Annihilate Me (Vol. 4) (The Annihilate Me Series) (20 page)

God,
I love her.

“Have
you received an email?” she asked.

“Not
yet.”

“That’s
good news.”

“I
look at it differently.
 
If I had,
we might have our person.
 
We might
have Bomba.”

She
leaned back in her chair.
 
“Good
point.”

“But
it’s still early.
 
If we make it
through the day without one, then I’d say it’s not her, and that I’d feel more
concerned about the people who will be at Dufort’s party.
 
You and I both know that I’m going to
get a threatening email at some point.”

“That’s
why we’re using the cameras.
 
We’ll
catch whoever is behind this in a controlled environment and be done with it.”

“If
we’re lucky.
 
My photograph could be
snapped on the street when I leave Wenn later today.”

Her
face became grim.
 
“I’m aware of
that.
 
Here’s something to
consider.
 
Why don’t you work from
your home or Alex’s?
 
You worked
seamlessly from the island.
 
If you
want total protection, working remotely is a way to achieve that.”

“We
Maine girls don’t like to do a lot of running and hiding.”

“Then
I guess you have your answer.
 
Still, take today to think about it.
 
And don’t give up hope.
 
We might have a breakthrough at Dufort’s
party.
 
It could happen.”
 
She met my eyes with her own and said
something that I only expected Alex or Lisa to say to me.
 
“Hang in there with me.
 
I’m not ready to lose you yet.
 
Or, for that matter, ever.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

At
one, I had lunch with Alex in his office.
 
Ann ordered sushi, which was a nice surprise.
 
We sat on a sofa opposite a glass coffee
table, with bottles of cold water, utensils, and napkins in front of us.
 
Nothing fancy, which is how we liked it.

When
I got a good look at the various types of sushi on display, one stood out.

“Is
that lobster?” I asked.

“It
is,” Alex said.
 
“The rest of the
sushi is raw, but these eight aren’t.
 
And by the way, the lobster is from Maine.
 
Fresh today.
 
I asked Ann to make sure of it.”

I
leaned forward, and kissed him on the cheek.
 
Then I popped one of them in my
mouth.
 
“So great.
 
And so sweet—the lobster and you.”

While
we ate, we talked about how the deal between Wenn and Streamed went down.

“It’s
done,” Alex said.
 
“Henri was in top
form this morning.
 
With the deal
finalized, it’s now up to Wenn Digital to make the rest of it happen, which it
will.
 
They’ll join forces with
Streamed, and make certain that our software is compliant with theirs.
 
Next, we’ll make deals with the studios,
and by early next year, we’ll be ready to compete with Netflix and other
competitors in key countries.”

“Did
he talk about the party?”

“We
talked about it privately after the meeting.
 
Tank and his team are at his penthouse
today and tomorrow installing the surveillance equipment.
 
Henri wants this behind us as much as we
do.”

“We’re
very lucky that Henri is doing this for us.”

“We
are.”

“What
are your plans for tonight?”

“I
was hoping to spend it with you.”

“Same
here.
 
In the meantime, how do you
feel about me cutting out a little early so Lisa and I can get in a quick
shopping fix at Saks?
 
I haven’t
spent much time with her.
 
I really
need to.”

“Do
you think that’s a wise idea?”

“I
was thinking that one of Tank’s men could accompany us.”

“How
about Tank himself?”

“He’s
working.”

“I’d
feel better about this if you were with him.
 
What time were you thinking of going?”

“Three?”

“Three
will work—he’s been at Henri’s since eight this morning.
 
I’ll call him and have him go with
you.
 
Think of it this way—he
won’t just be watching over you, he’ll also be with Lisa.”

“Good
point.
 
And it will only be for a
couple of hours.
 
Lisa and I need
some bonding time.
 
Then I’ll be
back to meet you at your place tonight, which is where I’d like to spend the
night, if that’s OK with you.”

“I
think you already know the answer to that,” he said.
 
“Have fun, but be safe.”

*
 
*
 
*

When
I left Alex’s office, I went straight into mine and called Lisa.

“Zombies
anonymous,” she said.

“Want
to go shopping?”

“Now?”

“Almost
now.
 
I can get away at three.
 
Tank will be with us for protection, so
that’s a positive.
 
I miss you.
 
I hope you can break away from your
book.”

“To
spend some time with you and with Tank?
 
Are you joking?
 
I’ve
essentially become a shut-in.
 
I’m
so there.”

“Perfect.
 
See you in my office at three.”

*
 
*
 
*

When
she arrived, she was totally pulled together, and I sensed that that had less
to do with her going shopping with me than it had to do with her seeing Tank.

She
stepped into my office and looked around.

“Don’t
worry—Tank isn’t here.
 
He’s
in the lobby waiting for us.
 
You’re
fine.”

“He’s
in the lobby?
 
I didn’t even see
him.”

“He’s
there.
 
I’m sure he got an eyeful of
you without you even knowing it.”

“Damn.
 
How do I look?”

“Beautiful.
 
I love the red sweater paired with the
black pants.
 
And I believe I
recognize those shoes and that coat.”

“I
hope you don’t mind.”

“You
know I don’t.
 
And
hey—whatever helps you land Tank.
 
If it takes a fitted Dior coat and a pair of hot red Louboutins, then so
be it.
 
But between us?
 
I really think that you’re enough.”
 
I looked at her.
 
“Today, try to let your guard down.
 
Be more open with him.
 
See what happens.
 
I know it’s taking a risk, but you
wouldn’t have shown up here looking like this if you didn’t want to keep his
attention.
 
So, you know, maybe
relax a little today.
 
Flirt a
bit.
 
He’ll see you try on all kinds
of clothes.
 
Maybe you’ll ask his
opinion….”

“You’re
right.”

“There’s
only one way to get this ball rolling—one of you needs to give it a
nudge.”

“Maybe
I will.”

“Maybe
he’ll nudge back.”

“And
maybe he won’t.”

“You
can’t think that way.
 
Shoulders
back, darling.”
 
I put on my coat
and grabbed my clutch.
 
“Now, come
on.
 
Think positive.
 
I’m ready to shop and to have some girl
time.
 
Let’s do this.”

*
 
*
 
*

When
the elevator doors slid open and we stepped into the lobby, Tank was waiting
for us.

“Sorry
to take you away from your work at Henri’s, Tank.
 
I know this is frivolous compared to
what you were doing before.
 
I hope
you don’t mind.”

“There’s
only so much excitement to be had when it comes to installing surveillance
equipment, Jennifer.
 
I’m fine with
this.
 
It’ll be a good break.”
 
He turned to Lisa.
 
“You look lovely,” he said.

She
flushed.
 
“Thank you.
 
And you look very handsome.
 
There’s nothing like a man who can wear
a suit.
 
And you can.”

He
smiled at that.

“Suits,”
I said.
 
“That’s one of the reasons
I fell for Alex.
 
That man knows how
to dress.
 
I think I might have a
suit fetish or something.
 
Or maybe
it’s just an Alex fetish.
 
Or maybe
it’s both since Alex has taken to just wearing his birthday suit around the
apartment lately.”

Tank
cleared his throat.

I
put my hand on his shoulder.
 
“Sorry, my friend.
 
I’m
afraid you’re about to be regaled by two hours of girl talk.
 
I hope you can handle it, because the
two of us together on a shopping spree?
 
I’ll tell you right now that it’s not going to be easy.”

“I
can handle it.”
 
He nodded at
Lisa.
 
“And if I might say so,
spending those two hours with Lisa will be a plus.”

“Goodness,”
I said.
 
“Well, on that note, off to
Saks we go.”

“There’s
a car waiting outside,” Tank said.
 
“You know the routine, Jennifer.
 
Lisa doesn’t.”

I
looked at her.
 
“We just cut across
the sidewalk and slide into the backseat.
 
No dawdling.
 
We hustle.”

“Be
very quick, OK?” he said to Lisa.

“OK,”
she replied.
 

As
we started to walk across the lobby, I heard her say to him, “It’s nice seeing
you during the day while you’re at work.
 
I think we only ever see each other on Wednesday evenings when you’re
not at work.”

“I
know you’re busy with your book.
 
I’ve been trying not to interfere with that.”

“You
thought that you were interfering?”

“I
did.
 
I know how important your work
is to you.
 
I’m trying to respect
that.”

“But
you’re not interfering at all.
 
With
the exception of writing, I don’t do much of anything.
 
I need to take more time to get out and
enjoy the city.
 
It fills me
up.
 
Earlier, I was telling Jennifer
that I’ve pretty much become a shut-in.”

“Maybe
I misunderstood.
 
I thought that you
needed to spend more time with your writing.”

I
started to move ahead of them so they could talk.
 
He’d been holding back with her because
he wanted to give her space with her writing.
 
She was telling him otherwise.
 
I felt giddy inside.
 
Breakthrough moment!

“In
fact,” Lisa said, “I need less time with my writing.
 
Look, Jennifer is going to be with Alex
tonight, which leaves me home alone once again.
 
No offense to Jennifer, but I get bored
sitting at home alone all the time.
 
She’s my only girlfriend here.
 
So, Tank, if you’re free tonight, how about if we really switch things
up and have dinner tonight and also on Wednesday night?
 
Tonight, dinner’s on me.
 
A few months ago, Jennifer and Alex went
to a diner in the East Village that she raved about.
 
I guess Alex goes there a lot.
 
I’m not sure what it’s called.”

“I
know which one you’re talking about—it’s called Ruby’s.
 
It’s great there.
 
Alex and I went a few times together
when he was single.”