Ghost - in the arms of Death

Chapter 13

I couldn’t get any sleep last night. I can’t seem to get a grip on my life. Right now I feel like I am standing on a wobbly skateboard holding on to a speeding truck. No. I am holding on to a rocket and I am holding on for dear life, praying the wheels of my board won’t break. Hoping I’ll make it out alive.

First, the promotion that I don’t deserve. By now I am convinced that the only reason I got it, was because Alex wanted to get into my pants. It was a wasted effort on his part. I am still pissed at him and more than grateful that I didn’t have to talk to him again since that night.

Then there’s Josh. Detective Joshua Miles. I am still out of words. He wouldn’t tell me anything else last night. He just made me promise to keep his secret and that he would help me to find the Milites Mortes and the person who killed my brother.

“Miss Capristo,” there’s a soft knock on my office door.

I had a few days to get adjusted to my new duties now and I am getting the hang of it. I am not sure what it is, but I got the job unjustified and by the looks, I earn around here they all know it. They think I can’t do it and only got it because I slept with the right person. So I am here to prove them wrong.

“Yes, Jen,” I spent two hours learning the names of the people working with me.

“It’s time for the meeting. You asked me to remind you,” she says.

“Great,” I fake a friendly smile, “thank you. I’ll be there in a minute,” I tell her and gather up the documents I have been working on for the past few days, trying hard to get a good insight into these projects.

Real estate and construction mostly. It looks like AMB is getting into the Hotel business. I know the company owns one or two hotel chains, but this seems to be a different kind of prospect. It’s not going to be a purchase, this is a new thing AMB wants to launch. Profitable, but also very expensive to start with.

I head to the conference room on the top floor. I can see a couple of people in their suits already at the large glass desk. I politely greet them as I enter and take my seat.

Sometimes it’s weird seeing this part of me. It’s like someone else has taken over my body. She looks different and she talks differently. Well, unless I am pissed off. Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen today.

I chuckle at the thought and prepare my notes, going over them again. I’m sure I won’t have much to say in this meeting, but if they have any questions I am prepared to answer. I have worked hard to at least feel like I deserve this position.

The room falls quiet for a moment before everyone rises to their feet. I guess the big boss just entered the room. Bored with this corporate behavior I just glance up and meet a pair of steely blue eyes focused on me.

I almost drop the pen I was holding when Alex smirks at me. He looks like a fox in a hen house.

Alex. A.B. As in Alexander Brice. Holy s**t, how could I have been so damn blind? It was obvious in the way he carried himself. How he acted as if he owns the place. It’s because he f*****g does!

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

I should have known who he is. What I don’t get is why he would risk putting me in this new position. I could -if I were incapable of doing my job- cost him a fortune. Why risk that? If I know one thing, these people only care about their money. He wouldn’t just gamble it to get close to me.

I am nobody. I am not a girly girl someone like him would want to date. I don’t give a s**t about clothes and about what people think of me. I do not belong in his world.

With a loud rustling and creaking of chairs, everybody takes their seats and with a quick introduction to the new plans, the meeting is kicked off.

When I glance to my right, I still find Alex watching me with an amused look on his face. So I glare at him. That only seems to amuse him more and piss me off big time. He is playing games with me!

“Stop it!” I hiss under my breath, which earns me a few questioning looks.

“Anything to add Miss Capristo?” Alex taunts me.

“Yeah,” I say holding his gaze daringly before I point at the projected map of New York and the property some bald guy thinks should be the one we purchase for the new build. “It’s too expensive and you obviously didn’t do your homework,” I say and turn to the bald man who now glares at me.

“Why don’t you leave this to the grown-ups, honey,” he chastises me.

I take a deep breath and swallow the array of insults on my tongue. Instead, I glance at Alex and he gives me a short nod. Not that I was asking for his permission to continue, I don’t care if he fires me. Not anymore.

“It’s a great property, but you’ll blow all of the budgets in just purchasing it.”

“It’s a good price. To you, the numbers may seem outrageous, but it’s a great deal. They are selling way below value.”

“Exactly,” I say, “that doesn’t get you thinking?”

“It’s a good deal!” He says annoyed with me.

“You are planning on building a high-rise building, don’t you?” I ask.

“I don’t see the point in this conversation. You had your five minutes of fame, now stop wasting our time,” he snaps.

“Fine,” I mutter, “suit yourself. But please come find me when it all goes to s**t, so I can tell you that I told you so.”

“If you’re still here -which I highly doubt- I make sure to see you when it is all finished and makes us good money.” It earns him a few hushed chuckles, but I keep glaring at him. For a moment I think he even looks a bit scared. He should be!

“What’s your point?” Alex asks me, “I’d like to know what you think is wrong with the property.”

“Someone else owns the air rights. Once you bought the lot, said person will double its price to sell it to you because it’s the only way you will be able to build in that area! It’s a waste of money!”

Silence falls over the room and the bald guy pales a bit, fumbling through his notes.

“As I said,” I say to him, “do your f*****g homework, asshead!”

A few guys laugh but Alex silences them with a wave of his hands. ”Do not mess this up, Walter! Despite her choice of words, she was right: I pay you to know these things.”

“Yes, Sir. I apologize.”

“Find me a new property. Meeting adjourned!”

Everyone rises to their feet. Including me.

“Except for you, Miss Capristo. I’d like a moment.”

“Why?” I ask before I can stop myself. He raises one brow at me and with a defeated sigh I sink back into my chair, waiting impatiently for the room to empty.

“Nice work,” he says leaning back casually in his big boss chair.

“What the hell do you want from me?” I ask bluntly.

“That’s an interesting question.”

“I don’t give a s**t, just answer it!”

“Bossy,” he chuckles, “I like it.”

“Alex!” I warn him, “I am done playing games. Seriously. I’ve had it with all this bullshit coming my way, so either you tell me what the hell you want or I am leaving.”

His blue eyes search mine for a long moment. Too long.

“Fine, I’ll give you my notice till the end of the day and I’ll be gone.”

“Why would you do that? It’s rather impulsive, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, well I am f*****g impulsive!”

“I can see that,” he chuckles, “how about this,” he says tapping his fingertips together as he speaks, “meet me tonight at the gym. We’ll talk!”

“About what?”

“What I want from you of course,” he smirks.

“Why do you assume I am interested in hearing what you have to say? Besides isn’t this very close to s****l harassment?”

“I didn’t touch you, did I?”

“Words, Mr. Brice, are enough!”

“Meet me tonight!” He says again, but I don’t answer. I just glare at him and gather up my stuff before I leave.

I don’t know what to think about him. Maybe I am hearing things that aren’t even there, but to me, everything he just said sounded s****l. He implied it skillfully. I bet he knows how to avoid a s****l harassment complaint.

A part of me hates him to his rotten core, but there’s a part of me that keeps wondering why he puts in such an effort to be with me. He was nice when he took me to the hospital. Concerned even. Then again he’s arrogant and believes he can do as he pleases. I am not sure which is the real Alexander M. Brice, but the curious, investigative part of me wants to find out.