“How did you feel?”
“When?”
“Back then.”
Amy shrugged and blinked. “I was convinced that I provoked him. That it was my fault that he couldn’t leave me alone. I was born to be a whore, and. . .”
“Have you stopped believing that yet?” Kyle asked, standing and walking to where Amy was standing.
“I want to.”
“But the phone calls aren’t making it easy. You’re not provoking him into stupidity. Something is wrong with a man when he thinks like that.” He watched while she glanced down at the sketch book. “The first thing we work on is what your uncle has made you believe. The second. . .Let’s rearrange that. The first thing I want to do is catch the jerk who is playing this warped game, and then I’ll help you get over what you’re thinking.” Kyle hugged her tightly and felt her shiver. “What is it?”
“You asked me about a sports bag yesterday.” Amy pulled out of his hug and walked over to the bed where Kyle had placed her book. “Kyle, I. . .” she handed him the book. “Where is this? I must have visited it.”
Kyle glanced at it and found that he was once more focused on the duffle that was placed beside the desk. “The question is did you recognize the man sitting at the desk. You didn’t draw him so that we can figure it out.”
“I never really saw him. That’s Melody’s brother.” Amy hissed the name, causing Kyle to laugh. “What?”
“You were actually ill that she flirted with me.” Kyle reminded her. “I pocketed her number to see your reaction.”
“Her brother’s name is Robert Gray.” Amy glared at him. “And why would you have wanted to see how I reacted?”
“It was the first hint that you liked me, Amy.” Kyle chuckled. “I tossed the number on the way out of the office.”
“I guess that was stupid of me.” Amy sat on the bed and lowered her eyes before he joined her.
“No, Amy; it wasn’t stupid. It’s called being human, and I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t please me. Well, I guess that you could refer to it as an ego trip. Swelled my head a little.” Kyle teased, while watching her eyes. “I guess I could admit that I got my kicks from your reaction.”
“You’re trying to distract me.”
“I can think of something more creative to do that.” Kyle turned to her and smoothed the hair from her shoulder before he kissed her throat. “But, I think that it’ll better if you got the rest you need.”
Amy nodded before lowering her head. “I want to go to work today instead of staying cooped up in this apartment.”
“Amy, why?”
Amy stood and looked around her, blinking her eyes before she answered. “I don’t want to live in a cage. I remember how it felt then, and the feel hasn’t changed.”
Kyle glanced at her puzzled. “What cage?”
“The cage I tried to use as protection against Nash. The cage that’s being built around me now because everybody here thinks that it’ll help. It won’t. It’ll only challenge him, and that will make it worse for me.” Amy glanced at the clock. “I’m going to take a shower now. Hopefully, he didn’t install cameras in there.”
Kyle stared at the sketch after she walked to the bathroom. He gave up thoughts of going back to sleep and walked down the hall to where he knew Nate was spending the night with Elaine. Knocking on the door, he opened it a crack and called out to Nate. “Wake your ass up, Nate. I think that we need to talk. In here.” He watched Elaine roll over and turn on the light before glaring at him.
“What is there to talk about at six in the morning?” Elaine snapped at him while shaking Nate.
“You want Bob?” Kyle asked after Nate sat up in the bed. “Robert Gray, the owner and operator of Compusecure. The company that handles security for that dating agency, and I’m thinking he’s the Bob that plays basketball with us. I did a little research of my own after Amy’s meeting.”
“Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure, but your sister doesn’t realize that she’s helped me put the pieces together. I’d tell her, but she’s still freaked out over the phone call this morning. Evidently, we missed a camera.”
“What phone call?”
Kyle closed the door and stared at his friends. “He knew when she’d wake up and walk into the kitchen and told her exactly what she was wearing. The asshole had the nerve to tell her that he could walk in and make her scream. Have I got your attention yet?”
“He must be close.”
“That’s what I was thinking. She’s going to the office today.” Kyle informed them. “I’ll drive her there on my way to the restaurant. I’m sure that between Sonny and guard dog Della, she’ll be fine. Maybe, you can see if there is another camera. I guess that’s all I wanted to say.” He stepped to the door and opened it. “I’ll make some coffee now. I hope the jerk is watching me when I step into the kitchen.”
Elaine rolled her eyes before glancing at Nate. “Who was he talking about just then?”
“Somebody that I plan on finding today,” Nate answered, sliding out of the bed and grabbing his clothes. “I’m going to go listen to the message.”
≠
Amy unlocked her office and sighed before stepping over to her desk and checking the stack of messages that had accumulated while she was out. She was half-way through the stack when Kyle stepped in with Sonny. Amy glanced at Kyle puzzled before focusing on Sonny. “I know you said two days. . .”
“Kyle explained, Amy.” Sonny sat across the desk from her and placed his hands on his legs. “Our on-duty security has been instructed to stand at the door and check appointments before allowing anybody inside that doesn’t belong. Kyle has offered to bring in lunch if that meets with your approval, and Della cleared your appointments yesterday so you can focus on the campaigns of your choice without interruptions.”
“Yes, sir.” Amy watched Sonny stand and leave before staring at Kyle. “Do you really think that building another cage here is going to lessen my stress?”
“It’s a bigger space to roam, Amy.” He walked behind the desk and knelt after swiveling her chair so that she was looking at him. “More freedom than you have at your apartment. Right?”
Amy agreed and then wrinkled her nose. “No salmon. Okay? Maybe just a box of the chips like the ones Kenny stole from me while I wasn’t looking.”
“And the ice cream is still in Sonny’s freezer,” Kyle straightened enough to kiss her while lifting her out of the chair after she had wrapped her arms around his neck. He was startled at the intensity of her kiss and returned the fervor before hearing somebody clearing their throat in the doorway.
“Don’t you young-uns know what a bedroom is for anymore?” Della asked, trying to keep a straight face while a holding a manila envelope in her hand and stepping towards the desk. “Get on to that fancy dig you own, Kyle. Amy and I have a few things to go over.”
“Della, I can’t help it if you rejected my affection when I was younger.” Kyle patted the older woman on the shoulder. “Take good care of Amy, and maybe one day you’ll find a wedding invitation in the mail.”
“You’re getting married?” Della teased good-naturally before studying Amy who had raised her eyes in amusement at their banter. “Well, boy, I don’t see a ring on that finger. I mean that I had, but she blew it off. So who are you planning on marrying?”
“Well, I guess when the invitation arrives, you’ll find out.” Kyle laughed before walking out of the office and towards the door.
“Boy is crazy about you,” Della grinned while holding the envelope out for Amy to grab. “Sonny has told you that you won’t be seeing anybody today.”
“He has,” Amy agreed before noticing that the envelope hadn’t been unsealed. “You normally look at these before you give them to me. Do you know who it was from?”
“All I know is that it was in the office mail. I was so busy rescheduling your appointments and the diner that I set it aside when it arrived.” Della frowned when she noticed t
hat Amy placed the folder down on the desk. “I could look at it if you want.”
“It’s fine, Della. I’ve just been a little on the paranoid side lately.” Amy grabbed the stack of messages again and arranged them in order of importance before noticing the message from the dating service. She held it in her hand and started dialing the number before Della stood and pressed a button to end the call. “What is it?”
“I’ll make any phone calls. Sorry, I was given my orders.”
“Orders?”
“Yes, ma’am. Sonny doesn’t want anybody to know that you’re here.” Della responded. “It’s for your safety, Amy. Don’t look so put out by it.”
“Fine, find out what they need. The deadline for the campaign they would like to use isn’t until next week. Maybe they’ve already made their decision.” Amy grabbed the letter opener and slit the top of the manila folder, pulling out a picture she assumed had been taken within the past month. She dropped it on her desk and stared at it in shock after noticing the red sharpie spelling out the word before.
“He’s been here,” Amy mumbled, standing while Della grabbed the picture and studied it. “I would like the security footage from yesterday and possibly the evening before. You are not to tell Kyle about this. Understood, Della?”
“I understand, but I don’t think Sonny will. I have to get the feed from him, and he’s going to want to know what is happening.”
“Fine, I’ll get what I need.” Amy marched around the desk and towards her office door before Della had a chance to react.
Della grabbed the picture before following Amy to Sonny’s office and watched with raised eyes when Amy walked inside without knocking. “Girl, you better let me do the talking. You’re too wired.” Della whispered after she stood beside her while Sonny talked on the phone.
“Ladies?” Sonny studied them with a puzzled expression after ending his phone call.
“Mr. McDonald. . .”
“Shut up, Della.” Amy snatched the picture from Della’s hand and slapped it down in front of Sonny. “I’d like to look at the security feed to see if it caught his image.”
“Amy, I know that you’re under duress right now, but you just snapped Della’s poor head right off her shoulders.”
“Sorry,” Amy mumbled. “I just thought that if I came here today, I wouldn’t have to think about what’s going on in my personal life.”
“Seemed pretty great to me,” Della smirked, “I mean- how can I explain that kiss except for wow?”
“Della, please.” Amy blew out while trying to calm herself. “It was a simple kiss. That was it. You’d think you walked in to see us doing more.”
“Have you?”
Amy raised her eyes and turned towards her receptionist. “Really?”
“Just trying to lighten the air in here. Kinda heavy, if you ask me.”
Amy stared at the older woman and shook her head. “Weren’t you going to make a phone call?”
“Yes, but it can wait until after you’re seated at your desk again.” Della answered. “Sorry, but when my boy asks me to stick to you like glue, I feel a need to oblige. Break that boy’s heart if I didn’t do what I promised.”
“You, too? For Pete’s sake, Kyle doesn’t even work here.” Amy sat in one of Sonny’s chairs and stared at Della. “He isn’t your boss.”
“Ever hear of a silent partner, Amy?” Sonny asked before he stood and opened a cabinet full of television screens. “I taught Kyle about investing a long time ago. Shocked me when he said that he wanted to help save my company when I was going through a rough patch. He owns about forty five percent of this company. I can say that’s he done me proud.”
“What you just told me was that I work for Kyle. Was that it?” Amy stared at him in shock.
“I’m not really sure how to answer that yet.” Sonny started to rewind the days on the monitors without looking up to see how Amy was reacting to the news. “When Kyle has a suggestion, I do take it under consideration. The sap doesn’t know anything about advertising, though.” Sonny turned and scrutinized Amy before stopping the rewind. “I’m still the boss, Amy. I can override Kyle at any given moment without offering any explanation.” He pointed to the chairs at the small table, watching while Della and Amy sat next to each other. Sonny knew that Amy was still fuming over what she had learned about Kyle, but there was nothing that he could do about it since the secret was out in the open.
Della was writing down the names of the people they knew when Amy stood and grabbed the remote to freeze the screen. “Did we find something?”
“Depends? What business does Compusecure have being here? Do we use them?”
“No, we don’t.”
“Okay, then let’s say they’re here on behalf of that dating service. I had asked for them to deliver a list of names. The names of the people that worked to keep their system free of hackers. The only thing he’s holding is a manila envelope. Has anyone received anything from them? Maybe Kenny did since he was supposed to be handling my load yesterday.”
“There wasn’t anything scheduled for you.” Della mumbled.
“They were just supposed to drop it off. No, that’s not right. They said they would send the names in the email as soon as they received them from that company.” Amy stared at the van before she heard Kyle talk to Sonny. She narrowed her eyes before she turned and stared at him. Squaring her shoulders, she pushed the play button to see if she would recognize whoever exited the van in an effort to ignore Kyles’s presence in the room.
“You gonna let him have it?” Della asked in a whisper, placing her pen down on the tablet.
Amy frowned, placing her hands on her hips while she continued to watch the screen, ignoring Della and Kyle. “He knows where the camera is. Look at how he’s avoiding it while walking to the door. And here, he just slips the envelope underneath the door instead of walking inside.”
Kyle had stepped up to monitors and watched what Amy was seeing. “I know that van.”
“I’m not talking to you.” Amy fumed before he took the remote from her.
“Tough, I guess that I would love to know the reason why you’re looking at security footage instead doing the actual work you were dying to come here to accomplish. Explanation?”
“Della, ask him if he would like that explanation because he just happens to be a silent partner who doesn’t know the definition of silence or because he actually gives a rat’s ass?”
Della was about to repeat the question with amusement when Kyle paused the player and turned Amy towards him.
“Don’t, Della.” Kyle stared at the anger in Amy’s eyes and shook his head. “Pop promised to keep that quiet. I can assure that I have no. . .”
“Influence? God, I hate to be the one to point that you and Stephanie seem to have a lot influence here. Do you know how stupid I feel right now? Tell me something, my promotion. . .”
“Amy, I told you that I don’t make the calls. Your brother didn’t even tell me where you worked, and Pop doesn’t make it a practice to talk about his employees over Sunday dinner.”
“Well, that’s it then, Kyle. I can’t believe that I actually sl. . .” Amy didn’t complete your sentence after remembering who was in the room. “Don’t come over this evening. Okay?”
“What?!”
Della bit her lip and walked away from them, making a point to stop at Sonny’s desk and asking if he would like to help get some drinks for their lunch.
Kyle watched them leave. “So we were okay until you found out that I had ties here.”
“You own this agency right along with Sonny. That’s making me question a lot of things right now.”
“Which you shouldn’t be, Amy.” Kyle fumed and glanced at the monitor angrily. “Why were you watching this?”
“There was a picture delivered here. It was in a stack of in-office mail yesterday.” Amy finally answered. “Just so you know, I won’t have a relationship with you.”
“Because of this pl
ace?”
“Yes, maybe you should’ve told me before now.” Amy stormed out of Sonny’s office and was walking towards her office when Della saw her.
“Oh, I don’t guess that went well at all,” Della mumbled, handing the drinks that she was carrying to Sonny before following Amy.
Amy pivoted, stared at Della and walked back towards Sonny’s office. “You said that you knew that van.” She snapped after focusing on Kyle. “You personally know that van or you’ve just seen it around? Which one?”
“Are you going to talk to me now?” Kyle asked.
“On a personal level, it won’t happen, Kyle. Get over it and move on.” Amy stepped over to Sonny’s desk, grabbed the picture, and slammed it down on the table in front of where he was sitting. “The van?”
Kyle stared at the picture, puzzled. “My suspicions have been confirmed. The creep that’s making your life hard is none other than the Bob who you told to take a hike.”
“Are you telling me that everything he’s putting me through is because I wouldn’t let him touch me? That Randy was strangled to death because. . .” Amy placed a hand over her eyes and let Della walk her over to the chair next to Kyle’s. “Damn it, Randy never touched me so answer me why his parents lost their only child.” Amy removed her hand and stared at Kyle. “He knows about you, though. He listened- remember?”
“I’m not scared of Bob.”
“No, of course, you aren’t. You’re the only one that plays basketball with Nate that doesn’t live in our complex. Bob does. He lives a few apartments down from Nate. Did you know that?”
“Did Nate know that?”
Amy shrugged. “I quit trying to figure out what anybody knows. I need to call Nate.”
“I’ll call your brother.”
“Because you’ve made sure that I can’t use the phones here? Yeah, Della told me that she was to make whatever calls that I needed. I guess it sucks that my cell phone was taken in for evidence, but nobody knows anything about what they found out. Are you keeping that from me, too? Taking charge of my personal life as well as my professional? Hey, let’s just get everything out in the open.”
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