Asherchuckled, released my arm, and headed for the bar.
I continued to watch the spectacle that the power couple’s presence guaranteed. People flocked around Victoria, waiting for a chance to kiss her liposuctioned ass.
“Dylan, right?” someone asked.
I tore my gaze away from the Allens to nod at the gorgeous blonde addressing me. Her makeup was flawless, her hair was perfect, her blue eyes werealmost as intense as Asher’s, and the red gown she wore rivaled Addison’s... almost.
“Yes.” I had no clue who she was. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“No, no. You wouldn’t. I work with Ash. I’m Tori.”
She paused, as if waiting for me to recognize the name and fall at her feet worshipping her, but I didn’t. I did, however, catch the familiar way she talked about Asher.
“Great. It’s good tomeet you,” I said, hoping my smile looked authentic while I died a little inside. Asher worked with this bombshell? Ugh. I looked over my shoulder for him, beyond ready for that drink he’d promised me. He stood beside the bar with a glass in each hand, talking to another suit I didn’t recognize.
“Tori, how great to see you, darling,” Victoria gushed, joining us. “You look absolutely stunning.”
The two embraced.
Tori pulled away. “Thank you so much for the designer recommendation, Victoria. You really do know your gowns.”
“And jewelry, and cars, and anything else that drains my bank accounts,” Bruce said, swooping in to kiss Tori’s hand. “You do look lovely, my dear.”
I was beginning to think I’d disappeared when Tori decided to draw attention to me. “And Dylan’s here. With Asher.Did you know that?”
Anger flashed in Victoria’s eyes before she turned her fake-surprised smile on me. “Dylan? Oh, honey, I barely recognized you. They cleaned you up so well.”
Victoria’s ability to home in on my insecurities and throw them in my face was uncanny. Her insinuation that I couldn’t clean myself up—even though it was true—made me feel like a pet freshly back from the groomers. “Thankyou.” I managed to bite back the many retorts piling up on my tongue and forced a smile. “You look lovely as always, Mrs. Allen. Hello Mr. Allen. Tori, if you’ll excuse me, I need...” I needed a drink and a knife with which to stab her. But I was already on trial for murder and Asher was still being detained by the bar, so I had to settle for an escape route. “To powder my nose.”
Victoria’s smileturned even more condescending, Tori stepped back, and I didn’t stick around for Bruce’s reaction. I hightailed it out of there (only slightly wobbling on my heels) and headed for the exit. I wasn’t looking to escape, I just needed some fresh air, then I’d be able to face the Wicked Witch of the West once more. I’d almost made it outside when a man called my name.
I looked around, not wantingto be rude, but hoping I’d misheard so I could flee. No such luck. I recognized the man beckoning me to him... Randal White, the boss I’d gone over Kirk’s head and spoken to about the inconsistency in the spreadsheet. I’d always liked Randal. He was a big man with a kind face, a warm smile, and an infectious laugh, but I didn’t know what role he’d played in my firing or whether or not he believedI killed Kirk. His smile told me he wasn’t angry, though. Curious about how well he knew the security guard who attacked me, I approached him.
“Hello, Mr. White. How are you?” I asked.
“Me? How are you? So much has changed since the last time we chatted. I had no idea Kirk fired you, Dylan. We are supposed to have an open-door policy, and the fact that he fired you for coming to me... wellthat was unacceptable. Walk with me a second?”
I glanced around, unable to see Asher. He was probably still at the bar, talking. Intending to find him as soon as Mr. White and I were done, I took the arm he offered and we headed down the hall away from the crowd.
“I didn’t find out about the firing until it was too late. I never would have stood for that.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling strangelyvindicated and wondering what Mr. White knew of Kirk’s sleazeball ways.
“And I heard about that incident in Safeway. You’re lucky to be alive. That must have been terrifying for you.”
So terrifying I still didn’t like to talk about it. “But I survived.”
“Brave girl.” He patted my hand. “Detective Parker said you ID’d Nicolai Barinov as the attacker. I can’t help but feel responsible, but pleasebelieve me, Mr. Barinov had no prior record of violence or we never would have hired him. You know, firsthand, how stringent our screening process is.”
I nodded. “Have you heard from him?”
“No. We’re cooperating with the police to find him, but he hasn’t shown up to work since the incident. I’m sure they’ll find him soon, though.”
We were almost to the end of the hall, and since Mr. Whiteclearly didn’t have any information for me, I needed to get back to Asher and his fiendish parents. “Thank you for the talk, Mr. White, but I’m here with a date and I don’t want to seem rude by disappearing for too long.”
I turned to make my escape, but he grabbed my arm. “That’s too bad, my dear, because I require your presence for a little longer.”
He put a big meaty hand over my mouth andtucked me under his arm. I kicked and writhed, but his strong arms held fast. He backed me into a room and shut the door. When he turned me around, Nicolai Barinov and one of the other building guards leveled their guns at me.
