Leonard pushed through the swinging gate and dumped a half-dozen files on the table. “I’m sorry—door A or B?”
The judge rolled his eyes and shifted his focus back to me. “You’re probably the smarter of the two at that table anyway, Mr. Langston, so I’ll explain it to you. Walk through door A, and you get an all-expense-paid, seven-year vacation at the lovely Riker’s Island, compliments ofthe hardworking people of the state of New York. Walk through door B, and you get a four-year travel tour that kicks off at the lovely Parris Island in South Carolina and could end with you having a fighting chance in life.”
“Parris Island? Is that a jail?”
“No, Mr. Langston. It’s Marines boot camp.”
CHAPTER 8
Sutton
The following morning, I arrived at Apex early and dropped my stuff at my desk before heading to the breakroom for some much-needed caffeine. Jack Gallo was again inside. My footsteps stuttered, but the clickity-clack of my heels made him turn.
He smiled. “Good morning.”
“Hey.” I forced a smile—not surewhyit had to be forced. Jack was a nice-enough guy. “Came up for the good stuff again, huh?”
He poured a drop of cream into his mug and lifted it to his lips. “I forgot how much better it is than the crap I buy on the street. How was your first day?”
“Good. Though I was introduced to so many people, I’m not sure I remember any of their names.”
He smiled and patted his chest. “I’m Jack.”
I chuckled. “I remember yours.”
He stepped away from the big espresso maker to make room for me, but leaned a hip against the counter,not going anywhere soon. “I was disappointed that we didn’t get matched together.”
I nodded. “We have a few things in common, so I thought it was a possibility.”
He sipped his coffee. “You would’ve been better off with anyone than the match you got.”
“Oh? Is Jagger not a good mentor?”
He shrugged. “He’s just difficult overall. He’s arrogant and thinks he knows better than everyone. The guy has an expensive management team in place to advise him, yet he does whatever the hell he wants.”
I felt oddly defensive. “Considering he made the Forbes Top 100 CEO list and is worth more than most of the Kardashians and Jenners, it sounds like whatever he wants must work pretty well.”
“I guess.” Jack shrugged. “I just hope he makes time for you. I know I would’ve.”
I finished making my morning cappuccino, feeling ready to end this conversation, but Jack walked out of the breakroom with me and followed me to my cubicle.
“Are you going downstairs for the morning management briefing?” he asked.
I nodded. “They said it was optional, but it sounds interesting. That’s why I came in early.”
Every day, Apex held a fifteen-minute management briefing on the tenth floor, though it was open to anyone. It had been described during yesterday’s orientation as themorning news—with highlights and a few stories getting a deeper dive—but of course all the news was Apex related. I thought it was a cool idea, a way to get staff at all levels invested in everything going on across all the different lines of business.
Jack lifted his chin to the cubicle next to mine, where his assigned intern sat—or would sit, when he got here. “Guess you’re the only one who thinks it’s interesting.”
I smiled but wasn’t about to badmouth my peers. Tucking my purse into the drawer, I picked up a pen and notebook. “Do you attend the morning meeting every day?”
“Not usually. I go to the gym in the morning, so I don’t generally get here until closer to eight.” He put a hand out for me to walk first. “But I’m going to make an effort to get here now.”
I didn’t ask why as we headed for the elevator. Jack pressed the button, and a few seconds later the doors slid open. There was only one occupant inside the car,Jagger Langston.
My pulse sped up. He was looking down at his cell, but when his head lifted and he saw me, a slow grin curved his lips. Though when his eyes shifted to the man standing next to me, that grin flattened to more of a grim line.
“Morning, boss.” Jack put his hand on my back, guiding me to enter. It was innocent enough, but the way Jagger’s eyes seized on it made it feel anything but. Tension radiated from the boss, filling the car as we stepped in. I smiled, but he just offered a curt nod and went back to his phone. It wasn’t hard to figure out why Jack had said what he’d said about him earlier.
