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Chapter Fourteen
Pax and Jason exited the elevators on the casino floor completely in sync, a force to be reckoned with. Both men wore their usual black cargo pants, black Rojo tees, and combat boots. Their cells phones and hotel pagers were strapped to their belt loops, and they had their ass kicking faces on. When they teamed up like this, people moved and shit got done—but neither of them could have been prepared for the scene they found as they stepped out of the elevator.
The casino was packed, standing room only. “Holy shit, you’d think Diamond was the damn Queen of England or something,” Jase whispered
Pax could only nod his agreement. He had never seen it like this, and if half of these people were actually spending money, he’d have been thrilled, but the majority of them appeared to be just standing around waiting for something to happen.
“We need a new plan.” Jase was in charge, less emotionally invested in the situation. It was easier for him to step outside his head and see what needed to be done. “We need to get to the check in desk. You have this guy’s real name?”
“Mitchell Fitzpatrick.”
“Okay, that’s the first thing we do. Find out if he is indeed registered here, and go from there. Secondly, who’s your favorite most trusted staff, present company excluded of course?”
“Of course.” That at least coaxed a smile from Pax, as they waded through the crowd towards the lobby. “Um, the college kid, with the red hair, Will. I trust him.”
“Okay, we get Will on the radio, and have him call your cell. Once you have a secure connection with him, you make it clear that his only job today is to be your yes man. Anything we need, and he is the only staff member allowed anywhere near your suite for the time being.”
“Okay, that sounds good. What else?”
“Um....” Jason looked around, finally at a loss. “I’m going to get the lawyers in here. We might need to make a statement or something.”
“Fine. What about Diamond’s stuff?”
“Is there a woman on staff who you trust? Preferably one Diamond knows?”
Pax nodded.
“Good, tell Will who it is. Have him find her, escort her to Di’s suite and get several days’ worth of stuff. I can call up and ask for a list. And, Pax?”
“Yeah?”
“Something tells me were starting to look conspicuous together. Either that, or you’ve been recognized as the mystery guy.”
Pax looked up, and realized he was completely surrounded. The vultures had formed a circle around him, and several were already snapping pictures. He was frozen in shock. It was Jase whose arm came up, covering Pax’s face from the camera lens. It was Jase who called security on the radio, and it was Jase who gave the instructions to throw out the offending photographers. When they were free, it was also Jase who pulled him into an employee lounge and locked the door behind them, hanging a “closed for maintenance” sign on the door just to be safe.
They were both winded when they finally broke away from the crowd and for a few minutes, they just stood there, eyes wide, chests heaving, hands on knees and stared at each other.
It was Pax who spoke first. “Thank you, man. I don’t think I would make it through this day without you.”
“To be honest,” Jase wheezed. “I don’t think you will either. We need a new plan.”
“Ya think?”
“You go back upstairs. Do what you can from up there. I will handle things on the floor, and you and I will be in constant contact. When the lawyers come by, we’ll meet in your office. Don’t worry, bro, I’ve got this. I won’t leave you hanging.”
“What about Aubergine? They’re there, too.”
“Yes, but they know she’s not. Aubergine is just a side interest. They’re digging for details and interviews. I’ve already briefed my staff on what to say and who’s allowed to say it.”
“You’re amazing. Truly. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, stop being a sap. You can thank me later. We’ve got bigger fish to fry. Like getting you back upstairs without that happening again.”
* * *
When Crystal and Will came up later with Diamond’s things, Pax pulled Will into his office, giving the two girls time to talk.
Diamond couldn’t believe her dumb luck as she stared at the only friend she had made her so far. Incidentally, the same friend who had seen her in a very compromising position late last night. Her face burned just thinking of it. Not only had she been publicly chastised in a very peculiar way, she had been found out as the boss’s sub by a co-worker. And now that same co-worker had been deemed by Pax as the only female employee he trusted enough to enter Diamond’s suite and dig through her personal things? Of course. It was still Monday after all.
