Page 39 of Midnight Danger

My desk phone bleeped, and I noticed it was my assistant Sasha. “What’s up?”

“The Bartholomew’s have arrived for another impromptu meeting. Al is fluttering about out here, so I thought I should give you the head’s up,” Sasha replied.

I groaned, the thought of having to deal with Xavier’s father exhausting. He was the opposite of his son, and there were times I wondered how such a cantankerous asshole could have such a laid-back son and heir.

Sasha laughed and hung up.

About ten minutes later, there was a quick rap at my door before it opened, and my boss Alastair walked in with my future father-in-law with him.

“Sorry to barge in, Cassie, but Mr. Bartholomew wanted contracts drawn up for a new acquisition immediately.”

I leaned back in my chair to regard both men. My finger hit the button that connected me to Sasha.

“Sasha, could you set up the conference room?”

“Certainly.”

“Thanks.” I knew Xavier and Jordan were meeting Ash this morning, so it made me wonder why his father chose now to arrive here. “I’ll need all the details of the acquisition to check the title deeds on the property.”

He replied with a sharp nod. Whatever was going on, he wasn’t a happy man this morning. His legal team, or security team, or whoever they really were stood behind him at the door. The man from The Twilight Rooms smirked at me.

“Sasha will have tea and coffee in the conference room. I’m literally just finishing a document here and will be with you in a few minutes.” I gave them my best dismissive smile.

Al ushered Mr. Bartholomew from the room with a grateful wave.

Something didn’t feel right about what was happening, so I lifted my phone and shot off a text:Your dad just arrived and doesn’t look happy. That creepy man from the other night is with him…

Xavier always had his phone with him. At times I thought it was surgically attached.

My phone pinged a few seconds later.What for? He was supposed to be with his accountant this morning.

No idea. Apparently, there is an emergency acquisition.

His silence was ominous. I hadn’t really been doing anything since my concentration was so bad, but I refused to be made leave what I was doing just because someone snapped their fingers. For ten minutes, I deliberately sat there staring at the door before I pushed myself to my feet. My skirt felt tight this morning and the morning sickness seemed to grow worse daily.

My flat shoes sat in the corner and I gazed at them longingly. At some point, I would have to tell everyone that I was pregnant, but until then I would continue to pretend to be the unflappable professional.

Sasha sat at her desk. “Would you join me?” I asked, needing an extra pair of eyes since instinct told me there was something very wrong about whatever was happening.

We joined the men in the conference room with smiles fixed on our faces. I set up my laptop and settled myself at the table. “How can I help you?”

Mr. Bartholomew glared at me, his eyes flicking to the clock behind me for several seconds to point out that I’d kept him waiting. I continued to stare at him without blinking.

He held his hand out to the man beside him, who produced a folder from his briefcase. He slid it across the table toward me. Sasha intercepted it and handed it to me to emphasise the consideration they should have shown.

I recognised the first name, Malcolm. Xavier had never told me his surname.

“An acquaintance of mine has disappeared. His wife needs to liquidate his assets swiftly.” The way he said it inferred that I knew what he was talking about.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Are you saying the man is missing, that he’s dead, or that he’s been abducted? In either of those cases, we still would not have a legal standing to bypass his legal right to his property.”

His cold eyes bored into my soul. “It’s complicated. His wife has a document stating she has power of attorney over his residential properties. Most of them have been raided by the police. He is believed to have left the country and is hiding. She wants to do the same where he can’t find her.”

Obviously, Xavier had made it look as if he’d run away. Why would anyone be looking for his body in England when there was a biscuit trail leading out of the country.

“I would need that documentation because her name is not on the deeds of the property in question.”

“Just do it!” he shouted across the table.

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