“Just trust me. Okay? I need him to sit there.”
“Fine by me,” she said. “Have him do some of my work while he’s there, too.”
I quickly met with Joseph and got him sitting in Mattie’s spot. He had on some collared shirt and slacks and looked a little more dressed up than the others around us, but it would have to do for the time being.
“Thanks for coming. You can sit here. That’s my desk there. Last time when Carlos came, they just brought him straight up. I think that will happen again.”
“Sounds good. I’m ready,” he said. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Thank you.”
I closed my eyes and tried to keep myself calm as I waited for Carlos to arrive. My thoughts went to Connor and how I had pretended to be calm after my husband’s death. I had used my acting skills back then and I’d use them again now.
When Spencer passed away, it felt like I wouldn’t be able to move, let alone actually take care of my child. Yet I found the strength. I fought to be there for my son and to give him a stable life that wasn’t filled with fear. It hadn’t been easy, and this wasn’t going to be easy, either.
I was terrified. My stomach churned with the unknown of what was going to happen when Carlos arrived, but I was going to be strong. I was going to do my part to make sure this man was caught.
It was only ten minutes before Carlos was there standing right behind me. Somehow he had managed to get into the building and onto my floor without the supervision of Robert or anyone else.
“Miss Hunter,” he said, and I turned around calmly.
“Oh, hello. Like I said on the phone, that’s all I know. You really didn’t need to come down.”
“Could we go somewhere private and talk?”
I glanced at Joseph, who shook his head no. Although, I already knew I couldn’t go anywhere alone with Carlos. That would be way too dangerous.
“We can talk here. What else do you need?” I asked as I smiled at him.
I let my fingers play with my hair and tried my best to flirt through my eyes. Men were fairly predictable creatures and soon, Carlos was sitting on my desk with his leg touching mine.
“Honey, you said that Mr. Baker purchased stock for a company that just went public. How do you know this?”
“Oh, yeah. Okay, so I was naked. You know, after we had been together,” I said with a huge cheesy smile. “And, he was at his computer. I saw the name of the company on the screen and he was buying a lot of stock. I’m sorry I forgot to tell you earlier, but when I saw the news story, I totally remembered.”
“Okay, I appreciate your help.”
“Oh, you’re so sweet. You know, I can’t believe I fell for such a liar. I should have found a nice, strong man like yourself,” I said as I placed my hand on his bicep. “Wow, you really work out.”
“Yeah, I do. I’m going to take care of something. Maybe I could call you when this is all over?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Carlos leaned in, and I felt his hand squeeze my thigh. His lips were only inches away from my ear and his breath made my whole body sick.
“I’d like to have a hot night in bed with you.”
It took every last bit of my energy not to vomit as I tried to stay still. I managed a sweet smile as he walked away. I waited until he had entered the elevator before I started to shake.
“You did good,” Joseph said. “He bought it.”
“I think I’m going to throw up.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Brandon
“Rose, are you ready?” I said as I got her on the phone. “Delilah told him the story. He’s going to come to you soon, I think.”