Arabella

Chapter 14

Arabella and Jake agreed to leave the property quietly. Not before Arabella went over to the receptionist and handed her a business card. “If you get bored,'' she told the young woman. The woman looked at the card and smiled. Arabella liked the fact she even slipped it into her blazer pocket and then gave Arabella a small wink. Arabella laughed and then left with the burly security guards. It was hardly the first time she was escorted out of a building, but the staff handed it quietly and professionally, despite Arabella muttering “rent a cop” and asking one of the guards if they needed a donut. Jake stayed quiet the whole time. 

She had been hoping for any negative reaction, something she could use to get back into the building and upstairs to the offices. She had a gut feeling that something was wrong here. She took one last look around before she stepped outside. 

Arabella climbed into the driver's seat and sat for a few moments. It had been a long time since one of her covers fell through. It was obvious to her the receptionist was the brains behind that. She was also probably the reason the company did so well, with talented hackers like her on staff. 

Arabella gave a small laugh and looked at Jake. He sat in his seat staring at the building with a stiff look on his face. His whole body was tense and his foot was tapping rhythmically against the floor. She gave him a tap on the arm to get his attention. He jumped and quickly grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully. His wide eyes focused on her, shining a tortuously bright blue. She refused to cry out and bit her lip to stop from doing so. She carefully placed her hand on his arm and slowly tried to remove her wrist from his grasp. He seemed to realize what she was doing and quickly released his grip. Without saying a word, Arabella turned on the car and sped home. 

                                                                                       ***

He watched on the camera as the two left the building. He hadn’t expected her to look into the security company since they had a good reputation in the community. There was a possibility that he had underestimated the woman. He rethought his plan and made a decision. 

A lot had changed since Salem and the overly-soft woman she had once been. The softness that had drawn him to her. She was small, curvy, and always happy. It appeared now she was cynical and rough around the edges. In the old days she would never be purposefully rude or try to push anyone’s buttons. 

So, so, very  soft and naive. He licked his lips, remembering the feel of her body pressed against him, running his fingers through her long hair. A smile on her face that put the sun to shame, green eyes shining brightly. The shy way she would turn her head up for a kiss. 

It was a shame that he failed to have her killed during Salem. Now, he was going to have to do it himself.