“Oh my GOD, Alyssa, are you ok sweetheart?” He asked with genuine worry.
I was taken aback by his affection but nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay, other than this…” I forced a smile and moved my hair showing the now fading bruise on the side of my face. “Adrian and Hunter came and got me.” I couldn’t help but smile at that.
Adrian ran a soft finger across the bruise before planting a kiss on it. I put my hair back down. Paul eyed our exchange curiously before nodding, “Well it seems I am in debt to you both. You name it, it’s yours.”
Hunter took that as his cue. “Well Mr. Neil, I was hoping you would say that. We were able to capture a few of the men involved, but three of them got away, and we’ve yet to find the person pulling the strings.”
“I see,” He nodded waiting for us to continue.
“Well, Paul, these captors didn’t get any of the money that they requested, and since they took Alyssa to get to you, we have reason to believe that Neil Industries, if not you yourself are the next target.”
His eyes shot up, and we had beyond his full attention. “How sure are you?”
“Very sure, Paul.” Tink confirmed nodding, speaking for the first time. “I’m working the Intel with the DIA and the FBI myself.”
“If money is an issue here I can arrange—”
“There was a bomb Paul,” I informed, because he needed to know. “One of them was seized and taken care of, but they had gotten away with another. We have pissed off, insane people running free and someone with a chip against anyone involving Neil Industries.”
Paul sighed running a hand over his face, and then massaged his temples. “What do you suppose I do then Alyssa? I can increase security as much as I can, and possibly get some private detectives on the job…” He mused.
Tink rolled her eyes smiling. “I’m insulted Paul, do you think that you’ll find anyone that can handle this better than us? Are we not private detectives?”
“I assumed that you all would be in hiding, especially you Alyssa.” Paul started, “If you’re in danger in any way you should lay low, and from what you tell me, there is a threat to you as well.”
“I’ll be doing what I do best Paul, solving cases. I have a personal stake in this, so I plan to see it out.” I sighed.
Paul’s expression questioned my sanity. “Alyssa Giselle, you are not the police. Being an officer in the Air Force under Public Affairs doesn’t make you a hero, hell you only worked at that for four years before you quit. Literally quit, just walked away.”
“Paulll.” Margaux cautioned, “I think that that’s enough.” If anyone was protective of my military past it was Tink, and he was about to cross a line where she was going to say to hell with this case.
I looked over at Hunter and Adrian, who were stiff in their seats, as if, they were sitting at attention. I rubbed Adrian’s hand trying to relax him as I forced the sarcasm out of my laugh and responded. “No Margaux, he’s right, I always have had issues with authority. Hell that’s the main reason I went into business for myself.”
“And you became a fantastic detective Alyssa,” He complimented, in no way realizing how close he was to being jumped on by my friends, “one of the best.”
“This is why we have asked for her cooperation as well as yours Mr. Neil.” Hunter responded gruffly, a hint of his Biloxi roots lingering in the words, indicating that he was still nowhere near calm. Adrian just sat quietly—quiet was better for him.
Paul thought for a brief second before speaking again, “Well if Alyssa insists on helping then I must do what I can to help her. I assume that you have a plan of some sorts Agent Grayson?”
“Actually, Alyssa’s team came up with it.” He chuckled, “And it’s a damned good one I assure you.”
Paul raised an eyebrow, and I was sure it was because agents running an operation never tended to take advice, let alone let someone take the reins of planning. “Alyssa?”
This was it. I took a deep breath squaring my shoulders. “About a month ago you made a very public statement about me being your daughter.” I started.
“Yes, and I also expressed my plans to give you my company when I could no longer run it. What about it?” He urged.
I sighed, “Well Paul, if I know you like I think I do no matter how much I bitched and moaned you didn’t reverse those papers did you?”
Paul suppressed a grin. “No. I was hoping that you would change your mind one day.”
I shook my head, “Well I haven’t, but I do need that offer.”
“You want to take over when I’m gone?” He asked raising an eyebrow.
“Not really when you’re dead Paul.” Tink cut in, “Now, for a short time at least. We need you to go into hiding for a while, an extended vacation. You can hold a press conference, and use whatever reason you feel is necessary for your leave of absence. You make the statement that you appointed Alyssa as acting CEO in your absence, and she’ll assume the role for as long as necessary.”
“No one can know the real reason of your absence, not even your most trusted confidants, because the culprit could be anyone.” Adrian continued. “It will jeopardize everything if you tell even Sarah out there.”
“So you are planning on using yourself as bait to lure this guy out?” He asked looking back at me.
I nodded and Hunter spoke. “Once Alyssa has assumed the role of acting CEO we will infiltrate security to assure her and your employees safety. She will be well protected.”
“Alyssa, do you know the first thing about what we do here at Neil Industries? I assure you I’m more than just a face.”
I smirked confidently, “Yes. I’m aware, and more than prepared.” That confidence was in my team, because I would be doing everything with help. Liam was going to advise me every step of the way with the business portion; Tink would secretly oversee production of anything technical. Dario and the guys would take care of security with Hunter, because that was what they did every day, and I would rake my way through everyone in Paul’s inner circle along with Kristen to find the biggest suspects. Doc, oh sweet Doc, the most important job in this, would be the one helping me keep my sanity.
“When would this need to take place?” He asked, his mind not completely made up.
“I want to hold that press conference tomorrow. The sooner the better, we don’t know where that bomb is, and I don’t want to risk anyone’s life longer than necessary.” I answered positive.
Paul let out a low chuckle, “Sweetheart, making someone an active CEO isn’t as easy as you may think. It would take my legal team a week to draw something like that up.”
“That’s where I come in Paul.” Tink got up and walked to the head of the conference room table opening her briefcase and pulling out the thirty-two page contract. “You know, you should really get a better legal team, because I typed this entire thing up over dinner last night and breakfast this morning.” Paul looked at the contract with slight surprise. “You can have your legal team look it over and then sign it before the press conference.”
“I trust my daughter.” He assured skimming over the first page. “You really are an amazing creature Margaux.”
Tink just giggled handing him the pen, Adrian huffed a laugh “You have no idea Mr. Neil.”
He took it from her and looked up at me. “This is something that I always wanted to share with you Alyssa, and I am more than willing to sign it right away. Just promise me that you will leave me a company to come back to.”
I sighed, because I wanted to run out of that room and go back to the confines of Gravity where I was comfortable, but I couldn’t. “Don’t worry, I won’t sell it, that won’t help this situation. I will gladly sign it back when this is all over.” I hesitated and then pressed my stipulation that I hadn’t discussed with anyone else. “When this is over, after we have saved your company, I would like to be removed from your will completely.”
Paul looked at the paper and then looked back at me, “Is that in here too?”
I shook my head. “No, I just want you and I to have an understanding.”
Paul nodded scribbling his name across the pages. “Alright Alyssa, if you don’t like the work here when it’s done I’ll make arrangements to pass it on to a different successor.”
When he was done, Tink carried them to me and handed me the same pen. “Sign here Alyssa.”
The pen touched the paper but I couldn’t move my wrist to form my name. My shoulders felt heavy and I felt like I was selling my soul away, even if it was temporarily.
Adrian kissed my temple and then placed a hand on mine. “It’s ok baby.”
For a brief moment I started to push the paper away, but I thought about the trouble Victor was probably going through for me and if he could endure his prison, I should be able to do mine. Not thinking about it anymore, I did a few quick flicks across the line spelling my name and sat the pen down.
“Alright, Hunter, Adrian and I will be the witnesses.” Tink noted signing her own name before passing it to Adrian and then to Hunter. “Congratulations Miss Marshall you are now the CEO of Neil Industries.”
I rolled my eyes at her and tried my best not to make my discomfort audible. “Thanks Margaux.” I responded sounding dry.
Paul hit the intercom and Sarah beeped on the other end. “Yes Mr. Neil.”
“Sarah, would you please contact as much media as you can gather?” He looked at me, and then back down at the intercom. “I need to hold an emergency press conference at nine am tomorrow.”
Urgency and concern filled the other end as she remained silent, and when she finally did answer I could detect a brief flicker of irritation that she was out of the loop. “What should I tell them, sir?”
“Tell them that I have an important announcement, nothing more.” He chuckled probably noticing her tone as well.
She was silent another few seconds before she answered. “Yes, sir.”
When he released the button, I stood, and the others followed suit. “Well Paul, looks like I have a press conference to prepare for.”
He nodded chuckling, and it was almost as if he were wishing me luck. “Yes, they’ll be expecting a lot of answers from you. I hope you’re prepared.”
“She will be.” Adrian assured running his fingers through my hair again.
Paul eyed our exchanges curiously again before nodding, “Well it seems I have an office to clear out. See you tomorrow Alyssa.”
“Tomorrow Paul.”
———————
“Are you alright Alyssa?” Liam asked as I rifled through the bag of clothes Kristen shopped for to prepare me for my new role as CEO.
I nodded pulling out one blouse after another. “Sure, sure.”
Liam chuckled softly coming in and closing my office door. “You don’t seem very sure. Are you worried about your safety? Adrian and the rest of the crew will be in every major area of that press conference.”
“No, I trust my life with you all.” I sighed knowing that they wouldn’t let me get hurt. “I just don’t know anything about running an entire corporation. I really hope you plan on being on-call Liam.”
He chuckled again. “You run your own company now; the principle is the same, just on a larger scale with Neil Industries. I will get you used to corporate life, but I assure you that will be all that you will need my help with.”
“Just be close Liam.” My sigh, making it sound more like begging.
———————
“You look great.” Kristen promised as she handed me a pair of black pumps to go with the pinstripe skirt and blouse she picked out for the day. She was coming on as my assistant, and was already dressed the part; looking as radiant as always with her navy blue skirt with a matching blazer, the hair out of her face.
I rolled my eyes putting my hair into a bun. “I look like shit, I got zero sleep last night because I had to think about what I was going to say.”
“I hope you perfected it, because the press will eat you alive baby.” She frowned sympathetically as she grabbed the brush to help tame my curls upward.
The minute her hands touched my hair I dropped my own giving her free reign. “To be honest I decided to wing it.”
“Wing it?” Kristen scowled stopping for a moment to glare at me in the mirror. Yelling at me with bobby pins in her mouth, “You’re going to wing it?”
“I couldn’t come up with anything.” I admitted as she pushed another four pins in my hair.
“Do you like your odds?” She asked sarcastically turning me around to face her.
I shrugged. “No, but I figured the adrenaline from the pressure will get me going.”
“Fine.” She resigned pinning the broach to my shirt that was equipped with visual and audio.
Kristen put the earpiece in her ear and pinged into Tink, who was already set up with Doc at Gravity. I didn’t get one because of all the feedback that would interfere from the press. “Can you hear us?”
Kirsten nodded to her words and looked back at me, “Doc says you look cute.”
“Thanks Doc.” I responded dryly before Kristen was listening to someone else.
She picked up the pair of black rimmed glassed off of the counter and handed them to me, “Tink says put them on.”
I rolled my eyes taking them from her and putting them inside the pocket of my suit. “I’m pretending to be a CEO, not a naughty school teacher Tink. I don’t need the glasses.”
“Let’s get this shit over with.” Kristen sighed opening the door to my bathroom, to meet Macon and Adrian at the chopper in the backyard. “Sorry Joanne.” She muttered as we descended the stairs. Joanne was taking time to help us run info since Kristen was needed with me.
Walking into the backyard I could see Macon and Adrian beyond focused as they finished their checklist before take-off. I did however; get the pleasure of watching Adrian’s perfect focus break to ogle me.
“Gawk later boys.” Kristen chided walking up to her husband. “We’re going to be late for her first day.”
Adrian pulled me close to him for a second and kissed me on the lips. He looked down at the broach on my clothes and realized that our private moment wasn’t so private. So instead of saying anything he just whispered a “good luck” in my ear before walking back around the chopper.
"Come on, ladies," Macon said, offering us a hand. "Let's get you buckled in, okay?"
"Thanks, Mack," I said as he lifted me, and then Kristen into the back of the chopper.
"How is it with him flying this thing?" Kristen chuckled nervously, as we buckled up and watched the boys ready the chopper. I realized that it was the first time she traveled via Adrian Air.
"He's...amazing," I chuckled, feeling proud of Adrian. "Like you won't even feel like you're moving."
She snickered and nodded, looking out at the house. "You scared?"
"Yup," I snorted with a nod. "You?"
"A little," she sighed, turning to me when the boys climbed in the front. "We're in good hands, though," she whispered, giving me a wink.
I looked up front, smiling as the boys put on their headsets and Adrian flipped a few switches. We'd told them to dress in all black as our bodyguards, and they had. They looked big and scary and mean to someone that didn't know them, but they were far from it. They'd do anything for us, and we knew it.
We were all about to step into a world of crime and chaos, of death and lies. The two boys up front in that chopper, as well as the dozen odd people that were already on their way, just wanted to help us get our lives back. They'd already given blood, sweat, and tears, and I wasn't sure how they found the strength to give more, but I would be forever grateful to each and every one of them.
I turned back to Kristen with a soft laugh. "Yeah...definitely good hands."
There was no way to wrap my head around the feelings that went with seeing Neil Tower again—It was called Neil Tower because it was the largest Neil Industry owned building on the c
ountry. A fucking shrine to the Neil family disguised as an office building if you asked me. I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, but Kristen looked over at me, clearly hearing it over the headset. She said nothing—she didn't have to—but she did take my hand in hers as Adrian set the chopper down gently on the helipad of Paul's building.
My building.
I snorted, shook my head at that thought, and looked over where Paul, already dressed impeccably in his business suit, was coming out of the rooftop door. Hunter followed him, wearing black dress pants, a black t-shirt, and his handgun in a shoulder harness, just like Adrian and Macon. I wanted them—all of them— every step of the way. All three exuded power and no-nonsense.
Both men stood away until Adrian shut his chopper down.
Once the blades slowed down, I unbuckled my seat belt and slid the side door open, only to be met with a stern-faced Adrian, offering me a hand down to the helipad. As much as I wanted to cling to him with everything in me, I let my hand slip from his the second my feet touched the roof. After grabbing my briefcase and slinging it over my shoulder, I let him guide me towards Paul with a hand at the small of my back.
Paul greeted be with a warm smile and appeared impressed by at least my appearance, my tom-boy apparel replaced. “Kristen, lovely as ever.” He greeted kissing her knuckles before turning to Macon again.
“Thank you Paul, this is my husband,” She blushed, introducing for the first time, though Paul remembered him from when he made the mistake of thinking he was with me.
“Of course.” He nodded shaking his hand, Macon grinning like no tomorrow.
“Is everyone downstairs?” asked tucking a piece of stray bang back behind my ears.
“Yes,” He nodded motioning towards the roof door as we walked. “I decided to go with an illness related to stress.” He informed as we walked.
Luckily, the employees didn't have access to the roof, so Paul's personal elevator sat open and waiting for us by the time we left the helipad behind us and descended a short flight of steps. Hunter and Adrian took the far corners and Macon stood in front of us, as Paul turned to face me and Kristen.
The Law of Motion (Law Series) Page 37
