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Jalen’s heart stopped. What was he supposed to say to that? Luckily, Riley smiled and took care of it. “I’m his assistant.”
“Oh?” The woman adjusted her purse. “How long have you worked for him?”
Riley shot a look at Jalen. “A while.”
“Well, you would make a cute couple. I thought I saw you together last night, and I assumed you were on a date.” She winked. The woman wouldn’t stop fiddling with her purse. It made him nervous.
“Where are you from?” Riley asked, deftly changing the subject.
“California.” The woman took a step closer to him. “That’s where you’re from, right?” she asked him.
Why was this woman making him feel so uncomfortable? He nodded out of politeness.
“Do you fly out on Saturday?” the woman asked.
“Uh-huh.”
Riley walked around to her side of the machines. “This one is a better washer,” she said, pointing. Her elbow bumped the woman’s purse, and it fell to the floor. A camcorder shot out of it, clattering across the tile.
“She’s a tabloid reporter!” Riley yelled.
Evan rushed to get the woman, but she jumped out of his reach and grabbed for Jalen, catching his shirt in her hand. “The people have a right to know who you are!”
Jalen stumbled backwards, his shirt ripping at the shoulder, exposing his scars. Evan was there in a flash, apprehending the woman and pulling her away. “I’ve got her,” he said.
Jalen held his shirt closed, his heart racing. Of course, she would have ripped it where his scars could be seen. He wasn’t sure how apparent they’d been, though. Had she seen? Had Riley?
Evan dragged the woman out of the room while Riley picked up the camcorder. “I’ll erase what she got.”
“Thanks,” he said, his nerves making his stomach tight. “How did you know she was a tabloid reporter?”
“She kept positioning her purse to get you on film. And I could see the hole she’d cut out.” She pointed to the purse, and Jalen studied it.
“That’s so small. You saw that?”
Riley nodded, a look crossing her face that he couldn’t interpret. She messed with the camera, then handed it to him. “I think I got it. Want to double check?”
He pushed the play button, but the display said there was no file. “Looks good.” He shoved it back into the purse. “I’ll have Evan return this to her.”
“Are you going to press charges?” Riley stared at the rip in his shirt. The one he was holding shut.
“No.” The woman didn’t hurt him. He just needed to go change. It wasn’t a big deal, but it did make him glad he’d brought the full detail of security that he did. He should be careful. There could be more reporters out to expose him.
Chapter 19
Riley’s pulse raced as she stared at the door, the image of Shadow and his ripped shirt still fresh in her mind. His shoulder…had she seen what she’d thought she’d seen? Scars on his skin? The same burn scars that marred Jalen’s face. That had to mean that Jalen was Shadow, right?
She took a ragged breath in, all the pieces fitting together. She’d wondered why Shadow knew everything she told Jalen. He must have used a body double dressed as Shadow coming into the lobby. And all the photos of them together were done on purpose, to make people believe they were two different people.
Yet, she’d gotten a text from Jalen while she was with Shadow. How had he done that? Riley pulled out her phone and looked at the number. Jalen had said it was his new number. She had to know for sure, that Jalen was Shadow, before she wrote an article.
One press of the button and her phone dialed him. A recording played. “The number you have dialed is invalid. Please try again.”
Riley stabbed at the red hang-up button. He’d faked the texts. That had to be it. She’d figured it out. She knew who Shadow Walker was!
Her elation was short lived as the conversation from earlier played back in her mind.What would happen if the world found out who you are?
My career would be ruined.
