16. Chapter 15 Ginevra
“I’m so sorry I’m late. I can assure you this is not normal behavior,” I rush to say, slipping into my chair, removing the back of my heels from my feet, and turning on my computer in one smooth motion.
“I think we may have had a break in the case. I’m going to interview this new lead and I want you to take notes while I do.”
“When’s the interview?”
“In two hours. I left a few things you should brush up on before we head in. Make sure you have a recorder for the conservation so we can refer back to it,” my boss, Conrad, replies excitedly.
My stomach grumbles from hunger, but I get up, my blisters killing me, and look around. Everyone is doing their own thing, so I walk to the staff room. I hate the idea of bare feet on the ground, but this is my only option for now. I rummage through the drawers until I find a few Band-Aids to help and pour myself a cup of coffee with cream. I much prefer an energy drink for my caffeine, but this is my only option and I know it will help with my hunger.
“Let’s go!” Conrad rubs his hands together. “Our client was brought in on drug trafficking charges. We need to get him to cooperate with the authorities and name an accomplice. It’s obvious he’s not the leader,” he preps me as we walk.
We walk into our conference room and I set everything up as Conrad introduces me to the person.
“What’s your last name again?” they ask me.
I give the guy a tight smile. “Pasello,” I answer, looking to see if I’ve ever seen him before. Can’t say I can place him from anywhere.
“That Italian?” he asks, but Conrad interrupts.
“We will be tape recording our conversation, are you okay with that?”
Reluctantly, the guy stops looking at me and focuses on Conrad. “Yeah, that’s fine, but no video recording.”
“State your name for the record, please.” I turn on the recorder.
“Samuel Harrison.”
“I’m going to level with you, Samuel. You have a rap sheet a mile long but I know we can have that overlooked if you give us the name of your boss.”
Samuel looks at me. “Is this a joke?” He turns his attention to Conrad. “I’m not signing my death warrant by giving you shit.” He sets his attention back at me. “I’m loyal.”
“That corrupt loyalty is going to get you ten years in prison. You need to decide which side you’re loyal to.”
My stomach growls and both men stare at me. “Let’s talk about trade routes,” I suggest over my rumbling stomach.
“I don’t know about that.”
“Tell us about the stuffed animal filled with cocaine that you were in possession of.”
“I bought that out of a game. I didn’t know there were drugs in it.”
“The eleven-pound teddy bear didn’t make you question anything?”
He crosses his arms. “Nope.” He and Conrad are in a stare off and my stomach growls again, breaking the tension in the room.
“Why were you selling the stuffed animal if you won it?”
“Look at me. I sleep half my nights on the street. I need money for food and shelter.”
We continue with our back and forth, coming up with nothing. We can help this guy and he wants none of it. I don’t understand. We’re finishing the interview when my stomach vibrates with its loudest sound yet.
I shrug into myself. “Sorry,” I apologize for my stomach grumbling like a bear. I should have grabbed a piece of bread on my way out this morning.
Conrad walks Samuel out and turns to me. “Let’s go get you fed,” he chuckles.
I gather all my supplies, wanting to fix up my notes while it’s still fresh in my mind. “I have a mountain of work, it’s fine,” I protest.
“Ginevra, I’m not allowing my employee to starve. We’ll do a quick lunch and then you’ll be able to focus and do a better job when you’re not having hunger pains.”
“Honestly, I’m not that hungry.” He lifts a brow.
The idea of lunch does have my mouth watering. “Okay, a quick lunch,” I agree, but only because I am dying of hunger.
I was hoping we would find a quick little place to grab something and take it back to the office, but Conrad insists that we sit down to eat, this way, we can debrief about the interview.
“I think this has to do with a drug war in our city. A major drug operation was burned down just a few days ago,” I reply.
“It’s an interesting angle,” Conrad says.
“This guy is the fall guy. I think he’s been set up.” Something about our meeting doesn’t sit right with me. The way the guy kept looking at me like he knew me creeped me out. I want to mention it to Conrad but I don’t want him to think I can’t handle this type of work.
“We’re missing something big here. Deep in my gut I feel like this is going to be the case that people will study for decades to come. It could gain worldwide attention.” I can see that he wants this case to gain media coverage, because he wants the fame that comes with a famous case, but I don’t think it’s this case. Not that I say anything. He’s the boss, after all.
We finish our lunch and the moment I stand, my eyes connect with Soren as he walks this way. My heart flutters and heat resonates in my chest.
“Ginevra,” he says my name in a deeper than normal voice and steps in to kiss me. I turn my face and his lips press against my cheek before stepping back.
“Conrad, this is Soren Moretti. Soren, this is Conrad Carrington,” I introduce them.
Soren shakes Conrad’s hand, both holding on to the other longer than necessary.
“Yes, I recall from last time.” Soren’s voice has an edge and his eyes stay on me.
They hold an intensity I’ve never experienced except with him. It’s like he can see my soul and steal it any time he wants.
“I believe you’re forgetting my kiss, fiancée.”
I remind myself I’m playing nice.
I step into his personal space, going on my tiptoes, and place a soft, chaste kiss on his lips. They’re softer than I ever imagined them to be. His hand snakes around my back, pulling me in so our bodies touch. I stop thinking and melt against his chest with my pulse racing. This kiss rewrites all of my fantasies. They never compared to this. To Soren.
He steps away and my head is buzzing. I’m not sure I can walk a straight line. My fingertips touch my lips in a daze. Holy cow. Soren just gave me my first kiss.
“I’ll see you after work.” He gives me a cocky grin and walks away.
Conrad puts his hand on my lower back, guiding me out of the building. My thoughts are still on Soren and that kiss.
“I didn’t realize you were engaged.” Conrad fills the silence on our way.
It helps bring me out of my head that is swarming with thoughts of what just happened.
I clear my throat. “It’s new.”
“Congratulations.”
The rest of the day, I’m swallowed whole by paperwork. There’s a part of me that wishes I could become a lawyer so I could be in the courtroom and display everyone’s hard work. The other part of my brain is happy I didn’t take that route now that I know Jude works for the mafia.
Hour by hour, the office becomes more and more deserted. “Pasello, go home.” I look up to see my boss towering over me. I hadn’t noticed anyone around. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car,” he offers.
“I need to stay because I was late this morning.”
Conrad gives me an amused grin. “Ten minutes isn’t late. Grab your coat.”
I didn’t have time to grab my coat, but I don’t tell him that. “I’m getting picked up once I’m done.”
“Alright then, have a good night. Make sure you don’t stay too late.”
I nod, my eyes going back to my computer screen. It’s another hour before I stand to stretch my limbs. My blisters protest as I slip my shoes back on and I half limp my way out of the office and take the elevator. The security guard isn’t at their station, so I continue on my way. I told Soren to pick me up in the parking garage. There’s a strict no stopping zone in front of our building. The meeting spot is closer than when I drive here and is patrolled by security, making it safer than any other time I’ve walked to my car late at night.
The once-full parking levels are mostly vacant, the natural light from the morning sun long gone. It’s darker than I anticipated it would be. My steps speed up, their echo surrounding me. I’m constantly looking around as I make my way to the meeting spot.
My purse vibrates and I dig through it for my phone. The dark space becomes eerily quiet the moment my feet stop, and the hair on my arms stands up. I feel the side of my phone with all of my crap over it, but in the same second, footsteps echo around me. A man in a suit walks out of the stairway toward his car a few steps away. It beeps as its lights turn on.
Bringing my phone out, I see ten missed calls from Soren. My heart pounds and my fingers have difficulty turning on the phone’s flashlight. I miss the button a few times before the flash light opens, illuminating the dark space. I watch as the man gets into his car and backs up. My breathing speeds up. Maybe I should have had Conrad wait with me.
I listen to my messages from Soren. He’s running late. I debate going back upstairs but the staircase is just as creepy as down here.
I slip my purse off my shoulder and dig for my keys. I’ll feel better if I have them in my hands to use as a weapon. My fingers grasp them and I suddenly remember I haven’t replaced my bear spray. Wasting it on Soren was a dumb idea if I wasn’t going to replace it. My purse tugs away from me, and my keys fall from my grasp. I lift my head and find a masked man holding on to my purse.
My eyes bulge, not expecting anyone down here. A startled shriek roars from my mouth. My pulse thunders under my skin. Where is Soren? A hard shoulder slams into mine and I stumble into a car. My grasp on the purse releases.
“Hey!” I yell, but my body stays frozen, watching a piece of a silver gun reflect back at me.
The masked man points a gun at my forehead. “Lay on your stomach with your hands on the back of your head!” he yells into my face. I should have stayed quiet.
I do as he says. My muscles tremble as I lay on the dirty, cold ground.
He’s going to kill me. Who will take care of my mom? Soren is only doing it because he wants to marry me.
The man hovers over me and I close my eyes, not wanting to die. “Tell Soren this is a warning.”
My breathing is loud and raspy, the dirt on the ground dispersing each time my chest deflates. I can feel the man still hovering over me and each of my low, sharp breaths has my trembling chin hitting the asphalt. The ringing in my ears is deafening but I can still feel the gun being pointed at the back of my head.
I’m fine. They didn’t hurt me. I repeat to myself over and over again, but my body is shaking. I don’t want to die. I hear their footsteps running away, but don’t dare to get up.
Car lights bend around the corner. He’s coming back. If this is punishment for me stringing Soren along, I promise I will try. Dear lord, please take care of my mother and brother. Without me, there is no one to do it.
Screenshots of my life flash through my mind. That kiss from Soren being highlighted. I’m going to die the day I get my first kiss. I press my face completely to the ground and cover my head.