AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good to know,” she said noncommittally. “Would you mind if I went to the ladies’ room and freshened up?”
“I have a private restroom in my office, you can use that.”
“I’d like a few minutes alone. I won’t be long, and I think you’re probably pretty safe here,” she said as she tried to stand up.”
Knox prevented her from doing so. “Not until I say, or you get permission.”
Miley sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine, may I get up now?”
“Yes, you may,” he answered, letting her go.
Miley went to the door. “Just lock it behind me, and no one comes in until I get back.”
“I didn’t say you could leave. You need a few minutes to yourself? Fine, take all the time you like in my private bath.”
“Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was justified in the way I treated you earlier. You’re a jerk, Knox.”
“Sir,” he corrected. “Forget again, and it will cost you.”
Miley growled but said nothing as she stalked to the wall with two doors on the far side of the room, stopping long enough to pick up her clothes, bra and cell phone. Not knowing which door might lead to the restroom, she chose the one on the left. She chose wrong.
“Not a word, Sir. Not one word.”
“If you’d asked, I would have told you.”
“Where does the other door lead? It looked like stairs.”
“You’re very observant, and you are correct. It’s a flight of stairs that leads directly down to the VIP parking lot or up to the rooftop where there’s a helipad.”
“Can other floors access this staircase?”
“No. Just my office.”
“Good,” she said, deliberately closing the door to his private bath and opening the one to the stairwell. She spotted the security keypad on the inside of the stairwell. “Code?”
“3-6-5-8”
Miley thought for a minute. “Bolt. Clever.”
“I thought 5-6-6-9 might be a bit too obvious.”
“Knox? Yeah, you thought right. Please leave the door locked and don’t open it until I’m back. I’ll only be a few minutes. I need to… well, it doesn’t matter what I need to do. That’s one of my non-negotiables. Where your safety is concerned, if I tell you to do something, you do it.”
“No questions asked?” he queried with a raised eyebrow.
“None. You can ask after the fact.”
“And will you answer me?”
Miley shrugged. “Probably not.”
Once inside the stairwell, she leaned against the wall on the landing and then pulled on her bra and dress. She headed up the single flight to the roof. She told herself it was to scope it out, but that wasn’t the truth. She needed a moment away from Damon’s magnetic and dominant personality. Miley bet he was a force to be reckoned with in business. She knew for a fact what it took to resist his sensual pull. She’d known it in London, and it had only been reinforced here.
Emerging out into the sun, she appreciated the cool breeze that blew in off the harbor. She stood at the edge of the roof, leaning on the safety railing. She wondered if Fitz had any idea what position he’d put her in. He probably did; in fact, she still wasn’t convinced Fitz wasn’t indulging his need to pair up his operatives. She also believed he knew she was the best person for the job. She could supply close cover and draw Francesca Acosta out into the open better than anyone.
Sighing, she glanced down at her cell phone, thought about chucking it from the roof, but instead dialed Fitz’s cell, not much caring what time zone he was currently in.
“Fitzwallace,” came the sharp answer over the phone.
