“Please don’t.” I whispered, and met her gaze. She nodded, and I quickly mouthed a thank you, took my drink, and rushed out.
I somehow made every crosswalk between the hotel and the river where Webster Enterprises Corporate building was. When I got to the corner with a single tree planted out front, I took a deep breath and looked up to an extraordinarily tall glass building. I silently cursed Rylie, but opened the glass doors and strode across the polished stone foyer up to the welcome desk. As I waited for the red headed receptionist to finish with the person in front of me, I took a sip of my coffee and jumped when she said, “Can I help you?”
“Yes. Can you tell me which floor Rylie’s office is on?”
“Do you have an appointment?” She snapped her gum and I shuddered.
“Not one that would be on the books.” I said nicely, and as professionally as I could.
“Mr. Allen doesn’t see people without an appointment. Please call, make an appointment, and return with your confirmation code.”
I sighed, and said, “Can you please call his desk and tell him that Luci is here. And that you are sending his girl up?”
“No ma’am. Please make an appointment and return with your confirmation code.” She eyed me with a quick derogatory up and down, and then the people behind me before saying, “Mr. Allen doesn’t havegirls.”
She had said it like she had personally been affronted by him. Now I was getting frustrated, but tried to realize she was just doing her job. “You need a confirmation code for me to be shown up to Mr. Allen’s office?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Okay, hold on. I’ll get the ultimate pass.” I pulled out my phone, hit the video call button, and turned around so that he could see me and the receptionist in the frame.
“Hey, sweetheart. You here yet?” He answered.
“I am. Rylie, can you please tell the receptionist to let me in and where exactly is your office? It’s not like I’ve been here before.”
He chuckled, and my eye met the receptionist behind me through the phone screen. She looked like she was about to pass out.
“Alexandrea, please let my fiance in. I’ll have security meet her at the elevators.” He gestured off screen, and then said, “Now hurry up. I need you.”
I just smirked at him, and hung up.
“I’m sorry ma’am. Right this way, please.” She said, and walked with me to the elevators, where a tall thin man stood.
“Ms. Baker, I’m Kevin. I’m here to escort you directly to Mr. Allen.” He held his arm open to keep the doors from closing, and when a few people tried to come in as well, he shook his head.
When the doors closed, I asked, “Why couldn’t they come with? This elevator is large enough for twenty people.”
He huffed a chuckle and said, “Because I am taking you non-stop to the 35thfloor, ma’am. Straight up.”
I blinked, and then the cab was moving up. After a moment, I grabbed his arm, and squeezed tight.
“Don’t like elevators, ma’am?”
“It’s a California earthquake thing. I’m not a fan of tall buildings, either.” I took a deep breath and just whispered, “I’m going to kick your fucking ass, Rylie.”
Kevin chuckled, and let me hold on to him the entire way up. When it dinged, I released a long breath, released my hand, but noticed there was blood from my nails on his forearm.
“I’m sorry.” I said, and he looked at me curiously. “About your arm. And about you having to come down to get me.”
“It’s no problem. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve had much worse. This way, please.” He led me through a huge open office, where everyone’s eyes seemed to trail me as I walked toward a set of double doors. Outside was a glass office where Kevin stopped and said, “I’m taking her straight in, Janette.”
The woman looked up, met my eye, and nodded. Kevin opened the door, and ushered me through it, closing the door behind me. Rylie was facing the window, and talking on the phone.
“Yes, I know.” He sighed and said, “Well, she’s off limits… I don’t care. Get Luci off the social media feeds. I don’t want her face plastered everywhere. Not until she is ready.”
My heart warmed because I knew why he was being so protective. I looked at the desk that was between the two of us, and smiled at the memory of what he had said on the phone earlier. Finding some bravery, I slipped my shoes off, ensured the door was indeed locked, and quietly undressed.
I tiptoed across the hardwood floor to stand behind him, wrapped my arms around his waist, and leaned against him. His hand caressed my arm, but he looked down when he noticed it was bare. Since he helped dress me this morning, he knew exactly what I had been wearing. Flipping around, he took half a step back and blinked.
