“Have you found it?” I barked at Alex.
“I’ve just emailed it through to you Sir.”
“Good. Thank you.” I hung up.
I turned to the girls. “I need to borrow your computer baby, I have to check the footage.”
El nodded and moved around her desk to get her laptop set up. “Done.” She moved out of the chair so I could sit down – she perched herself on the edge of the desk.
I logged into my account and opened the file. I fast forwarded until I saw El and I walk through the lobby and exit onto the street.
“There we go.” I said quietly. Quinn came and stood behind me. The next forty minutes showed nothing but employees coming and going. I fast forwarded.
“There.” El pointed to the edge of the screen. “Him.”
She was right. The guy was loitering around. He had a baseball cap pulled low on his head and was dressed in dark jeans and a black jacket. He approached the front desk, passed the box over and turned and left. He’d spoken only a few words, and I knew they would have included my girls name.
“Just like that.” Quinn said quietly.
“We can’t even see his face.” El ground out. “That could be anyone. But one thing is for sure, it’s not possible that it’s Evan.”
“It’s our guy. I can feel it. He’s getting desperate.” I slammed my fist down on the desk and felt El flinch next to me. I tried to relax before I looked at her beautiful face. “He’s getting sloppy baby. He’ll get cocky and I’ll get him. I promise you.”
She gave me a small smile.
There was a knock at the door. “Come in.” El called out.
Weston’s head appeared around the door. “I’m really sorry Ellerslie, I can see this isn’t a good time, but there’s a problem with the Overland account. The shipment is significantly delayed… I’m worried about a contract breach.”
El let out a deep breath. “Fucking perfect.” She muttered under her breath.
She looked at Q. “Quinn, I need you to get our contact from the shipping company on the line and find out what’s going on. I’ll call Overland and speak with Jared when we know more.”
She turned back to Weston. “I need you and Macie to go through that contract with a fine tooth comb, I want to know exactly what this is going to cost me if it goes south.”
I looked at her in awe. How she could push all of this crap aside and still do her job like an absolute pro was beyond me. “And me Miss Rush?” I said with a smirk on my face.
She turned to me and tried to give me a serious look. “You.” She pointed her finger at me. “Pick up all those bloody beads and then get out of my office and go and do some work.”
She cracked a smile half way through my telling off. I was about to object to the part where she wanted me to leave but she beat me to it.
“Uh-uh cowboy. You can’t stay. This is a big account. I need to focus. Call the hulk back in.”
I sighed and surrendered. “Okay. Fine. I’ll call Brody right now.” She shooed me from her chair and I chuckled at her no nonsense attitude – it reminded me of Quinn.
Weston, Macie and Q all got to work doing what El had asked of them. I sat and watched her work on her laptop until Brody knocked on the door. “Call me when you’re done pretty girl.” I stood and headed out the door.
“Lawson.” El called after me.
I stopped and looked back at her.
“Thank you.” She said simply.
***
It was after 4.00pm and Ellerslie and Quinn were still hard at it upstairs. Rather than annoy El, I’d decided I would check in with Q. They were stressed. I was grateful they had a distraction, but I wanted to get out of here. This afternoon had been long and I was too distracted to do any real work.
I’d sent Mark the security footage and he’d agreed it was probably the same man. I could tell he was concerned about how the situation was escalating. We were at a loss with how to proceed – the only thing I knew for certain was that El needed to be kept out of harm’s way.
I was still torn on Evan. He’d been where he was supposed to be during mine and El’s lunch. It proved it wasn’t him. But yet I still wasn’t convinced.
I’d organised for Logan to get a ride back with the architect I had visiting the site. I was expecting him any minute.
Speak of the devil.
“Hey man, what’s the latest?” Logan asked as he walked into my office and slumped down in one of the chairs.
I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. I told him about the beads, the footage, and my concerns for my girl.
“That’s pretty scary stuff.” He shook his head. “He was that close to her?”
“I still think it’s Evan.” I muttered. “He’s the only contact El has had here, outside of work.”
He shook his head. “I dunno man. El doesn’t seem convinced. And he was at work… I think you’re clutching at straws.”
El didn’t believe it was Evan, but that woman was too bloody trusting.
“You want to go out for dinner? My shout to thank you. The four of us can head out.”
“We should stay in.” I objected. “It’d be safer.”
“C’mon Law… who’s going to get through the two of us?”
He was right. If they were getting through us, they were going to need to bring the cavalry.
I sighed. “Fine, If El wants to go, we’ll go.” I knew she would want to go. She hated being locked away like this, it made her stir crazy.
Logan gave me a triumphant smile. He knew we’d be going out.
I sent Quinn a text.
“How’s it going?”
She replied quickly.
“It’s going... call El.”
I didn’t need telling twice. I picked up my office phone and direct dialled El.
“Ellerslie Rush speaking.”
“Hey baby.”
“Oh hey.” She breathed. “Sorry I haven’t called. This has been a complete disaster.”
“Have you made any progress?”
“We have. The shipment can’t get here any earlier. I’ve cut a deal with Overland to give them the product at half price and in turn we keep our contract with the company. It’s a big loss of profit, but I couldn’t risk losing them all together.”
“I would have done the same.” I told her. She was smart, it was making the best of a bad situation.
“I’m just finishing up a few things and then I’ll be done.”
“Logan wants to take us to dinner, Q too. Do you want to go?”
I could hear her smile through the phone. “I would love too.”
I sighed in defeat and Logan gave me a smirk and a thumbs up.
“Okay baby, we’ll be up in a few minutes.”
“Sounds good cowboy.”
I hung the phone up.
“So she wants to go?” Logan asked, feigning innocence.
“What do you think you smug asshole?” I taunted him.
He just laughed at me.
I am so screwed.
We took the elevator up to the girls floor. Weston wasn’t anywhere to be seen and Brody was still standing guard at the door.
“Brody?” I heard Logan ask, disbelief in his voice. “Shit I haven’t seen you for years.”
I watched as Brody transformed from body guard to friend. “Shit long time no see all right.” They shook hands.
“Brody and I served together on my first tour.” Logan explained to me.
“Is this what you’re doing these days?” He asked Brody.
“Yeah, this is the boss.” He flicked his head in my direction.
“Me too man, me too.” Logan chuckled. “I’ve just started project managing again today.”
I left them to catching up.
“Hey pretty girl.”
El looked up from her laptop and smiled at me. “Hey yourself.” She paused and cocked her head to the side as she heard Logan and Brody talking. “Is that Brody… is he actually talking?” She ask
ed with a shocked look on her face.
“Yeah.” I laughed at her confusion. “Apparently him and Logan are old army buddies.”
“Huh.” She mused. “What a small world.”
“Where’s Q?”
“Her office.” She replied as she began packing up her stuff. “She wants to stay for another hour or so. I was going to ask you if Brody could stay with her and drive her home after? We could wait to go out when she gets back?”
“Sounds good. I’ll sort it out.” I walked around the desk and took her bags from her. We checked in with Quinn on our way out and left her in Brody’s capable hands.
72. Ellerslie
“Quinn just text me.” I told Lawson. “She wants a dress from the apartment.”
He rolled his eyes. “Tell her to wear one from the house.”
I bit down on my lip and scrunched up my nose. “I actually wouldn’t mind getting my red dress too.”
He huffed out a breath and changed lanes to head towards our apartment.
I giggled. “Thanks cowboy.”
“Wish you’d just move in already.” He mumbled under his breath.
We were a few minutes from the apartment. It wasn’t too cold outside now and it seemed silly to drive under for nothing. “Just park out front and I can just run up.” I told Lawson.
“I don’t mind coming with you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I scolded. “I’ll only be in there for a few minutes.”
“But-“
“No buts.” I interrupted him. “For god sakes I think I can handle getting up to the apartment and back. You’ll be right here, watching the door and the garage like a hawk.”
He chuckled and heard I Logan laughing at me from the back. “Fine.” He held up his hands in surrender. “Just don’t muck around.”
He pulled up outside the building and I jumped out. “Yes Dad.” I teased.
I walked inside, went straight to the elevator and swiped my access card. The ride up was quick and the doors opened to our living area. I took a minute to look around – it was eerie in here. It was an odd feeling, being alone, after being supervised and wrapped in cotton wool all these weeks. I shrugged it off.
No mucking around.
I grinned as I went and found the dress Quinn wanted, and grabbed the red dress I planned to wear to dinner from my closet.
That wasn’t so hard now was it.
I pushed the button for the elevator and waited.
The doors slid open and I gasped.
Oh fuck.
I stepped backwards and dropped the dresses to the floor.
73. Lawson
I watched El walk inside the building and as soon as she was out of sight, I felt my anxiety levels rise. I was being stupid. I knew I was. But something didn’t feel right. I’d learnt to trust my instincts, and right now they were telling me that I was fucking up again.
“Something doesn’t feel right man.” I looked back at Logan.
“Relax.” He told me firmly. “If she’s not back in five minutes, we’ll go up.”
I relaxed slightly at his suggestion before the realisation dawned on me. “I can’t get in.”
“What do you mean?” Logan narrowed his eyes at me.
“The elevators. You need a swipe card.” I balled my fists. “I don’t have one.”
“Chill out Lawson. She’s probably up there by now. Just give her a few minutes.”
A car pulled off the road and headed towards the building’s garage. “Who the hell is that?” I spun in my seat and stared at the driver of the car.
Lisa. Thank god.
“It’s just Lisa, Reeve’s girlfriend.” I told Logan.
She looks upset.
She gave me a small wave and headed into the underground car park. We sat silently for a few more minutes. The tingling unease in my spine was growing worse by the minute. I fidgeted with the radio, trying to distract myself. I jumped when my phone rang loudly.
Ells!
I sighed when I saw it was just Reeve calling.
“Hey man what’s up?”
“Are you with El?” His voice was urgent and rushed.
“I’m outside the girl’s apartment waiting for her.” I told him quickly. “Why?”
“You need to get in there.” He yelled. I could hear tooting in the background. He was driving. “The camera system sent me an alert. He’s got Lisa. It looks like he has a weapon… I looked back through the footage and I saw El go up there. He’s after her.”
I was already out of the truck and running towards the entrance. I could hear Logan yelling at me but I ignored him.
I have to get to El.
I slammed my hand on the call button for the lift and cursed loudly when I remembered I didn’t have a pass card. “I can’t get in.” I roared down the phone. “I don’t have a card. Who is it Reeve?” I yelled as I hit the button uselessly. Logan appeared next to me with a tortured look on his face.
“It’s Evan.” I heard Reeve reply.
“It’s fucking Evan.” I told Logan. “He’s in there.” I kicked the elevator.
“Go underground.” Reeve yelled at me. “The new code is 5436.” I could tell he was on the verge of losing it. “We might be able to manually override the system down there -”
I jumped back as the elevator doors opened in front of me.
Sweet Jesus.
“Reeve.” I interrupted him – I knew my voice sounded haunted.
Reeve stopped rambling, silence filled the line.
“I’ve got Lisa.” I told him. Logan and I both rushed into the elevator as Lisa fell to the ground. She was bleeding a small amount and was white as a ghost. Logan picked her up and held her in his arms.
“Is she okay?” Reeve asked quietly. He wasn’t coping. I knew how he felt. I wasn’t coping either.
“I think she’s in shock. She’s bleeding, but it’s not a lot. Logan has her.”
“Oh no. Lisa. Lisa.” Reeve’s stammering faded into the back of my mind.
The elevator doors had shut but it wasn’t moving. “I need to get to El.” I yelled and slammed my fist against the control panel.
El’s name seemed to snap Reeve out of his trance. “Get the card from Lisa. You’ll have to go up to my floor, get the card for the girls apartment from the hall table and go back down.”
I frantically began searching Lisa’s pockets until I found the card. I swiped it and the elevator began to move.
El….
Fuck I hope I’m not too late.
74. Ellerslie
I stepped backwards slowly as a predatory smile curled his lips up.
“Well this is a surprise… I finally got you alone.” He sneered.
Fear crept up my spine.
I should have listened. It was Evan all along.
“Evan.” I stated calmly. “What do you want?” I stepped back further as I spoke.
He turned his head to look back inside the lift. “I didn’t need you after all.” He spat.
I gasped as I saw Lisa huddled in the corner of the lift.
No…
“Lisa!” I yelled. “Are you okay?” I had to physically stop myself from running over to her. I knew it wouldn’t do either of us any good.
Lisa let out a tortured cry and I froze. I saw the light bounce off the blade he held in his hand.
“No!” I screamed. He shoved her roughly against the wall and stepped out of the elevator. The doors shut behind him.
Lisa… please be ok…
He focused his eyes on me again. They were dark, cold and calculating. He didn’t look right. I tried to think of the last time I saw him… at the club – I remembered his eyes lighter, warmer, softer. I was obviously wrong, I’d been drinking, and I’d been fooled by his kindness.
It was all part of his game.
“What do you want?” I demanded again. For every step he took towards me, I took one backwards, away from him. “Lawson is right outside. He’ll come looking for me.”
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