“Bonnie,” I said slowly, trying to infuse her with a sense of calm I didn’t feel. “She’s not going torecordme.”
Wasshe?
“You have no idea what she might do. You don’t know this woman, and there’s money involved. And please don’t forget that the lift thing could have been a lot worse. Just because Novexia doesn’t own the car park doesn’t mean we don’t have RIDDOR duties. I’ve got legal looking into it.”
“I appreciate you.”
“Fuck off, Liam, this is serious. You’re the CEO of a pharmaceutical company now—you’re more of a target than you’ve ever been.”
It was almost as if Bonnie expected Andrea to whip out her phone and open Voice Memo.
“You’re overly concerned. Andrea isn’t—”
“Save it,” she said. “This could go south very quickly, especially with the power imbalance, so keep your wits about you. You can afford a lawsuit, but a hit to your reputation couldbury us. If this thing ends up in the media, you can kiss your plans for Novexia goodbye for good.”
*
“Andrea?”
She stopped, one leg through the gap, left hand grasping an iPhone and an orange pen. There was a notebook gripped under her armpit. The other hand struggled to push open the heavy fire door that led to the service stairs.
“Oh,” she said. “I was just—” Her jaw tightened, and I pretended not to notice.
“Let me get that for you.” I reached for the door and pulled it open into the stairwell. She looked up and then away quickly, like she couldn’t stand to look at me.
Ouch.
“Thanks.” The word was clipped.
Still ten minutes till our meeting. I hadn’t planned on bumping into her like this, climbing the service stairs. I’d wanted to get my words sorted. I wasn’t ready.
Keep it professional, Liam.
“Well.” I tried a light laugh. “I was just—”
“Me too,” she said at the same time, with a wave of the phone toward the staircase. The pen flew out of her hand and landed by my foot. It had a pink pompom on the end. I handed it back to her, ignoring the slight blush in her cheeks.
Fuck. This was all my fault. No way she was a calculating extortionist like Bonnie was making her out to be.
They’re basically paid to manipulateyou.
No. Bonnie was paranoid.
“You’re… ah… taking the stairs then?” I asked. Dear God. What else might she be doing here, hosting a dinner party? Of course she was, after what had happened.
“Safer than the lift.” She glanced at me coldly, her expression unreadable.
I wished it could have been like it was in her apartment again. Before I’d fucked everything up.
“Right.” I cleared my throat. “No risk, of—um—” I made a downward gesture with my right hand to indicate falling.
“No.” She frowned, like I was an idiot.
Fuck. Was that movement suggestive?
Eyes forward, Liam. Lock itdown.
“I mean, of mechanical failure.”
