Ghost
Savion had asked me to come into the office but wouldn’t say why.
I assumed that he had some information on Luxe, so I wasted no time climbing out of bed and heading into the bathroom to get ready.
Luxe had planned on going into the office today, so I was gon’ place a few men on her to watch her until I made it there.
Leaving her alone always worried me, but being around her, I knew that she was more than capable of handling herself with a lil bit of help.
After I showered, I stepped out the bathroom to find Luxe still sleeping in bed. It was going on six thirty, and I knew how she was about making it to the office on time, so I rounded the bed and woke her up.
She stretched and moaned before completely opening her eyes. “Good morning, handsome.”
“Good morning.” My lips pressed against the center of her forehead. “I have to go meet with Savion right quick. I’ll get up with you at the office later.”
Luxe sat straight up in bed and asked, “Is it good news?”
“I’m hoping that it is.”
“Keep me updated.”
“Of course.”
Tossing the covers back, she climbed out of bed and left the bedroom. I went into the closet to find me something to put on. By the time I was fully dressed, I went by Luxe’s bedroom and heard the shower running, so I just left her to her business.
When I exited the apartment, the men that were assigned to Luxe this morning were already standing out there, waiting for duty. “Protect her with y’all fucking life,” I told them as I strolled past, headed for the door.
I made it to Blackveil, and Savion was already parked in his parking space.
Getting out the truck, I used my badge to get inside and headed straight for his office.
I was hoping that whatever Savion wanted to talk about was gon’ be the end to all this mess.
Protecting Luxe was lasting longer than I expected.
I wanted to see what life would look like when I didn’t have to guard her as often.
Sure, if I was gon’ be with her, I was still gon’ have to protect her, but it wouldn’t be the same as always having to be on guard.
I knocked once before opening the door to Savion’s office and entering.
Savion sat behind his desk, staring at some paperwork.
He looked up and nodded toward the chair in front of his desk.
Shutting the door behind me, I went over and took a seat.
He shuffled the papers together and then gave me his undivided attention.
“This shit with Luxe is just getting messier,” he finally spoke.
“What do you mean?”
“After y’all found that fake, I did some digging. Someone has been using Luxury Acquisitions to move fakes.”
“Luxe gon’ die when she finds out.”
“The real ones are coming in, but someone is replacing them with fakes when they go out.”
“Who?”
“We haven’t figured that out just yet. That’s why it’s so hard to track down the real painting. I understand that the painting cost hella money, but we need to find out why they’re willing to kill to get it back. I’ll keep digging to find out; your job is to find out who’s switching the items.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard.”
“Get on it.”
Nodding, I got up from the chair and left out the room.
I made it over to Luxury Acquisitions, and Luxe was chilling in her office on a phone call.
Whenever she finished, I’d go in there and let her know what Savion had just told me.
The shit was probably gon’ crush her because she took pride in her work, and now someone was playing with her name and brand.
It was a whole organization working underneath her nose, and she had to figure out who exactly was running it.
Maybe if she did that, then she could find out why her life was in danger.
I stood there, watching her through the glass when I heard, “You like her, don’t you?”
My eyes cut to Brielle, who sat at her desk with the tip of her pen in between her teeth. She was nosy as fuck.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I lied and returned my attention back to Luxe. My feelings were growing for her. I think it was past like at this point, but I wasn’t about to tell her ass that.
“You don’t have to lie to me. I see it all over your face. You know she’s not going to go for it, right? You’re too young. A woman like Luxe needs an older man. Maybe a silver fox.”
My eyes cut back to her, and she was grinning hard as hell. “Now, me on the other hand, I’ll take you through there.”
“I’ll pass.”
“You just don’t know what you’re missing.”
Absolutely nothing.
Luxe rested her phone against the desk, letting me know that she was done with whatever call she’d been on ever since I got back. I rushed toward her office and knocked on the door before entering.
“You’re back.” Her eyes lit up. I shut the door behind me and pulled down the blinds. “What’s wrong?”
“Savion just told me that someone is using you to move fakes.”
Luxe’s eyes expanded as she stared back at me. “What!”
“You’ve been getting the real in, and when they go out, somehow, they’re fakes.”
“I know you’re fucking lying!”
She pushed back from her desk and lifted to her feet. Luxe stormed past me out of the office and didn’t stop until she made it to Brielle’s desk. Her hand connected to Brielle’s face faster than I could blink.
Brielle gasped. “What was that for?”
“You’ve been trading my stuff for fakes!”
“Wha-what are you talking about? I wouldn’t dare do anything like that.”
Luxe turned to me as her chest heaved. I wasn’t expecting her to react like this once she got the news. Turning back to Brielle, she said, “Pack your stuff and leave for the day. Don’t return until I figure this shit out.”
Brielle wasted no time packing up all her belongings and then scurried to the elevator.