I stand and tell Liam that I’m done for the day.
Before I can make it to the door, Liam asks, “Where are you going?”
“My date, remember?”
“I still don’t think dating Tomas is a good idea,” Liam offers.
“I’m not going to argue with you. I’m a grown woman and can date who I want.”
“Rylie, you are my baby sister. I am trying to protect you.”
“Thank you, but Patrick has already insisted on the driver and bodyguard. If Tomas does not have honorable intentions, I will let the bodyguard beat the hell out of him.”
“Fine, but call me when you get home.”
“I will,” I promise giving him a quick peck on the cheek before leaving his office. I pick up my purse from my desk and tell Linda goodnight.
“You look amazing,” Tomas declares as I answer the door and let him inside.
“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.” Tomas had shed his suit and is now dressed in jeans and a jade green button-down shirt. The sleeves are rolled up to the elbow showcasing his tattoos covering his forearms.
“Are you ready?”
I pick up my clutch and answer, “Ready. Where are we going?”
“Jaleo’s. A co-worker recommended it.”
“One of the partners at my firm takes his clients there. He says it’s good, but I haven’t been yet.”
“Good, it will be a new experience for both of us.”
The driver stops in front of a building with JALEO written in large colorful letters on the window. The bodyguard opens my door and helps me from the back of the town car and Tomas steps next to me from the other side of the vehicle. As we walk inside, I apologize, “Sorry for the extra security. My brothers are going a bit overboard.”
Liam told Patrick about my date with Tomas, and he freaked. Actually, he exploded; he went as far as forbidding me from seeing Tomas. I laughed at his audacity and reminded him that he was not my father. Patrick informed me he would be happy to call Dad and tell him my plans. I choked back my anger. I loved my parents more than anything and never wanted to cause them pain or worry.
After more begging and pleading than I care to admit, Patrick finally caved and gave me his okay to go out with Tomas. Honestly, it is like I have three additional Dads besides the real one with three older brothers. Patrick, of course, had stipulations. One, we had to use the town car; two, the driver ‘slash’ bodyguard had to be able to see me at all times; three, I had to listen to my bodyguard at all times; and four, I had to call Patrick and Liam to let them know I got home safe. It is annoying, but I know they’re doing this because they love me.
“I would be worried if they didn’t take your security seriously. Hector Calvo is a dangerous man with a wide reach,” Tomas says as we are shown to our table.
“You know, it’s funny you say that,” I reply with a half smirk. My oldest brother, Liam, thought you were working for Calvo and that you were here to keep tabs on me. And that you’d try to steal me away the first chance you got,” regaling Tomas with my brother’s idiotic ideas.
Tomas chuckles, “I want to be insulted, but then again, I can’t blame him. You are beautiful, smart, and funny. You come from a powerful family. I can see why Hector wanted to use you and keep you for himself.”
I swallow hard and take a couple of deep breaths. Fuck. Patrick is not going to happy if Tomas knows about The Family or knows how powerful we are. “You… um, you know about my Family?”
“I did my homework. Your father is a Supreme Court Justice; your oldest brother, Liam, is a named partner at the law firm you work; your middle brother, Patrick, and youngest brother, Dylan, are the CEO and CFO of Kindred Corp. Oh, and Patrick is married to the daughter of the President. Did I miss anything?”
“Wow, is there anything you don’t know about me?” I ease the tension in my hands and think that maybe he doesn’t know as much as …..
“No, your file is pretty extensive,” Tomas shoots back. “I also know about the Family you are a member of.”
I suck in a breath, this is bad. Patrick is going to freak when I tell him. “W-what are you talking about?” I ask, trying to play dumb.
“Don’t play stupid Rylie. It doesn’t fit you. Hector kept going on and on about this Family who had more power than God. He didn’t only want to use you as leverage with your father; he wanted to use you as a way into The Family.”
Our server chooses that moment to come to the table; she introduces herself and takes our drink orders. I don’t hear half of what she said with the blood roaring through my ears and my blood pressure through the roof. Hell, I’m not sure what I even ordered to drink.
The server leaves and I stare across the table at Tomas, not sure of what to do. Should I run to my bodyguard and demand he takes me home? Or just power through and hope Liam and Patrick are not right?
After the server delivers our drinks, I take a long pull from my beer. As soon as our server leaves us to review the menus, I ask, “What do you want?”
“Nothing. I wanted to let you know I know,” Tomas answers, remorse in his eyes for bringing the subject up.
“Nothing?” I ask, sounding perplexed.
“Nothing,” Tomas repeats.
I take another long pull from my beer and take a deep breath to gather myself together. “If you’re smart, you’ll forget what you know,” I retort. “My Family is not welcoming to outsiders.”
Tomas’s eyes turn hard and cold as he studies me. After taking a long drink of his own beer, his eyes warm and soften as he speaks, “I’m sorry I brought it up. Let’s start over.”
This throws me for another loop; I’ve never met anyone whose moods turn on and off so quickly. I smile and offer, “If you want to make it up to me, you can tell me about you.”
The server returns, stalling our conversation once again, to take our orders. After she has completed our list of entrees, she scampers back to the kitchen so that we can continue.
Tomas smirks, “I guess it is only fair since I read your file.” He looks me in the eyes and beings, “I’m from Santa Rosa, New Mexico; I have no brothers or sisters; after high school, I went to New Mexico State University and got a degree in chemical engineering. During my last year in college, my parents moved back to Puerto Rico to be closer to family since my grandmother was ill and needed help. I finished my degree and joined the Army. After six years as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Officer, I left the Army and went to work for the CIA.”
“How do you go from a degree in chemical engineering to being an undercover operative with Mal Cartel?”
Our server returns with our meals and sets the plates on the table and Tomas thanks her. As she leaves to take care of another table, Tomas answers, “I’m good at blending in, I speak Spanish, and I’m not easily swayed.”
“That’s it?” I ask as I take a bite of my tapas.
“That’s it. Not as super spy as you thought.”
“No,” I laugh. “So how long are you in town for?”
“For the foreseen future.”
“Good, I like having you around.”
“I like having you around too,” Tomas parrots.
“How was your date?” Liam asks the following day as I walk into his office and sit down at the conference table.
“It was perfect, thank you for caring.”
“You forgot to call me after y
our date when you got home safe. Patrick had to call his security guy to make sure you were okay. That’s not like you Rylie and Patrick is pissed since you didn’t call him either.”
“I’m sorry. I forgot all about it after I got home,” fretting that I had worried them both more than I should have.
“We’ll talk about it later. Now get to work,” Liam orders giving me a bear hug.
“Yeah, yeah,” I say, opening the box I left off with last night. “And why did you have to tell Patrick I was going on a date with Tomas?”
“He was going to find out, one way or another. It is Patrick’s guys watching you or did you forget that too?”
“No,” I drawl. “But I didn’t think they would tell Patrick who I was with.”
“Oh, they would. And he was not happy to learn it from me. Imagine what he would be like if he learned it from one of his guys instead of us.”
“You’re right.” Crap! I hate when he’s right, and I hate it when Liam is right. Not calling or telling them is not like me. I love my brothers, and like with my parents, I don’t want to make them worry. But they also need to learn I’m not a little girl anymore; I am a grown woman with a life.
“He was worried about you, not mad. Dylan was worried too.”
“You told Dylan too? Am I not allowed to have a personal life?”
“Not one that might put you in danger. We love you too much to see you get hurt.”
Damn it, he is right again, “Whatever,” I say in a remorseful tone, “I need to get back to work.”
Liam leaves for a meeting with a client and I am left to work in his office alone. I re-read through the contracts, but they still don’t make sense. Liam said these are merger contracts, but they don’t read like merger contracts. The contracts not only list companies, but a person and an algorithm. Turning on my laptop, I do a search for the two companies involved.
The first company, Lewis Technology, is a mid-level technology company specializing in building the smallest technology components. The search shows that Lewis Matthews founded Lewis Technology in 2010 and Forbes had named Lewis Technology one of the top twenty tech companies to watch. The company boomed so quickly it was having trouble keeping up with demand and they began to crash. Nine short years later and the company is on the verge of bankruptcy.
