Chapter 21
Alexander
The morning sun beat down as John pulled up to Café Laurent.
“I’ll call when I’m done.” I straightened my tie and stepped onto the sidewalk.
The hostess practically tripped over herself, leading me to Leo’s table. He sat in the corner booth, already nursing what
looked like his second espresso.
“You’re late.” Leo didn’t look up from his phone.
“Traffic.” I slid into the leather booth across from him. “Or maybe I just enjoy making you wait.”
A waitress materialized at our table, pen poised. “Your usual, Mr. Knight?”
“Black coffee.”
ene footage I’d been reviewing. “Take a look at this.”
Once she left, I pulled out my tablet and pulled up
I swiped through the footage, zooming in on a particular sequence. “See this woman here? She keeps showing up.”
Leo leaned forward, squinting at the screen. “Timestamp?”
cane Deat
“First appearance at 7:47 PM.” I tapped the screen, pointing to a blonde in a red dress hovering near the bar. “Then again at 7:
55 near the restrooms.
“Could be a coincidence!”
“Watch.” I switched to another clip. The same woman appeared in the background, pretending to check her phone while clearly watching my table. “She circles the room three more times.”
Leo’s brow furrowed. “Got any clear shots of her face?”
“That’s the problem.” I zoomed in, but the image pixelated. “She’s careful to keep her head turned or stay just out of frame.”
“Professional,” Leo muttered.
I flipped to the most interesting clip. “Here’s where it gets good.” The footage showed her ducking behind a column and meeting someone in the shadows. Their exchange lasted less than thirty seconds.
“Can’t make out who she’s talking to,” Leo said.
“Exactly. They knew where the cameras were.” I rewound the footage. “See how they position themselves? Just at the edge of
the frame, backs to the camera.”
“Shit ” Leo drained his espresso. “You think this connects to the drugging?”
“Timeline fits.”
The waitress returned with my coffee. I switched off the tablet, not wanting her to glimpse the footage.
The waitress set down iny coffee and flashed a practiced smile. “Is there Anything else I can get you, gentlemen?”
“We’re good. “I waited until her heels clicked away before continuing. “I need more angles on this. Get footage from other cameras, such as the lobby, elevators, and parking garage. And expand the timeframe – at least two hours before and after. I want everything. Every single frame where she appears.”
Leo ran a hand through his hair. “Could be nothing. Maybe she just wanted to hook up with the infamous Alexander Knight.” He smirked “Not everyone’s out to drug you. Some women just can’t resist staring at your pretty face”
“Fuck off.” I took a sip of coffee. “We can’t jump to conclusions without concrete evidence. For all we know, she could be
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Chapter 21
+25 BONUS
in unvolved with a competitor trying to get dirt on me.“he
Ax
“Or Chelie could be another desperate socialite hoping to land in your bed.“edTM
“Either way, find her.“la”
“Yeye pour Majesty.” Leo mock–bowed in his seat. “Shall I also fetch your crown whilelllin atat it?”
I igngnated is jab and poured more cream into my coffee. “What about the bartender?“er?”
Leo shrugggged fiddling with his empty espresso cup. “I’ll have something for you tomorrow.bw”
“That’s it?ifdiraised an eyebrow. “You drag me across town for breakfast just to tell me you’ve got nothothing?”
“Hey, their spesso is worth the trip.” He gestured at his cup. “Besides, when’s the last time we hung out out without work gettingng the lveaway?”
“We’re literallylistiscussing work right now.”
“Yeah, bubin infanfancytenféleHe grinned. “Much better than your stuffy office.“ce.”
I rolled my eyeseTheWaitress swooped by, refilling my coffee without asking. Leo watched her walk away, thenhetedited
to me with thatititaitangirl of his.
said. “If anything pops up, you’ll be my first call all
“Sure.“I
nothing g
my first
meeting. “Try not to take another week to tell me you’ve four
Leo smirked, leaning backach hisseseaDoDon’t worry, I won’t need a week. I’ll have something for you by tomorrow.ow.”
I tossed a few billalontheltablandotdotupro
better.”
As I walked out of Café Laurent,utçõululärehelp but think about the mysterious woman in red. Who was she? And what did she want? My mind raced with popsibilitilities as Idlid into the backseat of the waiting car.car
“Back to the office, John “n.”
The ride was uneventful, save for the loc casianiahabhunk of an impatient driver. New York City never slept, and neither did its
traffiche
When we arrived at the loffice,destepped out of thakaranand adjusted my tie. It was time to put on my game facence
The elevator dinged and opened to my lodnoAsAsvallallieb down the hall, bnoticed Madison’s desk was empty. It was not a t surprise, she often grabbed coffee around thishtiment. utawas her little ritual–something about needing a jolt of caffeine to handle my charming personality, no doubtibt.
I reached my office door and pushed it open only to be greatected by anunexpected sight. Scarlett lounged on the leather cou legs elegantly crossed, her eyes glued to her phphene.
“Good morning,” she drawled without looking upup.
I shut the door behind me, eyeing her sprawled form on any leaththeououchin’Unteresting I don’t recall scheduling a meeting with you.”
“Oh, please, like I need an appointment. Scarlett’s perfectly inaniuced etiaiapopped against her phone screen. “Madison w sweet enough to let me wait here. She even brought me coffet Chulgequated to aqmpty cup on the table.
1 loosened my tie, keeping my face neutral. Madison would never intlanyononamtoyway office without authorization
not Scarlett. But calling her out would only lead to unnecessary drainm Didshetonow?”
‘Mhmm” Scarlett stretched, her dress riding up her thighe ‘She’s quitaitha helpfifletthathing.”
especial
Chapter 21
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“Cut the act. Why are you really here?” I settled into my chair, putting the desk between us.
She uncrossed and recrossed her legs, the slit in her dress revealing more than necessary. “You’ve been ignoring my caliss
“I’ve been busy. That’s why I ignore calls. Take the hint.”
“Too busy for an old friend?” She pouted, rising from the couch with the grace of a cat. “That’s not like you, Alexander
“Running a company tends to fill up the calendar” I opened my laptop, making the dismissal clear.
“Remember when we used to make time for each other?” Her hand reached for my tie, but I caught her wrist. “You used too
love my calls, especially those late–night ones.
Sure, she’d been a good lay, but that’s all it was. Just two consenting adults scratching an itch. No strings, no complications, no emotional baggage. That was my style, and she’d known it from the start.
“That was months ago.” I released her hand. “What’s this really about?”
“Can’t a girl just miss you?” She bit her lower him what was probably meant to be seductive. “We had fun, didn’t we?”
“We did. Past tense. State your business or leave. Some of us have work to do.”
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