“You got any ID?”I raise an eyebrow at her, and she nods as she reaches in her jeans and takes out a driver’s license.I look it over to make sure she’s who she says she is and that she’s old enough to not need a guardian.“This is a fancy address,” I tell her as I hand it back.
“It’s not mine.Just where I used to stay.”
I don’t push for more info but instead think about how I can help her.That nagging feeling inside me to watch over her and keep her safe is squeezing my heart as I look her up and down.
“Are you any good with computers?Scheduling and emails?Shit like that?”I ask, and she nods.“All right then, I need an office girl.You can start tomorrow.”
“What about now?”she asks as she glances around my desk and then over to the couch.I can’t help but wonder if she’s thinking about crashing on it.
“There’s a fight happening out there, and it’s best that you don’t know anything about it.”
“Why?”
“Plausible deniability,” I say, then cock my head to the side and assess her.“Being my office girl means keeping my secrets and following my rules.Can you do that, little mouse?”
“Mouse?”She scrunches her nose up when she says it, and goddamn, it’s cute as hell.
“You’re the one running around hiding,” I say as I push off my desk and go around to grab my jacket.“You can crash here in my office tonight.I’ll lock up after the fight and make sure no one messes with you.”
“Thank you.”She hesitates as she looks up at me with those big blue eyes.“What do I call you?”
“Most everyone around here calls me boss,” I say as I think it over for a second.“But you can call me Maverick.”
“Thank you, Maverick,” she says, and I like the sound of her saying my name.
“Tomorrow we can figure out something more permanent with the sleeping situation.Okay?”She nods as I go to the door and pause.“There’s food in the fridge next to my desk and a private bathroom through that door behind you.My cell phone number is on my card, and you can call me from my desk phone.”I nod to the crowd outside.“Don’t come out of this office tonight.Understand?”
“Got it,” she agrees.
“See you in the morning, little mouse.”
“Goodnight, Maverick.”
CHAPTERFIVE
JULIET
Ishould lie down and go to sleep, but I want to peek around.I know I shouldn’t because Maverick is helping me, and being nosy is no way to repay his kindness.But I’m not tired.I was until I got caught in the bathroom, and since then, the adrenaline won’t let me sit still.Now I’m wide awake and wondering why this man is helping me.Besides, would it count as being nosy if I’m the new office girl?
My eyes linger on the fridge, and I decide that’s a safe bet.He told me to help myself, so I might as well.When I open it, I find a gold mine of meats, cheeses, and fruit.Before I know it, I’ve eaten way too much, and guilt quickly follows.He told me to eat something, not everything.
Grabbing a pen off his desk, I find a piece of paper and write down everything that I ate.This way I can pay him back with my first check.Once that’s done, I glance at his computer.Maybe I could check my emails.He said he’d give me a job, but you can never be too sure.Having a back-up would be nice, and I also sent out a few emails to people who have rooms for rent.
I wish there was a way I could check if there’s a warrant out for my arrest.I might be a wanted fugitive, which means Maverick can’t hire me.He’s hosting an illegal fight, and although I have no idea what that entails, I know he wanted me away from it.
The computer prompts me for a password when I hit the keyboard, so that’s no use to me.I’m thinking about what to do next when I hear a noise.It’s slight and muffled, but I sneak over to the door and press my ear against it.I’m sure it’s the fight, but I’m curious.
“Don’t do it,” I whisper to myself as I reach for the doorknob.I know I’m not supposed to go out there, but I can’t seem to stop myself.Only when I turn it, nothing happens.“What the hell?”
I try harder, but the knob doesn’t twist at all.Maverick locked me in here?A rush of panic fills me again, and I go back to his desk to find the phone.Not to call for help but to have a semblance of a way out of here.I put the phone to my ear, but I can’t hear the dial tone.I start clicking different numbers, but nothing works.I’m trying not to panic, and I take a deep breath.This is no different than when I was locked in the girls’ locker room before.This space is smaller, and it’s taking me back to when my stepmother would lock me in my bedroom for days on end.
One time she completely forgot about me.I didn’t have much food in my room, but I did have a bathroom.Since then, it’s given me a fear of being trapped in small spaces without anyone knowing where I am.When I’ve stayed here before, it felt safer because it was the whole gym.I knew it would open for business and people would arrive.Maverick could keep me in his office forever, and no one would ever know.
I rush over to the thick curtains that cover the large windows and yank them back.I search for a way to open the window, but I don’t see one.We’re a few floors up, but I could use a chair to break a window if I had to.I won’t, at least not yet.
Maverick will come back.He sounded so sincere and maybe a little annoyed.He’s not going to want to keep me around his office forever.I’m sure women fall all over him.He doesn’t have to lock a woman in his office.They probably lock themselves in.He owns a nice gym and is freaking hot.A level of hot I didn’t know existed until he was standing over me glowering.
Taking a deep breath, I go back to the couch and sit down.I pull my knees to my chest before resting my chin on them and willing myself to relax.This is a safe place for the night, and I should get some rest while I can.
