Chapter 4
DOMINIC
Sofia walks into my office clutching the folder for tonight’s event to her chest. I check the clock. Nearly four. The event starts at seven. She looks unusually panicked.
“Elena is on line two,” she tells me. “She says the security vendor for tonight’s event has the wrong guest list.”
I look up from the contract I’ve been going over all afternoon.
“How is it wrong?” I ask, impatient.
“The names are wrong, the arrival times are off, and the floorplan is outdated. And somehow none of it came from a single file. It’s like they’re working off a bunch of different drafts.”
I hold out my hand for the folder she’s clutching. She hands it over and waits while I read. I flip to the vendor approvals and finally catch the problem.
“When did we hire Bastion Event Security?” I ask her.
“We were working with Lumin,” she says, eyes wide. “This is the first I’m hearing of this.”
I hold up a finger and pick up my phone. “Elena,” I say when my event coordinator picks up.
“Mr. Vieri,” she says, her voice sharp with very controlled fury. “I would have never approved Bastion.”
“I know.”
“Lumin says someone from corporate canceled them at noon today, and now Mr. Armand is threatening to move the whole dinner to the Mercer.”
“He wouldn’t do that,” I argue.
“He says he will,” she says in a tight voice.
“We’re on our way,” I tell her. “Keep him calm for now. I’ll handle this.”
Sofia looks at me with wide eyes. “Is this bad?” she asks.
“Bastion Event Security is owned by Kevin Armand’s competition. In other words—”
“He could see this as a big betrayal,” she answers without needing me to finish. “I confirmed with Lumin personally. How did this happen?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out,” I tell her. “Grab your things, we won’t be back here before the event.”
She nods and goes to her desk to collect her purse.
Five minutes later, we’re in a town car on our way to the hotel, and she’s double checking three different versions of her file.
“I have no record of the change,” she says for the fifth time.
“Relax,” I tell her. “Nobody is blaming you for this. A vendor change this big at the last minute would’ve had to come directly from me. And it certainly did not.”
She nods, but she doesn’t stop combing through her files. When we get to the hotel, I take her up the private elevator to the event ballroom. Elena is pacing the floor when we step off, yelling at someone on her phone.
“This is a disaster,” she tells me. “Lumin says you emailed them directly and wired them their last-minute cancelation fee.”
I raise my eyebrow at her. “That’s not possible,” I say. “I’ve sent no such email, and I certainly haven’t paid anyone.”
“According to your bank account, you did,” Sofia says from my side.
Of course she looked into it the second I brought it up. Her efficiency knows no bounds. But that leaves a much bigger issue. I pull out my phone and text Rafe to dig into it immediately. There’s no way in hell something like this should have happened.
“Elena, is there anyone on Mr. Armand’s team who would know the guests on sight?”
Elena nods. “His assistant, Lucille,” she says.
Sofia nods and pulls out her phone, walking off for privacy. Across the room, Kevin Armand spots me and stomps over. Elena shrinks back, but I’m not intimidated by his false bravado.
“Dominic,” he barks. “This is completely unacceptable.”
“It’s being handled,” I tell him.
“The damn security people don’t even have the right list,” he says tightly. “This is leaving us open to an attack.”
“There won’t be an attack,” I answer calmly. “You can trust that, if nothing else. Bastion is capable enough to let people in. Once my assistant gets them the correct details, they can secure the premises. Everything is going to work out fine.”
He huffs. “Enzo wouldn’t have let this happen.”
I tense at his words. I didn’t know Kevin knew Enzo Calderone, and it’s all starting to sound a little too convenient. A mistake like this, just hours before an event at one of my properties? Kevin Armand isn’t the victim here. I am. But I’m no one’s victim.
“Enzo wouldn’t be down here handling this himself,” I answer, somehow managing to keep my cool. “You’re going to let my team handle it, and you aren’t going to complain again.”
His jaw clenches and his eyes narrow, but he eventually gives me a small nod.
Sofia appears at my side a second later. “Lucille and I have it figured out,” she tells us both. “The security team has the correct guest list now, and Lucille will man the entrance to make sure no one comes in who doesn’t belong.”
Kevin shakes his head. “I need Lucille with me to manage the event,” he tells her.
“That’s why I’m here,” she says with a patient smile. “I’ve been working with Lucille all week on the details. I know the flow just as well as she does, if not better. Between Elena and me, this event will go off without a hitch.”
He looks her over from head to toe, and I find myself wanting to jump in front of her and shield her from his gaze. It’s an uncomfortable realization that I don’t trust him to work with her. Especially now that I know he has ties to Enzo Calderone.
“Fine,” he says tightly. “Follow me.”
I watch Sofia trail after him as he walks her through the flow for the night. I want to follow, to keep an eye on her, but I have to figure out where exactly tonight broke down.
As if he’s read my mind, my phone buzzes with a call from Rafe.
“What’ve you got?” I ask by way of greeting.
“Lumin confirmed that the call came from your direct line,” he says quickly. “And the money was definitely wired from your account.”
I shake my head, even though he can’t see me. “That isn’t possible,” I say. “I didn’t make that call and I definitely didn’t send any money.”
“So, there are two options,” he says. “Either someone has hacked into your account, or someone intentionally did this. Someone with direct access to your phone line and your bank account.”
“You can stop that train of thought,” I say tightly. “Sofia has nothing to do with this.”
“The list of people who could do it is very small,” he says.
“Get me a list of everyone who could have,” I tell him. “Including you.”
“Fine,” he answers in a clipped voice.
“I also need you to find out how Kevin Armand is connected to Enzo Calderone,” I say in a quieter voice, looking around to make sure no one can hear me. “He mentioned Enzo off-hand.”
“Interesting,” Rafe answers slowly. “Didn’t you vet this guy before taking his business?”
“Of course I did,” I snap. “Maybe their association isn’t easily caught through the regular channels. That’s why I’m asking you.”
I look up to see Sofia walking toward me with a triumphant look on her face.
“Find it in the next hour if you can,” I tell him. “He’s got my assistant working closely with him all night.”
I hang up before he can argue just as Sofia stops in front of me.
“Everything is handled, and Mr. Armand seems placated for now,” she says happily. “Which leaves us both just enough time to get ready for the evening.”
“You didn’t have this on her schedule,” I argue.
“It’s fine,” she says, batting me away. “It’s the perfect time for you to pay me that overtime you’re always bragging about.”
That earns a reluctant chuckle.
We head down to the lobby and get back in the town car. I don’t like any of this. Tonight feels like a trap of some kind, and I don’t like Kevin anywhere near Sofia. It only takes a moment for the silence between us to turn thick and noticeable.
“Everything really will be fine,” she says as if she’s realizing there is tension to break. “It’s never fun to deal with last-minute crises, but between Lucille, Elena, and me, we’ve got the night covered. Mr. Armand will be satisfied by the results.”
“Sounds great,” I answer absently.
“You’re worried about the payment to Lumin,” she says, like she’s reading my mind. “I’ve been thinking about that. Give me five minutes, and I bet I’ll find it in our contract. You probably gave them your account for incidentals and forgot.”
I nod and look at her, impressed by her ability to think through every problem at once. She’s still smiling at me, and it does lift my spirits, at least a little. She understands a lot more than she lets on, and she’s always working ten steps ahead of everyone else.
“Here’s your stop,” she says, and I realize we’ve been parked in front of my building for several seconds. I was so distracted looking at her, I didn’t notice.
“I’ll just pop to the office and get changed and meet you at the event,” she says, getting out with me.
“The car can take you,” I tell her.
“It’s fine.” She shrugs. “With traffic, it’ll take longer to drive than to walk. I have a spare dress in your closet.”
I look at her quizzically. “You have a dress in my closet?” I ask.
She nods. “For exactly this kind of situation,” she replies. “Along with the five suits and two tuxes I keep dry cleaned in there for you. You really don’t pay attention to the details, do you, Dominic?”
I can’t help but laugh. “That’s what I have you for.”
“Okay, we’re going to be late,” she says with a serious nod. “Get dressed and I’ll see you in an hour.”
She turns on her heel and disappears down the block before I have a chance to argue. My phone buzzes again.
“Talk to me,” I say without looking at the caller.
“Enzo Calderone and Kevin Armand were college roommates,” Rafe tells me. “I can’t find any other professional association apart from that.”
I sigh. “Keep looking,” I tell him. “I don’t trust him.”
“Is it because of his association with Calderone or because you think he’s too flirtatious with your assistant?” Rafe asks bluntly.
If he were here, I’d flip him off. Instead, I turn to my building, nod at my doorman, and walk inside.
“Just find the connection,” I tell him. “And stop being a smartass. I’m going to need you at this event tonight.”
When I hang up, frustration courses through me.
I still don’t like the idea of Kevin and Sofia working so closely together tonight.
I’ll have to keep a close eye on them both.
In six weeks, I’ve managed to keep Sofia away from my less than legitimate businesses.
Tonight won’t be the exception. Not if I can help it.