I toss my eyes and Simeon surprises me by gripping my face, turning it to his and whispering, “Remain on your guard, Alice. Remember, this is the first place your enemies would think to find you. Do not trust anyone, no matter how innocent they may act. There is a lot at stake here and you have everything to lose.”
Tears fill my eyes because what’s new. I’ve always lost because of who I am. My only crime being that I was born into two powerful dynasties. I’m a commodity, a by-product of corruption, and somewhere in the middle of all of this, the person I am searching for the most is the woman inside me.
I must find out who I am.
Not the daughter or granddaughter of two billionaires. I am a person, not a commodity, and nothing that has happened sinceI left the convent has changed my direction. I am the most important person in my life, and every action has consequences. For me, my future and my future decisions, and I will not play with that in a game of do or die.
I keep my mouth shut because Simeon doesn’t really need to know my thoughts. He demands everything else, but I’m protecting the most important part of me.
My soul.
CHAPTER 21
SIMEON
I’m on edge. This will be a test we may not pass, and I’m on alert as I scan the building, hoping my men are doing what I pay them for. Securing our safety.
A smart woman heads our way, and I hate that she addresses Alice in French. As they speak in the unfamiliar language, I push down my frustration.
Alice stands, and I catch her hand and pull her down to my level, whispering, “Where are you going?”
“Ingrid told me that I can use her office to call my grandfather.”
I make to stand, and Alice shakes her head. “She told me I must come alone because, no offense, but they don’t allow guns in here.”
She nods toward my jacket where my revolver always rests, and I note the security screening set up as the workers pass through the Xray machines, security standing on guard to search them.
“Then you will make the call here.”
“No, Simeon.”
Her eyes flash. “This is my call, not yours. Ingrid isn’t the enemy, not even close, so you will be perfectly okay here while I head off to make it.”
“No,” I shake my head. “I’m coming with you, or we leave.”
Ingrid is watching the scene with a reassuring smile and steps forward.
“This won’t take long, sir. May I organize refreshments for you while you wait?”
“No.” I stand, gripping Alice’s hand tightly. “I will escort Miss Zaferelli and that is the end of the matter.”
Ingrid nods and inclines her head toward the security entrance.
“Come. It’s not far.”
I swear every motherfucking machine screams in alarm as I pass through it, and one glare from me and my men silences the guards who instantly decide it’s way above their pay grade to challenge me.
As we step into the elevator, Ingrid appears unconcerned as two of my guards crowd in with us and two more settle at the foot of the staircase. If she is wondering what’s going on, she doesn’t show it and maintains a mask of cool indifference that instantly piques my interest.
We travel in silence, and as the elevator opens on the thirteenth floor, we follow her along a partitioned corridor where workers are hidden behind screens, tapping on huge computers.
Ingrid says nothing and approaches a door at the end surrounded by glass, and as we step inside, she heads to her desk and retrieves the phone.
I can tell Alice is nervous because her grip tightens on mine, but I don’t reassure her. I’m too alert for that.
Ingrid makes the connection and says simply, “I have Alice Zaferelli on the line for Mr. Goldsworthy.”
She smiles reassuringly and hands Alice the phone, and something about this isn’t adding up.
