21. Cash
twenty-one
Cash
After dropping off Arsen and Riot, I make my way downtown to my father’s office. I have a small hunch he won’t be here, but if he is, he won’t pull any stunts like he did at the house. Deciding it’s best to park a block away, I head to the building on foot. The pretentious asshole has an office at the top, but I have to remain cautious. There is no telling what precautions my father has in place for keeping me out. I’m hopeful he didn’t think this far ahead and figured we would run scared, but he should know better; he raised me.
Heading into the building, a whoosh of cool air brushes against my face. I don’t bother stopping at the security desk. One of the lessons my dear ole dad taught me was, no one will question you if they think you belong. So, I hold my head up and walk with purpose to the elevators, scanning my keycard. As the door begins to shut, I can see the guard watching me, but he makes no move to stop me. Smart man. Hitting the button for the top floor, I pull out my phone and text our group chat.
ME: Heading to James’ office now.
RIOT: I’m having a lovely conversation with an old friend.
ARSEN: Going through some files as we speak.
KITTEN: Shopping now.
RIOT: Don’t forget cookies!
KITTEN: *eye roll emoji* *kissy face emoji*
RIOT: I knew you loved me.
ME: Focus. Get in, get out.
KITTEN: Be safe and hurry home.
KITTEN: *picture of Ali’s boobs covered by a bra*
ARSEN: Trying to hurry. Be back soon.
RIOT: Almost done here.
ME: One hell of a motivation.
KITTEN: I think so.
ME: Be good, Ali.
With that to look forward to when I get back, I pocket my phone as the elevator comes to a stop. My father has the entire top floor to himself. His “investment” company is just a ploy since our family took all the dirty money and made it clean through various businesses my father owns or co-owns. Most don’t have a clue that James is just using them, but I’m sure most people don’t read the fine print when an investor suddenly shows up at your door. I’m sure my father can be persuasive when he wants.
I step out of the elevator and expect to be greeted by my father’s secretary or fuck buddy, but I spot no one. The desk, Tiffany, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed bimbo my dad keeps around to answer phones, is empty. There are only three offices on this floor, including a break room, and it’s all for show since only one office is actually occupied, so that is where I head. The door isn’t even locked as I turn the knob and walk in, hoping I’m not about to walk in on my father banging Tiffany over his desk. Luckily, it’s also empty in here. Which makes me wonder where James might be but also knowing this is the perfect opportunity, I move to the desk.
My father’s office is pretty bare. A large wooden oak desk sits in the middle of the room, with two spare chairs sitting opposite of his. His desk sits at the corner of the room, so two whole walls are full of windows and a black leather three-seater couch sits along one of the walls. Ignoring everything else in the room, I start opening drawers and shifting through files and stacks of paper. After a few minutes of nothing standing out, I’m about to just grab everything and go through it all in detail later when the office door opens. Tiffany, holding a stack of files, pauses in the doorway, eyes wide in shock before recognition hits.
“Oh, Mr. Grant. What are you doing here?” she asks, eyeing me carefully.
“I was looking for my father.” I glance around the room as if I expect him to jump out from somewhere. “Where is he?” I ask.
Tiffany fidgets for a second before finally stepping forward and placing the stack of files she was holding on the desk. “Well, he said he was going to be out for a few days on business.” It’s her turn to glance around. “He didn’t mention you were stopping by. Can I help you with something?”
I wave her away. “No. I’ll give my father a call right now.” I motion to the desk phone. She hesitates for another few seconds before finally nodding and moving back to her desk, the soft click of her closing the door before her. Picking up the phone I do just that.
“Hello, James,” I say casually, when my father finally answers the phone. I take a seat in his chair and continue my search through desk drawers.
“What do you think you are doing?” he sneers, and I can almost feel his contempt through the phone.
“I came to see you, but I’m afraid I missed you. Tiffany said you informed her you were going to be out for a few days. Why is that?” I ask casually, but I know. As I’m going through the top drawer, I come across a small, unassuming flash drive. I pocket it for later before creating a stack of files I plan to take with me.
“Listen here, you little shit. Why don’t we quit with the games and meet face to face? I’m sure we could come to an arrangement.” The man is practically grinding his teeth as he says all this, making me smile.
At this point I can’t help myself. “Now, now, Father. Are you afraid to come to the office?” I taunt. “Is it because you have all these hired men yet you still haven’t been able to kill us? You thought the trials were a scapegoat. I mean, people die all the time in the trials. If we didn’t make it out alive, we wouldn’t be worthy of our family’s names anyways. No one would have batted an eye.” I can hear murmurs on the other side and know my time is up. James Grant is a coward and is probably sending a small team of men here as we speak.
“Listen to me, son. I’ll spare your little fuck doll if you just turn yourself and the others over. I would hate for a pretty little thing like that to get mixed up in your world.” It’s my turn to grind my teeth, his words causing emotions I didn’t know I could feel. It would be a cold day in hell if I ever let my father lay another hand on Ali. Not that our girl can’t take care of herself; she’s proven that on many occasions.
Taking a deep breath, I try to calm the anger crawling beneath my skin like a living thing. “I’ll warn you only once, James. Run. Run fast and run far, because you are no longer the predator in this situation. We survived the trials, which means, by rite, this city is ours.” I pause, letting him soak that all in before adding one last thing. “And you’re the one who taught me, if someone fucks with what’s yours, you end them.” Hanging up, I stand gathering the files and flash drive and make my leave, flashing Tiffany a cruel smile as I make my way to the elevator.
Once on the ground floor, I hustle back to the SUV, sending off a text that I got what I came for and will be heading back soon. I don’t bother waiting for any replies, not yet at least. First I have to make sure I’m not followed, so time for a random drive and then back to our girl.