that one.
“I’m getting on the elevator,” I said, nonchalantly.
“You have an ID card? You’re not wearing one.”
Fuck. This was exactly what I wanted to test out. Time to go with plan B and I didn’t necessarily like it. It would put me too close to Lily, too soon. But, it was either that, or these men were going to pry more into who I was. That could be dangerous.
“No, I’m sorry. I just came here to visit a friend. I wasn’t aware I needed a card to do that.”
Marcio’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s your friend? Do you usually socialize with them while they’re working?”
I kept my face devoid of any nervousness. “Well, my friend happens to own this company and I was in town so I thought I’d stop by.”
“Who would that be?” Marcio looked to Brace and relaxed his right hand for better access to his weapon. I knew he was carrying beneath his expensive suit.
“Slade Roberts, of course. Should I call him so you can talk to him personally?”
Tightening erupted down Marcio’s jawline and I knew he was starting to doubt himself.
Before he could think too much, I continued. “I don’t mind, really. I can call Slade if you’d like to talk to him. Or, why don’t you call him? Let him know Zane Collins is downstairs. He’ll tell you to send me up.” My hands pushed into the pockets of my slacks as sweat broke out under my suit’s shirt. The damn red tie I wore was giving off the impression that it was choking me. Shit, I didn’t like showing up on Slade like this. Our run-in wasn’t coincidental like the others had appeared. Now, I would be here for a purpose and I’d have to make it believable.
“Hold on.”
My heart leapt as he pulled out his phone and hit a button. A few seconds went by before he spoke. “Boss, I have a Zane Collins down here. He says you know him.” Marcio’s eyes narrowed even more and he hung up the phone. Fuck, I didn’t like this. If Slade had forgotten who I was…if he had found out who I really was.
“Go on up. Top floor. Head straight back and make a left. It’ll be at the end of the hallway.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled as I walked into the already opened doors. My pulse exploded in rhythm and I couldn’t shake off how bad this was. If Lily saw me, it was all over. Damn, I should have come up with something better for plan B.
The door shut and I took a deep breath, letting myself calm. Nothing ever got to me. I was a dead soul walking in a shell of a body unless it concerned my slave. Everything about her brought me to life. The new feelings were something I wasn’t used to, but I’d be damned if I was going to run from what I knew was too good to be true. I loved Lily with everything I had. Fuck, she was all I had.
Ding.
A light hum of voices all but seemed to stop as I exited. A man peered over the top of his cubicle, but lowered as he seemed to deem me unimportant. Or a threat. I wasn’t sure yet. My jaw was aching at how hard I was clenching my teeth together. I kept my head down as I walked toward the back at a torturous pace. My instincts told me to rush, to get out of sight before I was spotted, while the killer in me said if I did, it would draw attention.
“Excuse me, may I help you?”
I turned at the woman’s voice. She was a redhead, standing from her cubicle. The side of my mouth lifted into a charming smile, one I’d practiced repeatedly to mold into society. “I’m just here to see Mr. Roberts. His office is that way, right?” I pointed toward the left.
“Yes, sir.”
I didn’t miss the wariness on her features as she lowered and fixed her eyes back on the screen. Did people fear him so much? I didn’t. I’d yet to see anything threatening about him. Sure, there was that underlying dominance behind his mask, but I could see through it. He was someone to watch, yes, but be afraid of? I wasn’t so sure. Of course, I’d yet to spend any significant amount of time with him.
A door opened toward the right and my chest