Chương 3 - The Man Inside the Penthouse
Ivan reached Jessi's penthouse in twelve minutes.
The door was unlocked.
That bothered him more than if it had been broken.
He entered quietly.
“Jessi?”
No answer.
A lamp lay shattered near the living room.
Her phone was on the floor.
Ivan moved toward it.
Then he heard breathing.
Behind the kitchen island.
He rounded the corner.
Jessi sat against a cabinet.
Her face was pale.
“Don't touch me.”
Ivan crouched.
“What happened?”
“Muscle spasm.”
“Victor was here.”
Her eyes snapped toward him.
“No.”
“I heard him.”
“That wasn't Victor.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Ivan looked around.
“Who was it?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“Probably.”
He almost laughed.
Even injured, she was impossible.
Ivan helped her stand.
This time she allowed him.
Her body trembled.
“You can't keep pretending this doesn't hurt.”
“I don't have a choice.”
“Everybody has choices.”
“Spoken like someone who's never inherited six thousand employees and a family determined to tear him apart.”
Ivan looked at her.
“I inherited a seven-year-old after her mother died.”
Jessi stopped.
He rarely spoke about Laura.
Fiona had been four.
One drunk driver.
One intersection.
One phone call.
Ivan had learned that lives could split into before and after without permission.
“I didn't know,” Jessi said.
“You researched everything else.”
“I stopped when it became personal.”
“Fiona's medical records weren't personal?”
Jessi winced.
“Fair.”
Ivan found her brace.
“You need this?”
“Yes.”
“Can you put it on?”
She hesitated.
That answered him.
Ivan turned away.
“Tell me what to do.”
Jessi looked at him.
For once, there was no executive and no employee.
Only two exhausted people.
She explained.
Ivan helped without staring.
When the brace was secure, she whispered, “Thank you.”
Then the elevator chimed.
Both froze.
Ivan stepped in front of her.
The doors opened.
Victor Sterling entered.
Silver hair.
Perfect suit.
Easy smile.
His gaze immediately settled on Ivan.
“Well,” Victor said. “You must be the janitor.”
Ivan felt Jessi stiffen behind him.
May you like
And Victor smiled wider.
Because whatever game Jessi had started, Victor already knew Ivan was part of it.
