“Oh, my God, Cat, that is so wonderful.” I step around the table to hug her, and she has a glow about her. “You’re just full of news today,” I say in her ear.
“How about you, Belle? What’s going on? Don’t hold back on me, now.”
My mind is a whirlwind of events over the past few weeks. “I was in a real slump looking for a job. Then I interviewed at TALVIS Advertising, and things really turned around. I was hired as Kalin Davis’s marketing assistant.”
“The CEO?” she asks, wide-eyed.
“Yes. But wait, there’s more.” I smile at her.
“What?” Her eyes are glowing with anticipation.
“We’re kind of dating.”
“You’re kind of dating Kalin Davis? Oh, my God. Belle. Hottie,” she gushes. “He just asked you out after the interview?”
“Yeah.” I shrug.
“He must like you, sweetie,” she says with a tilt of her head. “What did you say in that interview?” she chuckles.
“It was pretty typical,” I say, holding a glass of water and pressing a straw between my lips.
“Maybe he wants a partner in life, and not just in business, Belle. I can see why he would pick you. You’re honest, smart, and beautiful.”
“You always made me feel better, Caitlyn. I really like him too. And talk about knowing his way around…” Caitlyn and I laugh at the comment, lightening my mood from the complications that are Kalin Davis. “But he is a CEO, so it gets kind of complicated.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know.” I know I don’t want to tell her everything, but I want some hint of Caitlyn’s opinion since she has always been pretty good with spotting jerks. “He could be using me, who knows.”
“You mean for your hot bod.” Caitlyn leans in and smiles at me.
I chuckle. “I am sure he can have his pick of any woman he wants. That’s what worries me.”
“Maybe it’s because you’re smart and beautiful. Have you thought of that?”
I press my hand over hers. “You such a good friend. But how do you know if that’s really it?”
“Your asshole detector. You haven’t lost it, have you?” A soft smile curves her lips.
“No, but that was easier in college.” I frown. “There were lots of immature jerks. These jerks are in the big leagues now.”
“It still works. You know the signs. He’s cheap, stingy, or selfish. Especially the last one. I can give a guy a break for being broke, but not selfish. Is he selfish in bed?”
I shake my head and blush. “You’re so bad, Caitlyn. No, he’s not. Not at all.”
“Is he selfish with his money?”
“No.”
“Is he selfish with his time?”
“Not at all. In fact, he likes spending time with me.”
“See, I knew you hadn’t lost your asshole detector. It has a lifetime guarantee. Just follow the signs.”
“Yeah, I know. We’ve only been dating a few weeks.” I try to minimize the situation, but deep down I know the choice is not so easy. I wish I could talk with her more about it, but I promised Kalin I wouldn’t.
Caitlyn and I finish lunch and she gives me her new contact info for when I visit the area in Texas. We agree to see each other again when I see my parents in Dallas.
I hug her and congratulate her. It seems life moves pretty fast sometimes. It makes me think about making up for lost time. My mind wanders on the drive home to how Kalin’s offer will affect me, probably for the better.
As I turn onto the side road to pull into our apartment drive, my thoughts are immediately overridden by a gripping fear that causes my heart to leap and nearly explode in my chest. The pounding reaches my ears and fear and dread tighten my chest. Two police cars and an ambulance are outside of the apartment. I pull the car to the curb, ram the gearshift in park, and run toward the door. I notice that our apartment door has yellow tape across it. “Lia! Lia!”
A police officer blocks me. “Whoa, ma’am, you cannot go in there.”
“That’s my roommate! What’s going on?”
“We don’t know yet, ma’am. It’s under investigation.”
“Lia! Lia!” The officer pushes me back, but I lunge forward past the tape to look inside. Lia’s face is bloodied and she is sitting on the living room floor. Her eyes are moist and red and there are several men in suits standing around her—probably detectives.
The officer grabs my arm, but I wrench it free. “I have to see her!”
“Carson, let her in.” An officer who must be his superior lets me past the tape. “You said you’re her roommate?” he asks me.
“Yes, I just left only about an hour ago.”
“Do you have any idea who would have done this?”
“No! Lia doesn’t have any enemies. She is the sweetest girl in the world.” I walk in the door. “Lia!” I run to her and hug her. She is shivering and cold. “What happened? Who did this?” Tears are streaming down my face. Seeing my best friend in the world hurt like this tears me to shreds, and I feel helpless and angry.
“Two guys were looking for something. Scary looking…professionals or something. They were looking for some kind of paperwork—a contract. I already told the cops everything. I have no idea who these thugs were. Thugs in tailored suits,” she adds with a weak smile. “But greasy lowlifes nonetheless.”
“Lia, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. Are you okay? I mean, nothing broken or anything?”
“No, they just slapped me around a little. I had no idea what they were looking for. I guess they believed me, or they probably would have beaten me senseless until I told them whatever they wanted to know.”
The paramedic dabs a clear cream on the cuts on her face and arm and says, “She’s in a bit of shock, but her vitals are good and there are no major injuries. We’re going to have to take her in for an examination to make sure there’s no internal damage, though.”
“I don’t have any insurance,” Lia interjects.
“Lia, just go. We can afford it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, just make sure you’re okay.”
Lia stands up with the help of the two paramedics. I wrap my arms around her. “I’m so glad you’re okay. We’ll find the scumbags.”
Lia wraps her arm around me, gives me a hug, and then walks weakly to the ambulance outside.
I take a deep breath and breathe out in relief that Lia is not seriously harmed. Thank God she’s okay. But the lingering unease sends a chill over my body. A contract.
“Miss Ried. Miss Ried.” The detective’s voice breaks through my thoughts. I turn to face him. He has sandy brown hair and a buzz cut, and stands at about six-one. He’s lean and athletic, and reminds me of a marine in a suit. He’s probably some kind of ex-military guy or something.
“Miss Ried, I’m Detective O’Donnell. You’re Lia’s roommate?”
“Yes. We’ve lived together for just over a year. We started rooming shortly after I graduated.”
“Has anything like this ever happened before?”
“No. No! No one would want to harm Lia, or me. Lia is the sweetest person in the world. It’s ridiculous. These guys should be hanged.”
“The first step is to identify them. Do you have any idea what they were looking for?”
“No.” I look around the apartment, which has clearly been ransacked. Computer printouts are scattered around the apartment, the couch is ripped wide open, and the mail is opened and tossed all over the kitchen. I notice Lia’s MacBook is missing.
“Do either one of you use illegal drugs?” the detective asks.
“What? No. We don’t use drugs,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Where is Lia’s computer?” I ask him.
“Anything missing was likely stolen.” His tone is stern and his strong jaw sets squarely toward me. His deep-set, bright blue eyes focus on mine. “Ma’am, have you entered into any new relationships, business or personal, recently? Say, within the last month or so.
”
“I don’t see how that’s anyone’s concern…” My words sound weak as I say them. Of course I have.
“According to the statements made by Miss Marzella, the intruders were looking for a contract of some kind. Something that would affect whoever they’re working for. Something they stand to profit from, or something that would damage them financially. Insider information, trade secrets, whistleblowing. That is the typical scenario we see.”
“I don’t know.” Confusion clouds my mind. I have no idea what is going on anymore, or how things could have come to this. I just want my simple life back, before stocks and executives and thugs in tailored suits.
I have to call Kalin. I can’t say anything. I don’t know what is going on or what to say.
“I have a new job. I mean, people have new things happen all the time. Can I have some time to gather my thoughts and get back to you?”
The detective hands me his card. “Of course, ma’am. We’ll want to follow up soon.” He heads for the door, and his assistant, a slender, shorter man of about five feet six, trails behind him with a tablet computer.
“I’ve got most of the missing items here. I think we’re done here,” the assistant tells the stockier detective.
“Miss Ried, we will be in touch,” says Detective O’Donnell.
I knit my eyebrows and look around the ransacked apartment. “Do you have any idea who did this?”
“No, ma’am. They did not leave much evidence. Probably professionals.”
“Professional what?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out.”
The detectives shut the front door and stand outside, talking to the police. My heart is pounding and I grab my phone to call Kalin.
Chapter Ten
I press Kalin’s number on the phone, and he answers right away. “Annabelle. Hi. I’m glad you called. We need to talk.”
“Kalin, do you have any idea what is going on right now? Have you gotten out of your mansion long enough to see what is happening?”
“Annabelle, calm down. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Two thugs beat up Lia.” My eyes moisten and my lips quiver while I choke back a sob. “They hurt Lia, Kalin. Who would do that? What kind of monsters would mess with her?”
“Jesus Christ, Annabelle, I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it. I want to know what the fuck’s going on. I want to know if this has anything to do with you…with us.”
“I’m afraid it does. My security notified me that my house in Southampton was broken into. They were looking through the house for papers. The place wasn’t even robbed. Annabelle¸ I think we were followed when we came here.”
“Followed? By whom?”
“Probably some hired thugs from the company. Is Lia okay?”
“She had a few cuts on her face and arm, but other than that she looks okay. The paramedics took her to the hospital to check for any internal injuries, but they think she’s fine.”
“Thank God.”
“She doesn’t have insurance, Kalin. We could get a bill for thousands of dollars.”
“Don’t worry about the bill. Just send it to me. Look, I don’t want to talk about this on the phone. I’m coming to get you.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
Kalin clicks off and I place the phone on my dresser. Everything in the room is a mess. I walk around the apartment, surveying the damage. There is some furniture broken, including the couch and a few drawers from the desk and kitchen tossed to the floor. What have I gotten myself into? Who are these thugs? My eyes dart to the spot where Lia was sitting and crying. A surge of anger courses through my body and tenses my muscles. I’m angry at the lowlifes for doing this to her, but I am also angry at myself for bringing my best friend into this situation. I know deep down that this has to be related to Kalin’s plans to get his company back. Who else would do this?
I hear a familiar roar in the driveway and peek out the front window. Kalin has arrived on his motorbike in just fifteen minutes. I open the door as he sets his helmet and jacket on the bike and stalks toward me.
He grabs me by the nape of my neck, and his eyes are blazing with concern and anger. “Annabelle, I am so sorry.” He presses a slow kiss to my forehead, and gently lifts my head so that my eyes meet his. As much as I want to push away from him, the tenderness in his eyes is like a warm fire sending the cold chills from my body. My hands move across his wide shoulders, and he holds me with his strong hands around my hips. Kalin’s lips suddenly descend onto mine, sending a shockwave of warmth over my body. I hadn’t realized how badly I missed his touch until the lightness of his kiss sweeps away the heaviness lingering in my body. Kalin holds me close to his chest, and tension melts away from me, if only for this moment. I rest my head on his chest and his hands cradle me against him. “Are you okay?” he whispers hoarsely.
“No, Kalin. I have no idea what’s going on anymore.” I extend my hand toward the inside of the apartment.
“Oh, Annabelle. I’m sorry.” He moves his fingers through his hair as his eyes sweep over the room. “Have you heard any news about Lia?” He turns to me with a concerned expression.
“No, she’s still at the hospital. I’m heading over there to pick her up.”
“Annabelle, listen to me. You’re going to have to trust me.”
“Trust you? They just beat the shit out of my best friend. I’m not trusting anyone. And this whole stock scheme? That’s off. It’s not worth it to me, Kalin. Look what they did to her.” I put my head down and begin to sob. Kalin puts his arm around me but I push him away. “No! This is your goddamn fault, Kalin. We were doing fine until you came along. Now we have these mafia scum breaking into our apartment, looking for papers? What are we, gangsters now? For God’s sake Kalin, what’s next, a fucking murder?”
“Annabelle, they can’t do anything. They’re trying to scare us into backing off the deal. I don’t know how they found out. They broke into the Southampton house too. But they can’t do anything about it.”
“I don’t care, Kalin. Lia was threatened. Not just me, or even you. Lia.”
Tears stream down my face. Kalin reaches for me. “I want you out of here,” I say. “I’m telling the police everything. I wanted to talk to you first, because I was hoping you were okay, but I’m confused. I feel like I committed a crime, and I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Annabelle, we didn’t do anything wrong. These scumbags will do anything to keep control of the company. This deal will cost them millions, and they will do anything to keep their lavish lifestyle intact. That’s the way they are. No one will get in their way. That’s why I wanted them out of the company in the first place. They don’t have any respect for anyone or anything except themselves.”
“This has nothing to do with me anymore, Kalin. I want out. The only thing that matters now is Lia. Fuck your money and fuck your bonus.”
“Annabelle, sweetheart, there is nothing that we did that is illegal. They just want to scare you.”
“They did scare me! This isn’t a game. They hurt Lia. It would be different if it were me, or even you. I could probably handle that. At least then we know the score. But Lia?”
Kalin presses his fingers to his jaw. “I’m afraid that’s why they chose Lia. They knew it would get to you. They will select someone close to us. Unfortunately they chose your best friend. I really am sorry, Annabelle.”
“I’m done, Kalin.”
“Annabelle, whoever followed me was hired by the executives. We can get them to confess. Threaten them with jail time and get them to confess. When the police talk to you, just tell them the truth. We haven’t done anything wrong. We’ll find them, and have them lead us to whoever hired them. It’s the only way out of this.”
A sob erupts in my throat, and Kalin presses his hands into my shoulders. “Go see Lia. And if you talk to the police tomorrow, just tell them the truth.”
“In that case, they’l
l probably want to talk to you too.”
“Of course. Set up an appointment with them and call me. I will tell them exactly what we’re doing.”
“How do I know everything is going to be okay?” A tear streams down my face.
“We don’t know that, Annabelle. But we do have to do what’s right. And we have to be strong, and courageous.” Kalin’s hands brace my shoulders. “We can’t let them intimidate us. We can’t let them get their way. This is how they gain power. This is how the corruption starts. This is how more people get hurt.”
“What if they hurt Lia?”
“This is why we have to be strong. I’m not going to lie to you, Annabelle. These scumbags are capable of anything. But if they gain positions of power this way, they’ll hurt a lot more people along the way. We cannot bend to their wishes. I understand if you want out. But we have a better chance if we find out who did this, and make them pay now, and get them out of the company.”
I take a breath and gather my composure. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
When I get to the hospital, the nurse informs me that they are waiting on the test and examination results, but so far there are no signs of any serious injury.
“Oh, thank God. Can I see her?”
“She should be right out. Just give the doctor a few minutes to go over the tests.”
“Thank you.”
After what seems like thirty minutes, Lia comes out of the double doors leading to the patient waiting area. “Hey, moneybags.”
“Lia!” I run up to her and hug her. “How are you feeling?”
“The asshole scratched my face up.” She scowls and points to her bandage. “These better not scar, or I’m going to kill that piece of shit.”
“I have some aloe vera gel that will fix you right up.” I hug her and we head out to the car. “Lia, we’re probably going to have to talk to the police tomorrow. These papers they were looking for…” I say while getting in the car.
“The contract or whatever the assholes were going on about?”
“Yeah. Kalin’s place was ransacked too. So we’re pretty certain this has to do with him. I can tell you the whole story when we get home. But he’s not doing anything wrong. I am so sorry. This is my fault.” I pull out of the lot.
Undeniably His Page 9
