The last Ashford

CHAPTER SIX- The New Variable

Is she good?” I asked, a little unsure.

“Well, from all the information I got on her, she’s the best for this job,” he said, dropping her credentials in front of me.

I looked through them. Her passport caught my attention first. From the picture alone, she looked quite feisty. I moved on to the rest of the information. She was twenty-one, born and raised in Washington, and had a BSc in Intelligence and Security Studies.

She had gone undercover once and helped solve several other cases.

But I still wasn’t certain she could deliver.

“If you’re still in doubt, I can arrange a meeting for tomorrow,” he said after noticing my expression.

“No need. If you say she’s good, then I’m sure she’s good,” I said.

“Okay. I promise we’ll find him, Kael,” he said, trying his best to make me relax a little.

“It’s not about the promises. I’ve heard that a lot, Damien. Right now, I’m looking for results.”

“And that’s what we—I will give you.” This time, there was determination in his voice.

“All right. I’m counting on you, Damien.”

“Ah, one last thing. Your meeting with Adrian Vale has been fixed for 5 p.m. today.”

“What meeting, and with who?” I asked, arching my brows.

He sighed as though he were already tired. “Don’t tell me you forgot,” he said, although we both knew the answer to that question. He continued, “The CEO of the Adrian Vale Foundation. You two were supposed to meet to talk about the proposed investment.”

“I don’t need him for any investment,” I said sternly.

“No, you don’t. But you sure need the public for more revenue, and I can assure you, he’s the best man to have by your side in that regard.”

“Why? Because he has publicity?” I asked.

“Exactly. And right now, that’s what you need. So get ready to go to the golf course by five.”

“Golf? I hate that,” I said angrily.

“Well, Mr. Adrian said he prefers having his meetings outdoors.”

“All right. But why are you the one telling me all this and not my secretary?” I asked, confused.

“Oh, about that…” He paused before dropping a letter onto my desk. “She resigned. Her resignation letter.”

“Okay.”

“Won’t you even ask why?”

“Nope. I really don’t care. Just get me another one,” I said lazily.

“Okay, will do,” he said before leaving the office.

I picked up the letter and threw it in the trash.

I checked my watch. It was almost five, so I decided to head downstairs. I left my office and made my way to the elevator, but my mind drifted back to the woman from earlier today.

Her slick black hair framed her face, and her sparkling eyes carried a strange warmth. What was she even doing here? She seemed a little flustered, though I couldn’t understand why.

But I really didn’t care.

I finally reached my car, where Damien was already waiting for me.

“Took you long enough,” he said.

I knew I was kind of late, but I had gotten carried away in my office after another anonymous letter came in.

“Another one came in, Damien,” I said flatly as I entered my black Mercedes.

“What did it say?” he asked, putting on his seatbelt and starting the engine.

“What it always says. But this time, there was this weird symbol.”

He looked at me through the rearview mirror.

“Are you with it?”

“No. Left it back at the office.”

“Tomorrow.”

“Yeah, tomorrow.”

I closed my eyes, wanting a little peace before having to pretend to like golf. Or I could just burn the golf course down. That could be an option.

But Damian would never agree to that. He was really one of the good ones.

We arrived exactly at five, but we had to wait for Mr. Adrian. And if there was anything I hated more than people, it was waiting for them.

One of the workers finally came to tell us of Mr. Adrian’s arrival.

“It’s this way, Mr. Moretti,” she said, fiddling with her hands and not once looking me in the eye.

We followed her into the lounge that led to the course, and there he was.

But he wasn’t alone.

Looks like he had brought his son along.

He smiled and waved at me. I smirked and walked toward him as he stretched out his hand.

“Glad to meet you, Mr. Moretti,” he said, smiling so brightly.