Page 87 of Iron Willed Warrior

The hardest part would be getting Westwick’s unconscious body outside. But he would be inside the equipment bag, and he wasn’t more than one-sixty or so. Lean enough build. I’d carry him down, around the side of the main building, stash him in our trunk.

The whole operation shouldn’t take more than five minutes. By the time the fire alarm was off and Westwick’s guards tried to find him, he’d already be gone.

But a whole five minutes passed with me sitting there. Still no sign of Brynn. Sweat poured down my sides.

I knew it in my gut. Something had gone terribly wrong.

B, where are you?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Brynn

Cole left the seminar room.I watched his back from my peripheral vision, even though I acted like I only had eyes for Garon Westwick.

Here we go, I thought.

I sat in my chair as a few other seminar attendees asked Westwick questions. The head of Stillwater listened and answered politely. Always the gentleman, at least when people were watching. But his gaze kept sliding to me, giving me a sly, knowing smile.

When every other straggler had vanished, Westwick sauntered across the room. “And now it’s just us, Brianna. I’m glad you decided to take me up on my offer of advice.”

I stood up, glancing demurely at the carpet. It had shoe prints and stray crumbs scattered over it. “Me too.”

“Cameron’s on a business call now, yes? He won’t be looking for you?”

“He thinks I’m with Molly and her husband. I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said the other night. About Cameron not being the best manager?”

Westwick reached me. He put his fingers under my chin,and it took so much willpower not to push him away.Soon, I repeated, just like I’d told Cole before he left.

“You deserve someone who’ll be in your corner.”

Movement near the doors. It was Ryker. He lifted an eyebrow at Westwick, who shook his head. Buying us some privacy, I assumed.

Ryker shut the doors to the seminar room, leaving Westwick and me alone. I smiled, my mind tracking the minutes that had passed. Cole would’ve made it to our room by now. Given River the all-clear for our diversion. Less than ten minutes until the fire alarm sprinklers triggered.

Somehow, ten minutes hadn’t seemed like such a long time during our planning.

Chairs were set up in long rows for the seminar audience. Westwick gestured for me to take one, and he sat beside me. Draped an arm over my chair, sitting close. My small drawstring purse lay at my feet.

“Luckily, I know a lot of people in all kinds of industries. I could connect you with a top-notch talent agency.” He touched my shoulder. His fingers dug in. I hid my inner cringe. “The man who had dinner with me last night, Eric Masterson, could help as well. He’s actually running for the US Senate. He has even more contacts than me. In all sorts of places.”

“Oh?” I hadn’t expected him to bring up Masterson. “I was wondering about him after I saw him with you. Running for Senate? That’s so impressive.”

Westwick’s grip on my shoulder got tighter. I didn’t miss the fact that it was inches from the bruises Ryker had left on my skin, though the sleeve of my dress covered those. “Eric noticed you as well. So have I. You’re a beautiful girl, Brianna. I’m sure you realize that. Girls like you always know their effect on men.”

Ugh, what I wouldn’t give to pull the knife from myholster. Just so that I could see a flash of fear on his disgusting face instead of that leer.

I killed time by rambling about my lifestyle brand, my goals for my business. Westwick nodded along like he was listening. But with every minute that passed, he edged closer, leaning into my space as his touch grew more insistent.

Just a few minutes until the diversion. I could handle this. I was fine.

I kept talking, and he interrupted me mid-sentence. “This room isn’t very cozy, is it? We should go somewhere more comfortable. We’ve only got a couple of hours until dinner. Might as well make the most of it.”

I smiled, quick to jump up to standing. Anything to get the man’s slimy touch away from me, even for a moment. I grabbed the long strap of my purse. “Sure. Let’s go.”

He led the way through the double doors and into the hallway. But to my shock, Donovan Ryker wasn’t here. I’d assumed he was guarding the entrance to the room to give his boss privacy.

Where the heck was the bodyguard?

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