Chapter 21 Winston
WINSTON
I’m done playing Landon’s games. Yesterday at the gala was the last fucking straw. He can embarrass me all he wants, but I won’t allow him to shame Dove. What he’s doing is crossing the line and I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m going to take everything away from him.
He’ll be no one by the time I’m done with him.
“Olivia? Do you have the ID I asked for?”
She blows out a breath, lifting her giant purse from the floor to her lap. “Yes. Are you sure about this? This can get dangerous if you aren’t careful.” She digs through her bag, snatching the ID that will get me into Landon’s building.
I could use Dove’s, but I don’t want him thinking she’s swiping her card or he’ll think she’s interested. That will never happen. Her time with the Vain Corporation is over.
“I’m sure. Dove told me every night is the same. Landon leaves at five o’clock every day but the entire building is empty by eight.” I check the time on my watch, noticing it’s nearly nine. “I should be fine. I’m going to get in and out without anyone knowing.”
“If you get caught, this could mean an arrest or having your medical license revoked. There are too many people who count on you at this hospital.” She places the card in my hand and right as I’m about to grab it, she yanks it away.
“When you scan this, it will register you, John Williams, as janitorial services. You have to be quick. If someone sees you, they won’t recognize you, just say you’re new and they might buy it. I don’t know.”
“How much did this ID cost? Did you put in on the company card?” I ask, tucking it into my pocket.
She gives me an incredulous look, hand to chest. “Have you never committed a crime?” she whispers harshly. “Of course I didn’t charge it. I used cash. You owe me five hundred bucks.”
“I can get that to you now.” I pull out my wallet, plucking five one-hundred-dollar bills from it.
“Thank you,” she chirps, fanning herself dramatically with the money. “What’s the plan after you get the information you need?”
“I’m sending it to every reporter, news station, and journalist I know.”
Her eyes widen. “That’s a lot, Winston. That could make it go national.”
“I hope it goes global since his products are international. I want his empire to fall.” I spread my arms and give her a twirl. “What do you think of my uniform?”
“You look the part. I’ve cleared your schedule for the next few days just in case any issues arise, but that means when you come back, you have back-to-back-to-back-to-back surgeries.” She gives me a forced smile, spinning a pen between her fingers. “Don’t hate me.”
“Never. You’re the best. I need to go. I have to call Dove before I dive in. I’ll call you to keep you updated.”
“Sounds good. I’m leaving here in about an hour. I have to move around some of your meetings and make some last-minute phone calls to put out some fires about those photos.”
I growl deep within my throat, slamming my fist on the button for the elevator. “That will be taken care of too.”
Landon has put a dent in my reputation. I know that was his goal, and he succeeded temporarily. But I have something that Landon doesn’t. I have intellect. I have the ability to play the game in a much bigger capacity. He has no idea what’s coming for him.
When the elevator doors open, I step inside and Dr. Greene is in the corner.
She looks me up and down, her wrinkled lips pursing when she sees my outfit. “Doctor.”
I clear my throat, lacing my hands behind my back. “Doctor.”
My heart rate increases with every second that passes by that she doesn’t ask why I’m wearing a janitor’s uniform.
She doesn’t. When the elevators reach her floor, she narrows her eyes at me, slowly walking by as if she knows something I don’t. “Doctor,” she says as a farewell.
“Doctor,” I repeat for the hundredth time today.
I don’t know how I manage to see Dr. Greene so many times a day in the elevator.
At this rate, I’m starting to wonder if any other doctors use this damn elevator.
The doors shut and my smile fades to a stern expression.
When the elevator comes to a stop on the bottom floor, I’m quick to exit, keeping my face in my phone so no one interrupts me as I leave.
I don’t bother to take the car. I don’t want any of this linked to me.
Placing a plain blue baseball cap on, I tuck my hands in my pocket and walk.
I go through the plans in my head, remembering every detail.
No step can be missed. When I enter the building, I have to go to the janitorial closet, swipe the card, and grab a cart.
The cart is essential to the belief that I work there.
My phone vibrates and it’s a message from Dove, pulling me out of the constant loop of my plan.
Dove: Be careful. I love you. Please, if anything goes wrong, you run.
Me: I love you too. I’ll be careful. I promise.
Dove: And you’ll run if anything goes wrong.
Me: I won’t run. I’ve never been the kind of man to run away from my problems. Don’t worry about me. Everything is going to be fine.
She doesn’t text me back. I know she’s upset and worried. She’s everything I’ve always wanted, but running won’t solve anything. As long as I can get that evidence in hand, I’ll be fine. My word over Landon’s will always mean more.
I stand on the other side of the street, staring at the building that kept Dove prisoner for far too long.
My knuckles crack as I tighten them, the layout of the building playing in my mind like a movie.
I spent hours studying the blueprints, so I know every nook and cranny just in case I do need to hide.
Checking the road, I look left and right for any vehicles, then run across, my boots splashing in puddles.
Headlights come down the road, glaring off the glass of the doors that I need to break my way into.
When I swipe my card on the black scanner next to the door, the light turns green, and the buzz of the door clicks.
I push my shoulder against the handle and it opens, allowing me to step inside enemy territory.
The lights are off and most of the hallways are dark.
I keep them off, remembering that I need to turn left to get to the janitor’s closet.
The thud of my boots is the only sound in the entire building, scuffing against the floor.
There’s a lowlight glaring every few feet, reflecting off the perfect polished tile.
Scanning my card to open the janitor’s closet, I snag the cart and head to the elevators. All I need to do is get to Landon’s office. A wheel on the cart squeaks with every rotation, alerting anyone that’s here that someone else is in the building.
I just hope it isn’t Landon.
As I walk down the hall, the jingling of keys has me grabbing the broom from the cart. The floors are already clean from what I can see, but whoever’s coming hopefully won’t question it.
The jingling becomes louder, the security guard coming around the corner. I keep my head down and a tight grip on the broom’s handle. I’ll swing it if I have to. There’s nothing I won’t do to get into Landon’s office.
“Damn, you guys are back tonight?” the guard asks, glaring his flashlight onto the floor. “This floor is spotless. I’m impressed with how well Mr. Vain keeps this place.”
“Can never be too clean, am I right?” I chuckle. “I’m only here for this hallway and one upstairs. My buddy messaged me and said he thought he forgot these areas. I shouldn’t be too long.”
“I love the dedication.” He grins, clicking his flashlight off. “Have a good night and don’t stay too long.”
“I won’t. I want to get home to my wife at a reasonable time.”
“I hear that,” he says. “The missus hates when I have to work night shifts, but it’s time and a half. More money to spoil her with.”
“I hope you get paid well without the time and a half,” I snoop, making note of his answer because whatever everyone’s salaries are here, they will need to be raised when they come to work for me.
He snorts, shaking his head. “Hell no. I haven’t gotten a pay raise in two years, but I need this job, and the benefits are good.”
I clench my teeth together so hard, I’m worried they’ll crack.
“That’s a shame. With how much money he makes, you should have a living wage,” I state, then pause sweeping when I realize my mistake.
“I’m sorry. I’m crossing the line, but I relate as well.
We don’t get paid enough either.” I snag the giant dustpan and sweep the small amount of debris into it.
“Just the way it is, right? I have to go make my rounds. Have a good night!”
“You too!” I keep up my sweeping until the security guard is out of sight. “Finally,” I whisper to myself. Tossing the broom into the cart, I slam my hand on the button of the elevator.
It opens immediately and I take my cart with me. Out of habit, I turn to say, ‘Doctor’ to Dr. Greene, then scoff at myself, remembering where I’m at. I press the button to the top floor, remembering the layout of the office.
The elevator moves fast, so it doesn’t take that long to get to the top. Pushing the cart out when the doors open, I keep walking until I get to the door that leads into his main office where his top assistants work, like Dove. His office is situated in the southwest corner.
Scanning the card again, I step inside and take the cart with me to his office so nothing looks suspicious. I pass Dove’s desk. Her nameplate is still there, glistening and waiting for her to come back. All I want to do is break it in half and throw it away, but that would be too obvious.
Landon’s door doesn’t have a card scanner, and it’s wide open. That surprises me. Everyone who works here must not dare enter his office or they would probably get fired. Taking one last look over my shoulder to make sure I’m alone, I sneak inside and begin to rummage through all of his drawers.
Nothing is in his desk drawers.
“Come on,” I snarl, slamming the final door shut when it reopens from the force and the false bottom pops out.
I grin, knowing Landon couldn’t be that smart to keep things hidden too well.
I lift the lid; files are stacked in the middle.
Opening them one by one, my mouth drops when I see the amount of money he’s been scamming from the insurance companies, and the incorrect marketing receipts for medical equipment that has a high failure rate.
Every patient who has these devices has to be called to get a new one put in, or they could die.
He’s overcharged for the equipment price and has lied to doctors about the success rate.
Taking out my burner phone, I snap pictures of every single piece of paper.
It takes me a while. I’m there longer than I thought I would be, but it’s worth it if Landon finally goes down for good.
What’s insane is this situation would have never come to this if he would have just left my Love Dove alone.
“But you couldn’t be bothered, Landon. You think everything belongs to you. And I’m finally going to show you that you can’t steal everything you fucking want.” I snap a few more pictures, gathering all the proof I need to take down this asshole.
I already have an email drafted to all major news outlets, small presses, journalists, reporters, and paparazzi from this burner phone I bought just for this purpose.
I won’t send the email until I’m on my way out of this building, then I’ll wipe my prints, stomp on it, and toss it in the trash. His days of being successful are over.
I return the files to where they belong, placing the lid on them before closing the drawer, then making my way out with the janitor’s cart. Grinning from ear to ear, I return the cart and then leave the building.
Walking back to my car, I send the email and wait for the empire he built on lies to finally crumble into a pile of ash like it deserves.
When I turn on my phone, missed texts and calls from Dove come through, and without checking any of the messages, I call back.
“Where are you? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine, Dove. I’m on my way home to you. It’s taken care of.”
“It’s over?” she asks.
“It’s over.”
And we can finally live our lives without Landon always interrupting our happiness.