I watch Eric over the top of my monitor. He hasn’t said much of anything all day. He doesn’t even play on his phone. He just sits there. Or stands there. Or stands outside my office door. The man is imposing and intense and professional to a fault.
He greeted me this morning by calling me ma’am. Wtf. Vincent just grinned. Idiots. All of them.
And now, here in my new office, I can hardly concentrate with this silent man-boulder breathing in the corner. I would’ve put up a fight about moving my office to the executive floor, but I know a losing battle when I see one. Not to mention that there’s no way Eric would’ve fit in my old office. He’s built like one of those professional wrestlers that you see on TV, only he has the haircut and demeanor of a Marine.
Plus, if I’d stayed in my office downstairs, everyone would have been talking about the sudden appearance of the giant by the end of the day. At least up here Eric isn’t the only musclehead, so he doesn’t stick out like a sword in the spoon drawer. Angelo, the only man I know bigger than Eric, is in the office next to mine. And I’ve seen several other security types walking the floor, so Eric fits in fine. Of course I don’t know what the cover story is for me moving offices, so I’m still probably a part of the rumor mill. Ugh, what a mess.
I glare at Eric like this is all his fault.
“Is there a problem, ma’am?”
I nearly yelp, not expecting him to talk since he wasn’t looking my way.
“No…” I drag the word out. “How’d you know I was looking at you?”
“I see everything.”
I don’t even know what to do with his deadpan delivery. “Right.” I tap my nails on my desktop. “Any chance I can get you to stop calling me ma’am?”
“Not likely.”
I groan and lean back in my seat. “It makes me feel so old.”
“It shouldn’t. I’m six years older than you are.”
“How do you know how old I am?” I ask.
“I know everything.” He pauses. “Ma’am.”
This cheeky bastard. “You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?”
Eric finally glances at me. “Not likely.”
“Keep it up and I’m going to give your personal number to my brother.” I threaten. “Have fun fielding his check-in calls all day long.”
Eric gives me a bored look. “I’ve already spoken with Special Agent Clark. He’s aware of my protocols. But I’d be happy to call him if you’d like to confirm.”
I should be outraged at this new detail, but instead I have to bite my lips to keep from smiling.
My phone interrupts us and I spend the next half an hour going over details of the press release for Marie’s House with one of the guys on my team. It’s a little weird to talk like this, since they’re just a few floors below me, but with my new very conspicuous tag-a-long I figured over-the-phone was best. I’ll have to deal with my new situation soon, but not today. Not. Freaking. Today.
Wrapping up my notes, I email them over to Vincent.
I’m having some major second thoughts about this event now that we know Randal is nearby. But Vincent and I have discussed it, and it’s still the best plan we have.
I inhale slowly through my nose, hoping Eric won’t notice. Just thinking Randal’s name has me wanting to shudder. I only saw him for half a second before I ran, so I didn’t get a really good look at him, but it was enough. Enough to have a vague image of a slender blonde man haunting the edges of my mind.
Eric is on his feet, stepping to the door, before I even register movement on the other side of the glass.
My new office is more of a small multipurpose room, boasting a round table with four chairs and a decent sized desk. The back wall holds the view of Minneapolis, the side walls are solid, and the entire front wall is all glass, including the door. It’s semi-opaque so it blurs anyone who passes by, but if someone is close enough it’s possible to recognize them.
Eric looks about ready to start a war, but the only threat out there is Brent.
“You can let him in.” I tell Eric, rising from my chair.
Unlocking the handle, Eric pulls the door open but doesn’t move out of the way. “Yes?”
I can hear Brent stammer, but I can’t see him anymore, since he’s completely blocked from my view by Eric’s shoulders. “Oh, um, can Sasha come out?”
I can’t help it. I crack up laughing. He sounds like a kid asking if his friend can come play. “Oh my god, Eric. Let him in.”
When Eric steps aside and I get a look at Brent I laugh even more. His cheeks are so pink they’re nearly red. And the way he keeps glancing at Eric as he sidesteps past him has me slapping a hand over my mouth.
Brent widens his eyes at me once he’s past the door guard, mouthing Wow.
My smile is wider than it’s been all day. “Hey there, Brent. Welcome to my lair.”
“No kidding. Pretty sure if anyone could use some sugar and caffeine it’s you.” He hands me a coffee and I grin when I see where it’s from.
“Thanks, you’re not wrong.” I greedily take a gulp. “So, come to hang out?”
Brent chuckles. “I wish. The boss man told me to come get you.”
“Oh, okay.” With my coffee in one hand, I pick up my notes with the other.
Eric is blocking the door. “You’re going to Vincent’s office?”
Brent clears his throat. “Yeah, uh, he said to tell you that you can have an hour free. I can walk her over.”
Eric shakes his head. “She’s not leaving my sight until she’s with Vincent.”
Brent opens his mouth to say more, but I stop him with an exasperated sound. “It’s no use. He’s serious.”
“I’ll follow you.” Eric rumbles as he holds open the door.
I use my elbow to nudge Brent forward. We walk side by side and a glance over my shoulder confirms that Eric is a few strides behind us.
Brent leans in so he can whisper, “So… what the hell is going on? You either pissed off the boss big time, or you literally blew his mind, because I’ve never seen him do something like this before.”
I pretend to think it over. “Well, I don’t think he’s mad. And I haven’t blown him since that day you nearly walked in on us, so…”
My words have their desired effect when Brent chokes so hard he almost trips. “Sweet Christ, woman! Are you trying to kill me?”
“Of course not. Just trying to get your mind off my new bodyguard.”
Brent makes a humming noise. “Speaking of blowjobs.”
“That’s what I thought.” I laugh. “You had quite the adorable blush going back there.”
“Oh my god, shut up!” Brent hisses at me. He slows as we near Vincent’s office. “Seriously though, is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you about it when I can. Eric is just here as a precaution.” It’s enough of a truth that I don’t feel bad telling it.
“Okay, but if there’s anything I can help with, let me know.”
“Thanks, Brent. You’re a good friend. And probably the only fun person in this place.”
He barks out a laugh. “Oh, I know that’s the truth.”
Vincent is already standing in his doorway when we get there.
Proving his fun status, Brent makes a sweeping gesture as he bows. “Your lady and her guardian have arrived.”
Vincent shakes his head, but I can tell that he’s amused. “Eric, I’ll walk her back to her office. Be back there in an hour.”
“Yes, sir.”
I half expect him to salute, but he just turns on his heels and stalks off.
“Where do I get one of those?” Brent mumbles under his breath. Vincent rolls his eyes but before he can speak, Brent waves him off. “Yeah, yeah, hold all your calls. Knock before entering. I got it.”
I snort seeing the look on Vincent’s face and step past him into his office.
Shutting the door behind him Vincent gives me a fake glare. “Why do I feel like you’re the reason for my assistant’s new attitude.”
“I promise, I have no idea what you mean.” I say, seating myself in the visitor’s chair.
Vincent watches me closely as he slowly circles his desk before taking his own seat. “How are you doing?”
There’s something in his tone and I know he’s not talking about work. “I’m okay.” I reply. “Not great. Not horrible.” I shrug one shoulder.
Vincent’s eyes trail up and down my body, as though he’d be able to see if I’m lying.
Leaning forward I place my hand on top of his where it rests on his desk. “Vincent, I’m okay.”
The hand beneath mine rolls over so our palms are touching. “If that changes, let me know.”
“Yes, sir.” I wink.
That gets the firm set of his mouth twitching just a little. I start to pull my hand back, but his fingers latch around my wrist. “I can’t decide which way I like you best. Defiant and asking for punishment. Or compliant and begging for reward.”
I fight off the urge to shiver at his words. “That’s good, since you seem to cause both reactions in equal measure.”
His fingers give a gentle squeeze. “How’s it going with Eric?”
“Fine, I guess. I’m pretty sure the guy who delivered our lunch nearly crapped himself with how scary Eric was being. Poor kid deserves a huge tip, which of course I don’t know if he got since you told Eric I’m not allowed to pay for anything.”
“I always tip well.” Vincent replies, ignoring the rest of my statement.
“I can pay for my own lunches, Vincent.”
“You paying is one more point of contact with strangers that I’d rather you didn’t have.”
I raise my eyebrows at him. “It’s delivery. It’s paid through an app.”
He holds my gaze. “I don’t care.”
“You’re impossible.”
He tugs my arm, causing me to lean over his desk. “You like it.”
“Maybe. Just a little.” With my free hand I use my thumb and pointer finger to demonstrate how little.
Vincent laughs and releases my arm. “Now before you distract me with your womanly ways, let’s go over those talking points you sent.”
“Womanly ways?” I scoff. “And if anyone is a distraction, it’s you and this damn office. We should really start meeting somewhere else…?”
“Not going to happen.” Vincent turns to his computer. “Okay, so the list you -”
I cut him off. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Vincent slowly looks back at me. “Do what?”
“Have Annie with you at Marie’s House. With Randal out there…”
“Sasha, we’ve been over this. It’s the right call. People are going to find out about Annie being a Mazzanti, and it’s better to do it now and control the story. Like you said, the sooner the better, and hopefully by the time fall rolls around Annie’s new classmates at school won’t care. She’s not the only filthy rich kid in this city, and the whole point of your PR campaign is to make it clear that the Mazzanti family is here for legal business and nothing else.”
“But with Randal -” I interject.
Vincent waves me off. “Randal is always a threat. Has always been a threat. I liked to think that I scared him off, but he was always out there. Waiting. Him coming after you doesn’t change that. Only now he’s shown his hand. We know he’s in the city. We can focus our energies here on finding him. And removing the threat once and for all.”
I let that sentence hang in the air. In one breath he talks about being a legit businessman, and the next he’s talking about eliminating threats. I don’t ask for clarification. If my daughter were the target of a madman, I’d rip his throat out with my own bare hands without a second thought.
I give Vincent a nod. “Okay. If you think it’s the right call.”
“I do.” His tone is confident. “Plus, this isn’t like the press conference we hosted here. It’s not open to the public. It’s just your one journalist friend.”
“Yeah. Vanny is the best in the city. We can trust her. She’ll also have a photographer with her, but we get to select which photos will be published.”
“I’ll have Angelo, Eric and a few other guys there with us. And my mother always travels with Max, her bodyguard. It’s as controlled as we can get.”
I exhale, feeling slightly better. “There’s also a few people from the PR team that will be there, and I believe that my boss will also stop by. It’ll definitely be overkill on our side of things.”
Vincent smirks. “Overkill is underrated.”
