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Monica did her best to stay calm. Did she really think she could get one step ahead when it came to this man?
"I wouldn't call it a lie, but yes, it was more than a meeting. I was protecting the company. Luke and his team questioned me. Based on what they could see, and the research they had done, they knew I wasn't involved. At least not in any way illegal."
"And where is Fletcher now?"
"No one knows. He went into hiding after the arrest of your former partner and he did the same when I turned him down. But they believe these attacks are an intimidation tactic to get me to comply."
"And are they? Is whoever is attacking you successful in intimidating you?" Carmichael clarified.
Monica snorted and then immediately regretted it when Carmichael gave her a disapproving look. The sound wasn't the least bit professional.
"No, they aren't intimidating me. They’re pissing me off and just giving me more reasons to dig in my heels and protect our clients. I didn't work this hard to be scared by someone who can't even show their face when they attack my property."
Carmichael seemed pleased by her response. It was the only time she could ever remember getting that look from him.
"Good. I can't have my CEO caving to the demands of others. We need to show that we are better than this Fletcher individual. For our clients’ sake."
That was the first time since she bought in as a partner that Carmichael had used the word, we when discussing the company. Maybe there was hope for her after all.
"You keep mentioning this Luke as if you know him personally. Is this a relationship that's going to distract you from being successful?"
And just like that, he ruined it.
"My relationship with Luke has no bearing on the work that I do. I can juggle both a personal life and a professional life."
The look he gave her said he didn't believe a word she said. That was too damn bad. She was sticking to her guns on this one. Her relationship was none of his business. Ash was right, she needed to stick up for herself.
"Keep me in the loop when it comes to Fletcher. I don't want any more surprises."
She promised to do so and then slipped back out of the office. Overall, it went better than she expected. Even if it had been a roller coaster of ups and downs when it came to Carmichael's moods.
The rest of her workday flew by in a flurry of phone calls and emails. Fortunately, she only had one meeting and the older gentleman was one of her favorite clients. He said she reminded him of his granddaughter, so every time they met, he would bring in chocolates and spend more time making her laugh than actually getting work done. It was the kind of meetings Carmichael would frown over, but Monica liked to run things differently. She would rather her clients treat her like family than just another person who worked for them.
By the time she rode the elevator down to the lobby, she was tired. Two days in a row she missed out on her necessary amount of sleep. If she didn't go to bed at a decent time tonight, who knew what havoc she would wreak the next day.
"You looked exhausted."
"And they say you're the charming one," she snapped back at Ryker. He wasn't the man she had hoped to see, and her mood reflected that.
"I am, but I'm also honest and you look like you could use some sleep."
"Yes, well, dealing with cops and firefighters two nights in a row has made it impossible to get any sleep. Maybe Fletcher, or whoever he's sending to torment me, could take a night off."
Ryker bumped her shoulder with a laugh. "If we find the person, I’ll be sure to put the request in for you."
Monica looked around the lobby. "Where's Luke?" She fully expected him to pick her up.
"He had a meeting with the local chief of police, otherwise he would've picked you up himself. He asked me to bring you back to his place."
Disappointment washed over her. She was looking forward to being with him, even if it was just the drive home. There was something satisfying about going home together.
Wait, what?
They weren't going home together. She was only staying at Luke's place until hers was livable again. It wasn't their home. It was Luke's.
The ride to Luke's was silent. She doubted that was normal for Ryker, but maybe he sensed that she needed time to work through what was happening in her mind. They had been back from Rome for less than a week and already she was jumping ahead in her relationship with Luke. Taking things slow. Wasn't that what he told her?
Monica hadn't even realized that the vehicle was parked in front of Luke's place until Ryker was dangling a set of keys in front of her face.
