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“Good.”
The man pauses before hesitantly adding, “If you don’t mind my saying so, that’s quite a large amount. I mean, it barely affects your pockets, but it’s not chump change.”
Bryan has been with me for several years. His father used to be my father’s accountant. It’s almost like a family thing. But I’m reluctant to share the details even with him.
“It’s a private matter. By the way, did you find the ring?”
A sigh on his end. “I’m not your errand boy, you know.”
I raise a brow. “Is that a yes or a no?”
“Found it, got it polished, and sent someone to bring it to you. You’ll get it tomorrow.”
I grin. “Good job.”
“I’m also not your dog.”
Once I end the call, I relax into my seat. My mood lighter, I get to my feet, wanting to go in search of Lana.
She’s not in her office. I find her talking to Elise, who has dark circles under her eyes.
“You tell me who did this now,” Lana says angrily. Elise just shakes her head, her voice hoarse. “I’m telling you it was an accident.”
“What’s going on?” I ask. Elise pales even more if possible as she squeaks out, “Nothing!”
Lana, however, looks like she’s close to lopping somebody’s head off. She grabs Elise’s wrist, showing me the finger marks on her arm. “See? They weren’t there this morning. She won’t tell me who did this!”
Elise wrenches her arm away, holding it protectively to her chest. “I told you it was nothing.”
There’s a panicked glint in her eyes, and I feel a flare of anger. “Someone hurt you.”
Elise has always been someone I’ve genuinely liked. She’s a good-natured woman whose cheerfulness is addictive. Seeing her like this, wide-eyed and frantic, upsets me.
“Who did this to you, Elise?”
Elise purses her lips, color flooding her face.
Footsteps approach from behind us, Lucas’s voice reaching my ears. “Hey, what’s going—Elise?”
Elise’s eyes are filling with tears. Lucas covers the distance between them in large strides just as the receptionist throws herself in his arms, something so unlike her. He bundles her in his arms, glowering at us. “What the hell did you say to her?”
Lana looks guilty, and I put my hand on her shoulder. “We are concerned about the marks on her arm.”
“And she refused to tell you, so you kept going at her?” Lucas sounds angry. It’s rare to see the lawyer so pissed off. His usually relaxed veneer is stripped away. I can see the darkness lurking underneath, and I find it intriguing.
“Please, I really don’t want to talk about it,” Elise murmurs, wiping her eyes but not pulling away from Lucas.
“Very well.” I nod. When I see Lana hesitate, I drag her away. As I see the way Lucas is comforting Elise, I have to wonder how close the two have become.
Lana is quiet throughout the elevator ride. She’s so lost in her thoughts she doesn’t seem to notice the way I’m trailing after her to her office. Annoyed I’m being ignored, I bump her with my shoulder. She jumps. “Wha—”
“What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing. I just—” She shifts uncomfortable. “I didn’t mean to make Elise cry.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “I know you didn’t. She’ll talk to you when she’s ready.”
She pushes open the door to her office. “I know, but—” Her words trail off, and I see a man standing in the middle of her office, his hands awkwardly tucked in his jacket.
