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Midtown is even busier than where we came from, but Brandon expertly maneuvers us to a very non-descript building and pulls a keycard out of his wallet to let us in. The elderly man sitting at the desk nods to Brandon and me, and Brandon returns his greeting.
We’re making our way up to the fourteenth floor, and when the doors open… I didn’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.
Unlike the stark white of Brandon’s duplex, the Tri-State Security offices are black and chrome. Everything is modern, high-tech, and sleek. Walking into the lobby and facing the wall with TSS embossed on it, made me feel like I’d entered an office from the future. Large screens with live maps of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut surrounded us, along with a large tech hub. Reminds me of when I’d watchStar Trekwith my dad, and I feel like I’ve entered the Enterprise.
Most of the offices are enclosed in glass walls, but Brandon moves us over to the only walled space. Before crossing the threshold, I see a clear placard withBrandon Eastwood, CEOon it.
“Leave your stuff in here,” Brandon says, removing his coat and hanging it up. He stretches his hand out to take mine.
With everything tucked away, Brandon turns back to me.
“The staff meeting starts in a few minutes. I’ll introduce you to everyone afterwards. Mini fridge is fully stocked. I know for a fact that Bree and Kamaya keep every type of coffee creamer imaginable in the kitchen, so help yourself.”
“Okay,” I say, taking in the swanky office when an idea springs to mind.
Brandon thinks he can just shove me to the side while he and his team are discussing my life. Oh, no. I’m not going to sit here and twiddle my thumbs until he returns.
Tired of being ordered around and feeling like a victim, I get up from the chair in Brandon’s office and head in the direction I saw him walk moments ago.
This might not be the best idea I’ve ever had, but here goes.
I seeMEETING ROOMon a placard outside the door and reach for the handle just when I see a hand move to push it closed.
“Oh, sorry about that,” comes from a brown-skinned woman in dark-framed glasses who tries closing the door. She turns around fully, eyebrows lifting with recognition. “You’re Ava,” she says, eyebrows inching upward upon spotting me.
“The one and only,” I say, stepping into the meeting room.
Four other faces turn to us in the doorway, including a sour-faced Brandon.
“What are you doing in here, Ava?”
“Joining the meeting, obviously,” I say, moving further into the room.
The woman takes her seat and a handsome dark-skinned man beside her tries holding in a laugh at Brandon’s expression. A blonde-haired Caucasian woman is scribbling something in a notebook, and when she looks up at me, I realize it’s Bree. She offers a wave when she sees me. I wave back to Bree, who’s sitting next to another handsome Black man. Bree’s disposition is sunny and the man next to her seems impassive. Light and dark—complete opposites of each other.
“As you can see, there are no more seats,” Brandon says, twisting in his swivel chair to face me, but he doesn’t have me beat.
“Oh, well that’s no problem,” I say, taking a seat on his lap. “Now the huddle can start.”
Brandon’s team laughs at their boss’s red-faced contempt for me. I hold in my laughter, acting as if what I’m doing is completely normal.
“I knew I liked her,” Bree says, giving Brandon a pointed look.
“You’re going to pay for this,” Brandon says low into my ear, but it’s not the threat he thinks it is. Instead, I’m hopeful about whatever he thinks mypunishmentwill be.
After everyone introduces themselves, with the exception of Bree, Brandon starts going over protection assignments for everyone and where they will be located. I’m glad I pulled my stunt because now I understand what Brandon’s job entails.
“In between your current assignments, I may need you all for backup protecting Ava. We don’t have any leads who could be after her. Everyone will remain local in case you are needed here in the city. I hope we’ll catch this person soon,” Brandon says.
“Kamaya, have you been able to secure anything from the deli footage?”
“I was able to find footage of the car the man you described went to. He wasn’t in the driver’s seat, so we now know he’s not acting alone,” she pauses.
Brandon nods at her words. “Anything else?”
“I ran the plate for the car. Registered in New Jersey, but the address is residential, and the name it was registered under belonged to a deceased man. So, clearly a fake.”
“Damn,” Brandon says, pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing. “Nice work. Keep digging. I’m sure whoever they are will slip. I will be at Ava’s place for the foreseeable future. As always, everyone is on call until further notice. Is there anything else?”
