Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Her phone buzzed again in her hand as she walked out to her office. She glanced down.
Rule Two: Honesty.
Lord help her.
She was in trouble here. She made her way down to the ground level. Steven wanted to pick her up in the garage, but she found it creepy down there. As she exited the elevator, she waved goodbye to Fred, the security guard.
“Working late tonight, Miss Faith?”
“Just a bit, Fred,” she said back. She stepped out of the doors and looked for Steven. Shoot. He might have had to circle the block.
A shiver wracked her body. She really needed to get a jacket. Someone strode up the steps, nearly plowing into her.
“Oh shit, I’m so sorry,” a masculine voice said.
“Uh, no, it’s fine.” It wasn’t really, but she’d been raised to be polite at all times. Even when someone nearly knocked her over.
“Do you work here?” he asked.
“Uh, yes.” Did he?
He seemed a bit rough, with long hair and tattoos up his arms and neck.
Don’t judge a book by its cover, Faith.
“Oh good. I was just looking for Charteris Accountants,” he said.
Huh. He didn’t look like he needed an accountant.
Wow. Judgy much, Faith?
“Oh, I think they’re closed now. You can’t get into the building after five-thirty unless you have an appointment.”
He smiled, but it didn’t seem genuine. “I missed my appointment time.”
“Right. Probably best to call and make another time,” she suggested.
“You’re so right. Do you work for them?”
“Um, no.” She shifted her weight around. A weird feeling developed.
“I’ll do what you said, then. Thanks.” He glanced up at the building. “Do you know if there’s a lawyer’s office here, too? The guy I was meant to see at Charteris Accountants said there was, but I’ve forgotten the name.”
Was there any harm in telling him?
“There is, but he only takes on some clients,” she said cautiously. “You can get your accountant to call him.”
His gaze narrowed down at her. Then he smiled again. Something off about all this, but she couldn’t figure it out.
“Sure. I’ll do that. Have a nice night.” He strode off as Steven pulled up.
So weird.
25
Rule Three: Respect
Faith: How is your sister? Is she all right?
She tapped her fingers on her desk. For some reason, she felt anxious today. It was hard to concentrate. Last night, she’d texted Reuben when she’d arrived home.
He’d replied with a text telling her to go to bed. She’d obeyed. But only because she was tired.
Not because she was doing what he told her.
Ha. Who are you kidding?
Rule three had been waiting on her phone when she woke up. Respect? Did that mean that he wanted her to respect him? Did it go both ways? Did he respect her or just want her?
Now she had all these doubts whirling in her stomach. It didn’t help that it was now mid-afternoon, and she hadn’t heard from him since.
Which is why she’d sent the text. And now she kind of wished that she hadn’t.
She glanced up as the elevator doors opened, putting a polite smile on her face. They didn’t have any clients due since she’d moved all their appointments.
So she wasn’t sure who this could be. And she still felt somewhat uncertain after her encounter with that guy last night. Perhaps she should go down and talk to the accountants on level ten. But she was likely overreacting.
Then she tensed as a large, tattooed man with short dark hair stepped in and looked around as though searching out threats. Then a gorgeous, dark-haired woman strode into her office like she owned it.
There was a broad smile on her face as she walked over to Faith.
Clearly, the guy was a bodyguard.
And she knew who the woman was.
“You’re Catarina De Leon,” she whispered. She felt like she couldn’t speak out loud. She was awed.
This woman . . . she was stunning. Faith was convinced that when she walked into a room, she garnered everyone’s attention.
Faith had seen her photo once in the tabloids. There were a lot of rumors about her husband. Particularly that he was a criminal kingpin.
And she could believe it.
Alejandro De Leon was a dangerous-looking man. Reuben worked for Alejandro and she’d meet him once when he’d come into the office after hours. Reuben had quickly sent her home.
Alejandro hadn’t really looked at her, hadn’t said anything to her, but there was just this feeling of . . . danger.
So far, she’d only seen legitimate dealings, but that didn’t mean anything.
The other woman grinned down at her. “You know who I am?”
“Oh, um, yes.” Her heart raced with nerves.
“Good. That makes this easier.” Mrs. De Leon plopped into the seat by the desk.
Faith glanced over at the big man nervously. Was he just going to stand there?
“Oh, sorry. Ms. Blossom, this is Rafael. He’s supposed to be my bodyguard, but he’s more like a huge pain in my ass.”