Alveus (ABC's Inc. Romance #1) (15 page)

“Isn’t
it a bit redundant,” she called over her shoulder. “The effects of the caffeine
will be nullified by the booze.” She commandeered a large cushioned chair;
sinking back into it, she gracefully turned her legs to the side to dangle them
comfortably over the arm – all without spilling a single drop of wine. Dane
sprawled out on the sofa, an arm spread across the back and an ankle crossed
over his knee.

“Evens
things out,” he shrugged. He took a careful sip to punctuate his point.

“Well,
you can always crash on the sofa if it catches up to you,” Bren offered. “It
wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Oh,
God, did you have to bring that up?” Dane grumbled dramatically. “I’d
successfully erased the memories of that debacle from my mind.”

“What’s
your problem? This was the perfect place to hide away from the media.” She
couldn’t withhold a teasing grin. “Of course it was your own fault for
escorting a popular rock star. You should have known that the paparazzi would
be tailing the two of you like bloodhounds.”

“How
was I to know that she’d be wacked out on drugs?” he put forth.

“Or
that she wasn’t wearing any knickers?” Brenda laughed. “Or that she would unveil
Ali Baba’s cave when attempting to alight from the car?” Tears of laughter were
streaming down her face. “Open sesame,” she choked out.

“Now
that’s just cruel and inhumane,” Dane chastised in a stern voice, but his mouth
stretched into a huge grin. Before he knew it he was laughing along with his
wacked-out, wine induced London director. God, it felt good!

“Bren,”
he said, when their laughter eased, “I think I’m in love.”

“I
love you too, but not in that way,” she teased.

“I
didn’t mean…”

“I
know.”

“I
don’t know how to do this,” Dane admitted. “She thinks I’m a horrible person,
maybe she’s right.” He shrugged. “Maybe she’s better off without me, but I can’t
get over being selfish. I want her more than I could have ever thought
possible.” He turned pleading eyes to his friend. “How do I forget her and go
on with my life?”

He
watched Bren as she thought through his plea. He respected the fact that she
weighed her thoughts carefully, knowing that she was thinking about her husband
who had been cruelly taken from her by a terrorist bombing.

“If
it truly is love,” she said, “you never forget.” Her eyes gazed into the
distance. “As far as getting on with your life… well, life goes on and you have
no choice.”

Bren
threw back the last bit of wine from her glass and rose to refill it. Dane sat
quietly on the sofa, his eyes focused on a patterned spot of the rug. The pain
in his chest had not given way to the inebriation of the beverage, and that revelation
had him reaching out to empty his mug. As he settled it back onto the table a
bottle hovered over it, spilling its contents into the empty vessel. He watched
Bren set the container beside his cup, leaving the decision for future refills
up to him. She sat down on the same chair she’d vacated, but this time she
leaned forward to stare him squarely in the face.

“Dane,
I don’t think you should give up so easily,” she said, her voice emphatic. “Take
my word when I say that you are not a bad person – in fact you’re the opposite,
and I know you better than most. I have never seen you dragged down by
anything! No, the Dane Wellesley I know has never given in to defeat!” Dane was
shaking his head.

“This
is different,” he insisted. “I don’t know how to fight this. It’s not an enemy;
it’s a beautiful, innocent, passionate woman. I’m out of my league with this
situation.”

“Pooh!”
his friend rebutted. “You can woo any woman out there – I’ve seen it. Look,
what is your heart telling you? Listen to your heart, you idiot! Do what comes
natural, show her the truth!”

Dane
locked eyes with her, feeding on her convictions. He could do this!

“How
badly do you want her?” Bren challenged.

“Very,”
he answered.

“Then
start scheming,” she advised.

Dane’s
lips curved up in a smile. She was right, and oh how he loved a good challenge.
He could sense the end reward as his memories recalled how Lexi felt tucked in
his arms. She belonged to him, even Oma believed that to be true.

Seated
in the company jet, Dane studied the information on his tablet. Before he left
he’d spoken with his old
friend
Keith Ingram. His suspicions had turned
out to be true – the New York City office director was a chum of his
ex-corporate attorney. The deeper he dug into the director’s files, the more
inconsistencies he found. His first order of business, when he landed in NY,
would be to fire his ass! Looks like his decision to move to the states was
long overdue; he definitely had his work cut out for him.

An
alert popped up on the screen informing him that he had a message from Greig
Carsten. Curious, Dane tapped the display to bring it up.

“Lexi
has filed charges against Richard, kidnapping as well as theft and
embezzlement. Seems he took everything of value that wasn’t locked down. Fani
says she’s furious and appears to be out for blood. Worried Richard may
retaliate with threats.”

“He’s
too smart – he’d have to come out of hiding for that,”
Dane messaged back.

“Not
necessarily, he could pay someone to harm her. It’s not like he gives a damn about
her welfare.”

“Advise
her to change locks and alarm codes. Don’t take risks.”

“She’s
already done the former. Smart girl. Although, refusing to cower in the corner
– her words.”

Shit…
sounds like Lexi, Dane thought. And it’s not likely she’ll accept any help.

“I
know a guy – very discreet, I’ll have him keep an eye on her. Headed to NY to
clean up mess. Will forward address. Intend to be there for an indefinite
period. May be permanent.”

“Great
news! Will keep in touch.”

Dane’s
chest puffed out in pride – his girl’s got her spunk back! For a moment he was
fifteen again, his palm placed squarely on the forehead of a little ten
year-old, red-headed whirling dervish as she strained against the distance of
his arm with the intention of pummeling him with her fists – just for calling
her pipsqueak. He meant it affectionately, but of course he hadn’t realized how
sensitive she was about her height. Her parents had intervened to calm her
down. She’d glared at him for days, after that, refusing to speak to him or to
be teased out of her rancor. He had missed her tagging along with him and
remembered feeling like a heel for hurting her. Eventually, she forgave him and
they were back to being inseparable. Smiling at the memory, Dane’s heart
swelled in his chest – guess Oma was right, he probably had loved Lexi way back
then.

Another
thought wiped his smile away – what if that temper puts her in danger?

Dane
reached for his cell phone and scrolled through the contacts, pinpointing his
quarry, he put the call through.

“Ferguson,
this is Dane Wellesley, you still in the states?”

“Yeah,
my little Brit is real cozy here,”
the voice on the other
end of the line shared.
“We’ve got us a little girl, now, and another on the
way.”

“Sounds
like you snagged yourself a treasure in that beauty,” Dane said, “Can’t say
much for her taste in husbands, though.” A chuckle echoed through the receiver.

“You’re
right about that; I’m definitely a lucky guy. When are you finally going to
settle on one of those lovelies you’re always parading around with?”

“I’m
working on it, buddy,” Dane laughed. “Look,” he turned serious, “the reason I
called is to ask you a favor. I’ve got a friend down in the DC area who’s
stirring up murky waters. She’s got a vendetta and is hell bent on proving a
point. I’m worried that some piranha may surface in those dirty little puddles
she’s disturbing. I just need someone to keep an eye on her –
discreetly
.”

“That
shouldn’t be too difficult,”
Ferguson replied.
“I
live in Virginia and I’ve got a couple of guys I can trust to help out. Is she
someone the media is interested in; I mean, is she involved with politics?”

“Her
name is Lexi Alberton of Al…”

“Alberton
Technologies; yeah I heard she got back from her world travels,”
his voice held a hint of distain.
“Guess she’s finding out that you can’t
leave a big corporation like Alberton Technologies to run itself while you go
gallivanting around with the rich and famous. I’m told there’s a mess to clean
up.”

“It
wasn’t like that at all,” Dane explained. “Her uncle handed her over to a human
trafficking ring and took over the business. We don’t want the media to get
hold of this – it’s between you and me, you hear? She just got back to discover
that the bastard had robbed her blind and disappeared. You don’t need to know
what she went through to get home in one piece, but I can tell you this: she’s
spitting mad and stubborn as all hell.”

“I
see,”
Ferguson said knowingly. Dane could hear the smile
in his voice.
“I’ll take good care of her for ya. Where can I reach you?”

“I’m
heading in to New York City. You can get in touch with my office and I’ll give
you the particulars. I’m not exactly in her good graces right now, so I’ll ask
you once again to keep things inconspicuous.”

“Count
on it,”
the PI said before disconnecting.

»ɞ»ɞ«ɞ«

Returning
to work was invigorating, giving Lexi something to focus on, although it
started out discouraging. Since her numerous calls to the offices were sent
directly to voicemail, Lexi drove to the industrial complex owned by Alberton
Technologies, located in Rockville. After scanning her pass key to open the
gate she discovered the place to be deserted! A tour of the parking lot confirmed
it – not one vehicle. Richard closed the place down? What about the other
executives, the workers, the techs? They all had their lives wrapped up in the
company! Heartache took hold of her as she let herself into the main building.

Lexi
shivered from the haunted feel of the quiet, empty lobby, and scenes from
Chernobyl flashed through her head. Desolate and spooky, she half expected
zombies to emerge from the shadows. Upon pressing the button to call the
elevator, she realized that the electricity had been shut off – another reason
for the goose bumps on her arms – no heat. She had never seen the place so
deserted; there were always workers in the building no matter the hour. In
order to get to her father’s office she would have to climb the stairs to the
upper levels. Although, the lobby was flooded with light from the floor to
ceiling windows, Lexi didn’t relish stumbling her way up a pitch-black
staircase. She opened the door to be sure, but as she’d suspected, the
batteries were drained on the emergency lights.

“Son
of a …” before she could continue the sentence out loud, Lexi channeled her
mother’s stern chastisement about her language. Besides, it didn’t sit right to
tarnish her deceased grandmother’s character for the actions of her corrupt
son. Instead, Lexi turned her brain onto a more productive track. The security
desk should have flashlights – that is if her uncle hadn’t found a buyer for
them, she thought wryly.

With
flashlight in hand, and a spare strapped to her belt loop, Lexi started the
long eerie climb to the top floor. Each footstep seemed to be further magnified
as it echoed throughout the silent stairwell, and with each one her anger
toward Richard intensified. Determination drove her to collect as much
information as she could from her father’s office safe and then return home and
begin plans to reopen the plant. Even though she was curious about the
warehouse and the manufacturing floor, she knew it would have to wait until she
could restore power to the complex.

Alex
Alberton’s office was dark, with only a few brave slits of light sneaking in
through the closed blinds. Lexi stumbled over unfamiliar objects of furniture,
before arriving at the corner containing the rod to open the floor to ceiling
venetian blinds. The light revealed that the room had been ransacked, thus the
misplaced tables and cabinets; all having been shoved aside in order to remove her
father’s imported hand-carved oak desk.
Oh, Dad…
tears welled in her
eyes with the memories of the big man sitting behind that beautiful piece of
furniture. It was just more fuel added to her already simmering anger! Pulling
her eyes from the empty spot, Lexi turned her attention to the shelving that
hid the safe.

Her
eyes met splintered wood where the bookshelf had been. Lexi couldn’t believe
the audacity – a child could have found the latch which released the shelving
from the wall! Instead, it appeared a hatchet had been taken to the unit. Books
and picture frames were scattered haphazardly on the floor where they had been carelessly
swept from the shelf. The safe was revealed, vulnerable to all who entered the
room – and it was obvious that it had resisted a significant amount of torture in
an attempt to protect its secrets. Stepping up to the plate, Lexi dialed in the
combination, praying that the damage would not hinder the vault from opening.

She
didn’t have to guess the combination or read it from a scrap of paper. No, Lexi
knew the code by heart, for it was the date her parents first found out they
were expecting her. They had tried for years to start a family, and it was late
in life when the miracle finally happened. The story had been told to her a thousand
times. They named her Alexiah, not just after her father, but because in Latin
it means angel from the heavens above.

The
lock released, opening a panel with a retinal eye scanner. Apparently it was
equipped with a backup battery because when Lexi leaned in for the scan she
heard the electronic approval to continue. Taking a step back, she turned the
latch and pulled the door open. The vault resembled a large pantry, with
shelves on three sides. There was room to take a small step inside, but not far
enough that the door could close and lock her in.

Lexi
took a quick sweep with the flashlight and released the breath she hadn’t been
aware of holding – it appeared the vault had not been breached. She knew
exactly what to look for, her father had shown her where he placed the most
valuable information should anything catastrophic happen to the business.
Pointing the light to her right, the beam disclosed the leather pouch to be
exactly where it was supposed to be. She unzipped the wallet to confirm that
the flash drives were still intact, before closing it again and securing it in
her pocket. A large envelope fell from its precarious spot behind the hole the
pouch had made when it was removed. Lexi reached down to pick it up from the
floor and found her name written on it in her father’s handwriting. She was
about to open it when she heard the loud echo of a door slamming shut! Lexi
froze on the spot – listening.

Perhaps
it was just one of the stairwell doors she’d opened that hadn’t closed all the
way. Whatever the answer, the building was creeping her out and she decided now
would be a perfect time to leave. She had what she came for. Tucking the
envelope in her jacket, Lexi quietly closed and secured the safe. That’s when
she heard a thump, followed by what sounded like a muffled curse.
Crap!
She was going to have to take a different route out of there! Luckily, there
was another set of stairs which led to the warehouse and of course from there,
several exits to choose from. She just had to get to it without being detected.

Taking
off her shoes, Lexi quietly made her way through an adjoining door to the
assistant’s office, softly closing it behind her. She had to turn on the
flashlight in order to make her way through the smaller office to the outer exit.
Switching it off, she opened the door a crack and peered into the dark hall. The
back stairwell was connected to a tiny kitchenette across the hall.
Well,
here goes nothing!
Lexi drew in a deep breath and slipped out the door,
remembering to turn the knob to assure it closed quietly. It seemed to take a
lifetime and she couldn’t help feeling exposed, even in the pitch black hallway.
Finally, making it safely into the stairwell, Lexi paused to listen, before
beginning her descend to the warehouse. The only sound she could hear was her own
rapid heartbeat.

Outside,
as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight, Lexi felt foolish. From her vantage
point, the only car in front of the building was hers and there was no sign of
a break in. The sounds she heard were probably from a rodent’s movements,
perhaps knocking over a mop or a broom in the housekeeper’s closet. Her fear was
just residual from her previous abduction and the ghostly atmosphere of an
empty building. She told herself to get a grip, as she slid behind the wheel
and started the ignition. There was no way she was going to live the rest of
her life afraid of every shadow!

Lexi
rounded the parking lot, again noticing that there were no other vehicles, and
stopped in front of the gate. As she patiently waited for it to open, she felt the
hair on the back of her neck tingle. Lexi’s eyes slid to the side mirror which
just happened to reflect back a perfectly framed view of her father’s office.
She’d neglected to close the blinds before leaving. A chill climbed up her
spine as her eyes captured a movement in the window and then focused on the silhouette
of a man gazing out at her!