Page 16 of Untamed Protector

The worst part? I don’t know what I’m supposed to stay out of. Something I did recently, maybe as part of my investigation, has struck a nerve, but whose?

Peter is more concerned than I am, especially since the letters got sent to his company’s offices. His jaw tightens every time he talks about it, promising to sort this out. But until then, I feel like I’m walking on a knife’s edge, not knowing who’s watching or when they’ll strike. All I know is that someone powerful wants me gone, and they’re getting desperate.

“Lexi, you’re not supposed to leave without me. Peter’s orders,” the driver says as he pulls over in the underground parking of Grain Inc., the company run by Peter Maier.

A polished sports car I’ve never seen before sits smugly in a visitor spot. It doesn’t look like the one that hit me and Dad, but it’s sleek and chiseled. I’ve learned a lot about sports cars since I started my investigation to find the culprit who ruined my life and caused Dad so much pain.

I quickly check my lips on the phone’s camera. Thank God for lipstick! It helps camouflage the scar most of the time. Unfortunately, some people in the office have noticed it, especially after I drink water or coffee. I have a go-to excuse, the bike accident story, which usually works.

We take the elevator up to the seventh floor, where Peter’s office is. It’s almost nine, but I can barely keep my eyes open. Usually, I’d go to my office on the fifth and bury my nose in my computer, surrounded by my Excel tables, graphs, and databases. Numbers are my thing, and I thought I’d make a career out of them. I was a math student when the tragedy happened. Now, I’m just another cog in the corporate machine, a bookkeeper pushing paper in finance. Few people know my secret, but creepy letters keep coming, threats to shut me down before I find out something I shouldn’t. That’s all I know for now.

“Hey, Lexi,” Peter’s assistant Susanah greets me, and I detect a hint of urgency in her voice. “They’re waiting for you. Peter asked that you join them in the small meeting room next to his office.”

They’re waiting for me? Peter probably wants to talk about last night. Did Lucas come, too? He hasn’t called yet, but he’s not a morning person anyway, and he’s probably super hungover still. I wonder how much he remembers about last night. I look at her before entering the meeting room and point to my lips. “Does it look okay?”

Susanah scans me, her eyes narrowing for a beat. “You’re fine. It’s all covered. Go in, and good luck.”

I inhale deeply, trying to steady my racing heart. Gabriel. Will I see him today? The mere thought sends a surge of anticipation coursing through me. I close my eyes for a second and conjure his image. Those amazing dark brown eyes with flecks of chocolate and caramel. And how sexy he looked in his tux, with his dark, shiny hair.

If anyone heard that, they’d think I’ve fallen for him. And that’s not something I can afford right now. Snap out of it, Lexi.

I open the door and walk into the conference room, where a wave of deep, masculine laughter washes over me. It’s not Peter. It’s Gabriel, just as I remember him. And he’s alone, talking on his phone, pacing around the room.

“Let me call you back, okay? I need to go to a meeting now. Thanks.” He hangs up and slips the phone into the pocket of his elegant navy jacket.

I forgot how tall he was. With an impeccably tailored jacket that hugs his muscles like a second skin, an expensive watch flashing on his wrist, full lips on a strong jawline, and stubble adding a touch of sexy roughness, the whole combo is ridiculously good-looking.

“I think I have the wrong room. I’m looking for Peter. Do you know where he is?” How is this man constantly on my tail? He already knows way too much about me, thanks to that damn mic and whatever else Peter spilled. While I know nothing about him. Except that he enjoys bossing people around. And yet, my body can’t resist his touch, even though he’s a stranger. A handsome stranger, but still…

“Please come in,” he replies. “You’re in the right room. We need to talk. Peter will join us in a minute.”

“What’s going on? Do you want to give me a lecture about last night? Is that why you’re here?” I say dryly, feeling a wall go up around me.

“And good morning to you, too. How did you sleep? You didn’t text me.”

The thought of me in bed, texting Gabriel, makes my cheeks flush hot.

“How did I sleep? It was fine. I felt safe, so thanks for sending Dean and the other guys.”

He attempts a smirk and a nod. What’s that supposed to mean? Is that arrogance I see? Mocking a woman that’s pissed at him is not a great idea. And I haven’t even told him why I’m so angry yet. I reach into my bag and pull out the tiny microphone.

“This belongs to you, right?” The mic lands on the table with a soft thud. I nudge it closer to him and press on before he can speak. “Why should I bother texting when you and Dean already knew my every move?”

He lifts the microphone, a flicker of amusement crossing his face as our eyes lock, then adds without hesitation, “An improv; we needed to adapt to circumstances.”

“But I didn’t adapt, and you had no right to invade my privacy without telling me.”

“There wasn’t any time.”

“The hell there wasn’t. You circled me like a hawk the entire night. You could’ve said something, like, I don’t know… Hey Lexi, we put a bug in for your safety. I freaked out when I found it. Anyone at the event could’ve planted it. Are there more?”

“I’m not sure, but I can check,” he says calmly, a smirk playing on his lips. The table in the middle has been our buffer zone. Fuming internally, I’ve kept it together so far, but couldn’t help but throw my bag on a chair when I took out the microphone earlier.

“What are you doing? Stay right there. I can hear you just fine from over here.” I panic, seeing him walking toward me.

“That may be. But how do you want me to search for bugs without touching you?”

If he says touch one more time, I won’t be able to stay mad at him. I saw what his presence could do to me.

---