“Yes.”My sigh was terse, and Caroline’s breathing accelerated at its resonance.All those weeks of training her meant she’d become attuned to my moods.She understood my body language better than anyone.“I’m sure if you can’t help, your manager can.”
He couldn’t have been older than twenty-five.Hell, I’d had younger guys ready to lay down their lives for me back home.
“Please be assured, I can best assist you, Mr...”Anton paused, waiting for me to offer my name.
“You don’t need my name.”I stared at his faltering expression.“I know my account number, and I believe your vaults use retina-scan technology for digital identity authorization.”
“Yes, indeed, sir.”The fool seemed surprised at my knowledge, as if I shouldn’t have known about the security provision at the bank I’d chosen to host my most important possessions.“Please follow me.”
He turned on his heel, and I headed after him, pulling Caroline along at my side as he led us past the counters to a shiny chrome elevator.
“We’ll need to travel down to the vaults, sir.”He paused to press the relevant button.“There, you’ll need to answer a few more questions.Can I offer you both a drink while you get access to the vault?”
“Access?”My tone was increasingly incredulous.I wasn’t used to having to justify myself, and the idea of jumping through hoops to retrieve my own things was exasperating.“I trusted your bank to look after my private property, and I don’t expect to be blocked from that pursuit at every possible turn.”
“Of course not, sir.”The clerk shifted his weight, looking uncomfortable for the first time since he’d offered to help me.“I only meant that—”
“I’d like tea,” Caroline interjected with a guilty smile.“Sorry to interrupt, but you did offer us a drink.”
“Certainly,” the clerk replied.“Let me arrange that while you travel down to the vaults.My colleague, Claude, will be there to help you.”
I glanced her way as the elevator doors slid open, steering her inside the mirrored cubicle.
“Very clever, little girl,” I mumbled as the doors closed, finally ridding me of Anton’s smug expression.
“I don’t know what you mean, Sir.”Her eyebrow arched as, smiling, she met my eyes.
“Your little distraction technique.”Drawing her closer, I ran my fingers through her hair as the elevator lurched into life.
“I like tea.”Her lips curled.“And it’s been a long time since I was allowed any.”
“True.”Caffeine was the least of the things the new order had deprived her of.“But I can’t help thinking there was an ulterior motive.”
“I just sensed you were getting irate.”She reached her arms around my neck, clinging to me as we descended.“You’re not in charge of everyone you meet anymore, Sir.”
“Shrewd of you to notice.”I chuckled, knowing she was right.
After so many years in authority, I’d developed something of a God complex.Life in thereal worldwas going to take some getting used to.
“Just relax, Sir.”Her tone was imploring.“You’re going to get what you want.You always get what you want.”
Grazing my lips over her mouth, my fingers tightened in her tresses.“Thank you for your advice, little girl.”
My tone was sardonic, but I might actually have meant the words.Life was going to be a lot smoother with Caroline by my side.
I released her as the doors slid open to reveal another man with his palm outstretched and waiting.
“Willkommen, willkommen.”He ushered us into the space beside him as he grasped my hand.“Ich bin Claude.You are here about your deposit box, sir?”
“That’s right.”
I preferred Claude immediately, his maturity assuring me that we were finally in good hands.There was no judgment in his eyes, and he oozed a sense of professionalism that Anton had badly lacked.
“And you know your account number, sir?”
“I do.”
Wrapping a protective arm around Caroline, I guided her into the carpeted lobby.We might have been a hundred feet below street level, but the plush interior surrounding the bank’s vaults was more upscale than anything I’d seen in the chic entrance.
