Page 16 of Rivals Next Door

It wasn’t just about me. We saved lives and helped countless people with our blend of technology and medical science. My father had his flaws… many of them. However, he wasn’t one of the misogynistic assholes I mentioned—not to the extreme, anyway. His saving grace was that he believed in BioTech’s mission, and he put his faith in me to continue the Brentwood legacy. I couldn’t fail. I wouldn’t. Therefore, I had to swallow my pride and appeal to Alex’s compassion. To call it what it was, groveling, would likely make me vomit.

Reluctantly, I picked up my phone and called Alex’s office. The phone rang twice before someone answered. “Thank you for calling KnightGuard, Alexander Knight’s office. How may I help?”

The voice on the other end was light and professional. It helped put me at ease a little. I realized that my heart pounded faster than usual because I half expected Alex to answer.

“Hi, this is Olivia Brentwood. I’d like to speak to Alex… I mean, Mr. Knight, please.”

“Please hold.”

My eyes rolled around, and I tapped out an agitated rhythm on my desk as I waited.

The same voice came back. “Mr. Knight isn’t available.”

“Did he tell you to tell me that?” I just had a feeling he did.

“Um… no...”

The woman’s hesitation said it all. “Uh-huh. Well, can you ask him when would be a good time for us to meet?”

“Ms. Brentwood?—”

“Please. It’s an urgent matter.”

“Please hold,” the woman said before the line went quiet.

I blew out a breath and waited once again.

“Ms. Brentwood? Sorry to keep you waiting. Mr. Knight’s schedule is full.”

“Oh, come on…”

“I’m sorry.”

The woman sounded genuinely apologetic. Plus, it was hardly her fault that her boss was being an avoidant dick. “It’s fine. Thanks.”

As soon as I hung up, I grabbed my handbag and aimed for the door. If Alex thought I’d just sit and twiddle my thumbs until he was ready, he was in for a surprise. When I rushed out of my office, my assistant’s head popped up. She gazed at me with furrowed eyebrows.

“Is everything okay, Ms. Brentwood?”

“Everything is fine, Janice. I’ll be out of the office for at least two hours. Please hold my calls and push back my eleven o’clock.”

Janice’s professional smile appeared. “You got it.”

“Thanks.”

I squared my shoulders and walked out of BioTech with determination.

It took about thirty minutes to get from Cambridge to Alex’s office in Boston. That was sufficient time for me to get my irritation and frustration under control. Sitting in the parking lot, I stared up at KnightGuard.

It was so much more than a cyber security firm. I read in one of his many interviews that his operations were AI enhanced and everything was created from the ideas in his head. I knew it was true because he was highly intelligent. I smiled as I reminisced about the time I discovered my boyfriend was a genius. It was the night we shared our first kiss…

Twelve years ago…

I watched my new boyfriend with curiosity as he stepped into my apartment and looked around. He had his hands in his pockets as he seemed to inspect every corner of my place. I was a little nervous about having him in my personal space for the first time because Alex wasn’t predictable like the other guys I’d dated. He had this mysterious edge that became more intriguing the longer we spent time together.

“Nice place,” he said. “Of course, Princess Olivia would have her castle set up off campus.”

I rolled my eyes at the princess thing. He wouldn’t quit, but admittedly, I was starting to like it.

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