Chapter 24 Oops
Oops
Lawrie
The morning was brutal. It took a lot of Ernest’s coaxing to move me from the warm bed all the way to the bathroom.
Then I remembered what we were about to do today, and the rush of adrenaline woke me up.
After a measly four hours of sleep, I’d have no trouble pretending for Burnes that I’d been through hell during the night.
Somewhat human after a shower and a cup of coffee, I buttoned up my only black shirt and threw a black suit jacket over it. Ernest lent me a shiny charcoal tie to complete the look. Then we carpooled to the office together.
“Drop me off in front of the building. I want to make sure I’m there before Burnes.”
“Am I not coming with you?” Ernest asked, his voice on edge.
“Not this time. Your being there would make Burnes put his guard up. I need to do this by myself. Besides, Mr. Sullivan and half of the board are already in the building.”
Ernest grunted and swung into the narrow lane in front of the main entrance.
“Go to the lab. I’ll call you as soon as we’re done.”
“I hate this, Lawrie. He’s capable of anything.”
“Mr. Sullivan has the building secured.”
It must have cost him a lot, but he let me get out of the car with only an anxious frown. I waved, and he took off for the garage.
I pushed my shoulders back and gripped my laptop bag tight, bracing myself for the most important meeting of my life.
On the thirteenth floor by the elevators stood a group of lounge furniture and a small bar counter. It worked as a waiting room for those who visited high management, and it provided a great vantage point for me. Unless Burnes could teleport, he had to pass me on his way to the board room.
I opened my laptop and scrolled through my emails perfunctorily.
Burnes was usually punctual, so at two minutes to nine, I stood and packed my laptop back into the bag.
Then I paced around, trying to look the right amount of distraught for an employee who’d just lost his bad-tempered boss in a tragic accident.
A few board members passed me, some ignoring me, some replying to my greeting with a nod. Only Aaron Paulson paused to shake my hand, telling me under his breath he was sorry about the accident and glad I made it unscathed. He’d always been nice to me.
As soon as he disappeared down the hallway toward the board room, the elevator dinged once more. This time, it was Burnes.
My heart thrashing, I walked to the bar counter and poured myself a glass of water, pretending I hadn’t noticed him.
When Harry Burnes cleared his throat behind me, I turned to face him.
“Good morning, sir.”
With a curious expression, he took in my attire, and then his gaze lingered on my face.
Did his squint mean he was suspicious of me?
Or was he trying to figure out if his plan had worked?
I kept my features carefully neutral, but my fear must have been seeping through.
I only hoped he’d attribute my extreme nervousness to shock or something.
He sighed, shook his head, and took a few steps closer. I suppressed a shudder when he rested his paw on my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, Lawrence.” He kept his voice low and squeezed my shoulder, making a circle with his thumb close to my collarbone. He really had no scruples, had he? “You must be upset.”
I managed a wobbly smile, meeting his gaze. “I’m afraid I’m not myself today, Mr. Burnes.”
He smiled back—his signature calculating smirk—and I knew he bought my spiel.
“I apologize if I overreacted last time,” I added haltingly. “Ernest gets jealous, and I was afraid of him seeing us.”
Oh, he did like the “us.” Sleazebag. His fingers brushed my skin right above my collar. Do not shudder, Lawrence.
“How did you get the news?” he asked, obviously fishing for confirmation.
“Mr. Paulson called me about the emergency in the middle of the night. I didn’t sleep much after that, but I’m prepared. I might not be a part of Sullivan and Burnes much longer after last night, but that doesn’t mean I can start neglecting my duties.” Let him connect the dots himself.
“I admire your professionalism, Lawrence. Always have. Even at times like this, you remain calm and collected.”
“I’m only doing what anyone in my position would have done.” I sniffled for effect and discreetly wiped my eye.
“I hope we can put past misunderstandings behind us.”
I nodded pleasantly. “Of course, sir. Shall we join the others?”
“Let’s.”
I felt his eyes on my neck as we walked down the hall. Quite possibly, he was even checking out my ass.
The board room was almost full, and a couple of members joined via video call. The large screen on the opposite wall showed Mr. Dixon in one frame and one empty chair in another—whoever it was, he was probably getting coffee or something.
I sat down next to Mr. Paulson, on Mr. Sullivan’s usual chair, as we’d agreed.
“Thank you for coming at such short notice,” Mr. Paulson began when everyone was present. “Lawrence Winchester, Davidson’s assistant, is here in Davidson’s absence in case we need additional information about the events of last night. Mr. Burnes, do you wish to say something?”
This was a great start. The question could mean Aaron knew about the suspected sabotage, but it could also mean that Davidson did indeed die, and Harry Burnes was given the first opportunity to express himself as the other co-owner.
And Burnes did not disappoint. He was barely containing his excitement.
“Thank you, Aaron. I’m shocked and horrified just like you must be.
Davidson’s passing is an irreplaceable loss, and this tragic accident will leave a scar on the heart of our company.
However, I think we must act quickly and not show any weakness.
Davidson would have the company’s best interest in mind.
We have excellent management who are ready to—”
“What accident?” Mr. Crane, the oldest board member who sat opposite me, interrupted. “What are you talking about?”
Burnes turned to Aaron Paulson. “You haven’t informed them?”
Mr. Paulson shrugged.
“Davidson was involved in a helicopter accident,” Harry Burnes announced in a grim tone.
A few board members gasped, others looked at each other with confused frowns on their faces.
“But I’ve spoken to him…” Mr. Crane began, but Aaron Paulson lifted a hand to stop him.
“I haven’t told anyone about any accident, Harry,” Paulson said slowly. “Not even you.”
Burnes blinked, getting a little pale.
It was now or never. If I waited, Burnes might still talk his way out of it.
“Mr. Sullivan’s helicopter did malfunction last night,” I said.
“I was inside together with Ernest Bracknell, the aerodynamics expert who’s leading the Longwang project.
The helicopter began spinning, but Mr. Sullivan was able to regain control and perform an emergency landing in the vicinity of his house.
I wonder how you, Mr. Burnes, know about it.
Nobody but Mr. Paulson was informed about the accident until this very moment. ”
By now, Harry Burnes was white as a ghost.
Aaron Paulson folded his arms on the table and leaned forward. “How did you know that the helicopter would malfunction, Harry?”
Burnes pursed his lips. His mind must have been going a thousand miles an hour. “Just a misunderstanding, Aaron. I spoke to Lawrence this morning, and he said something about an accident. I think Sullivan is setting me up.”
“You’re contradicting yourself, Mr. Burnes,” I said. “Is it a misunderstanding or a setup?”
At that moment, Mr. Sullivan opened the door to the meeting room, holding up his phone.
“I have your conversation with Lawrence recorded, Harry. His phone has been on all this time. Last night, I suspected sabotage. Authorities seized the helicopter to investigate the possible use of a small IED by the tail rotor. They’ve already found a couple of technicians who saw you at the hangars yesterday.
We did set you up—Lawrence wore the black shirt, and Aaron called in the meeting.
But nobody said anything about any accident except you. ”
Burnes looked from Mr. Sullivan to me to Aaron Paulson so fast he could have snapped his own neck. Agent Lewandowski walked in after Mr. Sullivan, observing the scene coolly.
Mr. Crane’s fist landed on the desk, and the loud bang made me jump. “What the actual fuck, Harry?”
Mr. Sullivan met my eyes and gave me a wink so quickly I almost didn’t catch it.
We pulled it off.
After the board meeting, I almost ran toward the labs. Ernest saw me through the glass wall separating his lab from the hallway. He took off the protective glasses he was wearing, rushed to meet me, and I threw myself into his arms.
“Are you okay?” he asked, sounding frantic.
“It went great. I think Burnes is getting arrested right now.”
He hugged me tight. “Lawrie, sweetheart, you’re absolutely brilliant.”
It must have been the residual stress because I didn’t feel brilliant at all. Only tired and afraid of nothing specific. “I want to go home.”
“Of course. We can go right now.”
It had been the longest two days of my life, and sleep deprivation caught up with me in the car.
“I can call my parents and cancel,” Ernest offered as I slumped against him in the elevator at our apartment building. The suggestion was tempting, but I didn’t want to make a bad impression right from the start.
“I’ll take a short nap and be ready to shine, I promise.”
“We’ve just recovered from a near-death experience, Lawrie, and right after that, you single-handedly caught the villain. I’m sure they’d understand.”
“Do you want to tell your dad about our near-death experience?”
Ernest paused, opening and closing his mouth.
“Seeing your reaction now, I’m even more curious about him.”
The cart stopped on our floor, and Ernest pulled out his key card.
“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, love,” he said as he led me to the apartment by my hand. He unlocked, and I headed straight for the sofa.
“I’ve managed Davidson Sullivan, haven’t I? Your dad can’t be worse than that.”
“Sweetheart, my dad can bite Davidson’s head off for breakfast and nonchalantly ask for dessert.”
“I’m sure you’re being overly dramatic. Nap, and we’ll go.”
“I’ve tried to warn you. My conscience is clear.”
“Oh, shut up already. I want to cuddle.”
Ernest held me as I tried to fall asleep at least for a little while, but I couldn’t.
Everything swirled in my head; the accident, Harry Burnes being arrested, Mr. Sullivan the dragon flying through the night, the doctor’s visit, my upcoming heat, the possibility of pregnancy… I almost died in a helicopter accident, but I’d never catch a cold again…
We came to a large dark mansion with dragons flying above the house. When we arrived, they swooped down and sniffed at me.
“I need to shift too,” Ernest said, “or they won’t let me in.”
“You can’t go home in human form?” I asked.
And then he did shift, but he didn’t look like Ernest, the dragon. He was fatter, his legs short, and on his back…
“Lawrie.”
He had large bony plates on his back. He slammed his tail into the ground, and a cloud of dust rose around us.
“Lawrie, darling.”
A kiss woke me up. I looped my arms around Ernest’s neck and pulled myself closer, breathing in more of his scent.
“You’re not a dinosaur,” I mumbled.
“What?”
“I dreamed you shifted into a stegosaurus. Sorry, but you looked very unappealing as a stegosaurus.”
He laughed, the vibrations traveling through my body.
“You talked in your sleep,” he said.
“What did I say?”
“Something about twins.”
“Huh.” I forced my eyes open and sat up. My head felt heavy and my mouth dry, but I was reasonably awake. “Did we oversleep?”
“No. We have time to shower and dress and might even manage a cup of coffee before we have to drive to my parents’ place.”
“Okay. I do need coffee.”