17
Mecca
The next day, when I informed Arjen that I would call Corvel to give him the update about the payment, he suggested I use the secret office that I wasn’t aware was attached to our bedroom. He pressed a six-digit numeric code that he made sure I memorized onto what I assumed was an expensive painting hanging on the wall. He proceeded to place my thumb to the center of the doorknob within the painting. It was a hidden scanner that appeared to be a part of the painting that captured my fingerprint. I gasped when a doorway that the picture hung on decompressed and popped open.
Arjen didn’t say a word, but smiled at my initial reaction. His sly grin deepened when I stepped into the office and stopped, taking it all in before I moved again. This office was jammed packed with enough technology to spy on, or for the government.
I knew that our house had enough hidden cameras and sensors that there wasn’t any place an intruder could hide. I also knew that there was a retinal scanner, and the doorknob captured my fingerprint in order to enter the house without setting off an alarm. I had been inside our basement that was both a security room with surveillance monitors and an armory that housed enough weapons to start a militia. However, I had no clue that Arjen had a secret spy room.
With each passing day, I was starting to realize that my husband wielded way more power than he let on or allowed me to see. He certainly had access to more technology than I could have imagined. If he truly wanted to, he could employ a way that I would never truly be out of his sight.
He left me to make my call, but it took me a while longer to soak in Arjen’s secret war room that he had given me full access to. Shaking off the shock of the new discovery, I called up Corvel, secure in the notion that no one could listen in on our call. Corvel was out of the country for a few days, so I hadn’t been able to provide him any updates.
“Hello, lovely Mecca,” he greeted cheerfully. His good-natured tone with me was never taken for granted, because I knew what he did for a living. He was Silvia Cardenas’ number two man, but he was also the head of her security, which meant that he and his team were a bunch of killers. For reasons I have yet to understand, the man liked me, and I had always been mindful not to give him a reason to change his mind.
“I’m on a secure line,” I informed, so he would know that he could speak freely.
“I wanted to provide you a quick update on our financial situation.”
“You are a woman of your word. And I can most certainly understand why your uncle left you in charge.” he commented.
“I appreciate that. I wanted you to know that the situation will be handled, and I’ll give you the heads up on the estimated time of arrival of the transfer.”
“There’s no need unless you’re making an early payment on the next shipment. We were fully compensated the same evening you left my house. The customary thank you was sent to you. Did you not receive it?”
I had received fifteen white roses, but assumed it was a reminder instead of confirmation.
“Yes, I received it. Thank you. However, I wasn’t aware that the transfer had occurred so swiftly.”
What the fuck was happening? Was he telling me they had already received the full fifteen million we owed? I hadn’t even used the five million I had saved. I didn’t want Corvel knowing I didn’t know my shit, so I would pretend my ass off, until I figured things out.
“All is well, my dear. You will be ready for your new shipment. Yes?”
“Yes. I’ll be there personally. Have a good day. Thanks again.”
“My pleasure. I’ll send you the location details tomorrow. See you later.”
* * *
“Husband!”I yelled after tearing out of the office. My legs couldn’t move me fast enough.
A muffled, “Yes,” and the ruffling of clothes sounded the closer I got to him.
The words I had prepared got stuck, and my mouth fell open at the sight of him in nothing but boxer briefs. Jesus. The man was sinfully hot, and he knew it. With his shirt in his hand, he made no attempt to put it on while I gawked. My mind finally decided to connect with my tongue after I had gotten an eye full.
“I was on the phone with Corvel, my connect, and the conversation we had led me to believe that they have already been paid in full. He’s ready to release our next shipment.”
A sneaky smile spread across his face.
“Oh yeah. It was taken care of already.”
I took another few steps, cocked my head, and threw my hands on my hips.
“And you let me go through that entire bathroom scene, knowing you had already paid what I owed?”
He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal before he stepped closer, making my breath catch. My chest jetted up and down, which did nothing to keep my erratic movements from telling of my acute awareness of him. He stood, glaring down, his face inches from mine.
“At the time, I believed it was my duty to make my wife feel better, rather than to discuss financial matters.”