Lillian looked almost exactly the same, and it warmed my heart to see her again. “Lillian. My goodness, it’s been so long.”
She broke out into a huge smile and pulled me into a tight hug, not letting go for a good five seconds. “I’m glad you finally stopped by, young lady.”
I waited for a wave of sadness to hit me, seeing her again, but all I felt was the joy that came from being around an old friend. Maybe I really was moving past my grief. “I wondered if I would run into you today.”
Her gaze traveled to Troy, and she lifted an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Is this your new beau?”
My face heated at the question, and I shook my head. “No, he’s my bodyguard.”
Alarm washed over her features. “Bodyguard? What’s going on?”
“Long story.”
She glanced both ways and then tugged on my arm, pulling me into the file room.
I gave Troy a reassuring smile. “It’s okay. She’s an old friend. Go ahead and wait in the lobby.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Lillian is safe.” I glanced at her and chuckled. “We go way back.”
“All right. I trust your judgment.” He turned and walked away, and I warmed at his faith in me.
Once in the room, Lillian closed the door and locked it. “Fate brought you here this afternoon. Today is my last day.”
It wasn’t fate. It was God’s providence, but I didn’t say it out loud. Lillian already knew what I believed.
My eyes widened a little at her confession though. “What happened?” Lillian was the longest standing employee, and I’d always assumed she’d stay until she retired, but she was years away from that.
“Gary’s retiring and he wants to travel.” She paused and then lowered her voice. “At least, that’s the official answer.” Her husband Gary was a decade older, and he’d often joined our little group for dinner.
“What’s the real one?” I asked in a whisper. “I can’t believe you’re leaving.”
She hesitated for several long moments, looking unsure about something. Biting down on her bottom lip, she glanced to the side, a crease forming at her forehead. “There are rumors that Robert plans to file bankruptcy.”
My mouth dropped open, and my heart sunk to my stomach like a led weight. “Are you sure? He never said anything to me.”
“I can’t confirm how accurate that is, but things have been strange around here for a long time. I never wanted to bother you with the details when I called, but it’s gotten to the point where I don’t feel comfortable anymore.”
“I don’t understand. What’s making you uncomfortable?”
“Just… I’m not sure everything is on the up-and-up.”
I frowned. “What does that mean exactly?”
The sound of Robert’s voice filtered through the wall as he talked with someone and walked down the hallway in the direction of the lobby.
“We’ll have to talk later. How about we meet for coffee this evening?”
“Sure.” I cleared my throat. “Is everything okay? You’re scaring me.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Okay…” When I headed for the door, she grabbed my arm.
“If Robert asks, we were discussing my trip to London. I’m leaving in a few days.”
“Is Robert… Is he the reason you’re feeling uncomfortable?”
Her lips thinned, and she shrugged. “Robert is Robert. He’s always been a good guy to work for but…” She winced and whispered, “We’ll talk later.”
“Text me the details. I don’t have anything else planned this evening.”
She stalled, looking as if she wasn’t ready to let me go yet. “Kayla, are you sure you’re okay? Why do you need a bodyguard?”
I puffed up my cheeks and let the air out. “I’ll tell you tonight. Robert’s probably wondering where I am.”
“Right. You should go.”
I opened the door, and seeing no one, stepped out of the room. “It was good to see you, Lillian.”
She smiled. “Good to see you too. I’m glad I caught you on my last day.”
Chapter 11
Kayla
“I have no idea what this means,” Robert said, looking at a copy of Daniel’s journal entry. He let out a heavy breath and looked at me with sympathy in his eyes. “This must be very upsetting for you.”
We were at Michelangelo’s, an Italian restaurant downtown, and Robert had insisted on bringing me there even though I told him I wanted something less expensive. He would undoubtedly demand to pay the bill, and we would argue over who got it when the waiter brought it to the table. We always engaged in that little dance: him wanting to treat me to dinner and me wanting to pay my own way. I appreciated his kindness, but I didn’t ever want him to feel like I was taking advantage. I was more than willing to pay for my own dinner. Preferred it, actually.
I glanced at Troy who was seated behind Robert at a different table, and his steady presence made me feel safe. He tipped his head in acknowledgment, and I smiled and then turned back to Robert. Robert was looking out for me as well, but he was a financial planner, not a protector. He was the one who had insisted I have a bodyguard in the first place, so I had to give him credit for that. I was appreciative a thousand times over, and once I got a job that paid more, I would pay him back.
“Yes, it is upsetting,” I said, “and it makes me think the guy who mugged Daniel and me wasn’t some random guy. What if someone planned on killing him because of what he knew?” I glanced at Troy and wished he was sitting at the table with us. Something about him grounded me, and I would have liked his input in this discussion.
Robert frowned and pressed his lips together, glancing up at the ceiling as if thinking. “But the police looked into it and didn’t find anything.”
“They didn’t have this new evidence, though.”
I glanced at Troy again and a wistful feeling washed over me. No matter how much I tried to focus on my conversation with Robert, my gaze kept wandering to Troy as he leaned back in his chair, his muscled arms crossed at his chest, his huge physique taking up space as if every inch belonged to him. It was hard not to admire him, not to wish I was sitting at his table, getting to know him better over lunch. I wanted more from him, more than he could give. He obviously didn’t feel the same way, so I needed to let it go. He was my bodyguard and nothing else, but for the first time in a long time, I felt alive. It was as if a part of me died when Daniel was killed, but that part was slowly coming back to life.
“Yes, this is new evidence.” Robert sighed and his shoulders drooped. Leaning in, he placed his hand possessively over mine. “It makes me sad that Daniel kept secrets from you. Of all people, you didn’t deserve that.”
A chill raced down my spine. I pulled my hand away and leaned back in my chair. “Wait… You aren’t suggesting he was involved in criminal activity, are you?”
He frowned. “No, of course not. Daniel was a solid guy, but he stumbled onto something, and, for whatever reason, decided to keep it from you.” He was quiet for a few moments and then met my gaze. “I’m just sorry he kept you in the dark.”
I bristled. “What are you implying?” My tone sounded accusatory, but I didn’t like the way he was phrasing that, almost as if he were inferring that Daniel was unfaithful. My Daniel would not have been involved in anything untoward. I knew that without a doubt.
“No, no. I’m sorry if that’s how you took it. I didn’t mean it that way. I just know that Daniel kept to himself at times and wasn’t the type to open up much. I wish I could give you answers, but I don’t know what he meant.” He sighed, lifting a glass of water to his lips. After taking a sip, he set the glass on the table and crossed his arms. “Maybe it had something to do with that neighbor you guys were always complaining about.”
“Maybe. That could be it. Perhaps he didn’t want to worry me.”
I glanced up and caught Troy watching me with an
intense expression on his face. Those brown eyes of his were fierce with concern, and he looked as if he were about to jump up any second and come to my aid. I doubted he was able to overhear our conversation, but he might have heard the distress in my voice earlier. I found myself pulled towards him, wanting to let him know I was okay.
“Kayla.” Robert snapped his fingers in an attempt to get my attention. “You keep looking at him.” He jerked his head in Troy’s direction. “He has nothing to do with this conversation.”
My face heated at the realization that he’d caught me staring at Troy one too many times. I wasn’t sure what to say. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be rude.”
“It’s against Bad Boy Bodyguard’s policy to have relationships with clients. If he’s been unprofessional—”
“Nothing is going on between us. I can’t believe you would even imply something like that.”
“I’m not implying anything. Just thought you should know their protocol.”
“And how do you know about this policy?”
“I checked.” He crossed his arms and gave me an unapologetic stare. “I wanted to make sure you’re in good hands.”
I squirmed in my seat and wondered if that was the true reason. He had a thing for me, and I wouldn’t put it past him to try to exert influence over my love life if I ever decided to have one. The air between us grew awkward and tense as the seconds passed. He had always been the steady, patient friend I could count on, but his watchful eye was starting to feel a little suffocating. Even so, he was my friend and I didn’t want to hurt him.
One thing was crystal clear. It would be cruel for me to have a relationship with Troy, the man he was paying to protect me. Not that Troy was even interested, but if he was by some small chance, I wouldn’t be able to proceed in good conscience. At least, not while I was a client of Bad Boy Bodyguards.
A sick feeling washed through me as I thought about this whole situation. By paying for my protection, Robert was putting himself in a position where I felt indebted to him. He’d done it out of the kindness of his heart and wouldn’t want me to feel that way, but how could I go on like this? I had to figure out a way to pay for these services myself. Unfortunately, I was nowhere near being able to afford an expense like that.
Robert cleared his throat and folded his hands on the table. “You look…upset. Did I offend you?”
“To be honest, yeah, a little, but I’ll get over it. The bigger issue is that I need to pay you back for the bodyguard services. It’s too much, Robert. I shouldn’t have accepted your help in the first place.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled, and he relaxed his posture. “You’re special to me, Kayla, and I always look out for my friends. I practically forced you into this, so don’t worry your pretty little head about anything. I’m helping because I want to help. Because I can’t stand the thought of someone hurting you.”
My heart warmed at his words, and I let out the breath I’d been holding. I was overthinking things and finding problems that weren’t there. Robert was a kind man. He was not trying to make me indebted to him. He truly cared. Troy wasn’t an option anyway, so I needed to get my little crush on him under control.
I could do that. I really could. All I had to do was keep my thoughts centered. And then what Lillian said earlier came back to me. She’d said Robert might have to file bankruptcy. If that was the case, then he definitely shouldn’t be paying for bodyguard services he couldn’t afford. Surely, he wouldn’t have offered if he couldn’t afford it, but I needed to double-check. I wanted to bring it up right then, but I knew if I did, he’d ask if someone from the office had said something to me since I’d just been there, and I didn’t want to throw Lillian under the bus. I’d have to ask him about it another time and be careful about how I worded the question.
***
Later that evening, I met Lillian at Busy Bean. Troy came with me, of course, and once we had gotten our coffees and were seated, he sat at a table right next to ours. It was quiet, and the only other customers were on the other side of the room. Troy was close enough that he would hear our conversation, but I trusted him not to say anything.
“I can only stay a few minutes,” Lillian said, appearing slightly frazzled. “I almost chickened out, but I didn’t want to leave you hanging.”
“That’s fine.” I leaned in so we could talk quietly. “What’s going on? This sounds serious.”
Lillian grimaced, and after looking both ways, leaned in even closer. “You have to promise you never heard this from me. I trust you, Kayla, and that’s the only reason I’m here, but I don’t want to get involved…”
My stomach twisted in anticipation of what she was about to share. Did this information have anything to do with Daniel? And if it did, would it change everything I knew about him? “I promise. I won’t mention your name to Robert.”
She glanced at Troy with a smile. “Can we have some privacy, please?”
I turned to Troy with an apologetic glance. “I’m sorry, do you mind?”
“Not at all. I’ll be right over there if you need me.” He pointed to the other side of the room, and I nodded.
Lillian leaned in and winked. “He hasn’t taken his eyes off you the entire time we’ve been here.”
I cocked my head to the side and gave her a look. “It’s his job. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I’m sensing more brewing under the surface.” She cleared her throat. “All right, let’s get down to business.” She pursed her lips as if the news she was about to share was unpleasant and she hated having to deal with it. “This may come as a shock, but Robert has been involved in some shady stuff.”
I breathed in quickly and felt a sharp pang in my ribs. “Robert? That can’t be true. That’s not like him at all.”
“How much do you really know him, Kayla?”
“What do you mean? He’s an old friend. He threw an engagement party for me and Daniel, for goodness’ sake.” I leaned in and lowered my voice. “He’s paying for my bodyguard. I trust him completely.” Well, maybe not completely, but he had my back and I had his.
“Don’t get me wrong. He can be very caring, and he’s always been generous with his friends and employees. That’s why I stayed as long as I did.”
What kind of shady stuff are you talking about?”
Lillian glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to us. “You’ve heard of Ponzi schemes, right? Clients are promised a large profit with little risk. The focus is on attracting new clients and using that income to pay original investors. Those investors think the income is coming from real investments when in reality, it’s coming from new clients. It’s fraud, plain and simple, and if the flow of new clients dries up, so does the money.”
My heart dropped to my stomach, and I couldn’t believe what she was saying. “Daniel worked closely with Robert, and he wouldn’t have been involved in something like that. He had too much integrity.” Tears sprung to my eyes, and I hastily wiped them away, feeling protective of Daniel’s reputation.
“I know,” she said, taking my hand and squeezing it. “Daniel was one of the best. To his credit, I think he caught on to what Robert was doing.”
“Do you have proof of this? Or do you just suspect?”
“I have proof. Years ago, one of Robert’s clients, Greg Bishop, came to the office in a huff. He was so antsy and foul-tempered, I thought we were going to have to call the police. He demanded to speak to Robert and said something about not trusting him. The numbers were too good to be true. Something like that. Anyway, Robert wasn’t there, so I directed him to Daniel.”
“Daniel never mentioned him.”
“Well, he spoke to Mr. Bishop in his office, and I remember him pacing back and forth after the man left. I asked if he was okay and he said everything was fine, but I could tell he was bothered by something. The day before he died, he had Mr. Bishop’s file…seemed preoccupied with it.
He and Robert had an argument. I was in the file room and heard them down the hall.”
“All right, but that’s not proof of a Ponzi scheme.”
“At the time, I just chalked it up to a disagreement. Clearly, Daniel wasn’t happy with how Robert handled Mr. Bishop’s funds, but I never suspected anything shady.”
“Go on.”
“Robert has always been a good boss. He treated me well. Gave me raises every year. Let me take time off when my mother had cancer. I didn’t want to believe—”
“Lillian, please, just tell me what proof you have.”
She sighed. “A month ago, Robert had a birthday, and I wanted to surprise him. Robert and I are the only ones who have access to all the keys, so I purchased a balloon bouquet and got to work extra early. I used the key to his office and planned on tying the balloons to his chair so he’d see it first thing.”
“Okay…”
“Kayla, I’m not the type to snoop. You know me. But a file with Greg Bishop’s name was sitting on his desk in plain view. All these years I’ve thought of that incident and it never sat well with me, so I did something I shouldn’t have. I peeked.” She winced.
“And?”
“I’m no expert, but the numbers didn’t add up. I had a bad feeling, so I looked through Robert’s file cabinet and found the bookkeeping for the past three years. After that, I made a copy of the ledger as well as Mr. Bishop’s file and then put everything back before Robert got to work. I took all of it to my car before anyone else arrived, and I ended up giving Robert the balloons in the lobby rather than leaving it in his office. That way he wouldn’t know I’d been in there.”
I frowned. “I can’t believe you did that. Robert trusted you—”
Protected By The Bad Boy (Bad Boy Bodyguards Book 1) Page 8