CHAPTER 25
MELANIE
ENGTH OF THE THICK SHARD OF GLASS INTO JORDAN’S GREEN I STARED DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE THICK SHARD OF GLASS INTO,
eyes which currently held a storm ready to be unleashed, almost bored with the situation. I’m pretty certain I’ve gotten more than the average person’s share of life threats in one lifetime. Then again, I’m no average person.
“It’s really hard to tell, but I think- and this is just guesswork, mind you- that you think I have something to do with this” I drawled sarcastically.
“What else am I supposed to think? You’ve been pretty happy with your situation, little to no complaints whatsoever-”
“A sinuation you forced me into, don’t forget” I cut in.
“Sitting pretty in my office, taking packed lunches from my housekeeper-”
“Are you seriously still upset about that!”
“Using my gym-”
“I apologized and left, didn’t
“Interrupt me one more time, and I’ll slice your pretty throat in ribbons,” he said quietly. Wisely, I shut my mouth; he looked like he might mean it. All the same, the fact that he thought I was behind this whole fiasco was absurd and a little upsetting. I’d given him no reason whatsoever to think that.
Well, apart from withholding information about the attack last week, but that was a completely unrelated matter.
Yet another reason to make Cadell die slowly and painfully; he’d risked my life over a few pretty stones. It was an insult to my integrity
I’d always imagined that if I were ever caught, it would be with something worth a shit ton of money. But here I was, bound to an infuriatingly handsome man who was currently holding a weapon to my throat, all because of a few hundred dollars
“Look. I haven’t been out of your sight for a second. Or Blaine’s. Or any other person who works for you, so how am 1 supposed to engineer a whole other heist.
I’m smart, but not that smart. Also, I don’t have any connections here or in Switzerland. You’re looking at the wrong guy” I shrugged, careful to not let the glass nick me.
“Um” came the squeak from the condom guy, who I’d almost forgotten was there. He was watching the scene with fascination, and shrunk back when three of us leveled gazes at him, seeming to change his mind about whatever he’d planned to say.
“Speak” Jordan ordered, lowering his weapon. I took an unconscious step toward Blaine and folded my arms.
“Are you okay?” Blaine whispered, laying a hand on my shoulder. I forced a smile and nodded in answer.
“I was going to say, I could help. I know a couple of jewelers in Switzerland and I could make some calls. If it has turned up, we’ll know” he said
I tilted my head, thinking. It could work, but then he’d just be covering only one of the bases.
“Do that, but there are other ways jewels could disappear” I said, turning to Jordan.
“You have contacts everywhere. You should put people out on the black market; it is more likely that whoever stole it would try to sell it under the table without leaving a paper trail, if they choose to sell it, that is.
Additionally, you got it out of a Swiss safe right? See if you can get hold of the handler. If the jewels were swapped out there, Im sure he’ll have some pretty interesting things to say.” I concluded.
“And since when do you give the orders around here?” he asked.
Instead of rolling my eyes like I wanted, I matched his stare for a cold stare.
“What do you care more about, recovering your precious diamonds? Or on whose advice they are recovered?” I asked drily.
He said nothing for a few minutes then turned his back on rue and whipped out his phone, punching in numbers with
CHAPTER 25
restrained aggression. Poor phone. Taking it as my cue to leave, I walked out the door with Blaine close behind me.
“Hey, Mel. I’m sorry about that. Jordan doesn’t trust a lot of people”
“Least of all me, and why should he? I completely understand” I interrupted, forcing a smile.
He put a hand on my arm and stared into my eyes, “You should know, I never believed for a second that it was you” he said with a serious expression.
The smile 1 gave him this time was more gemine “Thanks, Blaine,”
The sound of a throat being cleared drew our attention and we turned to see Steven staring angrily.
“In case you’ve forgotten. I’m still here.”
I rolled my eyes “Yes yes your complaint has been registered and blah blah. Go away”.
I was beginning to get a headache. Steven stood up and drew himself up to his full 5 feet 6 inches.
“You, young lady, are very rude.” He took a step towards me and I held his gaze, daring him to try something.
Blaine steps between us, “You heard her. You’ll get a response to your complaint in 3-5 business days. Have a nice day“, his polite tone held a subtle threat.
Steven stood there a moment, then turned on his heel muttering unintelligible things. As soon as the elevator doors closed behind him, Blaine turned to face me.
kto
“I have to get back to work. I’ll see you later?” I nodded and he shot me a smile before walking away.
Heaving a deep sigh I dropped into my chair and checked the time. It was barely noon but I was about ready to tap out for the day. The phone rang and I groaned before picking up.
“Sunset Corporations how may I help you?” I said calmly.
“Aw, my little rug rat sounds so professional”
My hand tightened on the receiver “Fuck off, Cadell”
“Is that any way to talk to your benefactor?”
“Perhaps I would be more polite if you hadn’t tried to kill me.” I said the last part in a whisper, glancing back at Jordan’s door which was still closed. The last thing I needed was for him to get proof there were things he didn’t know.
“Relax, they weren’t going to kill you.”
“Oh yes they certainly seemed friendly when one of them swung a bat at my head” I hissed.
He laughed “I gave you two days, Melanie. You didn’t deliver.”
It was my turn to laugh, a disbelieving one.
“You sent assassins to me the same day you gave that ultimatum, and you really expected me to still come to you?” I briefly considered stealing the fake ones and presenting them to him. It would be really interesting to see the look on his face when he realized what they really were.
“Like I said, they weren’t going to kill you. They were just going to shake you up a little, and remind you what could happen if you failed. Which you did.”
I leaned back in my seat as I examined my nails, a new wave of confidence washing over me “I presume you got the message about what happened to your men. I’m not your lapdog anymore, Cadell Go to hell.”
I couldn’t believe I’d lived in fear of someone who was dumb enough to go after fake jewels.
“Listen, you stupid“, he cut off and went silent for a while as if listening to something. When he came back his voice was
“Turns out you’re worthless to me now, and you know what happens when I have no use for people. I suggest you watch your back
With that, he hung up.
CHAPTER 20
