Amorette’s teeth nipped at her chapped lower lip. What would he say if she asked? Could she handle any confession about his behavior? There were too many variables. Too many strange ways he acted toward her lately. Surely he didn’t... like her?
“What’s wrong, Mi Amor?” Hunter smoothed a bandage over the gash in her cheek.
Amorette took a step back. “It’s nothing. I’m just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Behavior.” Amorette stuffed her hands in her pockets. “If my step-mother’s behavior is deplorable, then so is mine. I should go apologize.”
Hunter glanced up at her from where he gathered the items into the sack. “To whom?”
“It wasn’t the company’s fault that my phone broke. It wasn’t even their marketing at fault.” Amorette shrugged her shoulders against the cold wind. “I should apologize for my behavior.”
“That’s different.”
“No, it isn’t.” Amorette shook her head. “I blamed the CEO for something he never did. Just like my step-mother blames me. Personal responsibility is something I would like to pride myself on. So I need to make amends.”
“I’m sure he’s fine.” Hunter grabbed the sack and reached for Amorette’s hand.
She expertly dodged his grab and started for the warmth of the red sports car. “Thank you for the phone, by the way.”
“What phone?”
“You don’t have to play dumb. There aren’t a lot of people who knew about that.”
Hunter wrapped his fingers around her elbow. “I’m serious, Mi Amor. I don’t know what you’re talking about. What phone?”
“It wasn’t you?” Amorette frowned. The theory fit so well. Who else would have purchased a new phone and programmed it with the same number she had on the broken one? “Then who gave me the new phone?”
Hunter shrugged. “Must have been your step-mother. Maybe the witch felt guilty.”
That didn’t add up correctly in Amorette’s head, but there was little to no evidence for anyone else to have done it. Something nagged at her subconscious, but she couldn’t quite place it. So, for now, she let it slide.
Amorette pulled her arm out of Hunter’s grasp and walked backward. “Let’s go to your place, Hunter. Please? I’m frozen and in pain. I need ice cream. Do you have ice cream?”
Hunter smiled, albeit a weak impersonation of the boyish grin he usually offered. “Alright, alright. Let’s go pig out on some ice cream.”
“HUNTER!”
“No.”
Amorette wrinkled her nose out of pure disgust. “You promised.”
“I did no such thing.”
Hunter could be such a mule when he put his mind to it. Amorette didn’t need his permission to do anything, but it would be a whole lot easier if he cooperated and gave her a ride.
“He was a jerk about the whole thing.” Hunter poked his head out of the bathroom to arch a brow.
Amorette rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not asking for your opinion, I’m asking for a lift across town.”
“I don’t wanna.” Hunter retreated behind the closed bathroom door once again.
“Okay, then, bye!” Amorette wasn’t in a mood to argue this morning.
She may be staying at Hunter’s place, but that didn’t mean she had to cater to Hunter’s whims. Especially not the childish tantrum he insisted on throwing about her apology to the electronics CEO.
Hunter didn’t protest, but he didn’t tell her goodbye either. As far as friends went, Amorette was learning that Hunter had more opinions than she thought possible.
On the other hand, Hunter underestimated Amorette’s independent personality. She wasn’t about to let his peer pressure deter her from what she knew was right. Never mind that it wouldn’t be necessary if she didn’t overreact in the first place. She was trying to be reasonable and make up for it now.
It took ten extra minutes on the bus. Minutes she could have saved had she convinced Hunter to drive her, himself. Seeing as how that was the past, Amorette graciously decided to forgive the imbecile for his inconsideration.
The closest bus stop to the company tower was only two blocks south. Not a difficult trek for Amorette, but she still took it slow.
She had never been very good at apologizing. Least of all after she did something as stupid as accusing a billionaire CEO of lying to his customers. The majority of people must be satisfied with the product, or he wouldn’t make so much money.
Which brought Amorette to her next dilemma. She accused him of cheating her, and he didn’t. How did she apologize for that?
Her fingers toyed with the clasp of her bag. Some deep, small voice told her the best apology would be the return of the black book. She hadn’t had time to read it yet, so that was out of the question. Amorette refused to live her life wondering why she felt such a strange draw to the tome. That book was one mystery she intended to solve.
Amorette rolled her shoulders and steeled herself for anything. They probably wouldn’t even let her in to see him. The first time had been a fluke anyway. So there was nothing to worry about.
With a new determination in her step, Amorette pushed through the glass doors into the lobby.
The receptionist looked up and, if Amorette wasn’t mistaken, rolled her eyes. Despite the patronization, the woman pasted a smile on her face and sat up straighter. “How may I help you today?”
“I need to speak with the CEO, please.” Even saying those words hurt. How would she ever manage to apologize?
The receptionist turned her nose up. “Do you have an appointment?”
“Uh... no.” Amorette fiddled with the strap of her leather bag. “But I’m pretty sure it’ll be okay.”
“The CEO is a very busy man. I suggest you make an appointment or come back later.” She waved her fingers as if flicking away an annoying fly.
The gesture made Amorette bristle. Who did the woman think she was? That was no way to treat a visitor to the company, no matter their identity.
“I won’t take up much of his time.”
“If you don’t have an appointment, there’s nothing I can do.” Not even an insincere sorry passed from the woman’s lips.
“Can I make an appointment, then?” Amorette could feel the heat rising to her face. Not from embarrassment, but from anger. Her temper picked the most ridiculous times to rear its ugly head.
The receptionist tapped a few keys on her computer keyboard. “I’m not the one who schedules those.”
“Then who should I contact?”
“His secretary.”
“Can I have his secretary’s number?”
“He doesn’t currently have a secretary.”
Amorette slid her eyes closed. A deep breath did little to calm her frazzled nerves. “Then how am I supposed to make an appointment?” The bite in her tone should have tipped the woman off to the fury simmering below the surface.
It didn’t seem to faze the receptionist in the least. “He’s interviewing this week. I suggest you call back next Monday.”
“But this is urgent.”
“I suggest you get in touch next Monday.” The receptionist returned to her computer as if Amorette never existed in the first place.
Amorette balled her fists by her side and shot a look to the high ceiling above her. This wasn’t supposed to go this way. It should be a whole lot easier. Strange, how she expected them to keep her out, yet when it happened, it grated on her last nerve.
On second thought, though, there might be another way into the building. It couldn’t hurt to look, right?
Without a glance to the receptionist, Amorette spun and stormed out the doors. If she had to wager money on a second entrance... Amorette rested her hands on her hips and looked around. The courtyard allowed too many wandering pedestrians to see everything, so this side of the building was out. However, there appeared to be some sort of alley or passageway beside the tower. Might as well start there.
Amorette jogged to the alley en
trance. She cautiously stepped past the barrier between sunlight and shadow.
A snick behind her drew Amorette’s full attention. She spun in time to see the blade and dodged aside. A screech leaped from her throat, loud and ringing.
The masked attacker cursed and lunged for her.
Amorette scrambled out of the way, but not fast enough. The knife sliced through her shirt and nicked her abdomen. Another squeal spilled out of Amorette’s mouth.
The man grabbed at her bag, but Amorette yanked it away. Unfortunately, the force sent her sprawling against a stone wall. She gasped for breath, her lungs afire.
The attacker stalked toward her, the knife poised as he stooped to reach for the bag one more time.
Amorette cowered away.
A thick black dress boot connected with the attacker’s shoulder. The masked man went flying sideways, but recovered quickly and shot to his feet.
Limbs tangled and fists flew. The attacker hardly got a hit in edgewise. Pure fury poured from the very air around Amorette’s savior. Still, each punch was carefully calculated to take his opponent out with the least amount of effort.
It might have been seconds, it might have been hours. Amorette couldn’t quite decide. In the time it took for her breath to return and her head to spin, her savior deftly dispatched the attacker.
The savior strode back to Amorette’s side, his phone in hand.
Amorette looked up to meet the steely gaze she knew so well from their previous meetings. As much as she’d like to glare at him, she couldn’t. No one ever looked more angelic than at that moment.
“Yes, I’d like to report a mugging.” That steely gaze never wavered from Amorette’s face. “Mm, yes. That’s correct. Yes. He’ll be detained by security. Yes. She appears all right. Thank you.”
Only after he hung up the phone did Amorette let her eyes close. The swimming in her head swirled around the backs of her eyes. She vaguely heard her name called out in the morning air.
Unconsciousness dragged her under.
[Episode 7]
A Change of Scenery
“AMORETTE!” EADRIC SHOOK her shoulder gently. When she didn’t stir, he cursed under his breath.
He never should have gotten involved in the first place. He meant to drive his car into the underground garage and let the problem sort itself out.
But she screamed.
Eadric couldn’t ignore the desperate plea behind the wail. When he saw the knife and the harsh treatment, he couldn’t sit back and let someone injure her again. Amorette had gone through enough. He didn’t understand the rage, but he couldn’t deny its presence.
Yet, here she lay, harmed once more.
Eadric dialed another number on his phone and waited far too long for an answer. “Collins. Come out back immediately.”
“I’m in the middle of a security system update—”
“Did I ask?” Eadric bit out the sentence. “I need your men to detain a perpetrator. Come here. Now.”
“I’ll send someone out.”
“You’ll come yourself. This is too important. You have eighty seconds.” Eadric hung up before Collins could protest. There was no time to wait for him. Eighty seconds could make the difference in the extent of Amorette’s injuries.
He counted down slowly, stewing inside with every second that passed. At the count of sixty, one of the doors banged open. Eadric looked up to see Collins and two of the ex-marines he employed. Perfect.
Eadric scooped motionless Amorette into his arms and stood. “Detain the man at the end of the alley. The police are on their way to take him into custody.”
Collins seemed shocked, but there was no time to explain the full story.
Eadric brushed past them and through the open door. He would have to send someone to park his car, but right now getting Amorette inside took precedence.
The fact she passed out didn’t bode well, especially since she didn’t seem the type to faint. Which meant a possible concussion. He was no doctor, much as he knew, which meant he would need a professional. In case.
Eadric carried the unconscious girl into the elevator and settled her on the floor. He knelt beside her, watching the rise and fall of her respiration. It seemed even. Good. Still, he wasn’t taking any chances.
Eadric shot a text off to the infirmary, asking one of the doctors to meet him in his office.
High above the ground and under the tightest security, Eadric knew his office would be the best place for Amorette right now. Especially since he wasn’t convinced that what she went through was any simple mugging. Eadric didn’t believe in coincidence.
Amorette weighed next to nothing in his arms, even the second time he lifted her. Either his strength developed exponentially over the centuries, or she was much smaller than he thought.
She stirred some when Eadric placed her on one of the sofas in his office. A good sign, if you asked him. He would worry so much more if she remained still and silent.
“You imbecile.” Eadric smacked a hand against his head. He shouldn’t worry at all. She wasn’t his to protect, no matter how much injustice had been done. Yet, here she was, unconscious in his office. As if he had a right to take care of her. “What are you thinking?”
The truth was, Eadric wasn’t entirely sure what he was thinking when he carried her from the alley. He could have had one of the security officers do it for him, but he had been so enraged. Men these days had no courtesy toward women, and if Codex were involved, there was no telling what they might do beyond that.
Yes, of course. That’s why he brought her to the second-most-secure location in the building. Because Codex may be involved.
Liar, his own mind taunted him.
A knock on the door brought him back around to reality. Eadric stood and turned. “Enter.”
“You called for a doctor? Did something happen?” Stephanie Jacobs, one of the three physicians that Eadric’s company employed, stepped inside and shut the door behind herself. She was a plucky woman, short and energetic, with wire-rim glasses. That, combined with her pouty lips, made her look more like a doll than a doctor.
Eadric motioned her toward the girl on the couch.
“Aw! Poor thing.” Stephanie settled on her knees beside the sofa.
Eadric knew he lost all her attention the moment she saw Amorette. Stephanie was nothing if not focused on her patients. Sometimes even he wondered why she came to work as an infirmary physician instead of going on to a larger hospital. And he knew what he paid her.
A host of questions flew Eadric’s way. Things that might play into any injuries Amorette might have acquired. He answered each with a calm tone, though internally he fretted like a madman.
What if, because of him, there was irreversible damage? Something had to be done. He had to protect her somehow and having his men watch her wasn’t cutting it anymore.
A plan began to form in Eadric’s mind. One he knew Amorette would object to, but one he needed to fulfill. To ensure everyone’s safety, at least until she handed over that journal intact.
Stephanie pried Amorette’s eye open to shine a penlight.
Amorette groaned and reached up to push at her hand. “Stop it...”
“Oh, good, you’re awake!” Stephanie’s frown finally broke into a smile. “You have a concussion and that bruise on your face is pretty nasty, but I think you’re going to be fine.”
Amorette’s fingers fluttered up to her cheek. She sat up, fast enough that she almost collided with Stephanie’s head.
Eadric’s body tensed, ready to spring into action if she tried to fight or run.
Neither applied to Amorette. She winced and pulled her knees to her chest. Her free arm wrapped around them tightly. “The bruise isn’t from today.”
It was the first time Eadric heard her sound legitimately small and helpless. It sounded nothing like the feigned innocence from the last few times they met. This threatened to tear a hole in the wall around his heart. He couldn’t have that.
/> Stephanie didn’t pay any attention to the mental war raging behind her. She kept her focus on Amorette as she finished the rest of the check-up. “It’s better that you’re awake now. If you were unconscious for too long, I would have had to send you to the hospital. We’re not equipped for things like brain bleeds.” Her wry smile said she meant it as a joke, but Amorette’s face paled nonetheless.
“Thank you, doctor. You’ve been very helpful.”
Stephanie glanced at Eadric and stood. “I guess I’ll be going, then. Do you have someone to stay with tonight? They’ll need to wake you up every couple of hours.”
“She’ll stay with me.”
Eadric couldn’t believe he put himself in the middle of it again. Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut? What was it that forced his brain to short circuit when it came to the young woman on his couch?
“She will?” Stephanie’s shocked question came out at the same time as Amorette’s stunned “what?”
“Thank you, again, Stephanie. Amorette and I will discuss it from here.” Eadric bowed his head in thanks. His eyes never left the shocked expression on Amorette’s face.
“Call me if she starts throwing up or anything.” Stephanie pushed her glasses farther onto her nose, tossed a smile in Amorette’s direction, and skipped out the door.
Amorette’s eyes lifted to stare at Eadric.
He couldn’t quite decipher what she was thinking, but that glint of fire returned to her eyes. It smoldered hotter than he’d seen it before. Something he said must have enraged her again.
“I’m not going home with you.” The words sounded civil, but Eadric detected the fury below them. She was trying to be cordial, probably since she owed him for saving her back in the alley.
Eadric leaned back against his desk, arms folded. “Oh, aren’t you?”
“I’m not. I have a place to stay. I refuse to subject myself to your particular brand of torture.”
“If saving your life counts as torture, perhaps you and I need to have a longer talk than I expected.” He opened his mouth to insist she come to his home immediately. A notification on his tablet interrupted. Curious, Eadric opened the message. He flashed the picture at Amorette and sighed at the look of recognition on her face. “Looks like we have a visitor. We’ll have to postpone this.”
Codex Page 9