Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(55)
“Dude,” Alex whispered under his breath as she made eye contact with him and smiled. He hadn’t realized he was standing there like a dork with his hand raised in a very exuberant wave.
Roxie’s smile had all the advice Crew had given him flying out his ear as nothing but blank space filled his mind. She pushed her computer bag onto the back of her hip and wrapped her arms around him.
“Alex! I can’t believe it’s really you.” Her soft English accent caused him to sway as all the blood rushed from his head. He wrapped his arms around her and was afraid she’d feel his attraction for her pressing against her stomach.
“I never thought we’d be able to meet,” Alex said, his voice only partially cracking with nerves. He cleared his throat and stepped back to open the car door. “I’m in awe. To be with a talent like yourself is a real honor.”
Roxie’s grin widened. “That is so sweet!” She launched herself at him again and placed a kiss on his cheek before sliding into the front seat. Alex wanted to pump his fist into the air. Dalton had given him that line and it had worked! Holy shit. What was he going to say now?
Roxie had her computer open by the time he got into the car. “Is something going on?”
“I think so,” she said, not taking her eyes from the screen. “I wish we could spend more time getting to know each other, but I’m finding references to 1400 hours. I just can’t tell what time zone. Something big, that’s what has me worried. When searching the dark web for that Locke guy you told me about, I came across a private chat room. Well, it would have been private to anyone else, but you know how I get intrigued by locked doors.” Roxie winked at him and Alex almost drove off the road except she was onto something much bigger than his hormones.
“What are they talking about happening at 1400 hours?” Alex asked as he headed for the hotel.
“That’s the thing, I don’t know. I just know that there are five people who have given the all clear to proceed at 1400 hours. Your Locke guy is in this room and confirmed two hours ago he was all set.”
Alex looked at the clock. It was nine o’clock in the morning. Fourteen hundred would be two o’clock Eastern time. But US Eastern time wasn’t the only time zone. There were three other time zones in the US alone, not counting globally. That wasn’t what was bothering him, though. It was something about the number of people in the room. Five . . .
* * *
Lizzy leaned forward and stared at the receptionist, her face only inches from the picture-perfect model these billionaires seemed to hire at their companies, like Coco at Sebastian’s office. Coco was at least nice and peppy as she guarded that lobby. The same could not be said for Petal.
“No one gets past me without being on the list,” she sneered. Her platinum hair was highlighted with pink, and she wore a mini-dress that looked like she belonged at a dance club, not a workplace.
“Tell Mr. Geofferies I have information he wants, and the only way he’ll get it is either when I release it to the press or see him in person. His choice. Since it’s about his secret project and Sebastian Abel, I think he’ll want it in person.”
Petal didn’t look convinced.
“Pick up the phone or I’ll rip your extensions off and strangle you with them,” Valeria said, bored with the wait.
“I’m calling security,” Petal gasped.
Valeria just stared, and Lizzy wished she had that talent. She could give a mean glare, but Valeria was glacial and deadly all at once. Petal froze and then nodded.
Petal picked up the phone and repeated what Lizzy told her to Geofferies’s secretary. Then she sat quietly waiting on the phone as she tried not so subtly to signal security.
“Yes, sir. One moment.” Petal handed Lizzy the phone. “He wants to talk to you.”
Lizzie took the phone and looked up into the nearest security camera. “No one threatens me, you bitch.”
“Artificial intelligence and market manipulation.” Lizzy smiled up at the camera.
“Give me back to the girl.”
Lizzy handed the phone to Petal. “Here you go.”
Petal took the phone, nodded, and frowned. “Yes, sir.” She hung up and handed visitor passes to Lizzy and Valeria with a pinched face. “Top floor.”
“Thank you,” Lizzy smiled as Valeria snatched the passes.
“Petal? Seriously? If I have a daughter, I’m gonna name her Glock,” Valeria whispered as they went to the private elevator much like Sebastian’s.
“Isn’t that more of a boy’s name?”
“Fine. Beretta then.” The elevator opened, and they stepped through the doors. “What are you planning on saying?”
Lizzy shrugged her shoulder. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll have to wait and see how I read him.”
“As much as I don’t like Sebastian, I don’t know how I feel about throwing him under the bus. If Sebastian is anything like Bertie Geofferies, it’s a no-win situation.”
The doors opened before Lizzy could respond, and Valeria didn’t say anything more as another early-twenty-something model showed them the way to two enormous engraved doors: one with a script B on it and the other with a G.
The inside of the office was masculine. It smelled of fresh-dried tobacco and leather. The leather chairs were old and worn but gleaming. Three walls were covered in dark wood with pictures of hunting dogs on them. The other wall ran the length of the room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Standing at the window was Bertie Geofferies. He was short, around Lizzy’s height, and in his seventies, but still very much in shape. His hair was turning white, but the rest of him was kept in prime condition by a well-paid staff consisting of a personal chef, a personal trainer, and probably a twenty-something masseuse.