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“Bodyguard?”
“Yeah. And those administrators from Moscow? They work for Bryce’s company. He’s so protective. Every minute of my schedule goes through a safety assessment to decide my security detail.”
“That’s a little over the top,” Martin says with a huff.
“It’s overprotective. A few threats don’t warrant this much attention. Yet I can’t really complain, not when the circumstances brought Bryce to me.”
I told Martin the first time I received a threatening message, to see if he had any idea who had been in and out of my office or if certain people held a nasty grudge against me. Unlike the rest of the staff who I trust professionally, but don’t know personally, Martin would be forthcoming enough to tell me the truth. Unfortunately, the motivation for these random threats remains a mystery.
“Are you still getting those messages?”
“No. I mean, with so many agents surrounding me all the time and watching every move, how can anyone with ill intentions get close to me?”
“So, it’ll be like this from now on? Bodyguards twenty-four hours a day?”
“God, I hope not! Bryce is following one important lead. You probably don’t remember, but I was seeing Lysander Wolfson when I first moved here. He works at the state house.”
“No, the name doesn’t ring a bell.”
Lysander and I dated before I got close to Martin.
“Apparently, Lysander is missing or hiding. As soon as Bryce figures out why and whether or not it’s connected to these threats, we’ll reassess. This level of security measures is unsustainable. I want to have my normal life back.”
“No kidding. And what do you mean by missing? That seems ominous.” His eyebrows squish together.
“He hasn’t shown up in any of Bryce’s extensive surveillance systems or border checks or whatever. Anyway, the point is, the security measures aren’t ideal, but they can’t possibly last forever,” I say cheerfully. “And, despite the inconvenience of missing out on restaurants, I haven’t been this happy in ages.” The words tumble out without hesitation.
He hugs me. “You deserve to be happy, Ana.”
“Thank you. Now let’s eat before you have to leave for your staff meeting.”
“You should come to it,” Martin says while slurping lo mein noodles.
“Today?”
“Yeah, why not? Take a break from the office and stretch your legs. Maybe give the team a boost before the big presentation next week. After all, you’re my boss, so that makes them your team.”
I look at the food on the conference table and the papers on my desk. “I’m due to review the budget report this afternoon.”
He rolls his eyes and mutters, “Yuck.”
“I can do the paperwork tomorrow,” I concede without a trace of reluctance. Suddenly, I can’t wait to stretch my legs.
“Awesome! Come out and show your face to the team. They’ve been asking about you.”
“I miss them,” I say, allowing myself to acknowledge how much I enjoy being in the shipyard with people whose skills and expertise I rely on every day.
The digital simulations we develop and the kind of vessels we produce are only possible because of our workforce. The men and women of Petrov Shipping are the most crucial contributors to our success. I’ve been remiss in reminding myself, and them, how central they are to the future of our industry.
“Sure. I’ll head over at four.”
He beams. “I’ll announce it after lunch. I’m not the only one who misses you.”
“An announcement sounds a bit overdone.”
Winking, Martin promises, “We won’t start without you.”
When Adam calls, I’m in the middle of an inventory problem. We’ve got an excess stock of some alarm systems while we’re on the brink of shortage for others.
