Page 33 of Cocky Prince
Well, shit, then Adam’s the perfect person to give my dad a tour. He’s behind everything, along with the rest of Blackwell’s Blue Stars. “Sorry, Dad. I didn’t realize. I’d be happy to take you around.”
He squeezes my arm and plants a kiss on my cheek. “No, no—you go back to work. I’ll make a quick sweep with Adam here, and return later to pick you up. How does five thirty sound?”
I can’t hide the hostility rolling off me in waves as I stare daggers at Adam. Why is he befriending my father? And how did he wrap my shrewd father around his rich-boy finger so quickly?
“Can you give us a quick sec, Dad?” Not waiting for my father’s reply, I pull Adam into the nearest empty room, which happens to be the facility manager’s office.
I shut the door and whirl around on him. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Taking your father for a tour?” the jackass says, all innocence.
“I don’t think so.”
“No?” He chuckles as if he’s getting some sort of pleasure out of this.
“You’re up to something. Do you think this will somehow get you out of our bet?”
He steps toward me. “Why would I want that? I’m looking forward to winning.”
For a split second I’m ruffled by his suggestive tone and nearness—which I consider progress, considering how much his presence disarms me. “Leave my father out of this.”
Adam’s face grows serious and his voice softens. “Hayden, he was lost and I was giving him directions. When he explained he was your father, we started talking. That’s all. I offered to give him a tour, because he said he’d never been here before. Honestly, I can’t believe you’ve worked at Blue nearly a year and you haven’t offered him one.”
Okay, fine. I’m a bad daughter. But in my defense, I had no idea my dad was interested in Blue. He’s never mentioned it before. “A tour and that’s all?”
“I promise to have him back in plenty of time for your dinner date.” He inches back, giving me space to walk past him and leave, but I suddenly realize the importance of where we are. This is the facility manager’s office—the guy with access to every room in this entire building.
Adam follows my gaze. “I don’t like that scheming look in your eye. What are you thinking?”
Why didn’t I consider it before? Adam and his assistant aren’t who I should focus my reconnaissance on. There are people with information at their fingertips that could be more helpful. And they’re not even a part of the Blue Stars.
“Hayden, did you hear me?”
I walk toward the door. “Better hurry up, Adam. My dad’s waiting.”
He opens the door, still frowning, and I pass him, but I can feel his heated gaze on my back.
I smile at my father. “All set, Dad. Adam will give you the tour.”
My dad’s eyes narrow with suspicion. “Will he? Well, I’m gladyou’vedecided.”
I give my dad a hug goodbye. So it looks suspicious that I dragged Adam into a room to talk in private. But my father hasn’t a clue about the things going on at Blue, and it’s best that way. He’d worry, and the point of returning to Lake Tahoe wasn’t to give my parents another reason to worry. It was to show them and the world that I’d risen above what happened in the past.
I shoot Adam a glare. “Take care of him.”
Adam responds to my warning with a charming grin that has probably persuaded hundreds of unsuspecting parents to hand their precious daughters into his safekeeping. I’d be concerned, except that my father can take care of himself.
I head off toward my office. Oh, not for long. I fully intend to return to the facility manager’s room. Just as soon as I confirm with Mira that the space will be empty for at least half an hour.
* * *
Ipeerdown the hall to make sure no one sees me, and quickly enter the facility manager’s office, closing the door behind me. Mira says I have forty-five minutes until the manager returns.
I rush to the desk rimmed in every bobblehead ever created, and carefully look through the paperwork on top. Just a hint of where the secret suite is located—some sort of building site plan—that’s all I need.
The paperwork on the desk is for a vendor lease, another stack for an energy efficiency plan—none of it what I’m looking for.
Opening the desk drawers, I sift through files on security services, parking services…Come on, buddy, where do you keep information on secret suites?
