Page 91 of Exile
More gaslighting—except this time it's not self-inflicted. I definitely was just at his office and there was no sight of them. If they went there after we left, we most definitely would have crossed paths with them. Not to mention that my session time is over. They know what time it finished so they would be looking for me.
"Are you sure?" she asks, unconvinced. "I'm looking at the camera feed right now."
"I'm sure," I murmur warily. "Jillian, are you sure you're watching the correct feed?"
"What do you mean? It's a live feed."
"Is it though?" I question sharply. "They were heading in the direction of Markel's office at the start of my session. That was over an hour ago."
She falls silent, clicking a few keys before letting out a soft hiss. "Shit. You're right. The time stamp is off."
"Jillian, they are replaying the feed. They know you're watching so they are fucking with us. Something ishappening," I reiterate urgently.
"Okay," she murmurs, her own panic laced in her voice. "Let me call Byrone and we'll come check. Just hang tight for a few minutes and I'll break you out."
I can't speak. My throat is closing up. All I can manage is a nod, and even though she can't see it, she hangs up anyway to dial Byrone.
Trying the guys' cells again, I keep ringing over and over like an obsessed psychopath.
A few minutes later, I hear the tap and ding outside my door, springing to my feet to greet Jillian. As I go to reach for the door to pull it open, I stop dead in my tracks at the unexpected figure. Or more so, the gun pointing at my face.
"Avery," Alexander greets coldly, standing in his usual freshly pressed expensive designer suit. "Come with me, please."
When I make no effort to move, completely frozen in place, he cocks the hammer in warning. "Don't test my patience today, child."
"Fine," I snap, launching into action. "I'm coming."
He looks pleased at my compliance, using the gun to direct me to walk in front of him.
The female corridor is empty, but as I pass Jillian's door, I notice it's cracked slightly. "Where are we going, Alexander?" I ask with a raised voice to alert her to the situation.
"You'll find out soon enough," he responds sharply.
Weaving through the Lilydale maze, I find myself in Whittingham's office, the man himself sitting behind the desk. I shoot him another glare full of disgust, my heart racing when I realize we're the only three people here.
Where are the guys?
"Now, Avery," Alexander begins, pressing the gun into my spine. "It's come to our attention thatsomeonemade a formal allegation against the board in regards to the conduct of the facility. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
I shake my head. "No idea."
Whittingham purses his lips, narrowing his eyes on me. "You're lying."
"Nope," I answer casually, voice surprisingly strong despite the panic that's flooding through me. "I assume you're here to fill me in on the details as a shareholder."
I wince as Alexander shoves the barrel harder into my back. "We're not here to play games, Avery. We are well aware that you know of the situation. It's thanks to your little stunt that all our records have been seized and we've beenprovided notice that they are coming to do a check of the facility."
"Not to mention the state of the lab downstairs," Arthur adds venomously. "We saw the footage. You set it on fire."
"I have no idea what you are talking about," I say through clenched teeth. I'm well aware that there's cameras down there, so chances are they most definitely watched me burn it. That also means they witnessed me killing Rian Thatcher. I can already sense where this is going. They are going to throw me under the bus, blame me for murder. Anything to distract the relevant authorities from the truth.
Footsteps behind me alert us to another presence. I don't dare move, but judging by Whittingham's look of acknowledgment, it's someone I don't want here.
"William. Finally," he says, and my eyes darken as the man appears in my peripheral vision.
Elsher watches me closely before turning his attention to Whittingham. "The guards have managed to subdue them downstairs."
My chest clenches painfully when I realize they are talking about my guys. What the hell were they doing down there?
