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A few steps more and she saw TBK’s building come into view. It sat next to the O’Leary Tower and was as different from it as night and day. It looked like a giant mirrored box.
“Ta-da,” Eric said with a grin. “Welcome to TBK Destiny.”
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this is beautiful. Be honest, you had more say in the design than Scott.”
“Damn, there’s little that gets past you. Yes. Scott’s been the lead on all the other TBK locales’ architecture. He built the mansion, so when we decided to put a building in our hometown, I took charge.”
“It’s so different from your home.”
“Come on inside. You’ll recognize Scott’s input here and there.” Eric took her hand and squeezed. “But it is mostly me in there.”
They walked into the building through the massive glass doors. To their left a guard sat behind a large desk, also made of glass. A small reception area with white leather modern sofas sat opposite him. Another set of doors, also of glass but this time frosted so she couldn’t see beyond, stood right in front of them.
“Hello, Mr. Knight.”
“Terrence, how are you?”
“I’m fine. I have Mrs. Lunceford’s badge right here, just as you requested.” Terrence handed him a plastic card.
“Thanks.” Eric gave it to her. “This grants you access into the building.” He waved good-bye to the guard and led her to the door. “All you have to do is swipe your badge like this.” He took his own card and demonstrated. She heard a buzzing noise. Eric pulled the door open. “Time to clock in, little one.”
Stepping through the door, she gasped at the beauty in the massive open space. It looked like a piece of art. The walls reminded her of paper origami in several shades of white, seeming to fold and twist into itself. Clean lines in the furnishing and indirect lighting gave a sense of order. There were no cubicles here but tidy workspaces with large monitors, three to a person. It looked more like a science fiction spaceship than an office.
“I don’t see Scott’s influence here.”
“Good eye. Let’s get you settled in.”
“I’d like that. There’s an empty desk over there by the window.”
Eric put his arm around her. “This isn’t your floor, little one.”
He led her to the bank of elevators. “Try your card on the reader, Megan.”
“You have to use your card to use the elevator here at TBK?”
“The projects we work on are sensitive. The higher the floor, the greater the sensitivity and the more clearance and background checks are required.”
“Have you run a background check on me?”
“No need. Dylan got the scoop on you when we were trying to sue you. You’re clean.”
She swiped her card and the elevator doors opened. They walked in.
Eric punched the top-floor button. When the elevator stopped, the door didn’t open immediately. A voice came through a speaker. “This is the executive level. Please swipe your card and enter your access code number on the keypad below for entry to this level.”
“You weren’t kidding about security, Eric.”
“I wasn’t. There’s more. You’ll see. Only TBK execs and a few other employees can reach this floor. Scott and I are the only TBK executives in Destiny. Well, now you.”
“I’m not an executive, Eric. I’m your personal assistant.” For three months? She’d forgotten about the time frame in all the swirl of the past couple of days. That was the contract. No more. No less. Her gut tightened at the thought.
“Whatever,” he said with a laugh. “Your badge works here, too. I gave you the same number as mine. Later, you’ll need to pick your own number. Right now, mine is synced to your badge. Zero-nine-two-eight-two-zero-zero-one. Try it again.”
The card reader was just above the keypad. She swiped it as instructed.
“Perfect,” he said. “Now the keypad.”
She entered the numbers by memory. “That’s a date, right?”
