Crossing the Line

by Maggie Cole

  I nod. “That’s the plan.”

  The line between Bennett’s eyebrows appears.

  “Don’t worry, as you can see, Noah has me on lockdown.” I point to the guards.

  Bennett’s line gets deeper. “That’s good, but I’m sorry I’ve put you in this situation.”

  “You didn’t know.”

  “I should have listened to Noah.”

  “It’s okay. But, Bennett, isn’t there something we can do so Noah isn’t a target in all this?”

  Bennett sighs. “Noah’s on a mission. When he gets something in his head, he won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”

  I think about how he pursued me even though I kept trying to push him away. “That’s very true.”

  “Tell you what, I’ll keep thinking and you keep thinking, and maybe we can figure something out.”

  “All right.”

  Bennett pats me on the shoulder. “Have a good rest of the weekend, Piper.”

  “You, too.” The bodyguards approach me and I hit the elevator button. We get in, and I punch in the code for Noah’s penthouse. The elevators open up on his floor. Simon stays with me while Hans, the other guard, sweeps the penthouse. After he deems it all clear, I go inside, and they shut the door. I feel bad about them staying out in the small corridor all the time, but they assure me it’s their job.

  I text Noah. “Ran into Bennett.”

  He calls me right away.

  I answer, “Wow. That was fast.”

  “Sorry, Piper. I told Bennett about us, in case you don’t know. I was going to tell you after I finished my meeting with Nixon.”

  “It’s okay. I started to tell him, but he stopped me and told me he was fine with it and said he was happy for us?”

  “Yes. I told you he wouldn’t be a problem.”

  “That you did. Well, thanks for telling him so I didn’t have to.”

  “I told you I would take care of it.”

  “I know, but I didn’t think you would have over the phone.”

  Noah teases, “Maybe it’s my way of making sure you don’t change your mind about us while I’m not in front of you.”

  “I’m not going to change my mind, Noah.”

  “Good,” he replies but doesn’t sound overly convinced.

  “Noah.”

  “Hmm?”

  “You told me to trust you, so trust me on this, okay? Don’t worry about this. I’m not going to cave on us.”

  With more conviction, he replies, “Okay. In that case, why don’t I email you my signed copy of the HR form, and you can fill out your part, sign it, and email it in?”

  I laugh. “Aren’t you on the ball.”

  “I don’t want to move backward, Piper.”

  A million butterflies release in me. Noah seems to have no wavering about how he feels for me or that he wants us to be together.

  “I’ll do it today, then,” I tell him.

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Why do you sound surprised?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I’m still getting used to the fact that you aren’t fighting me on us.”

  “I’ll save my fighting strength for something else.”

  Noah groans. “Why do I believe you when you say that.”

  I stare out the window at the Chicago skyline. “Okay. I’ll let you get back to your meeting. Thanks for calling me.”

  “All right. Check your inbox. I sent the form.”

  “Will do.”

  “I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay. Bye.

  “Bye, Piper.” Noah hangs up.

  I pull up my email and read through the form. Noah has disclosed things pretty well. I decide to write on the form, “Please review what Noah wrote. This is one-hundred percent the truth, and I am not in any way being pressured or feel obligated to write this. I entered this relationship with my own free will.”

  I copy and paste the paragraph on all the lines, sign it electronically, then email it to HR and cc Noah, as well as Bennett.

  Noah texts me. “That was fast.”

  “Told you I wasn’t going to cave.”

  He sends me kiss emojis. I reply with some as well.

  Sitting back on the couch, I gaze out the window, watching the waves of Lake Michigan crash against the shoreline. It’s a fairly windy day, but the sun is shining. People sunbathe on the beach even though it’s pretty early in the season. A few are actually in the water.

  I sit for hours, staring out the window, trying to think of some way to pull off Noah’s plan without him becoming a target. The only thing that interrupts me is the ring of the doorbell announcing the girls’ arrival. I’m excited to hang out with them but sad because I’m no closer to helping Noah stay out of harm’s way.

  26

  Noah

  It’s Sunday. Eric Tremblor from Markler Corporation and I are meeting in secret, at 686, a restaurant I’ve invested in. It’s not open to the public yet, so besides Eric and my two bodyguards, no one else is in the restaurant.

  When Nixon called Eric to rearrange our meeting, he requested we meet today instead. I’m cautious and also curious. Cautious because I don’t know whose side he’s on, or if he even realizes there’s a side between Kramer and me. Curious because he told Nixon he wants to meet alone with me.

  I arrive from the back alley, and he does the same, as instructed by Nixon.

  I’ve met Eric twice in the past. He’s always been kind to me, but I don’t know what I’m walking into.

  We sit down in a booth, across from one another. Eric is in his mid-sixties, with gray streaks running through his black hair.

  I decide to get right into it. “Nixon said you wanted to meet alone first?”

  He peers at me for a few minutes, saying nothing. I stare back at him, holding myself back from shifting or doing anything that might make it appear I’m nervous.

  Finally, he says, “Noah, you’ve always seemed like a straight shooter to me.”

  I nod. “That I am. You as well.”

  He scans my eyes some more. “I came to get some straight answers from you.”

  “Sure. What do you need answered?”

  “What’s the real reason you’re interested in buying Markler?”

  I almost give him my typical answer but stop myself. Eric strikes me as a guy who doesn’t play twice with liars. He seems trustworthy and like a good guy, but I’m contemplating how to answer this without digging myself into a hole if I lie to him.

  Cautiously, I reply, “Can I ask why you’re asking me this?”

  “I’ve worked my entire life for my company. I don’t want it to go down in flames. You’re a pretty sharp, young man, I’ll give you that, but pharmaceuticals seem to be outside of your wheelhouse.”

  I can’t blame the guy for asking me this. I think some more on how to respond, trying to feel him out some more.

  “Eric, why did you get into pharmaceuticals?”

  He shifts in his seat. “I wanted to help people. My mother had a rare disease and suffered from the pain of it her entire life.”

  “I’m sorry to hear about your mom. Do you feel like you’ve helped people?”

  “Yes and no.”

  “Go on,” I encourage.

  He sighs. “The cost of drug research has continued to go up. The bigger companies buy patents for drugs that work, just to shelve the patent so patients who are sick stay on their drugs longer, sometimes for life. It’s a constant fight to find a cure for a disease or a solution for someone to be able to have a better quality of life.”

  My gut is telling me Eric is sincere, but I’m still cautious, as I know it could be a setup.

  Deciding to throw him a bone, I tell him, “I think you’ll find that you and I are on the same page regarding why we want to be in the pharmaceutical space.”

  His next comment surprises me, and he points to the bodyguards. “This secret location and the bodyguards... I’m assuming you’ve been threatened?”

  “Why
do you assume that?”

  He leans in, frowns, and lowers his voice. “Noah, I’ve been in this industry thirty-plus years and had my fair share of threats.”

  I decide I’m going to trust him and pray I’m not making a huge mistake. My research indicates he is genuine and unlike Kramer Sampson, so I take the leap. “If I let you in, can you promise the utmost confidentiality?”

  “It won’t leave this table.”

  After a deep breath, I tap my fingers on the table. “I need your access to insulin.”

  He squints at me. “Why?”

  “It’s personal. Let’s say it’s similar to your mother’s story and why you got into the business. But I want to drive the big guys out of the insulin market by getting enough access to insulin and dropping the price so people can afford it.”

  Eric whistles. “Noah, do you have a death wish?”

  My pulse races. “I wish I could find a way to do it without risking that, but I’m not sure how.”

  Eric sits back in his seat. “Who’s coming after you right now?”

  “Kramer Sampson threatened and had me followed the other night. We ditched them, but he may or may not know what I’m up to. He killed a deal of mine about a year ago.”

  “Shit, Noah. He’s not one to mess with.”

  “Yep. I know.”

  “You talking to anyone else besides me?” Eric asks.

  Once again, I decide to tell the truth. “I met with Cosoner on Friday, and tomorrow I’m supposed to meet with Tritonione.”

  “Don’t meet with Tritonione.”

  I jerk my head at him. “Why?”

  “Kramer is in their pocket.”

  My gut drops. That means Kramer knows I was supposed to meet with them. “How do you know that?”

  “Just trust me on this.”

  Panicked, I ask, “What about Cosoner?”

  “I can’t say either way.”

  “Great. That means I need to find another company to pursue.”

  He crosses his arms. “Why?”

  “I need a big enough supply.”

  His fingers tap his shoulder, and he purses his lips in thought. After a few minutes, he asks, “You sure you want this death wish?”

  “I won’t stop until it’s done.”

  He scratches his face. “Okay, kid. I’m going to let you in on a secret.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I have the ability to produce ten times what the current manufacturers are, including Kramer.”

  I’m shocked. “How?”

  “I own companies under several aliases. I learned a long time ago that owning too much in this industry puts a target on your back. But I possess all the moving pieces to create as much insulin as you want.”

  “As much as you want?”

  Eric licks his lips and taps the table with his finger. “Yep. So, the only thing you want from my company is insulin?”

  “Yes. But why haven’t you done anything with it?”

  “Honestly, I don’t like what’s happening with the insulin pricing and monopoly. But it’s a losing battle fighting the insurance companies. Even if I owned the biggest supply, the insurance companies and all the middlemen wouldn’t be cut out. It’s too big a political system. I didn’t want to make money off people that way.”

  I run my hand through my hair, taking all this information in.

  “The other projects in my company you don’t care about?”

  “Honestly, no. I’m sorry, but my only agenda is to drop the price on insulin so people have fair access to it.” I realize I might completely have destroyed my entire mission with this conversation, but I don’t want to lie to him. He deserves honesty from me.

  “So, we should really be discussing my ability to manufacture insulin instead of the sale of my entire company?”

  “Are you open to that?”

  He continues to tap the table. “If your plan involves a way to get insulin to the market at a fair price without having to fight the political system, then yes. I’m all ears and open. However, we need a plan that doesn’t involve a target on your back. If you’re dead, your plan isn’t going to come to fruition.”

  “You’re willing to sell me whatever is involved?”

  “Not sell. Partner. You don’t have the capability to run all these processes, but I do. Someday, maybe you will. But right now, you don’t. And my businesses are so hidden, it would take a genius to tie all the parts to me.”

  “You would partner with me?”

  “If you can pull this off, then yes, but I’m not budging on my requirement. You need to come up with a better plan to protect yourself. I don’t want your death on my head.”

  I sit back, letting it sink in that the supply issue could be solved. My pulse creeps up further. Can it really be this simple to get access to more insulin than what Kramer Sampson and his competition have?

  “Noah, find a way to protect yourself. You have my word you can get as much insulin as you need,” Eric tells me.

  “Okay. I’m going to need some time to try and figure this out.”

  He nods. “Take as much time as you need, but whatever you do, get your ass back to Chicago and don’t take your meeting tomorrow.”

  I’m about to agree with him when another thought pops into my head. “Actually, I think I’ll take that meeting, steer the conversation, and tell them at the end of it I’m no longer interested. Send Kramer a message that I’m just trying to make money.”

  Eric chuckles. “Kid, you’re smarter than I thought. Now get that brain working so you don’t end up dead.”

  I go through the motions in my meeting with Tritonione Corporation and continue to focus the meeting on profits and how to scale their business profits. Toward the end, I shake my head at Gusto Camen, the majority shareholder who is in bed with Kramer. “I appreciate all your time, but I’m not seeing how I can make the profits I want to make.”

  Gusto tries to hide his shock. “Okay. I understand. If you change your mind, let me know.”

  “Thanks. I’m beginning to think maybe pharmaceuticals isn’t an easy industry to get into.”

  Gusto nods. “You’re probably right about that.”

  “Maybe I just need to stick to my wheelhouse?”

  “That might be better for you,” he advises.

  I scrunch my face like I’m deep in thought and it’s sinking in. “Hmm.” I stand and hold out my hand. “Thanks for your time.”

  The meeting adjourns. I think I’ve done a good enough job to trick them and hope Kramer will no longer feel threatened by me.

  My plane is on time. I arrive at the office around three. I get off the elevator and Piper is at a cubicle talking to one of the analysts on her team.

  In the middle of the conversation, she stops and quickly is in front of me, pulling me down to her lips and kissing me.

  I’m thrown off. I didn’t expect her to want to show any affection in the office, and a wave of emotion sweeps through me. Her arms pull me tighter to her, and the office no longer exists. I’m lost in all that is right in my world, which is Piper.

  I pull back from her, clasp her hand, and guide her into our personal office as the people around us make catcalls. I shut the door and lock it.

  Her eyes are wet. “Noah, I was so worried.”

  “Everything is okay. But you know you just outed us to the entire office, right?” I tease her.

  She shrugs. “Oh well. HR got the form. If they are going to talk, at least we gave them something to talk about.”

  I laugh. “You did a good job with that.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her into me, needing to feel her once again against me. I kiss the top of her head.

  “I don’t care anymore. I only care that you’re okay.”

  “I’m okay. Let’s sit down and I’ll tell you all about it.” I lead her to the couch and pull her on my lap then tell her about my two meetings.

  Her face lights up. “So, Kramer thinks you aren’t a threat anymore?”


  I shrug. “I hope so but who knows.”

  “And Eric will partner with you and create a bigger supply than Kramer and his competition combined?”

  “That’s what he promised me.”

  “Wow.”

  “I know. I didn’t see that coming.”

  “But we need to find a way to hide you from it?”

  “Pretty much, yes.”

  “I won’t argue with that part of the plan.” She leans in and kisses me then pulls back and asks, “And you trust Eric?”

  I blow out a breath of air. “Yes. I do.”

  Piper strokes my cheek. “Good. Did you let Cosoner Corporation know that you aren’t interested?”

  “Crap. I didn’t even think about them. I was too worried about figuring out how to mislead the Tritonione team. I’ll send them an email when we’re done talking.”

  Piper bites her lip.

  I brush my hand through her hair. “What’s wrong?”

  “How do you bypass insurance and the other political issues?”

  “I’m not sure yet.”

  We don’t talk for a few minutes, trying to figure out a solution. Piper finally looks at me. “Let me go finish my conversation with Bryan and think about this some more.”

  I grin. “You did leave him mid-sentence.”

  She rolls her eyes. “I’m sure I’m going to get the stare down from the entire floor.”

  “Want me to go out with you?”

  She smirks at me. “Do you think that’s going to help stop it?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve never done this before.”

  “You don’t have sex with all your employees?” she teases.

  “Funny. I’m glad you’re not freaking out. I was worried you would,” I admit to her.

  Piper caresses the side of my head. “Maybe I’ve had some time to think about what’s important to me.”

  I wiggle my brows at her. “That’s me, right?”

  She laughs. “Don’t get cocky now!”

  After I kiss her, I tell her, “Okay. Go finish your conversation, I’ll send off that email and then, let’s get out of here.”

  Piper tilts her head at me in question. “Where are we going?”