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She had a reputation for being able to verbally eviscerate a person.
He’d never experienced it, but he’d heard stories.
And the part that really sucked about his impending unemployment was that he actuallylovedhis job. Sure, maybe all he did was write and mix jingles, but he got to work with people who loved the same things he did. Whose entire lives existed in a creative space. Even if he hadn’t been brave enough to flex his creative muscles beyond commercial jingles, he still enjoyed seeing others excel at it.
“Asa,” Hannah said, gentler than he expected.
He wiped his palms on the top of his jean clad thighs.
“You’re in a bit of a pickle,” she said.
“I’m really sorry,” he said.
Her striking blue eyes narrowed slightly. “Why? Have you been moonlighting as a writer for CELEBX?”
“No?” He cleared his throat. “No, of course not.”
A ghost of a smile graced her lips. “I have this…associate. He makes sure I stay invisible. I’ve asked him to look into what we can do for you.”
Asa struggled to swallow. “Okay…?
“You don’t own any property,” Johnny joined the conversation. “Your cell phone plan is routed through Nikki’s name whichdisappears in the XY Records business account. You still live at Nikki’s house, so you’re not on any leases. You had a Mazda you sold last year but it was registered at an address in southern Illinois. Nikki told me you ride a motorcycle now…?”
“It’s in my dad’s name,” he croaked. It was kind of creepy how much they knew about him. But those would all be public records; anyone could find them.
Ohhh. Anyonecould find them.
“It’s common knowledge that you work for us. Except last year, Hannah’sassociatecreated a satellite studio that doesn’t really exist in Miami. Last week we put your name on the employee roster there.”
Asa frowned. “So I’m being transferred to Miami?”
“No. Miami doesn’t exist. But that’s where they’ll look for you,” Johnny said.
“Al—er, my associate thought it would be a good idea to put your name on a condo lease down there as well.”
“I don’t understand,” Asa said.
“We hid you. From anyone looking, really. Now, unless you tell anyone, no one knows you live and work here in Chicago.”
“But what happens when they get to Miami and I’m not really there?” Asa asked, a vibration starting in his hands.
Hannah blinked at him. “Do you trust me?” she asked.
He opened his mouth and then closed it.
He barely knew her. She didn’t know him.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked.
“You’re a part of our team,” Johnny said like the answer was obvious. “And something like this was bound to happen to one of us anyway. It was easy to put this together because the provisions had been made long ago.”
“I’m a paranoid, high maintenance woman,” Hannah said matter of factly. “My backup plans have backup plans.”
“You’re not gonna fire me?” Asa asked, hearing the strain in his voice.
Hannah’s face softened. “No, Asa. We want you to stay.”
He exhaled with his entire body.
