He Will be My Ruin

Doug frowns. “No, keep it up. It’s harmless and you may learn something else.” He smiles, the first smile I’ve seen from him. “Which makes it easier for me to do my job.”

————

“Would you like to come in for some tea? I just made a pot,” Ruby says, her glasses magnifying her eyes to cartoonish proportion as she stands in her doorway. “And I baked a fresh batch of shortbread, too. You liked those, right?”

My gaze wanders over her head and into her open apartment. It’s a tomb of books. The afternoon sun highlights the dust particles floating through the air in there. My lungs are clogging just at the sight. “I’d love to, but . . . I’m behind on packing up Celine’s things. I really need to get started on that.”

“Of course, dear. I understand. Well, I’m here, any time you’d like to come by.”

Shame overtakes me. The old lady is obviously lonely and I can’t make even an hour for her. I open my mouth, about to tell her that I’ve changed my mind—even though an hour in there may put me in a mental ward—when the clang of metal and an Englishman’s voice stalls me. “All set, Ruby.”

I feel an unexpected spike of excitement, knowing that Grady’s in there. Even with my focus on Celine, he’s crossed my mind more than a few times today. I can’t help but think I let things go too far with him. I’m so upside down over Celine right now, I can’t see straight. I hope he realizes that.

Ruby peers over her shoulder with a big smile. To me, she shakes her head. “I’m always jamming that darned sink. Thank goodness for this wonderful young man.”

I press my lips together to keep from laughing. Grady suddenly appears at the door in a pair of jeans and a worn T-shirt. “Hey, Maggie.” He has an impish grin on his face as he runs a hand through his dark hair, sending it into sexy disarray. He still hasn’t shaved that scruff either.

Memories of last night hit me and I feel my cheeks flush. “Hey, Grady.”

“You coming in for tea?”

“I wish I could, but I have a bunch of work to do around here and then I’m heading down to Celine’s office for something.”

“Really?” He checks his watch and I can almost read his mind. It’s already three o’clock on a Friday. He probably thinks I’m avoiding him. “Okay, well I’ll try to save you some shortbread. Can’t promise anything, though.” He grins wide again, so relaxed. Maybe what happened last night didn’t faze him. Maybe he lied and he has sex with women up there all the time.

I squash the spike of jealousy that erupts in me with that thought, because I have a missing diary and an investigation into Celine’s death to focus on.

CHAPTER 14

Maggie

It’s a quarter to six by the time I push through the heavy glass doors of Celine’s building.

Jace’s building.

The lobby is filled with people heading home for the day. Far too crowded for my liking, but I didn’t think about that when I agreed to this meeting. I’m forced to press my back against a wall and wait for the rush pouring out of the last elevator before stepping in, hoping that the time of day will make the ascent up sixty-five floors extra quick.

The doors have begun to close when an arm shoots in to stop them.

“I thought that was you.” Jace steps in, out of breath as if he was running.

I check my watch. Still fifteen minutes to go before our meeting, which means he didn’t need to run. Unless he was intentionally running to catch me.

“Natasha said you had some personal issues come up?”

I nod, my eyes focused on the reflection of Jace in the shiny metal doors ahead.

Jay?

“Well, I’m glad we were able to get you in today.”

“Yes, that worked out.” I need to act normal. I don’t know if I can pull this off.

He checks his hair in the reflection as the elevator begins to move. We’re the only two in here. Just me and my new investment manager—the guy who likely paid Celine to have sex with him.

“You okay? You seem . . . worried.” I look up into curious blue eyes, his gaze dipping down to catch the top of my red-and-white polka-dot dress for a fleeting second. Another flirty dress of Celine’s that I intentionally wore because polka dots are always memorable and I’m still fishing for obvious signs of recognition.

Just not right now, because all I can think about is getting out of this metal death trap.

“I’m not a fan of elevators. I usually take the stairs,” I answer truthfully, stepping back to lean against the wall and wrap my hands around the brass rail at hip level.

“I guess me being on the sixty-fifth floor throws a wrench into that.” He smiles easily. “It moves quickly, at least. Don’t worry. We’ll be up in no time.”

The second the words are out of his mouth, the elevator comes to a jarring halt, the red digital number flashing “49.”

We’re suspended forty-nine floors up and not moving.

Jace stands taller, his eyes surveying the ceiling, where the lights blink on and off.

My heart rate climbs with each flicker.

“That’s weird,” he murmurs, pressing the button to his floor several times with his thumb.

We wait . . . and wait . . . and wait . . .

An automated male voice sounds over the speaker, telling us that the elevator will be returning to the lobby shortly and to please remain calm.

“Probably just a power outage. Don’t worry, these elevators are programmed to move down to the lobby in these cases. We’ll be out of here soon.”

“Yeah.” It comes out in a pant, as I feel my lungs closing up. I hold my breath and we listen in silence. I’m expecting to hear the mechanics kick in, to feel us start to move.

And then the lights cut out, throwing us into complete darkness.

“Oh my God . . .” The narrow walls that I can’t even see begin to close in, sucking the air out of the space.

A harsh light floods the cramped space as Jace shines his phone on the control panel, jabbing the emergency call button. He waits five seconds before pressing it again several times. “Shit. I think the backup power is gone.” He pauses, looks back at me, his face just visible within the glow. “Can that even happen?”

I close my eyes as dizziness sets in and my body breaks into a sweat.