Chapter Twenty-Two

“Mr. Harris is here to see you.”

Gary glanced up from the blueprint. Elspeth was standing in the doorway to his office. “Excuse me?”

“Mr. Harris is here. He’s early.” Elspeth pursed her lips with disapproval.

It was a common name. It could be anyone. Gary realized he was on his feet and Elspeth was looking at him. “Who arranged the meeting?” Early implied he had an appointment.

“Percival. He wanted to take it himself.”

“He isn’t here.” It had to be Adriana’s father. Of course, Percival would call him in. Ask questions, take the direct approach. Gary should have seen it coming. Maybe it was better Perce wasn’t here.

“The meeting was supposed to be tomorrow.”

“Never mind. I have time. Show him in.” Gary looked around the room. This was his office, his territory. Soundproofed. The situation could be controlled. “And bring us coffee, Elspeth. Not herbal tea. Coffee.” It came out sounding shorter than he’d intended.

“I’ll be right back.” Elspeth picked up the nearly full cup of chamomile tea sitting on his desk, cold by now, and frowned. But she had the sense not to comment as she took the cup away with her.

Sun streaming through the windows. Gary’s thoughts raced. Face Harris from behind the desk? It would look like he was on the defensive. They’d sit at the conference table. Gary chose the chair facing the door. Footsteps coming down the hall. The same long decisive steps, bordering on impatience. Gary sat, leaned forward, and rested his elbows on the table.

Oliver Harris walked in. It was like being wrenched into the past. Adriana’s father hadn’t changed. Harris still had a presence that demanded respect. The same ease, same control. Gary stood, held out his hand.

Harris ignored it. Fair enough. Harris looked around the room, one long hard glance, longer at the desk. At the solid carved oak, the embossed leather insert. The carpet. The painting on the wall. Then he turned to Gary, taking in his suit, the watch, gold and steel.

“What can I do for you?” Gary gestured to the seat across from him.

Harris remained standing. So Gary stayed on his feet. Their eyes met and the force of the anger in them took Gary aback. “You’ve done well for yourself.”

Harris was thinner. Shadows beneath his eyes. More lines. Gray at the temples. Two years had left a mark. “We’ve been lucky.” Careful.

“Lucky, yes. I’d say you have been. So far.” Harris picked up a glass paperweight, turning it over in his hand, watching the play of light. Below the surface, surrounded by pearled air pockets, blackberries were suspended within. “You are aware that I advised Graylenn to cancel their contract with you.”

“You were also responsible for the loss of the Berkely account, McConeray Systems, to name a few, and I’m sure many more as well.”

“Ah, you drew the connection.” A smile now, pulling at the corner of his mouth.

Gary kept his tone neutral. “But my colleague arranged this meeting.”

“A request from you, I assume.” Fingers tightening on glass. “Let someone else take care of your problem. Such a weak response.”

Gary checked his temper. Smiled instead. “It was his own initiative.”

The glass sphere tilted, reflections fragmenting. Blackberries remaining frozen, static. The set of Harris’s chin was like Adriana’s when she got the upper hand. “Isn’t Graylenn why I’m here?”

“I imagine that is why he called you, yes.”

“To ask me to stop?”

“To ask you why.”

That had his attention. “He doesn’t know?” Amusement flickered.

No lies. Gary owed Adriana that. “He thinks Adriana’s bodyguard works for Fenris Securities. He believes that’s why you’re turning away our clients.” Draft on the back of his neck again. The muscles were starting to cramp.

The laugh shook Harris’s shoulders. A hard sound. “And that makes it easier, doesn’t it? No awkward questions. No guilt. No justifications.” That last word ground out between his teeth.

“I’m sorry.” Gary rested his hands on the table. “If I could turn back time, I would.”

The paperweight fell to the floor, as Harris brought his fist down on the table with a crack. “Sorry is not good enough!” The surface of the table reverberated beneath Gary’s palms. The paperweight rolled over the carpet, flashing with each rotation, until it settled against the bookcase. “You told me you’d find the person who killed her. But he’s standing right in front of me. She’s dead, because of you.” Finger trembling as he pointed. “You made a mistake. You failed. And yet, here you are.” Harris spread his arms wide, taking in the space around them. “Living your life. Successful. Well off.”

“I would have done anything for her.”

“You should have taken the bullet.”

Yes, he should have. “What do you want?”

“I want you to suffer.” Harris leaned closer, tobacco on his breath, voice lowered to barely more than a whisper, “I want you to never forget.”

“Trust me, I haven’t.”

The door opened and Elspeth entered, carrying a tray. “Coffee, as requested.” Reproach in her voice. She moved between them, oblivious to the tension, setting out cups, saucers, spoons, sugar.

“I won’t be staying.” Harris straightened, adjusted his jacket. “You can continue telling lies, Fenris. But it’s going to get harder. You can be sure of that.” He selected a cookie off the plate, sugar coating his fingertips. Bit into it as he strode out of the office, leaving a trail of crumbs in his wake.

Elspeth set down the pot of coffee she’d been about to pour. “What was that about?”

Gary waited until he was sure Harris was gone before answering. “The past, Elspeth. It was about the past.”