Chapter 5 - Shadows in the Lobby|
At 11:45 AM, the intercom on Ronin's desk buzzed inside his private office. I stood up, wiping my eyes, and pressed the speaker button.
"Laurel?" Gideon's deep voice came through the speaker. "We have a situation in the main lobby on the ground floor."
My heart plummeted into my shoes. "What is it?"
"Preston Vance is downstairs," Gideon said flatly. "He claims he's here to take you to lunch. He's making a scene with security, demanding to use the private executive elevator."
Panic surged through my veins like ice water. "Oh God. He... he actually came here."
"Stay where you are, Laurel," Gideon instructed. "Mr. Calder is already heading down."
My breath hitched. "Wait! Don't let Ronin go down there alone!"
"Miss Monroe," Gideon replied, a dark humor in his tone. "Mr. Calder is never alone. But I would be far more worried about Mr. Vance if I were you."
The line went dead.
I didn't stay in the office. Disobeying Ronin's direct order for the first time in three years, I unlocked the oak door, hurried down the corridor, and took the service elevator straight down to the marble lobby.
When the elevator doors slid open on the ground floor, the entire glass lobby was deathly quiet.
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Dozens of employees and visitors were backed against the walls. In the center of the polished floor stood Preston, wearing a tailored navy suit, his hair meticulously styled, looking every bit the rising political star—except for the furious red flush on his neck.
And standing five feet away from him was Ronin Calder, flanked by Gideon and two quiet men in dark suits.
