Maiden and the Lion (Lions of Manhattan 2)

He didn’t respond.

What an ass.

The elevator door opened. Gabriel Larousse and several men stepped out. Mr Cold Security Guy snapped straight at the sight of his boss. “Good evening, sir,” he greeted. His tone changed. Totally kiss-ass mode.

Bea mumbled the same. She had seen Gabriel Larousse several times in Alex’s office. He was nice and friendlier than her own boss. He looked just like Alex, handsome and authoritative, only he was a couple of years older. He had recently married a detective called Cat Kovac. The wedding had caused the whole office to buzz for weeks.

Gabriel noticed her standing awkwardly next to Mr Cold. His lush eyebrow arched an inch. “Bea, right? What are you doing here?”

She couldn’t help herself, blurting out, “Mr Larousse, may I have a word with you in private?” Bea wanted to kick herself afterwards. Was this wise? Well, too late for bail out anyway.

Gabriel conversed in a hushed voice with the gentlemen he’d come with. They looked the lawyer type. Brooks Brothers suits. Expensive haircuts. Leather briefcases. Unbearably smug faces. The men headed to the left hall, accompanied by the security guy who had given her a pat-down.

Gabriel spread a hand towards the door next to the reception desk. “Please.”

It turned out to be an elegant conference room with a large oval table in the middle and plush leather chairs circling it. There was a fax machine and a copier against one wall, and a laptop perched on the credenza.

Gabriel closed the door behind him. “Have a seat, Bea. What’s it all about?”

Bea sat gingerly. Her purse was on her lap, she gripped the strap tightly. “It’s about my boss.”

Gabriel pulled a chair next to her. “What about Alex?”

“I’m…” Bea paused. “I’m worried about him.”

Gabriel narrowed his eyes, searching her face. Then a faint smile hovered on the corner of his lips. “Are you seeing him?”

Seeing? Yes, she saw him every day at the office. Oh. It took Bea several more seconds to realise what Gabriel had meant. “No, no,” she said quickly. She blushed. “Not like that. He’s my boss.”

Gabriel’s smile turned into what seemed to be full-blown amusement.

“Mr Larousse didn’t come to work today. Ms Krueger said he was indisposed. I tried to call Mr Larousse’s cell…”

“Just call him Alex.”

Bea gulped. “Alex.” Didn’t sound very polite but whatever. “I tried to call Alex’s cell, but it always went to voicemail.”

“And you’re worried he might be sick?”

Gabriel didn’t try to cover the fact he was smiling broadly. Bea had a feeling Gabriel knew she had a crush on his brother.

“I know he’s not well.”

“Oh?” Gabriel looked very interested. “How?”

“I met him last night.”

“So, you are seeing him.”

“No. Yes. Not in that way.” A sliver of frustration crept into the base of her skull. “Mr Larousse, last night I saw a man being shot from the bridge. He fell into the river. I swam and pulled him out of the water. It was Alex.”

The smile instantly vanished from Gabriel’s face. “Alex has been shot?”

So, Gabriel didn’t know. “Yes. On his chest. He forbade me from calling nine-one-one. He told me to drive him home. I got him into my van. But when I tried to stop his bleeding, he sort of ran away…”

“What do you mean, ran away?”

“Uhm. Mr Larousse, I’m not crazy, but Alex turned into…” Bea scratched her head even though she wasn’t itchy. “A lion,” she finished in a small voice. “I’m not crazy, am I?”