“Kylie!” Jax yells, following me. “We’re not done here.”
“Oh, we’re very much done here.” I stomp toward the elevator. “You can keep talking with Sherlock Holmes over there, but I’m done.”
The elevator door opens to let off a woman walking her dog, and I politely smile at her as she passes. Jax hangs on to my arm as I step inside and press the button for the lobby.
“Kylie, please,” he begs, stepping onto the elevator with me. “You can’t tell me you’re not the least bit curious about how Leo is connected to all of this. You told me a few weeks ago that he was involved. Has something changed?”
“Back off, Jax!” I yell as I put on my shoes. “I’m not going to be your source anymore. I trust Johnathan. He doesn’t bombard me with questions the moment I walk into the room. He trusts me.”
“He’s playing you.” Jax groans, exasperated. “Look, I love Johnathan as much as the next guy, but his father is another story. He would’ve done anything to get into power, even if it meant making deals with the wrong people.”
“So what do you want me to do? Spy on him?” I snap at him.
“All I’m asking is for you to get us proof. Something that we can use to bring Leonardo down once and for all. If you work with us, I can guarantee you full protection. Something Johnathan can’t offer.”
“Why, because you think he’s some kind of mastermind criminal?”
“Because he’s the CEO.” Jax grabs my arm, forcing me to look at him. “Kylie, this isn’t just me being overprotective. This is serious. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
The doors of the elevator open, and I take in his terrified expression. Worried or not, I don’t care. I’m not about to go back upstairs and continue to be questioned.
“Goodnight, Jax.” I step out into the lobby, and Jax’s arm falls away in defeat. I’m sure whatever is going on doesn’t involve Johnathan; he seems just as confused as I am. He confided in me, and I’m not about to abandon him now. His father may or may not have been a shady guy, but that doesn’t mean his son is too. The sidewalk shines with fresh rain as I make my way back to Ronsberry Law Firm. If I’m going to find any real answers, it’ll be in there.
CHAPTER19
Johnathan
I fucking hate Isabella.
I wave at a few of my men standing guard out front as I walk into the building. They insisted on being here early if I was going to be here, especially to meet with Isabella. I lean on the wall and wait for the elevator. How is it that I’m the one in charge and she’s the one bossing me around? And what’s gotten into her anyway? I’ve grown so used to her being in the background that I never expected her to start requesting private meetings out of nowhere. And now that my dad is gone…how convenient.
A surge of panic shoots through me. Is this the agreement my father was talking about? Is my marriage somehow roped into something worse than being chained to Isabella? My mind races all the way up to the fortieth floor. No wonder we’ve been hitting a wall these last few nights. I’ve been so focused on Kylie not finding about Isabella that I didn’t even think to check her dad’s files. If I’m going to figure this out, I need to fully trust her. Once I’m done talking with Isabella, I’ll tell Kylie the truth. Hopefully she won’t kill me, considering my latest discovery.
The office is quiet with no one in it. Different than the silent nights that I spend with Kylie. It’s like the sunrise brings a quiet anticipation for the day. A serene kind of silence that I can use a bit more often. But today is not that kind of morning. The sunlight blinds me the moment I walk into my office. Jeez, did the cleaning crew forget to shut the blinds?
“Good morning!”
Her voice sets my heart into overdrive, and I shield my eyes to get a better look at the room. The conference table is once again littered with folders. Kylie sits in her usual chair, the same outfit she wore last night still on. Her hair has fallen loose around her shoulders, and I can’t help but eye the few top buttons that have come undone. Even a bit disgruntled, she still looks like a dark beauty.
“Kylie,” I say, voice strained. “What are you doing here? I thought I sent you home last night.”
“Well, I came back.” She shrugs, eyes glued to the papers. “I was planning on going home to change and grab some breakfast before you arrived, but here you are. Mr. Early Bird.”
“You should go now then,” I encourage. “Before everyone starts walking in, you can sneak out and get refreshed.”
“I have a few pages left in this folder and then I’ll go.”
She’s still lost in the thrill of the chase, oblivious to the panic stirring inside of me. I clear my throat and try to casually walk toward my desk. I have to figure out a way to get her out of here before—
“Knock, knock,” Isabella’s sing-song voice chimes as she throws the door open. Her eyes immediately fall on Kylie. “Oh, you already have your assistant working through the night. Very Frank Ronberry of you, Johnathan.”
“Oh, she was just leaving,” I stammer, sweat beading on my upper lip. “We can talk out in the hall while she—”
“Oh, I’m not concerned with the help. You know that.” She waves her hand and walks into the room. “I won’t be long, anyway. Like I said last night, I have a very busy day planned.”
“Of course.” I sigh, dropping my bag on my desk.
“We have some, let’s just say…business to discuss,” she states. “I thought we could discuss how we should proceed over dinner.”