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I KNEW TEDDY HAD A problem with me seeing Alyssa; that’s why I’d put her on speakerphone. I wanted to eliminate all doubt and prove that I had nothing to hide. Alyssa was beautiful, and no doubt she would attempt to woo me back into bed, but I wanted nothing to do with it. What kind of crazy bastard would turn his back on the most amazing woman just to throw it all away for a night of meaningless sex? Alyssa had had her chance, and she’d blown it. I loved her once, but the feeling had passed. Whatever she tried, I was immune to her charms.
Teddy said she was going to her brother’s house, and I couldn’t blame her. “I’ll call you when it’s over,” I promised.
“Thanks,” she replied, kissing me hungrily on the lips.
Whether it was a preview of things to come or just a way of marking her territory, I didn’t care. She got me worked up in a way Alyssa never could, and I would have the memory of that kiss to see me through the evening. With any luck, I would sew the meeting up in half an hour and have time to get together with Teddy later on. That was the game plan, though it was rough at the edges.
I drove home to change. We might not be dining at the Green Room, but I wasn’t going to get a foot in the door without the proper attire. I had just enough time to shower and shave before choosing one of my best suits for the task. Driving back downtown, I left my car with the valet, tipping him with a twenty to make sure nothing happened to my ride.
The hostess approached me, recognizing me from somewhere.
“Mr. Miller,” she said with a dazzling smile. “I don’t see your name on the list, but I’m sure we could scrounge something up.”
“No need,” I assured her. “I’m just meeting some people at the bar.”
“This way,” she demonstrated with a practiced flourish.
I’d been there enough times to know my way around. The formal dining area was to the left, and the bar slash waiting area was to the right. It wasn’t the kind of place where you went to eat pretzels and watch the game. It was more of a lounge with cocktails for the upper crust to wet their whistles while the staff prepared to accommodate them.
Alyssa was already there, standing at the bar, looking ravishing. She wore a tight-fitting red dress, a siren song if ever there was one. I caught at least a few of the younger men in the room staring at her, and a couple of the older ones as well. Her hair, either freshly washed or professionally blown out, cascaded down her back in a silky waterfall of color.
She turned gracefully at my entrance, her face lighting up as if she was happy to see me. I crossed the room, putting a hand on the bar beside her. The bartender came over immediately, sensing our importance. He didn’t ask for my order, just stood there until I waved him away.
“Hello, Brad,” Alyssa said.
“Hello, Alyssa,” I replied.
“Sorry I’m late.” My lawyer hustled up, straightening his tie. He held a briefcase in one hand and pushed his way between us to set it up on the bar. “Ms. Pierce.”
“Hello,” Alyssa said, pinching her nose up as if the word was distasteful.
“You said you wanted to talk,” I reminded her.
“I know what you must think of me,” she said, easing her way up onto a bar stool.
“This isn’t a social call,” I said, losing patience.
She sighed and looked down the bar, signaling the bartender to return. He appeared almost instantly, eager to take her order.
“I’ll have a glass of Prosecco, please,” she chimed.
The bartender complied, pouring her a fluted glass of the most expensive wine. I laid my credit card down in payment, and the bartender took it without a word. Alyssa nodded her head in thanks before taking a deep sip.
“So—” I encouraged her to pick up the pace.
“I feel really bad about what my father did,” she said finally. “Here’s proof.” She touched a folder that was sitting on the bar in front of her, something I hadn’t seen until just that moment. Laying one delicate finger in the center of the page, she slid it over to the lawyer.
“Why?” I demanded.
“I’m not a bad person,” she snapped. “Despite what you think about me, I didn’t ask him to do what he did. I didn’t actually think I was hurting anyone, but I can see that was naïve.”
“Won’t he be pissed?” I continued, needing to be sure that I wasn’t walking into a trap. I’d never known Alyssa to be forthcoming with information, much less the incriminating variety. How could I be sure that she wasn’t in cahoots with her father to throw us off the scent? Her protests to the contrary aside, she hadn’t ever demonstrated a conscience before.
“He will,” she agreed. “But I can handle him. He’s gone too far this time.”
My lawyer and I exchanged a sideways glance. This was too good to be true, but something in my attorney’s gaze kept me from saying so. He was a good poker player, but I could see the excitement buried deep in his eyes. Whatever he had seen in the folder was enough to pique his interest.
“Thank you,” I said.
“It was the least I could do,” she answered, draining her glass and setting it down. “I wish we could have conducted this business somewhere else.” She gave the lawyer a stern look, letting us both know how she felt about the chaperone.
I refused to answer that accusation. I didn’t want to face her alone. Not only would she try to get me into bed, but Teddy would never forgive me. Alyssa’s hurt feelings were of little consequence to me, and it was better to be safe than sorry.
“Are you sure your father won’t come after you?” I hesitated. I might not like her, but I didn’t want to see her hurt.
She laughed. “I’m his precious little daughter,” she explained. “I’m in no real danger, but thank you for caring.”
I coughed and looked away. She took that for what it was, a dismissal. Picking up her clutch, she walked away, but not without dragging a single finger across my bicep as she passed. Damning my masculine weakness, I could feel electricity surging from the source long after she disappeared. A dozen heads in the bar turned as she left the room, and a dozen wives and girlfriends narrowed their eyes suspiciously.
I turned to my lawyer, ready to hear the verdict. Raising a hand to the bartender, I ordered a Scotch. He delivered in record time, and I slammed two fingers back before focusing in on what my attorney had to say.
“This is great,” he enthused, showing me the contents of the folder.
It was a printout of a bank statement with a few redactions. Two transactions were highlighted, showing movement from one account to another. I could see that the account was in Alyssa’s name. That meant that the source of the funds must have been her father. With the numbers there, it would be easy enough to trace the originator of the transfer.
“We got him,” my lawyer said with a dramatic flourish.
I thumped him on the arm in celebration. The night was still early, and I had everything I needed to enjoy myself. With Nick Pierce’s neck on the line, I finally felt that things were going my way. I could collect what was due to the employees I had let go and put this whole ugly mess to bed.
Afterward, who knew what the future would hold? Maybe I could travel, or build up a new enterprise, or both. The world suddenly seemed like a much friendlier place, and with Teddy by my side, I couldn’t go wrong. It was time to share the good news.
“Have a drink,” I told my attorney, signaling to the bartender once again. “Put whatever he’s drinking on my tab.”
“That’s not necessary,” the lawyer objected.
“I insist,” I said, retrieving my card after the young man swiped it. “I’ll call you in the morning.”
“Okay,” the lawyer relented, turning his back on me to place his order.
I pushed my way out through the crowd, breaking out onto the street in the early darkness. The valet brought my car around, and I tipped him again. I was feeling generous. I was finally free of the noose brought on by Retro-related lawsuits, or at least I would be, as soon as we told Pierce what we had on him.
Pulling up to a stoplight, I reached for my phone. I wanted to see Teddy and tell her how well things had gone. She mentioned that she might be at her brother’s house, which was in the opposite direction as my home.
Meeting’s over, I texted Teddy. Can I come see you?
She answered just a second later, I’m at the office.
I wasn’t sure why she had gone back to work, but it didn’t matter. Retro was right around the corner, and it would take me no time to get there. I hit the gas when the light changed, taking the center lane straight to my destination.
