Page 69 of Love By The Falls

The plan is crazy, but we didn’t drive four hours to be turned away now. “Fine.”

I watch Sage as she rests the palm of her hands on the woman’s desk. “Look. I think we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.” I sidestep closer to the elevator, keeping my eyes on the woman and the security guard.

“I don’t think we have,” she says sweetly.

I take another step closer, and then the elevator pings and the doors open. Two men get off the elevator and just as the doors are about to close, I make a run for it.

“Stop!” someone yells, but it’s too late. The doors close and I press the button for the sixth floor. The elevator moves slowly up each floor until finally the doors open.

It’s quiet here. No one’s shouting, so I take a deep breath and walk out as though I work here.

Except I have no idea where I’m going. I don’t get very far when a man at a desk stands up. “Excuse me, miss, do you have a meeting?” He stares at my clothes. I really should have worn something more professional, but I didn’t think I would stand out in a New York officebuilding. Even though this isn’t Manhattan, everyone is dressed so stylishly.

“Yes. I’m here to see Caleb Consuelos.”

The man’s eyes widen, and he puts his hands on his hips. “You,” he sneers, and my heart nearly jumps out of my chest.

He lunges for me, but I step out of the way. The next moment, the elevator doors open and two of the security guards from downstairs run out, hands over their holsters.

Oh, shit.

“Excuse me,” I say and run toward the red exit sign. “Stop her,” shouts the outraged man. “She’s heading for the stairs.”

I’m nearly at the exit. My fingers brush against the steel door when someone grabs me from behind and lifts me off the ground. “Get off of me,” I scream, pounding my fists on the guard’s forearms, but he’s locked them across my stomach. “You’re hurting me.”

He doesn’t care and drags me across the office floor, kicking and screaming. The other guard presses the elevator button and when the doors open, I give up and fall limp in his arms. It’s no use. It’s over. I can’t fight the two of them.

When we reach the main floor, Sage is waiting for me; a guard standing next to her. “You both better leave before I call the police,” says the receptionist. The fewpeople walking to and from the elevators stop to look at us. I’m no longer fighting the guard, but he hasn’t loosened his grip on my arm. “Mr. Consuelos is not here. So, forget about him and forget about this office. If you step one foot back in here, George will throw you out. Am I clear?”

“Perfectly,” I mutter.

I push the wild strands of hair out of my face and straighten my jacket.

“Did they hurt you?” asks Sage when we reach the car.

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. But my ego is bruised. That was the most humiliating thing I’ve ever done.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. I wanted to see him as much as you.”

“Maybe we should wait until six and stop him when he leaves the building. They can’t arrest us for hanging out in our car.”

“Can’t they?”

Sage looks around. “I’m not sure, really. But we can’t go home yet. We’re going to find him, Char. I can feel it.”

“All right. Let’s hang out for a bit and see if we can spot him.”

Fortunately, the car shields us from the wind and the worst of winter is behind us, so Sage doesn’t need to start the car while we wait.

We don’t have to wait too long. Shortly after five o’clock, there’s an influx of activity around the building. “I’ll watch the front doors. You keep an eye on the parking garage.”

“Got it,” says Sage, sitting up straighter in her seat.

After a few minutes, Sage yanks on my sleeve. “Is that him?”

I lean over to get a closer look at the man driving a BMW. He has black hair and is wearing sunglasses, but his chin is too round and soft. Caleb’s jaw is square. I shake my head and Sage sighs loudly.

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