Chapter 11
Coral leaned her head back against the wall, her shoulder pressed up against Rand. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too.” He was texting and reading and frowning and Coral waited. When he at last let his hand drop and his phone rest on the ground between them, she turned to him.
His eyes were kind. Gone was the sternness she sometimes saw there. He was only tender. “What a first day, huh?”
“What’s going on? Tell me and I’ll let you know if I’m okay.”
“They’ve trapped him in a stairwell. They have some back up coming and someone let the security out of their office.”
“So, it’s almost over?”
“I think so.”
She let out a long breath and with it a good amount of her stress. After a minute, she laughed. “So do we want to talk about the fact that we both work here?”
“About how you thought you’d never see me again but here I am?” He smirked.
“No, you thought you’d never see me again. And here I am.”
“Because you wanted to basically skinny dip with your boss before starting a new job?”
“Of course I did not want to do that.”
He raised an eyebrow which made her laugh. “You sure you didn’t?”
“Of course I did, when I didn’t know you were my boss.”
“Technically I’m not your boss.”
“Technically you are. Part owner even.”
“But it’s not viewed the same.”
“Isn’t it? Rand you’re the only person I wanted to see, the only one I needed in this moment. I loved what we had. I wanted you to find me and call. I waited for your call. But do we want this?”
He searched her face for a moment and she watched some of his expression shut her out. It was a visible reaction. “Do I want you? I think that’s pretty obvious. But do I want to continue what we started? The timing couldn’t be worse. It would complicate every part of my position here at work. And it would do even more to yours.”
She watched him and her smile tugged at the corner. “But?”
He lifted her hand in his. “But, I don’t know if I can resist a little something.”
She laughed again. “A little something?”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about you all day. I can’t have you here every day without trying this out. Maybe.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back again. “Maybe not. Basically I don’t know. Do you know?”
“I got nothing. I think a little something sounds nice. Maybe we start there?”
“Maybe we start by talking about what happened today and at The Palisades and we give Lucan a call.”
“Okay, or that. I was thinking maybe late dinner at my place, but all that works. I’m sure my parents will have information if they’ll share it.”
He nodded. “I’ll bring takeout. And we’ll go from there?”
“And maybe not all business?” She wanted to kiss him, needed to be near him. It was a primal urge to comfort and rid herself of this new stress. His eyes were a brilliant shade right then, his arms taut against his shirt sleeves. His jaw line crisp. He was powerful and tender, the man she’d seen in the safe room at The Palisades. The man who’d convinced her with a simple invitation to walk down by the beach, the man she could kiss for many more hours and not get enough.
“Mostly business.” He winked.
“And a little something.”
“Right.”
Their door rattled again. But this time Rand’s phone also rang. “Hey.”
He stood and opened the door.
Outside was a part of the security team. “Everyone alright in here?”
Rand nodded.
“Please follow us.”
Coral’s hand missed Rand’s the minute he let her go. He walked at her side, but she could tell he was already done. She followed them both into a large conference room where most were already gathered.
As soon as Rand stepped into the room Mel and Jaden stood and ran to him. “We didn’t know where you’d gone!” Mel clung to his arm. “We were worried.”
“It’s been a worrisome morning. I see you’re both okay. Was anyone injured?” Rand shifted away from Mel and nodded to Jaden and then took his seat near the other two partners at the table.
Mr. Goldstein nodded to the head of security, and they all sat.
Joe frowned deeper. “Obviously this was a terrible breach. We’re very lucky that Gladys is okay. The men rushed past her, barricaded and then locked the door to our security offices. She hid beneath her desk and the men kept going. Thanks to her quick alerting of all of us, we were on lockdown before anyone entered the inner hallways.”
“But they did enter. And we were trapped.” Coral stared down Joe like Rand had seen no one else do. “I’m not a stranger to security teams and plans in situations such as these. We didn’t have alternate exits, and no one to protect us and no weapons.”
“Looked to me like you had help and a weapon.” He nodded at her and then shifted his attention to the others. “We will send a survey to collect information. We welcome your feedback. Until then, let’s applaud the quick actions of Mr. Goldstein who freed us and called in the local law enforcement. The two suspects are in custody now, and I think we can safely guarantee a thorough trial and prosecution.”
They had enough energy to mumble a laugh in response. “We will spend the rest of the day working through how this could have happened. Our emotional counselor is available to assist you.”
Coral lifted her hands. “Have we begun inquiries and any sort of investigation as to who and why this would have happened?”
“The police have and may have questions for all of us. Keeping Attorney client privilege in mind, you are encouraged to help them in any way you can.”
“But we aren’t doing anything ourselves? This was a targeted attack. Do we know what they were looking for? Did they find it?” Rand’s questions were Coral’s and she looked around for some nods or support from any of the others, but most faces were blank.
“I know you’ve been through more than most attorneys this week. And with your briefcase stolen this probably feels possibly more organized and related than it really is.”
Rand opened his mouth but then closed it and to Coral’s surprise, he just nodded in response.
What was with this Goldstein and Smithson? The team seemed more bent on quieting the staff than finding the truth. They didn’t seem at all concerned at least to Coral, that there might be a repeat attack. If someone had a reason to go after them, they would do it again. Surely the men they had in custody were not the only people involved.
Her father was going to have fits. And Coral wasn’t certain she could keep him from insisting she leave. “But someone is looking into all those things aren’t they?”
“Someone certainly is. I cannot guarantee that you or even I will be involved in the investigation or receiving reports back from it.”
Coral was about to inform him that he could expect communication from her father but Rand cleared his throat. “I’m sure we will share what information we can when we have it. In the meantime, I’ve asked for a delivery from Tommy’s Teahouse and a selection of our favorite scones as well as sandwiches from Sandy Sal’s.”
“Excellent Rand. Thank you. Now, we will begin our interviews and an opportunity to speak to the company counselor. If we could start with Ms. Jaden Fenstein?” He lifted a hand and gestured that she follow him into a side room where a camera was set up. Two other men joined her and the door shut.
Coral had no idea what her expression looked like, but everything about that room shouted for her to run. She stood and made her way to the door. But when she got there, one of the security detail stepped in front of her. “Come, Ms. Anastas, stay for a bit of tea. We want to ensure everyone has recovered before we all get back to work.”
“I was thinking I’d like to use the bathroom?” She raised both eyebrows until he nodded and she stepped aside.
Coral wasted no time at the bathroom, but she did step inside a moment, then peeked out again. The man had dipped his head back in the room. She pushed open the door and ran down the hall toward the back stairs.
The door was locked. The elevators were turned off. Her office door was open but there was nowhere to go from there. The front receptionist desk was empty. The doors to exit were locked. Her name badge did not work to open them.
“Ms. Anastas.”
She turned to see the Mr. Goldstein.
“What can I help you with, my dear? This has been a trying morning.”
“I wanted to step outside for some air. I don’t think I’m doing very well.” Her breath was coming faster and the longer she felt trapped in the building, the more she felt like a prisoner. “I feel, trapped.” Her breathing picked up. “I might hyperventilate. Could someone come outside with me?” She assumed they would allow an escort.
“Or even better, we have an excellent view on the roof. Would you like that?”
She nodded. If she played along, they would have to let them go some time. “That would be excellent.”
“I’ll take you myself. Come with me.” He led her to the same staircase she had been unable to access and held his badge up to the security square. The door clicked open and they began several flights up to the top. The door opened onto a lovely garden area. It was full of greenery. The railings were high. And the streets around them seemed quiet. She walked to the edge. “Everything seems too quaint and cozy. Down there. They have no idea.”
“And things are usually very quiet around here. It is rather unfortunate that you have been involved in two frightening events in the last week, but until your involvement in our firm, things like this just did not happen on a regular basis.”
“Are you saying it’s my fault?”
“No, of course not. But I do believe your position as a royal creates some security complications.”
“I’m certain my father will be contacting your team. That will be an additional complication. I do apologize if my presence here was the cause of your danger. I cannot imagine what it could possibly be related to as far as I’m concerned.”
“Might I ask you a few questions about your involvement with Rand McCarthy?”
Her mouth went dry. “Certainly. I don’t have any involvement with Rand.”
He nodded. “You were both at the bombing at the Palisades?”
“Yes, he risked his life to save everyone at that table.”
“And you saw him working with some firm clients?”
“And other attorneys as well I believe. Or I’m assuming so now that I know he works for this firm. Astra and Anders?”
His face did not change expression. But she got the sense he was tense, unhappy with something. “Did you know each other before this event?”
“Not at all.”
“Did you contact each other after?”
She shook her head, suddenly grateful they hadn’t. “No. I didn’t have his phone number.”
“And he not yours.”
“I assume not. Or maybe he just didn’t call. I wasn’t expecting a call.”
“You won’t get in trouble. We don’t have rules about dating here.”
She found that supremely odd especially in situations where a partner and new associate were involved. “I’m not concerned about being in trouble.”
He nodded. “Excellent. And he found his way into your office, how?”
“I’m not certain. I would have told him not to attempt it.” For some reason she hid the fact that she’d texted him. Perhaps that was a mistake. Perhaps he already knew because he monitored all the partners’ phones. If that were the case, it would be healthy for him to know he couldn’t know everything just because he asked.
The door opened and Rand rushed out. He held up his phone. “The police are here and have questions asking specifically for you.”
Mr. Goldstein nodded. “Thank you. Could you stay with Ms. Anastas until she has her breath back and then escort her back to the room for her interview?”
“Of course.”