AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I slowly pulled open the door and took a quick look inside. The scent of new leather filled my senses and right away I knew this car wasn’t one he had stored somewhere to assign to his newly hired executives. He had purchased this car especially for me.
After a quick look inside the car, and being totally blown away, River took hold of my hand and led me to the elevator. When he pressed the 45th floor, I knew my new office had to be on the same floor as his. Somehow, it didn’t surprise me at all that it would be. After all, why wouldn’t he want to keep me close?
River continued to hold my hand as he led me past the reception area and down another wide hallway. We were headed toward his office, and I was worried about where my new office would be.
“Good morning, Sarah,” he greeted his secretary. “Is everything ready for Ms. Scott’s new office?”
“Yes, sir. The IT department just finished setting up her computer,” she replied with a smile.
River gave her a quick smile before leading me to what would be my new office. When we walked past his office, I felt a sense of relief that I wouldn’t be sharing his office with him.
River stopped in front of a door less than 10 feet from where his office door was. When he pushed the door open, I had to hold my breath. He graciously stepped aside so I could walk past him. My eyes immediately fell upon the floor-to-ceiling windows that covered two sides of the large space. Standing near River, I couldn’t move.
“You will never have to worry about the view being taken away from you ever again,” he whispered as leaned over behind me and placed a kiss on my cheek.
Without a reply, I walked over to the tall windows to admire the view. As I looked out to the city, I couldn’t believe the magnificent view. I could see for miles, especially being forty-five floors up. River stepped up behind and wrapped his arms around my waist.
I turned toward him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. “This view is amazing. Thank you.”
Gently, he tilted his head and pressed his soft lips against mine in a sweet kiss. My heart fluttered as he whispered, “Let me show you the rest of your office.”
With my hand in his, River led me away from the expansive windows and past the sleek glass desk toward another door. As he pushed it open, a luxurious bathroom greeted us, complete with shiny white marble countertops and a large shower at the end. I was convinced it was all too extravagant. But then River’s finger tapped a control on the wall and a partition lowered, revealing a breathtaking view of the city. The thought of being seen while showering would normally make me self-conscious, but I couldn’t help but be amazed by the view from this height.
I never thought anything could top the breathtaking shower, but then River opened another door and my breath was nearly taken away once again. The room before me was a law library, filled with the rich scent of leather and the sight of countless shelves brimming with thick, leather-bound books. Though not as expansive as the one at the firm, these books appeared newer and more up-to-date, more than likely containing the most recent laws and codes.
“This is incredible,” I gasped as I turned to face River. “How were you able to do this?”
“You could say it’s a work in progress. If you find anything missing, just let Sarah know and she will get it for you.”
After seeing the office River had created for me, I almost hated going back to the one that waited for me at the firm. To prolong the inevitable, we stopped at a restaurant nearby and had lunch. River’s excuse was that I was on his time now and he didn’t want his new employee to start her afternoon on an empty stomach.
As we waited for the waitress to bring us our order, the soft chatter and clinking of glasses filled the surrounding air. My mind turned back to River’s conversation this morning, and my curiosity about a man named Niles was burning strong. If this mysterious Niles was connected to the information his friend had found on Drake, I felt like I deserved to know.
“I hate to put a damper on such a perfect day, but can you tell me who Niles is?” I asked hesitantly, knowing that River might not want to talk about him.
Silence hung between us for a moment and I could see from River’s expression that he was taken aback by my question.
“His name is Niles Harris,” he finally began, his tone tense. “But trust me, he’s not someone you want to know about.” His jaw clenched tightly at the mention of his name, making it clear that River held strong feelings of dislike toward this Niles person.
Though River’s warning was enough to make me wary, I couldn’t help but feel a spark of determination. Now, armed with a name, maybe I could do some digging and find out who this Niles Harris really was.
I had hoped that lunch with River would provide more answers and insights, but it only seemed to lead to more questions. Even the information his friend Davian Cross had uncovered about Drake seemed mysterious and cryptic. There was no denying that there were secrets being kept from me, and it made me realize that maybe it was time for me to start investigating Drake’s past on my own.
When our waitress came to the table to drop off the check, I excused myself to go to the ladies’ room. I knew River would oppose my decision, but instead of taking me back to Triage, I needed him to take me back to Black, Worth, and Shell. There were a few things I needed to do: namely, research Niles Harris. With River’s insistence on having Brian by my side—worried about Drake trying something—it wasn’t going to be easy. I just had to figure out a way to keep him out of my office. Drake was another I had to find out more about, but he would have to wait until I got home. The last thing I needed was to get caught researching him on my work computer. Hopefully, whatever information I found on either of them, I wouldn’t regret knowing.
~19~
River
Despite my adamant resistance to driving Harper to her office, she convinced me that she needed to tie up a few loose ends. My overprotective nature kicked in as I didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone while Drake was still free. The thought of him being out on bail made my blood boil, and Brian’s text only added fuel to the fire. I had given Brian strict instructions to keep Drake away from Harper at all costs.
As I drove away from the imposing law building, I couldn’t help but glance back one last time. Brian stood waiting patiently on the sidewalk for Harper. I could see them conversing before heading inside, with Harper most likely trying to convince Brian that she didn’t need him watching her every move. She was a strong-willed firecracker, and I knew she would try to convince Brian that she didn’t need a constant shadow. But what she didn’t know was that Brian’s loyalty lay with me, and what I said went.
When I pulled into my parking spot at Triage, I couldn’t help but glance over at the shiny Audi I had purchased specifically for Harper. Maybe it was excessive, but I wanted to ensure she had a reliable vehicle—one that was also equipped with tracking capabilities. Learning more about Drake and his connections only heightened my unease. Even after Jed Turner’s death, his affiliation with notorious criminal Crosby McCall lingered. And with McCall’s far-reaching influence, even behind bars, it wouldn’t surprise me if he had somehow orchestrated Niles’s escape.
Even though Jed Turner was dead, there was still Crosby McCall. With McCall still alive and pulling strings from within prison walls, no one was truly safe. And Harper being caught in the middle of it all—working closely with Jed Turner’s son—only added fuel to my burning determination to protect her at all costs. As much as I wanted to protect her and keep her safe from any potential danger, I couldn’t help but worry about what other secrets lay hidden within McCall’s web of deceit and corruption.
I strode determinedly into my corner office, ready to tackle the proposition that Dominic Rivera had so unexpectedly thrown at me. The deadline to give him an answer was quickly approaching, and I knew I had to make a decision soon. My plan was to discuss it further with Harper, but in the midst of all the chaotic events that had transpired over the past few days, it didn’t seem as pressing. Nevertheless, I felt obligated to meet with Dominic.
