Chapter 21
SIMEON
I’m on edge. This will be a test we may not pass, and I’m on alert as I scan the building, hoping my men are doing what I pay them for. Securing our safety.
A smart woman heads our way, and I hate that she addresses Alice in French. As they speak in the unfamiliar language, I push down my frustration.
Alice stands, and I catch her hand and pull her down to my level, whispering, “Where are you going?”
“Ingrid told me that I can use her office to call my grandfather.”
I make to stand, and Alice shakes her head. “She told me I must come alone because, no offense, but they don’t allow guns in here.”
She nods toward my jacket where my revolver always rests, and I note the security screening set up as the workers pass through the Xray machines, security standing on guard to search them.
“Then you will make the call here.”
“No, Simeon.”
Her eyes flash. “This is my call, not yours. Ingrid isn’t the enemy, not even close, so you will be perfectly okay here while I head off to make it.”
“No,” I shake my head. “I’m coming with you, or we leave.”
Ingrid is watching the scene with a reassuring smile and steps forward.
“This won’t take long, sir. May I organize refreshments for you while you wait?”
“No.” I stand, gripping Alice’s hand tightly. “I will escort Miss Zaferelli and that is the end of the matter.”
Ingrid nods and inclines her head toward the security entrance.
“Come. It’s not far.”
I swear every motherfucking machine screams in alarm as I pass through it, and one glare from me and my men silences the guards who instantly decide it’s way above their pay grade to challenge me.
As we step into the elevator, Ingrid appears unconcerned as two of my guards crowd in with us and two more settle at the foot of the staircase. If she is wondering what’s going on, she doesn’t show it and maintains a mask of cool indifference that instantly piques my interest.
We travel in silence, and as the elevator opens on the thirteenth floor, we follow her along a partitioned corridor where workers are hidden behind screens, tapping on huge computers.
Ingrid says nothing and approaches a door at the end surrounded by glass, and as we step inside, she heads to her desk and retrieves the phone.
I can tell Alice is nervous because her grip tightens on mine, but I don’t reassure her. I’m too alert for that.
Ingrid makes the connection and says simply, “I have Alice Zaferelli on the line for Mr. Goldsworthy.”
She smiles reassuringly and hands Alice the phone, and something about this isn’t adding up.
As Alice takes the phone, she listens before nodding, “Yes, my father is – was – Enrico Zaferelli and my mother Sarah Goldsworthy.”
She listens, and her breathing is heavy as she pauses, appearing tense as she nods, a serious gleam in her eye.
“Of course, I can do that.”
She listens again before saying with a smile, “Thank you so much. I appreciate that.”
She hands the phone back to Ingrid and exhales sharply.
When she turns to me, her eyes shine as she whispers, “I spoke to his personal assistant. He told me to wait with Ingrid, and they would arrange transportation to my grandfather’s Zurich home. He is expected in the next few days and is desperate to see me.”
The delight in her expression almost breaks my heart as she whispers, “I can’t believe it was so easy. I will finally get the answers I need, and it’s all thanks to you.”
I smile briefly, noting the interest on Ingrid’s face, and I force a smile.
“That’s great news, angel. I’m happy for you.”
A moment’s surprise flickers across Alice’s face, and she gasps, “You are?”
“Of course.”
I turn to Ingrid. “Perhaps you could arrange the refreshments while we wait.”
“Of course.”
With a brilliant smile, Ingrid lifts the phone, and I reach out and plant my hand on hers, pressing the phone back into the cradle.
“Please give us a minute.”
Her eyes snap to Alice, who is watching the scene with concern, and I jerk my head toward the door.
“A minute—now.”
Ingrid nods, and my suspicion is confirmed as I detect a momentary spark of alarm enter her eyes as she leaves the office, closing the door behind her.
“That was rude.”
Alice is angry, and I shrug.
“Think about it, angel. That was too easy.”
“In your opinion.”
Her anger is building, and I grip her hand and pull her against me, whispering, “I happen to know as fact that Edward Goldsworthy is in New York as we speak and his diary does not include a trip to Zurich.”
“How do you know?”
She rolls her eyes and I huff, “Because he is a speaker at the banking gala that is held every year in Manhattan. His assistant confirmed that when Jack made the call.”
“So, that was before my call. He will change his plans and come and meet me.”
“That’s not how this world operates, Alice, and I want you to put your fact-checking head on and not your emotional one.”
She glares at me. “I’m not a child, Simeon.”
“Then think like an adult, Alice. Always remember, be three steps ahead. Doesn’t it strike you as strange that a woman rolls in off the street and declares herself to be Edward Goldsworthy’s granddaughter, and they accept your declaration without question?
They arrange the call without checking any facts before telling you a car will be taking you to his home here? ”
“No. It’s not strange at all. He is probably excited to meet me after all this time.”
I want to physically shake this woman because she is not thinking straight, and I resist from tossing her over my shoulder and leaving immediately.
“Now, for your own well-being and because you have obviously lost all sense of reasoning, we are going to leave this building and tell Ingrid we will make our own way to Edward’s house.
We have the address and don’t require a car.
Then we will head to the hotel and wait for my jet to arrive.
When it does, we will travel to New York, and I will arrange a meeting with your grandfather as I should have done in the beginning. ”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because you insisted on coming here and I’m the fool who didn’t think it through properly.”
“So, you failed.”
Her smirk does little to douse my irritation with myself because I took my eye off the proverbial ball and placed her in danger.
“We must leave—now.”
For the first time she appears anxious, and when Ingrid returns, she forces a smile onto her face and speaks to her in fluent French.
I hate not knowing what they are saying and placing my hand on her shoulder, I hiss, “English. It’s rude.”
“I’m sorry.” Alice smiles sweetly as she adds, “I forgot you only speak the one language. Never mind, there’s always night school.”
She turns to Ingrid.
“So, if you don’t mind passing that message on, we will leave you in peace and wait to hear from you.”
Ingrid nods, a hint of panic in her eyes that she quickly closes off.
“Of course. You may call me any time.”
As she hands Alice her card, I decide its time to leave and stride to the door, pulling Alice behind me.
My phone buzzes, and I note Jack’s text.
Get out of there—now!
I waste no time and as soon as we are in the elevator, I press the button for the corresponding floor and Alice gasps, “What’s happening? Why are we going up?”
“You’ll see.”
My heart is thumping because it appears I was right, and as we reach the roof, I pull Alice out of the exit toward the chopper that is readying to take off.
“Oh my God, what is happening?” Alice gasps as I push her into the helicopter and jump in with her, along with two of our men.
“Put these on.”
I hand her the headset and as we do the same, I breathe a sigh of relief when the bird flies into the sky, leaving shit behind us that appears to follow me around.