He ground his teeth together. “Then what is it like, Lauren?” He braced his hands on her desk and leaned over until he was edging into her personal space.
“Believe me, if I could tell you, I would. But best friends protect each other. Just give her some time.”
He lowered his head and groaned. He didn’t want to respect Lauren or her loyalty, but he did, and he was glad Jade had a best friend she could trust. He just wished it wasn’t at his expense.
He drew up straighter. “Fine. Give me something. Please.”
Lauren rolled a pencil between her palms, obviously thinking. “I can’t tell you anything, but there’s someone else you can ask. If you can get past him, then I figure you deserve to find her.”
“Cryptic,” he muttered.
“But not difficult.” She raised her eyebrows and smiled for the first time. “Good luck, Knox. You’re going to need it.”
He wondered if she was referring to him having to deal with Asher? Or Jade.
He met Lauren’s gaze. “Thank you.”
She treated him to a brief smile. “I hope you’re as good a guy as I think you are. Jade deserves that in a man.”
He inclined his head and walked out, heading to the elevator. When he stepped onto the street, he pulled out his phone and called Asher’s work number. Knox wouldn’t bother his friend on his cell in case he was tied up… which ended up being the case.
According to Asher’s secretary, he would be in meetings all day. With no other leads or people to ask, Knox hailed a taxi and asked to be taken to the Warriors’ stadium. Keeping focused wasn’t easy and the day dragged on. In the car on his way home, he dialed Asher’s cell, but the call went straight to voicemail, and Knox resigned himself to having to wait until tomorrow.
He ordered in dinner and had a shitty night’s sleep. First thing the next morning, he called Asher’s cell and asked if they could meet. This wasn’t a conversation Knox wanted to have over the phone. Asher said to meet him at the new office space he’d described in proud detail while they were in Vegas.
Knox took a ride share to Midtown West where the renamed Dirty Dare Spirits offices was located. The interior architectural design was impressive. Four bars were spread out on the ground level, serving a variety of coffee and alcohol, depending on the time of day. And a separate floor held a lab where mixologists created craft cocktails. Asher’s description hadn’t done the place justice.
Once inside, Knox checked in with the security guard and handed the man his identification. The guard called upstairs, confirmed his appointment, and returned the license before directing Knox to the bank of elevators.
A few minutes later, he met up with a receptionist, who led him past the glass-enclosed offices and stopped at the door at the end of the hall.
She knocked, and when Asher’s voice instructed her to come in, she turned the knob and motioned for Knox to step past her.
“Thanks, Grace. Shut the door, please.” Asher rose from his desk and walked around to greet Knox.
They shook hands and Asher gestured for him to sit. “Can I get you coffee?”
He shook his head. “No, thanks.”
Asher lowered himself into the chair beside him. “What brings you by? It sounded urgent.”
“I’m worried about your sister.” Knox decided to jump in with the truth.
“No need to be. She’s fine.” Asher picked a nonexistent piece of lint off his suit jacket.
Knox groaned. “Are we really going to play games? We’re old friends. You know you can trust me.”
Asher held up his hands in defeat. “All I know is that she told me she needed time to think, and I promised to respect that as long as she checked in with me every day.”
“When did she leave?” Knox asked.
“Two days ago.”
Damn. He wondered if Lauren had tipped her off to the fact that he’d planned to stop by.
“And you heard from her today?”
Asher nodded. “If I thought something was very wrong, I’d have gone with her.”