I blinked and turned around, but she had her back to me. Her words in response to something Martin had said. Of course, I wasn’t jealous.
“Sweet.” She laughed again. “Okay. I got it. I’ll see you at the briefing at four.”
She hung up the phone and turned. Her eyes grew extra wide.
“Is that all, Mr. Carmichael?”
It was Mr. Carmichael now.
“Yes, Ms. Stands.” I stepped out of her office and closed the door behind me. I made it to my office, but didn’t pause for a second. The anguish on Collin’s face didn’t help. He'd screwed up. He knew the depth of his mistake, and his sensitive soul tormenting him was punishment enough.
“I’ll be out with Kyler for the rest of the night.” I checked my phone. “Call if anything comes up. See you tomorrow.”
I knew it was shitty to leave him to stew on what he did. But it appears exactly what Kylie was going to do with me.
We could all suffer alone, together.
CHAPTER 13
KYLIE
Patrick didn’t show up for the briefing at four. Collin was gone by the time I went back to close my office. The matter was done and over with, but I had to get some context. I felt like I hadn’t heard the whole story and was kicked out of the movie before the previews.
Did he really have a crush on me? Why would he? I wasn’t anything special, and from our discussions, not what he was looking for.
I was so confused and mentally drained, holding something in my gut with no outlet or end in sight. My little would have to wait until my mission was over.
When he walked in, I had been going through some employee files. A report I had generated gave me a list of new hires at Grant Enterprises corresponding with FBI raids based on Grant provided information. It further confirmed my theory when I discovered Rayna and Tinley were both on Grant Enterprises' payroll, too.
Some people I discovered, their salaries were unknown, their employment onboarding went outside the usual HR channels. Much like my own.
After a while, none of it made sense, and my brain was not in the right state to decipher it.
Maybe pizza would help.
I found my way to Luciana’s by the Slice in Quad I, drawn by the scent of baking dough and garlic. The place mimicked a real New York joint, right down to the row of massive pizza ovens dominating the back wall. An assortment of pies sat under the glass case, guarded by three guys in white t-shirts and striped aprons. They were loud; their New York accents were too authentic to be faked.
“Kylie!” they said in unison as I walked to the counter. “You want the usual?” The one named Tony asked. I think they were all named Tony, or some version of it.
“Yes, please.”
He winked and slid my hot pepperoni and mushroom slice into the oven to warm up. Tony handed me my drink, a cherry cola made old-school with actual cherry syrup. “Pizza will be out in a minute.”
“Thank you.” I nodded and leaned against the wall to wait when I spotted a familiar face. The one I had seen in photos and through a phone screen a few hours ago. In every photo, Tyler Grant had the same look—chin down, eyes somewhere else, like he was already leaving whatever room he was in. In person he was tall and thin, flannel buttoned wrong over a white tank, the sleeves rolled with more care than the rest of him. He was holding hands with a man who stood even taller, his own flannel fitted, tucked, and buttoned with precision. Tyler was laughing at something he’d said, his whole body loose and easy, like a knot that had finally come undone.
They passed by me, straight to the counter.
“Oh, that looks good.” He pointed at a pie. “We getting a whole one? Or we can get different slices.”
“What does Rayna want?” Maddox, I assumed. I’d only seen a corporate headshot of him. Easily recognizable, too. He was handsome and even taller up close.
Tyler pulled out his phone.
“Pepperoni with a copious amount of ranch on the side and hot honey.” I don’t know why I spoke up; they weren’t talking to me. But my brain knew the answer and figured I could help.
They both turned to look down at me.
“Well, the ranch, no duh.” Tyler grinned. “You must know Rayna if you know about her insane ranch addiction.”
