Page 98 of Exposed

“Thank you,” I lean over and kiss her. “Send it to me, and I’ll send it to my lawyer. You’re right. We’ll get through this, and Simon will be ours in the end,” I promise. If I don’t have faith, I’ll crumble under the weight of worry. This is out of my control, and I’ve got to choose faith instead of fear.

Still, I’m doing everything I can to keep an eye on Simon. I dial Cat, the PI.

“Matt, how can I help you?” She answers.

“Heath and Nita have Simon from now until next Sunday. Please keep a close eye on every move they make. If anything looks questionable, call me. I’m worried about his safety,” I inform her.

“Yes, sir. I’ll call the second anything looks amiss.”

I hang up, then put my car in drive so we can head back to the Miami International Airport.

Next stop, New York City.

41

MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

JASMINE

On Monday morning, Matt and I walk into the building where Titan Securities is housed. They own the top ten floors of a skyscraper in Manhattan.

Feels like a troop of monkeys is jumping around inside my stomach. We had breakfast at a cute cafe nearby, but now I’m regretting it as nervous nausea hits me. We meet with Mr. Walter Crane and his son Ian this morning, then fly home this afternoon.

After checking in and going through security, we’re ushered up to the Titan lobby.

“You’ve got this, princess.” Matt squeezes my hand, and I lift my head to give him a chaste kiss. I’m thankful he’s here with me.

He dressed up for today. He’s got on gray slacks,polished black wingtip shoes and a black button up shirt with the top two buttons undone.

I hear the click clack of heels, and an assistant appears from a white hallway. “Ms. Lockwood, Mr. Crane is ready for you.”

When Matt stands to come with me, the receptionist pauses.

“You can wait here, sir.”

“She’s Mrs. Galloway now, and I’m accompanying my wife,” he says protectively.

I give him a soft smile of approval. With no idea what Mr. Crane and his son will say, I want Matt with me.

“Very well,” she nods her head curtly. “Follow me.”

We walk down a hallway with lacquered white walls, then into a conference room where Mr. Crane and Ian sit.

“Ms. Lockwood, thank you for joining us.” Mr. Crane stands and shakes our hands.

“It’s Mrs. Galloway now, sir,” I correct him.

“Pardon me. Is this Mr. Galloway?” He asks Matt.

“Yes, sir. Thanks for having us.”

“Let’s get down to business,” Ian announces. I’ve never met either of them in person before. They’re both the masterminds behind the cybersecurity side, and I was always on the finance side.

“Where’s Mr. Blackwell?” I ask. As co-owner of the company, I expected him to be here.

“Since his son is the perpetrator of all the wrongdoing, Mr. Blackwell is on administrative leave as well. You understand how hard it is on him that his own son committed these crimes.” Mr. Crane clasps his handstogether and puts his forearms on the polished, black wooden conference table.

“That makes sense,” I say. “But it’s hard for me to believe that Kevin did everything. He was always friendly to the other staff and me.”

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