29. Lauren
29
Lauren
“You can simply say thanks for the welcome back gift, Oliver . They’re beautiful.”
I lean back in my brand-new office chair, glaring at my rival. “Or you can get that smug face out of my office, you and that bouquet,” I reply.
Oliver sighs, his arm with the bouquet going lax. “I’m extending an olive branch here, Lauren. Meet me halfway at least.”
“After you almost burned my office down? No thanks. It’s going to take more than an olive branch to make me forget what you did.”
“So you’re still running with that narrative, even after the fire department ruled that an electrical issue was the cause?” Oliver tsks, shaking his head. “Even after I held down the fort while you went off on your grand, impromptu vacation? I even brought the new Operations VP up to speed. Do you know how hard it is to train a guy who acts like he doesn’t even want to be here? This is the thanks I get? You’re such an ungrateful—” He sucks in a breath, fury brimming in his eyes.
“Bitch,” I finish for him. “I’m the bitch who took your place, the bitch you want to destroy, but guess what? This bitch will be running this company fulltime in a few months. There’s nothing you or anyone can do to stop it.”
“We’ll see about that,” he warns.
I reach for the office phone. “Sound like a threat to me.”
Oliver glances at the device in my hand while backing away. “Not a threat, just a little advice. Keep your eyes open, Ms. Cain .”
God, I so badly want to tell him to go fuck himself.
“Oh, one more thing.” He stops with his hand on the doorknob. “My protégé will be coming to meet you in a few minutes. His name is Colin Wilson. Big guy. I’d ditch that entitled attitude if I were you.”
Chuckling, he heads out, leaving me with a violent urge to throw the stapler at the door. Half an hour back at work, and I’m already regretting it. I should’ve taken Gabriel’s advice and booked another week off.
With all the criminals being denied bail, it soon became too torturous staying within the confines of my brother’s apartment after being inside for so long. I needed freedom. I wanted a distraction from everything that kept me up at night.
The upcoming procedure to freeze my eggs.
The pending trial for the murder I’d witnessed.
Last, but certainly not least, Marcus Brady.
A gentle knock on the door breaks my thoughts, and I yell, “Come in!” while bracing myself. Being labeled as Oliver’s ‘protégé’ can’t be good. God knows I can’t handle another monster around here.
The door gently opens, and he steps in quite tentatively, wearing a smile that’s just as cautious. He’s wearing a long-sleeved button down and a pair of dress pants. Very professional, unlike the guys around here who show up wearing anything, despite the dress code.
“Lauren?” he queries .
I nod while rising. “Colin, I presume.”
“Yes.” He comes forward with his hand outstretched, his green eyes now warming up with a pleasant smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Same.” I gesture to the seat in front of me. “I’m sorry I missed your first day. I was, uh… I took a small break.”
“Oh, that’s quite fine. You’re steering a massive vessel, and it’s quite wise to take breaks every now and then,” he replies.
There’s something wildly familiar about that handsome face. Thick, jet-black hair faded at the sides and styled neatly on top, chiseled features a fashion magazine would love. He’s not as huge as Oliver described, but still muscular, with a body that reminds me of a hockey player I briefly dated back in college.
Maybe that’s why he seems so familiar to me.
“So, Oliver told me he brought you up to speed on how your department runs, so I assume you’re now ready to work alone, right?”
An unpleasant expression briefly flashes across his face before a polite smile takes over. “I think I am.”
“Awesome. I’ll have my assistant arrange your permanent credentials so you can join your team. Do you have any questions?” I consider the unpleasant look I just saw. “Concerns?”
He hesitates for a moment. I sense a conflict, or maybe I’m reading too much into his expression. Finally, he mutters, “None.”
“Good.”
At the door, he stops again. “Lauren, I’m not trying to stir up anything, but please be careful around here. Please don’t ask me what that means. Just… watch your back.”
It’s quite ironic that Oliver said the same to me moments ago. I can’t do anything but nod. “I will. ”
The day is quite uneventful—partly because I’m stuck in my office catching up on everything, and also because Oliver suddenly left for the rest of the day. When he’s not around, his minions are not half-bad. Well, most of them. My skin crawls whenever I see Maxwell.
Seven hours later, and I’m taking the elevator down to the parking lot where I meet my new driver, Andrew, who they’ve also assigned to protect me. My dad wanted him to follow me around the office, but I wasn’t having it. To my surprise, he backed down. Andrew reminds me of Joe, who’s still on bedrest after the bullet did more damage than we’d thought. Like Joe, he’s tall, muscular, and looks like he just stepped from a scene in a mafia movie.
“Andrew.” I tap the back of his seat as he turns right at an intersection. “You’re going the wrong way.”
“I know,” he replies grimly. “A dark blue sedan has been following us since we left the office. It could be a co-incidence, but I want to be certain.”
“It must be.” I twist in my seat, seeing the car as it quickly switches lane and falls behind us. The windows are too tinted to see anything. “The FBI got everyone in that raid, didn’t they?”
“According to them, yes, but it’s my job to err on the side of caution,” he replies.
I collapse in the seat with relief when it turns down another street. “Thank heavens.” God knows I can’t handle looking over my shoulder everywhere I go.
Andrew doubles back but takes another route home, getting us to Gabriel’s apartment an hour later. I see his hand perched on his waist as he hustles me inside then enters through the back with his eyes locked on the street below. He brushes Zyon’s concerns aside when she enquires about his behavior, and although she seems assured by the explanation that he’s being extra careful, there’s no doubt she’ll be calling Gabriel, who’s still at work .
Taking her cue, I dial Marcus’ number. Last time, he almost chewed my ass out for not calling him.
It rings to voicemail, and I hang up, then try again. Getting the same result, I give up. It’s weird, though. Marcus always picks up when I call.