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“You thought he held back?”
“Fuck, yeah. Kels, that guy can’t be trusted. You could tell he wanted to say way more. If Michelle had been alone, I think he would have used being bigger to intimidate her. I’m skipping Anderson. I’m taking these straight to Susan.”
He holds up the notepad I’d passed back to him.
“Do me a favor, Murph. Before you do that, type it all up. Email it to Anderson, Kelsey, and me. Save it on two clouds. Then take it to Susan.”
“You don’t trust these not to get lost.”
That’s exactly how I feel.
“I just want you protected. If other people have a copy, and there're copies saved digitally, then I feel better about you stepping forward.”
I look at Kelsey as she shifts her weight again.
“I’ll type up my observations, too. I’ll send it to both of you and Anderson and Susan. He gives me the creeps.”
“Thank you. I need to go, but I’ll be back in a couple hours. I have a meeting downtown.”
I leave the bullpen and swing over to Anderson’s office. I knock, and he invites me in. If he didn’t have windows that look out to the bullpen, I would leave the door open a crack for propriety, considering why I’m here.
“Michelle, why did I see a man head to your office while you were meeting with another client?”
“That was Marco Mancinelli.”
I see his shock then his recognition. He at least recognizes the last name. I pray that’s for the better, and I’m not about to get fired.
“I’m dating Marco’s younger brother, Lorenzo. He was here to pick me up for lunch because he was closer than Lorenzo. My boyfriend called to tell me Marco was coming, and it happened to be while Simon Shapiro was in the process of telling Kelsey and Murphy to leave him alone with me.”
“What?”
He pops out of his chair, his hands fisted.
“He’s not pleased that the landowner wants a thirty percent down payment. The long and the short of it is he’s threatening to withhold ten percent from us to make up for what he claims is extra for the down payment. I told he could do that, but he wouldn’t remain the top donor. It didn’t go over well. He started the meeting by calling me Michelle while I continued to call him Mr. Shapiro. It went downhill from there.”
“Will Kelsey and Murphy back you up?”
“Yes. Murphy transcribed the entire meeting and is typing it up. Kelsey took notes on everything connected to the actual negotiations. She said she’d type those up too.”
“Are you headed out?”
“Yes. Marco’s waiting for me over by the elevators. He escorted Simon out of my office. My boyfriend is already at the restaurant. He’s going to be upset if I don’t get there soon.”
And I’m not sure what “upset” entails for Simon. Does he threaten him again? Does he do something to go along with the threat? Does he send someone? Enzo won’t overlook this. I have to admit I’m glad. If Simon died today, we’d actually be in better shape. He’s bequeathing a shit ton of money to the organization I represent, and there’s no way he can amend his will before Enzo can get someone to him.
“You have your computer. Do you have an afternoon meeting?”
“No. I was hoping I could work from home.”
“He really rattled you.”
“Yeah.”
And Enzo probably won’t let me come back. Ever.
We say our goodbyes, and I hurry to the elevators. Marco and I head out to the car. It surprises me when he gets in the front seat after holding the door open for me. I haven’t ridden in the car with any of the men in Enzo’s family. They’ve all met me at the office after a driver picks me up. They walk me to the car at the end of the day, but it’s only a driver who takes me home. When we reach the restaurant, he opens my door. He must see the confusion on my face.
“I’m not your boyfriend’s brother right now. I’m your bodyguard. It’s work.”
