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Vested Setbox 1-7 1
BentleyI stepped outside and inhaled a lungful of air. After the past four days of steamy, oppressive heat, the rain that soaked the ground and broke the humidity had been a welcome relief. In the early morning hours, it was cool and fresh.“Your paper, sir,” Andrew, my houseman, said.I nodded and took my copy of The Globe and Mail, looking down the street, pleased to see my car approaching. As usual, Frank was on time, a fraction early, actually—the same as me.The car rolled up to the curb, and the rear passenger door opened. Aiden Callaghan, my head of security and right hand, eased his massive form out of the seat, and waved his arm with a flourish.“Your ride, Eminence.”Ignoring his tone and usual jibe, I slid into the back seat, snapping on the seat belt. I unfolded the paper, the newsprint still crisp and unblemished. Often, if Aiden grabbed the paper before I did, it was creased and smeared, the edges dark with coffee stains or sticky from whatever donut he was shoving in h
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It wasn’t one of the chain shops, but it was packed. I could smell the baked goods and rich scent of coffee in the air. People were everywhere, coming and going. All the tables were full, but I could see a few were getting ready to leave. I stood in line, tapping my foot impatiently, waiting my turn. I got my coffee in a takeaway cup, and added a cranberry-lemon scone to my order that looked tempting. After paying, I turned and scanned the room, scowling at the lack of an empty table. I walked farther into the store and rounded the corner, spying a vacant chair against the wall. At least I could sit and wait for a table.I strode toward the corner, cursing when my foot caught on something, sending me lurching to the left. Luckily, I kept hold of my coffee cup, but some of the contents spurted through the opening and landed on the table tucked behind the wall. My paper fell out from under my arm, and my cell phone skittered across the worn linoleum tiles.“Oh, shit,” a horrified voice
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I picked up my coffee. “I’ll find another place to sit. You can go back to studying.”Her hand shot out, grabbing my arm. I looked down at her fingers against the navy fabric of my suit—pale, small, and frail.“No, please, I was teasing. I do that when I’m nervous—make jokes and say things without thinking. I’m sorry.”I huffed and sat back down, unsure why I did so. She grimaced anxiously and plucked at the sleeve of her sweater.“I have a condition,” she announced.“I’m sorry?”“I get cold easily. I have really poor circulation. So, when you’re hot, I’m comfortable. When you’re cold, I’m freezing. That’s why I wear a sweater in the summer, and it’s why I’m sitting at this table. It’s sort of tucked away and the air conditioning doesn’t work well back here, so it’s not as popular.” She grinned, and a deep dimple appeared on her left cheek. “In the winter, it’s reversed, and it’s so hot here no one wants this table, but it’s perfect for me.”I realized she was trying to make up for he
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Bentley“Who was that?”I glanced over at Aiden with a shrug. “Some girl I spoke with in the coffee shop.”“You spoke with some girl?”“We had a conversation, yes.”“She’s hot. You get her number?”I rolled my eyes. “She’s a university student. I highly doubt she’s interested in spending time with a thirty-two-year-old man.”He looked concerned. “She looked older than the normal student. What’s her name?”“Emmy . . . I think.”“You think?”I waved my hand. “Inside joke.”He narrowed his eyes. “Did you approach her or did she approach you?”“For fuck sake, Aiden, don’t start. She isn’t someone out to get me. I was looking for a place to sit, and there was an empty chair at her table. I sat there. We chatted. No big deal.”I turned, checked for traffic, and hurried across the street, hoping Greg had finally made it into his office. Aiden was right beside me, mumbling.“It’s not like you to chat with someone, that’s all. Or say, ‘inside joke.’ Never mind the fact I saw her kiss your chee
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I waved my hand. “It’s not the first time. It’s a couple of anonymous, vague notes.”“And pictures of you that mysteriously appear.”I had to admit those were troublesome, but I shrugged. “They want me to back off. They see what I do—the huge potential in a once overlooked area of the city. If I step back, they’ll move in and do exactly what I am going to do, making themselves a fortune.”“There are other projects. Other ways to make money.”“I’m not letting some coward hide behind miles of paperwork and numbered companies, and scare me off. No one is going to kill me over a land deal.”“Stranger things have been known to happen,” Aiden interjected. “You’re not taking this seriously enough.”“And you’re taking it way too seriously. We’ve dealt with this in the past.”“I don’t like it. This situation feels different.”Greg reclined in his chair, contemplative. “I agree with Aiden, it does.”I looked between them. “Well, I never thought I would see the day the two of you agreed on somet
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“Mr. Callaghan?”“He won’t be joining us.”His lips thinned, but he didn’t say anything. The drive was silent, as I read my paper undisturbed. When we arrived, I stepped out. “I’ll call you when I’m ready. It will be about an hour.”He drove off, and I crossed the street. I tugged down my shirtsleeves, feeling edgy. I didn’t know if she’d be there. Perhaps she wouldn’t want to speak with me again. I had been rather short with her. I thought how much I liked the soft press of her lips on my cheek, and the way her voice sounded in my ear. I straightened my shoulders. I was being ridiculous. Chances were, I would get a coffee and a scone, and head to Greg’s office.But if I was being truthful, I hoped she would be at her table.I pulled open the door and joined the line. It was as busy as yesterday. This time, I got a larger coffee, and was pleased to see a pile of scones. Cinnamon raisin today. After adding one to my order and paying, I went directly to the back, making sure there was n
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He shoved it into his pocket and nodded. “For now.” “What did you give him?”“My name, address, and date of birth. He can work for the rest.”“You didn’t have to do that, Emmy,” I assured her, pushing aside the memories of his remarks yesterday about vetting her.“It’s fine. He takes his job seriously.”I cleared my throat. “Sorry about that.”“He cares about you.”“Yeah, he is a good friend, and I’d be lost without him.”“Yet, you came here alone?”“I wanted to see you, and I thought he might make you uncomfortable.”I wasn’t sure how to tell her the actual truth. I wanted to spend a little time with her, alone, as me. Bentley, the man. Not the person who needed protection. Just me.“It’s fine, Rigid. I’m good with it.”I met her gaze, her eyes bright in the light. They were warm, intelligent, gentle, and so dark they looked like the richest espresso you would sip in the early morning hours; the kind that brought you to life.Strangely, that was how I felt when I sat across from her
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BentleyAiden didn’t say a word as we crossed the street. I knew he was behind me, but I didn’t acknowledge him. He was silent in the elevator, and aside from a nod to Greg, remained that way as I went through the documents, making sure the wording was what I wanted. I signed and handed them back to Greg.“I want to meet next week about my bid.”“I assumed as much. Wednesday?”I glanced through my schedule, and before I replied, added Emmy to Friday. Simply seeing the words on my phone made me happy.“Something funny?”I glanced up. “No. I needed to add something before I forget.” As if I could possibly forget. “Wednesday is good.”He tapped away at his computer. “Okay. See you next week. I’ll come to the office?”“No, I’ll come here.”He regarded me curiously. “That’s twice you’ve come to me. What’s going on with you? We usually meet in your office.”I shrugged. “Trying to be accommodating.”He threw back his head, laughing loud. “Good one. Now, really. What’s going on?”Ignoring him
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