Sitting behind her desk, deep in thought, Sable went over each document, guests itineraries, and the final planning stages for the grand opening. Nothing can go wrong; both her father and Stephen had worked hard on this project, and she wanted to make sure that everything was ready.
So engrossed in her thoughts, she did not hear her office door opening; it was the chilling sound of Brad Chadwick’s voice, that penetrated her intense focus.
“Hello Sable Van Cleef…may I come in?” he said with soft menace. He did not wait for her to respond, but walked in and closed the door securely behind him.
Sable did not move. She did not answer him. “Well…” walking slowly toward her desk, “working late, are we?” The question was a dumb one, and they both knew it, but Brad always liked playing games.
Sable still had not moved nor said one word. She remembered just how dangerous Brad Chadwick could be, a slight shiver of fear skipped through her body.
Eyeing Brad like a rabbit cornered by a fox, she allowed both her hands to fall easily into her lap. She did not like the idea that he had closed her office door, so without his knowledge, she activated a panic button under her desk.
Her father had it installed in all top executive offices after one of his executives, was shot dead by a jealous husband. Stephen now occupied that position.
“What do you want, Brad?” She finally asked, calmly observing him from a safe distance…behind her desk. She had not gotten up, but leisurely pushed her chair further from her desk. The more distance between them, the better she thought.
Brad smiled. “What do I want? Funny you should ask.” He paused; the smile on his lips did not reach his eyes. “I thought since the mall will be officially opening tomorrow…that you and I could do some celebrating tonight.” He was walking toward her slowly. Stalking, like a predator.
Reaching for her phone, Brad grabbed the receiver and placed it on the desk. Sable heard the faint sound of the dial tone. “Didn’t anyone every tell you that it was unsafe to work…” he looked around her office as if to emphasize a point, “…in an empty office building…” pausing, he reached out in an attempt to touch her cheeks, “all by yourself?”
Turning her head aside, the thought of him putting his hands on her sickened her. “Brad…I want you to leave right now; we have nothing to discuss.”
Sable maintained what she hoped was a calm stance, but inside, she was shaking from fear. Brad walked around her desk as if he had not heard her.
“Oh no, Sable Van Cleef…we have unfinished business…I told you years ago that we would have our time together…and tonight we will.”
The determination in his voice was all too clear. Sable visibly starting to shake, unconsciously reached for her letter opener. Just as Brad viciously grabbed Sable by the arm, a deadly calm voice at the door vibrated throughout the office.
“Take your hands off her or you’re a dead man.” Stephen was walking by the security desk when he heard the panic alarm. The guard was in the men’s room, so he went to investigate.
Turning toward the door, Brad saw that Stephen was more than ready to defend Sable. Relaxing his grip on Sable’s arm, he unhurriedly walked from around her desk, acting as if he was adjusting his jacket, brushing off imaginary lint.
“Mr. Hart.” He said it, as if Stephen’s name were a bad taste in his mouth. “This is not what it looks like. The lady and I are old acquaintances, isn’t that right, Ms. Van Cleef?” contempt for them both ringing in his voice. Sable said nothing.
Fury. Stephen looked calm as he spoke, but dark fury radiated through and around him. “Mr. Chadwick,” he spoke quietly, slowly. “This building is closed. I don’t know how you got in, but it is time for you to leave…now.”
His eyes briefly lingered on Sable, who still had not said anything since Stephen came into the room. Turning to leave, Stephen gripped his arms painfully. “Wait one moment, Mr. Chadwick. I’ll have security escort you out.”
Releasing Brad from his grip, before he hit him, Stephen picked up the phone and rang for security.
Stephen made sure, that Brad Chadwick was not only out of the building, but off the property as well. When he was satisfied, he then thoroughly questioned the security guard, who stated he had not known that Mr. Chadwick was in the building. Stephen was furious. He made a mental note, that he would find out how security was breached. There was too much at stake.
When he got back to Sable’s office, she was still sitting at her desk. Sable sat as still as granite, staring into space, holding a letter opener, which Stephen was sure that Brad Chadwick did not know she had.
“Sable?” Stephen called her name softly. “Sable,” he said again quietly. When she did not answer him, he said, “sweetheart…look at me,” he commanded gently.
Fearful eyes gazed up at Stephen. He knew from looking into Sable’s eyes, that she was remembering what had happened to Lorna. Painfully remembering Sable telling him, that she would die before she let any man do to her, what was done to Lorna. Stephen wanted to kill Brad Chadwick with his bare hands.
Stephen, slowly taking the letter opener from Sable’s trembling fingers, gently pulling her into his arms. She did not speak. But Stephen could feel, the residue of fear skipping throughout her body, as her trembling arms held onto him so tightly, that his heart ached for her.
Holding her even more closely, he vowed silently, but venomously, if anyone ever want to hurt her, they would first have to go through him.