Chapter 38
Acouple whoops and whistles reached their ears.
Samson reluctantly pulled away. His sheepish smile was answered by one of her own as he held onto her waist while she settled back on the heels of her feet.
Feeling lightheaded, she gripped his strong arms trying to think of something to say to answer that magnificent kiss.
Maybe she should go in for another one. Definitely. She definitely should.
When she felt steady enough to match his gaze, she noticed over his shoulder several men, dressed in matching dark blue suits and masks, gather together at the bank of elevators.
The executive board. According to the memos, they all decided to wear matching outfits.
It must be them. Esmie bit her lip. By Elohim, why was her and Samson’s timing never right?
Even here. Esmie selfishly thought to ignore them for a moment, but then, the president, Stanley Veroni sauntered over to the group, two drinks in his hands.
He pointed at the elevators, and they all nodded.
He pushed the button and the elevator dinged.
It was now or never. They needed to follow the executive board before they lost their chance.
Samson noticed her gazing over his shoulder.
He turned to see what she was looking at.
When he turned back to face her, he sighed, released her waist, then held her hand leading her through the crowd of people.
As they approached, the men clamored into the elevator, the doors shutting right when she and Samson arrived at the elevator bank. Esmie paused.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t we following them?” Samson’s eyes darted around to ensure no one was watching.
“Yes, but we have to wait until they get off the elevator and move further onto the floor, otherwise our elevator will get there right after theirs and it will be obvious we followed them. Plus, I need to do something first.” Esmie inched away from the elevators to stand under the security camera. Samson followed.
Using her powers, she scrambled the cameras, feeling the connection between each one on the floor and in the elevators. Then she walked casually back over to the elevator bank, pushing the up button. A few moments later, another elevator dinged, and they entered.
“I put the cameras on a fifteen-minute loop, starting immediately after the president’s speech. I’m hoping no one will notice. Once we get back down to the main floor, I’ll set them back.”
“Clever girl,” Samson murmured to her with a smirk when the elevator doors closed.
“Hopefully we won’t be gone too long. Then we’ll sneak back down. I’m sorry I dragged you into this.” Esmie stared up into Samson’s handsome face, wishing they were downstairs, kissing more and dancing the night away like a normal couple would.
“Sounds good to me. No apologies needed. I’ve got your back either way.
” Samson flexed his arms, showcasing his muscular frame.
From the few times they worked out together, and the combative moves he taught her, she was sure he could hold his own.
She prayed it wouldn’t come to that. Although, watching his body move was something she thoroughly enjoyed.
Get it together, Esmie. Focus. Imagining Samson’s biceps holding you as he flexes isn’t something you need to be doing right now.
A cool female voice announced their arrival on the tenth floor before the doors slid open.
Samson put a finger up while he stuck his head out the doors glancing around before motioning for her to follow him.
The floor was cushy, with plush royal blue carpet, sconces on the walls, glass tables with elaborate sculptures or flower arrangements and modern assistant desks in front of several large offices encased in glass.
A couple of the offices’ glass was fogged.
A fancy feature to have when privacy is needed.
A few two-seater couches with chrome details and black leather cushions clustered in the center of the open space.
Even in the low light, it screamed, executive floor.
“Where do we go now?” Samson whispered to her, the space eerily quiet after the loud party downstairs. Esmie wondered if Samson’s ears were ringing like hers were. She closed her eyes, remembering the map in her mind of where to go.
Pointing to the right she whispered back, “Past these offices and around to the right. The executive conference room faces the front of the building with windows showcasing the main area of The Plaza.” Samson nodded then led the way, slightly crouched.
Esmie noted, while the rest of the floors in Genetronetics opened up to the center of the building, this floor had a plexi-glass wall separating it from the center.
They glanced down at the party below, the strobe lights blinding their view momentarily.
It was the only light coming onto the otherwise dark floor.
“These must be soundproof,” Samsons commented as he touched the plexi-glass.
Esmie agreed, but she worried they would be seen coming toward the conference room.
She strained her ears and eyes to see if the executives were still walking along the floor, but all was silent and not another person to be seen.
When they approached the end of the hallway, Samson peeked around the corner. This time, instead of offices greeting them, dark wooden panels lined the far wall. The panels took up the length of the wall with only a break in the middle.
“There are two conference rooms here. Which one are they in?” Samson peered back at her his eyebrows raised.
She bit her lip, unsure. Skirting around him, she crept out into the hallway feeling exposed.
Samson came up behind her, the warmth emanating from his body somewhat calming her nerves.
Power seemed to emanate from him, but Esmie banished the thought.
He didn’t have powers like she did. Muffled voices could be heard from the farthest conference room. Esmie pointed.
“I think they are in that one.”
“Perfect. But going up to the door to try and listen through it isn’t the best idea.”
“Right. Let’s go into this one and see if there’s a gap or something to listen through.
” It was more for Samson’s sake than hers, as she could hear through walls.
Esmie walked quickly over to the closest conference room, finding a bronze knob on one of the panels.
She slid it open and they hid inside, careful to slide the door close without making a sound.
The gigantic conference room opened up to an obscene marble table in the middle with black leather office chairs lined up along it.
The only thing on the long table was a conference phone and a tablet.
On the far wall a coffee bar took up one corner, while a wet bar was in the other.
A large screen filled up the rest between the two bars, and a projector screen hung down in front of where they entered.
What wasted opulence. Esmie shook her head.
She didn’t have time to judge the space as she needed to figure out how to listen in.
Ducking behind the projector screen, Esmie felt along the wall panel, hoping to find a gap connected to the other room.
Her hand glided along the smooth wood until she found a small latch.
She almost squealed. Popping out from behind the screen, she motioned for Samson to join her.
He slid in, his larger frame having a hard time avoiding bumping into the screen.
His presence consumed the area and their earlier kiss nudged Esmie’s imagination.
She sighed wishing they could enjoy the quiet, empty space.
Once Samson stopped the screen from bumping into anything, Esmie carefully pulled the latch.
A hidden pocket door slid over to the side.
They were greeted by another panel, but loud voices could instantly be heard once the door slid into place.
They placed their ears against the panel anyway to hear better.
“You are not Tyler Brackford! Whatever made you think you could run this place in his absence?” A familiar raspy voice shouted. It was the voice Esmie heard in the parking garage the other day.
“I never said I was Tyler, but I can run this place without him. We don’t need him as long as we have his ideas and schematics.” Stanley’s voice erupted over the raspy voice.
“Andre, Stanley, you both need to calm down, now.”
“How can we be calm, Mr. Johnson? Not when we both know once Andloor Capitol figures out we don’t have a solution for stopping purple glass from killing the user, they will cut our contract up into little pieces and we will be outed as frauds.
The company will be destroyed,” The raspy voice, Andre, responded.
“I told you already, I have a plan. We have Tyler’s files. If it wasn’t for me, we wouldn’t even have Tyler’s computer or phone, especially when the police wanted to confiscate them for their ‘evidence’.” Stanley’s voice sounded irritated.
“So, you’ve said about a hundred time already, but I personally know your computer engineers haven’t been able to crack Tyler’s code for getting in. You essentially have nothing.” Andre spit back.
“Now, hold on, is this true, Stanley?” Mr. Johnson cut off anything else Andre had to say.
“We’re working on it,” Stanley seethed.
“Working on it means he doesn’t have access,” Andre stated triumphantly. Chaotic shouting ensued. Mr. Johnson could be heard over the arguing trying to calm everyone down.
“Men, control yourselves! I did not come all this way to listen to you squabble like children.” A booming voice sounded over the cacophony. Esmie jumped. Why did that voice sound familiar? The men stopped arguing.
“Apologies Mr. Mayor. These should be internal discussions and will be handled later.” Mr. Johnson answered. Esmie’s eyes widened. Her head snapped to stare at Samson whose round eyes must have matched her own.
“When did he get here? I didn’t see him downstairs,” Esmie whispered to Samson.
He shrugged. “Maybe he didn’t come in through the front door. The parking garage has underground tunnels so he might have come in that way.” They returned to listening to Stanley and Andre offering their apologies and agreements to settle the matter later.
“Now, I trust, Stanley, you will figure out how to access Tyler’s files. In the meantime, I’m here to discuss the rumors of the test subject who took purple glass and survived. Have you found her?” The mayor said. Esmie covered her mouth to stop from gasping out loud.