Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Alex stood in an empty waiting room in California Pacific Medical Center with Edward North and his stuck-up lawyer.
After Edward’s call, he made the trek to the ballet company. Halfway there, Edward called back asking him to meet at the hospital instead. The change in location wasn’t a big deal, but Alex was irritated, anyway. He’d had a long day.
He didn’t like the tone of Edward’s voice. It was somewhere between pleading father and patronizing general. He also didn’t like having to be awake past midnight, but Edward was persistent.
Now, he wasn’t sure if he should laugh or punch a wall. Looking at the lawyer’s nicely pressed navy pantsuit with gold buttons, Alex was certain he was underdressed in the white, button-down shirt and jeans he changed into.
“I know this seems silly,” Edward said. “But I want my dancers protected, and you and your firm are the best men for the job. I need Sterling Protection on this.”
Alex straightened himself up, then lifted and rolled his shoulders back. “You sound like an old recruitment poster.”
Edward looked over at his lawyer, a tall, slender woman with a slight Jersey accent, botoxed skin, and curly red hair.
Alex already didn’t like her. She was arrogant, and spoke using unnecessarily large words.
Alex had heard her name in conversations with Edward in the past, but hadn’t met her until now.
She was the kind of lady who wore five-inch stilettos to make sure she towered over everyone.
“Evelyn is handling the specifics,” Edward said, pointing at the woman. “There are a few complications that come with this attack.”
Alex didn’t like the word ‘complications,’ either. It tended to skew the line of who exactly he was working for.
“Call me Lyn.” The woman held out her hand in greeting.
Lyn the Lawyer. Alex chuckled to himself as he shook her hand. “Good to meet you,” he said.
“Edward speaks very highly of you,” Lyn went on. “I hear you’re an exceptional bodyguard. Thanks for understanding that this is a … delicate situation.”
Alex tilted his head. “‘Delicate’ isn’t a word I use in my line of work.”
Lyn frowned. “One of the ballet’s corps dancers was named the new prima earlier today—a decision that came as quite a shock to some people.”
“And prima is like … winning an Academy Award?” Alex asked.
Lyn paused for a moment to look over at Edward.
“A prima is the star,” Edward explained. “It’s an honor reserved only for the most gifted of dancers.”
“In fact,” Lyn added, “most companies don’t distinguish a prima anymore. It’s a preference to call attention and investment to one dancer.”
“Far out.” Alex didn’t try to sound interested.
Lyn’s frown deepened before putting her briefcase on a nearby table to open it. “Earlier tonight, the new prima was kidnapped walking home. Two male assailants. They attacked her, subdued her?—”
“Tried to kidnap her, but she escaped,” Alex interrupted. “I’ve been briefed. The important thing to know is that she’s okay.”
“Scarlet’s a tough one.” Edward smiled.
“Tough or not, she could have been seriously hurt,” Lyn said. “She’s also in shock.”
“That might not be true,” Edward interrupted.
Lyn handed Alex a file from the briefcase. “Whatever the case may be, she’s not making a lot of sense right now.”
Edward’s solemn eyes flashed as he crossed his arms in front of him. “You’re upset she brought up your daughter’s name as a possible suspect.”
Alex’s senses stirred a bit. The story spiked his curiosity.
Lyn shook her head. “I know Victoria has been eyeing the prima spot for years. She’s ambitious, and … a little stubborn, but she’s not capable of?—”
“Of hiring hitmen to off the competition?” Alex smirked at the woman.
Alex could tell by the way Lyn stiffened up and clenched her fists that she didn’t like hearing that.
There was a part of Alex that enjoyed angering disillusioned parents who were in denial about their own flesh and blood.
It came with the territory. He had to establish who was in charge and keep clients grounded, or else no one was getting decent protection.
Or, I’m just an asshole.
“No,” Lyn said. “She’s not.”
Alex eyed Lyn a moment before opening the file to a black and white headshot of Scarlet.
Alex’s lips parted and he drew in a sharp breath.
He wasn’t expecting those large doe eyes or the shy smile.
Most ballerinas he knew through Edward were curt and snotty.
The kind of girl he figured Lyn’s daughter was.
“I know Victoria isn’t behind this, so I want to bring in security measures that show my good faith. I want your company to provide security for North Pointe. Edward said you were the best.”
“He is,” Edward said. “But… it’s not that simple.”
An uneasy feeling rose in Alex’s gut as he scanned her information. He blinked in confusion, looking up at Edward. “Scarlet Rush?”
“I know.” Edward held up a hand. “Believe me, it’s not intentional.”
“Her father…” Alex’s voice wandered off.
“Retired two and a half years ago.” Edward dropped his arms back to his sides. “So, I doubt it has anything to do with him, although nothing is being overlooked.”
“Overlooked?” Alex’s voice rose. He clenched his jaw to relieve the building pressure in his head. “I mean, Jesus, Ed…”
He scanned her age and quickly did the math in his head.
This is unreal, he thought.
“What are you two talking about?” It was Lyn’s turn to be annoyed.
“Alex knows Scarlet’s father,” Edward said quickly.
“I wouldn’t say knows,” Alex made a face. “We aren’t friends. I’ve dealt with him on a diplomatic security level. And this here is a shining motive for kidnapping.”
“He’s retired,” Edward insisted.
“You have a woman stepping into the spotlight with a diplomat for a father.” Alex scoffed. “In a continuing time of high tension, sleeper cells, and who knows what else. Sorry, not interested.”
He threw the file back into Lyn’s briefcase, turned, and made his way to the door.
“Alex.” Edward’s tone was firm. “Would you please just hear me out?”
The room suddenly seemed a lot smaller to Alex.
He reached for the doorknob, but didn’t go any farther.
He glanced up at the glass plate in the door, spying his reflection.
Alex knew he looked tired. What he didn’t expect to see in his reflection was fear.
He still feared the unknown, and the photo of the woman rattled him good.
He slowly turned around to look at his stepfather. “You want me to guard the daughter of Mikael Rush.” Alex closed his eyes for a moment, willing the pressure to subside.
“Yes.” Edward nodded. “This isn’t anything like…”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” Alex interrupted, keeping his voice low and steady, “or I’ll walk out this door and erase your number from my phone.”
Lyn shifted her weight on her stilettos, taking a step back from Alex.
Edward nodded slowly. “Fine.”
Alex returned the nod. “Fine.”
He turned his attention back to Lyn. “So. We won’t rule your daughter out then,” he said. “She may have the resources to go under your nose. Maybe she hired some random saps to do her dirty work for her.”
Lyn cast a scathing glance at Edward, who sighed.
“Until we can prove it’s her, I can’t do or say anything that discredits her,” Edward explained. “She has a career to think about, just like the rest of my dancers.”
“We also didn’t ask you to solve the mystery.” Lyn narrowed her eyes. “We have a detective assigned to our case.”
Alex let out a short laugh and handed the file back. “Ooh, a detective. That’s fancy.” He glanced between Lyn and Edward. They seemed to be communicating via eye contact. “Okay, what else aren’t you both telling me?”
Edward took a tentative step toward Alex.
“Our last prima, Isobelle,” he began slowly. “We’re telling everyone she retired, but I had to let her go over a conflict of interest.”
Alex waited for Edward to continue, but he fell silent, like he wanted to end it there. “What conflict?”
Edward crossed his arms in front of him, seemingly uncomfortable with the conversation.
“She started screwing the owner of our rival company last year. Seems like they’re now engaged,” Lyn said curtly.
“And?” Alex pressed.
“It’s Frisco Met.” She frowned, looking Alex up and down. There was more silence as Lyn waited for Alex to acknowledge the name.
Alex blinked, waving a hand in front of him. “Listen, I barely know how to spell ‘ballet,’ let alone understand anything about it. You can’t talk to me like I’m an expert.” He officially had a headache he was positive had nothing to do with his exhaustion.
“They’re our main competition.” Lyn threw him a look. “Owned by Balthazar Maxim. Last year, he almost put his company under for tax evasion and money laundering, but he had a good lawyer and an established name. That’s enough for them to go on for now.”
“And this Maxim guy is banging the dancer you let go?” Alex asked.
Edward nodded. “She’d been acting strange for a few months. I did some digging and found out about their relationship. Yesterday, I asked her to step down if she insisted on staying with him.”
Edward paused, clasping his hands together.
“She was pretty angry,” he went on. “Told me she planned to leave and take a creative director job with Frisco. We argued a little about Maxim’s instability and them not being able to hold another season. She got flustered and stormed out. I haven’t seen or heard from her since.”
Alex furrowed his brow. “So, you think your old prima orchestrated an attack on your new prima to get revenge on you?”
Lyn fidgeted at his words. She crossed her arms and looked away.
“I think this is too much a coincidence for it to be Victoria,” Edward admitted.
“She has a bit of a temper but she respects her career too much. She respects her mother’s job.
I also don’t want to go as far to presume it’s some sort of attack against a retired diplomat.
Isobelle and Balthazar are the middle ground that makes the most sense. ”
Alex let out a tired sigh. “Agreed. So, what do you need from me?”