Page 27 of It Starts With A No

She laughed softly. “I’d assume so.”

“Assume?”

“He’s never exactly said those words. He just swears at me any time I pick up the call.” She turned back to him when she was satisfied that the doors were secured.

“Clary, what if Hugh’s the one sending those threats? He can probably still get into this house even if you lock every door and window.”

She shook her head. “I receive over twenty threats a day. Hugh doesn’t have the patience to sit and create all those.” She waved it off. “I’ve known him since we were children.” She’d seen him cry just because a butterfly landed on him. “He’s more of a YOLO, let’s-party-and-have-all-the-fun-you-can-have person. He drinks and parties too much for his own good, but he isn’t the let’s-find-someone-and-gun-her-down type.”

Seth’s brows twitched, and he stared at her as if he couldn’t understand why she would allow herself to be connected to the Eolenfelds.

“Most importantly, I’m sure he knows Mr. E will cut him off if he dares hurt me.”

His brows rose. “I hope you’re right, because experience has told me that the Eolenfelds are capable of anything. And if he’s the one behind it, I doubt he’d have problem getting the key to this house.”

“No one knows I’m staying here. No one will suspect.” She strolled over to another set of doors that opened onto the beautiful garden by the side of the house. It had been years, but she wondered if the small bushes with white and pink flowers were the same ones planted and maintained by her parents. “No one’s lived here since Mrs. E passed away. No one’s allowed here.” She dropped her gaze and swallowed hard as she stared at a smaller tree between two bigger ones.

She’d planted that with Mrs. E.

Closing her eyes, she drew a deep breath before turning around.

“You will need to rethink that,” Seth said from the dining table. “How do you think I knew where you were staying?”

Clary blinked. “Right.” She hadn’t even thought about that. “How did you know to find me here?”

Seth gave his knee a pat. “How much do you trust your assistant?”

Chapter 6

Clary drew a deep breath at the ding from the elevator. Choose patience. She strode out after the door slid open. Choose kindness.

The whole of this floor was taken up by one office—hers.

A decorated Christmas tree stood in one corner of a spacious open area, and the comforting pine fragrance helped put a little of the Christmas spirit back in her. You’re an ambassador of God.

Tamara looked up from the brown desk and smiled at her. “Good morning.” Her brows drew together when she noticed the bandage on Clary’s hand. “What happened?”

Clary had merely told Tamara that there had been an incident last night and she would come into the office late, and the genuine concern in her assistant’s voice took away some of her anger.

“I got held up by some deranged man.”

Her assistant gasped. “Oh, my God. Are you okay? Did you call Mr. Eolenfeld?”

“I’m fine, and he knows.” She stopped in front of the brown desk. “Did you tell Seth Anderson where I was staying?”

“Yes. He asked if you were in the office. I told him what you told me: that you’d be here later. He asked for your address, so I gave it to him.”

Clary nodded slowly. “While you were working for Mr. Eolenfeld, did you just give out his home address to anyone who asked for it?”

Tamara’s eyes widened. “No, of course not. But Mr. Anderson said it was urgent, and he wanted to make sure you were all right.”

Clary bit down on her lips. Tamara just did what she thought was best for me.

“As I said,” Tamara continued. “I saw him with Mr. Eolenfeld. They were on friendly terms, so I didn’t think there would be any problem.”

“What makes you think you have the right to make that decision?”

Her assistant jutted her chin out. “Even Hugh doesn’t dare to do anything serious to you because he’s afraid of what Mr. Eolenfeld would do if he did, right? Mr. Anderson needs you now, too. He isn’t going to do anything stupid to jeopardize that.”

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