Page 11 of Bulletproof Weeks

The lobby was a misty gray glow thanks to tinted windows. She lifted her chin as a man behind the huge U-shaped desk stood. He was a giant. Easily scaling into the six and a half feet range. It was as if he’d been ripped from a graphic novel. His suit looked as if it was going to buckle at the seams from his huge shoulders. The obsidian desk matched the outdoor windows with its wet gleam and the man behind it stood with his massive hands resting on his domain.

“May I help you?”

Bella lifted her chin. “Yes, I need to see Marcus Roth, please.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No.”

“Mr. Roth is a very busy man.” He tipped his head slightly. “If you’d like to make an appointment, I’d be happy to—”

“No. I need to see him today. Please tell him that—”

“You.”

Bella turned as the door swung open and RBF skidded into the lobby. Today she was head-to-toe black except for a tiny slash of white that peeked from the space between her dark pan

ts and vest. A hank of her usually smooth blond hair hung in front of her face.

The man behind the desk looked from RBF to Bella and back again. “Is there a problem, Ms. Webster?”

Bella schooled her features. It probably wouldn’t be the best time to smile, or laugh for that matter.

RBF pulled her vest down and tucked the lock of hair back into her smooth tail. “Tell me Marcus or Aidan is in house.”

The giant glanced down to his desk. “Both are here. But Aidan is with Jonas.”

Bella blinked as the stoic RBF rolled her eyes. “Yeah, leave that be. See if Marcus is available.”

“Yes, please. That would be helpful,” Bella said.

Her bodyguard came up beside her and clamped a hand on her upper arm. “If you ever try to give me the slip again, I’m going to stun your ass.”

Bella lifted an eyebrow. “Is that in the job description?”

“For you, I’ll make sure of it.”

“Mr. Roth, I have a…small situation.” The man paused. “Yes, I have Sarah here with her charge. It seems they would both like to see you.”

Bella muscled her arm away from RBF and stepped closer to the desk. “If that’s Marcus, tell him it’s Isabella Grace.”

“Yes, ma’am, he knows it’s you.”

Bella shifted her bag to her other shoulder and set her briefcase at her feet. “Please let him know that I won’t be leaving until he sees me.” She glanced at his name tag. “Thank you, Mr. Barnett.”

The man’s lips twitched. “He’s aware.” He looked past Bella to RBF. “You can take her up to the conference room. I’ll clear you.”

“I’ve dealt with royalty that are less trouble than you are. C’mon,” RBF muttered as she pushed her toward the elevators.

Bella snagged her briefcase and stepped in when the doors opened. Her bodyguard stepped up to a scanner and stood still as it scanned her face. No…her eye. What the hell kind of crazy world had she wandered into?

Even the elevator was slick and black with backlit black buttons that named fifteen floors and then a W.

“What’s the W stand for?”

“War Room.”

Isabella’s eyebrows shot up. “What exactly do you people do here?”

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