Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55765 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55765 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“Keep trying,” I tell him.
Jean-Luc flinches, his long, black hair shifting around his sharp-featured face. “I believe it is unbreakable,” he says.
“I don’t need you to believe. I need to be certain. Nothing like this can ever happen again.”
I leave the office, my assistant trailing after me, listing off a bunch of meetings. I’ve handled leaving Maci and trying to forget her by working long hours. Not that I’ve got much choice. With Sebastian gone, I’ve got double the workload. I last heard from him last night, a text which read, Hope you’re not going too crazy, Luke. I’m sorry for leaving you in the lurch.
If he were sorry, he’d return to work, which is why I think something else is happening.
A regret hits me as I ride the elevator to the top floor. I was rude to Jean-Luc. I’m not usually like that with my staff. Sure, I’ve got excuses: the stress of the VR situation, the company’s plummeting value, Maci, but that doesn’t make it okay.
Gabriel Walker is waiting for me in my office. He’s a sinewy man, around my age, with a shaved head and rugged features. When I enter, he has his hands behind his back, making me wonder if he’s been standing like that the entire time. He’s ex-Special Forces, and now he’s the East Coast’s most sought-after private detective.
“Mr. Larson,” he says, offering his hand.
“Call me Lukas,” I tell him.
He nods. “Call me Gabriel.”
“I hope you don’t mind me asking you to sneak into my office,” I say, walking around to my chair.
“I understand,” he replies, taking the opposite chair when I gesture. “I’m accustomed to being discrete.”
I lean forward, wondering if I’m crossing a line. It seems to be all I do lately. “I need you to find the location of my business partner.”
Gabriel doesn’t show any shock or surprise of any kind. He just nods and takes out a notepad. “When was the last time you saw him?”
I tell him about the standoff in the office, deciding to include all the details, such as me rushing into the social-media live and Sebastian throwing the chair, just in case they’re somehow relevant.
“Could I have access to your text exchanges?” he says.
“Yes,” I reply.
“And you’d prefer to keep this quiet? You don’t want me questioning his family and friends as though he’s a missing person?”
“He texted me last night,” I say, “but he won’t tell me where he is. He’s been acting strange. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I can’t shake the feeling something’s very, very wrong with him. Maybe he’s being blackmailed or something? I don’t know.”
“Paranoia is underrated,” Gabriel says. “When you’ve seen the things I have, you learn that fast.”
“Keep his friends out of it for now,” I murmur, remembering what Sebastian said about not having a family. “I don’t care if he wants to take a long holiday. He’s earned it. I just want to make sure my friend is okay.”
“I understand,” Gabriel says. “I can handle this, no problem. I’ll keep you updated.”
After shaking his hand, I lead him to the private elevator that will take him directly into the underground parking lot. Returning to my office, I work until my assistant buzzes through on the intercom.
“Uh, sir,” he says.
“Yes?”
“There’s a young man here to see you. He says he’s a friend of your daughter’s. Ethan Smith. He said you’ll know who he is.”
A smile touches my lips, a rare one this past week. All Kayla has been talking about is Ethan-this and Ethan-that. They’ve been speaking almost nonstop on the phone and via text, and I heard from my security that, when I left, Ethan visited Kayla again.
“Sure, let him in,” I reply.
A few minutes later, Ethan walks into the office wearing a shirt and tie tucked into black pants. His shoes are a little scuffed, but he’s made an effort, and that’s what counts.
“Thanks for seeing me, sir,” he says.
I stand, shaking his hand. “No problem.”
“This is, ah… May I sit?”
I gesture at the chair, dropping into my own. With all the guilt about Maci eating me up, it’s refreshing to know Kayla has something warm in her life that will put a smile on her face.
“This is awkward,” Ethan says, leaning forward and staring at me directly. Something in the kid changes. Suddenly, I know I misjudged him. It’s in his eyes. They shift subtly in a way I can’t describe exactly, but it’s an undeniable alteration. “I’d like ten million dollars, sir.”
I curl my hand into a fist. I can’t believe I misjudged him so badly. “Or you’ll break Kayla’s heart, is that it?” I growl. “You little shit. If you’re the sort of person to do this, I don’t want you anywhere near my daughter, anyway.”
He sighs. “I’m afraid it’s worse than that, sir.”
“Drop the sir crap,” I tell him.