“Fine,” he huffs. “Recently, I’ve had this horrible feeling that I’m being watched.”
“And this concerns us because?” I say.
“Because Ezra has been feeling it too.”
“Still not seeing where we fit into this.” Ria frowns.
“Who else would be having us followed? You have a point to prove. Your family has always had a feud with ours.”
“And whose fault is that?” Ria asks then sighs.
“So you admit it? You’ve had us followed?”
“Look, Mr. Lucas—” Ria starts.
“Dale.”
“I’d like to keep this professional. So, Mr. Lucas, I will only say this once.” Gripping the back of the chair, she leans forward, staring Dale down. “If you have someone following you, then that is your issue. It has nothing to do with us. This might surprise you, but I’m an extremely busy woman and I utilize my time effectively. I’m afraid you aren’t even on a Post-it note on my desk of tasks I need to address. So I suggest you leave because if someone is following you, they’ve followed you here, and I will not put my employees in unnecessary danger.”
He stays rooted to his chair, snarling at her, but she doesn’t falter, doesn’t back down. “Did I say something you don’t understand?”
“No,” he grates out.
“Good.” Walking around the small table, she throws the door wide open. “Then leave.” And with that she walks away, her heels clacking on the marble floor.
“You heard her. Leave.” My tone is dangerous as I crowd his space. “I can have security forcefully remove you, or you can get up and walk out.”
“Fine.” He stands and throws me a menacing look. “But if I find out you have anything to do with this, I’ll come for each and every one of you.”
“I’d be more worried as to why I’m being followed, Mr. Lucas. Especially if I have nothing to hide.” He glares at me as he stands.
“What are you implying?”
“Absolutely nothing.” I smile and point in the direction of the exit. “Goodbye, Mr. Lucas.” He moves for the door, but as he reaches it, I block his path. “Oh, I almost forgot.” I shake my head and give him my best playful grin before morphing it into something more dangerous. “If I ever catch you trying to intimidate Ria again, you won’t have a feeling that someone is following you, because I’ll make it damn clear that you know it’s me when I hit you so fucking hard you will be out before you even hit the floor. I don’t give a fuck who you are or how much fucking power you think you have; I’ll ruin you. Your power means absolutely fuck all to me, but she means everything. Do I make myself clear?”
“You don’t scare me,” he scoffs, but his eyes widen and he takes a step back when I crowd him against the office wall.
“Your eyes tell me another story, Mr. Lucas.” I wrap my hand around his throat, tightening my grip to the point of pain. His face begins to turn a deep shade of red, and he claws at my hand, trying to pull it away. “I’ll ask again.” Getting right in his face, I spit out, “Do I make myself clear?”
“Y-yes,” he stutters and I release my grip slightly.
“Good.” My smile is menacing as I take a step back and remove my hand completely and he rubs at his neck. “Off you go.” I cross my arms and tilt my head to the door.
He rushes past me and I let out a laugh. “Mind how you go, Mr. Lucas,” I call out, watching his retreating form until I know he’s out of the building, and I grab our head of security letting him know he isn’t welcome on the premises.
Rushing back into the elevator, I press the button for our floor, praying that Ria has gone back to her office and is alone. When the door opens on our floor, I quickly head to her office, nodding and smiling at the employees scattered around. Reaching her office, I sigh in relief when her door is open and Grace is nowhere in sight.
“Ria?” I close the door to her office behind me and scoop her up in my arms. “Baby, are you okay?”
“I’m okay. Has he gone?”
“Yeah, I made sure he left and told security he’s not to enter the building again.”
“Good.” She wraps her arms around me, my hold on her tightening.
“Baby, you were incredible in there.”
“Thank you.”
