We pulled into the empty parking lot and parked in front of the main entrance. The building was closed for the workday, but I had a master key.
“Let’s see what we can find.” Unlocking the door, we stepped inside. The factory floor was quiet and still, with rows of machinery standing dormant like silent sentinels. There was nothing particularly special about the place; just another production line churning out the latest trend. The metal framework stretched high above, supporting the ceiling and various ventilation systems. A few workstations were scattered throughout, each with their own set of tools and equipment.
“Doesn’t look like anything special.” Bryce echoed my thoughts.
“Let’s check the office,” I suggested, leading the way toward a small room at the far end of the factory floor. It was cramped, cluttered with paperwork and files. I sifted through them, searching for anything that might reveal why Liam was so interested in this place.
“Tim went through the financial statements, but maybe he missed something.” My fingers danced over spreadsheets and invoices, looking for any hint of a financial anomaly, but there was no significant wealth to be gained by buying out this company. It was just another mediocre business in a sea of similar ventures.
“Nothing here,” I muttered, frustration gnawing at me. Why did Liam want this place? What was he hiding?
Before Bryce could reply, a sudden noise from the factory floor tore through the silence, making us both jump. We exchanged a glance before racing out to investigate.
As we neared the source of the sound, the pungent smell of smoke hit us like a wall. One of the machines had caught a spark, and the small flame was greedily licking at its metal frame.
“What the fuck?” I scanned the factory floor, trying to come up with a plan of action. Panic surged through me as I grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher, Bryce doing the same.
Together, we aimed at the growing blaze and pulled the triggers. The cold spray shot out violently, smothering the flames and choking out their oxygen supply. Within moments, the fire was out, leaving only wisps of smoke in its wake.
Breathing heavily, I stood there with my hands on my hips. Gods, what would have happened if we hadn’t been there? The entire factory could have burned to the ground.
“I don’t understand what the hell just happened.” I turned to Bryce. “How could the equipment spontaneously burst into flames when everything was turned off?”
Bryce rubbed his chin and looked around. “Wait. I’ve got an idea.” He disappeared into one of the back rooms, returning a few minutes later with a triumphant look on his face. “The noise we heard earlier was a circuit breaking.”
“Shit. How is that possible?” I frowned. I was meticulous about maintenance for all my companies. Our machinery was top tier. Nothing broke on a whim, and it sure as shit didn’t catch fire out of damn thin air.
“Accidents happen,” Bryce said. “Maybe maintenance missed that and one of the circuits was faulty.”
“Maybe,” I said reluctantly. “Sure, accidents happen, but something about this doesn’t sit right with me. With everythinggoing on with Liam, I wonder if it was done on purpose. What are the chances a fire would break out at the exact time we were here?” I locked eyes with Bryce, whose expression turned serious.
“I’m putting Isaiah on this. We need answers.”
84
LIZA
The pungent aroma of freshly diced garlic and simmering beef swirled around me while I attempted to focus on the task at hand. My mind, however, was a chaotic tornado of revelations. My father’s infidelity, a brother I never knew existed—it was all too much to process.
The sizzling pan hissed, mocking me, as if to say,You’re screwed, Liza Keller. No matter what you do or say, your parents’ pasts will continue to haunt you until the end of fucking time.
Touché, cast-iron skillet. Touché.
“Hey, Liza,” Rosalie piped up, slicing through my thoughts like only a young, no-care-in-the-world person could, and in a sing-song voice, no less. “How long do we need to let the beef wellington bake?”
I blinked, forcing myself back to the present. “Erm, about twenty-five minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown.” I shook my head, trying to clear away the haze. “Sorry for spacing out. You’re doing great, by the way.”
Rosalie stared at me, her blue eyes narrowing. “You’ve been out of it lately. Not to make you feel bad, I’ve just noticed you don’t quite seem yourself. Is everything okay?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” I lied, forcing a smile. “But you know what? You can go for the day if you want. You deserve it. I’ll pay you for a full day. It’s my fault that I can’t quite stay on task.”
Before she could protest, I held up a finger. “Wait right here.” I dashed out of the kitchen and into my office, grabbing the envelope containing Rosalie’s first paycheck. It was a tangible reminder of the hard work she’d put in since joining my team.
I returned to find Rosalie stirring a pot of red wine reduction, her face flushed from the heat. “Here,” I said, holding out the check. “You’ve been the perfect assistant, and I’m really looking forward to working with you more.”
“Thanks, Liza.” She accepted the envelope with a nod. “But I think I’ll stick around. There’s so much still to do. We haven’t even started on the orders for the entrée for Mrs. Jacobson’s party. I don’t want you to be more overwhelmed than you already are.”
“Rosalie, you’re a good kid. I appreciate it.” I was truly touched by her sense of loyalty and work ethic, and I wished more people had her internal moral compass.
