Page 18 of Elliot

Maya sighed and hung her head. “It’s going to be another long day, isn’t it?”

Elliot dropped his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. “Unfortunately, but the difference is, you won’t be alone today.”

She looked up at him. Her eyes held a vulnerability he knew she hated to show. “I hate this. All of this, it … I don’t have a frame of reference for this. I don’t know how to work through this.”

If he wasn’t working, he’d wrap her in his arms and hold her away from all the ugliness of the situation. He’d make sure she was protected from any further danger, not because she was his assignment, but because he wanted her to be his. He pushed that unwanted feeling down deep and pushed the reset button. “I know how to work through it. I’m here, and I won’t leave you to deal with this by yourself. You understand that, right? They’ll have to come through me to hurt you, and that will not happen.” He stared at her until he knew what he’d said had registered. She nodded.

“Then, let’s get on with the day. The goal is to act like this didn’t happen.”

She nodded. “Nothing happened.” She put her hand over his, which still rested on her shoulder. “Nothing happened.” She walked away, and he dropped his hand, which was bullshit. Something had just happened, hadn’t it? Not just in the case but between them. She’d let him see her vulnerable, frightened, and weak. How many people had seen her with her defenses down?

CHAPTER 7

After finishing her second-to-last meeting of the day, Maya worked with Jessica to catch up on tasks from when her assistant had been gone from the office. At a knock on the door, they looked up to see Stanley Folk—her final meeting.

Maya dismissed Jessica and asked Stanley to come in. The man glanced at Elliot, who stood in the far corner of the room. She hadn’t forgotten he was there and had looked over to reassure herself several times during the afternoon. He was a tower of strength and her protector. And if she let herself be honest, he was someone she’d let into her life. No other had touched her the way he had. He wouldn’t hurt her. She knew it and believed that down to the fiber of her soul. Something about the man … his calm certainty, how he’d handled the event in her bathroom, informed the investigators when they’d arrived, and maintained his professionalism made her want to mimic his strength. So, she did. She powered through the afternoon.

“Stanley, do you know why I’ve called you in this afternoon?” She set her tablet to the side of her desk, folded her hands, and leveled her stare at the man.

He nodded. “Since this morning, I’ve been able to build a road map for the campaign. I have several scripts you’ll need to approve and concepts for the videos and commercials. A social media blast with dedicated accountants to manage conversions is also being built. We’ve also sent out feelers for ad agencies to provide detailed target audiences.” He handed her a leather folder, which she took and set on the side of her desk.

“Thank you, but playing catch-up isn’t what I expect from you. Those audiences should have been generated months ago, Stanley.”

He looked down at his hands, and his face turned a dark red. “I trusted people to have accomplished their job. It isn’t my fault they can’t do as they’re told.”

Maya leaned back in her chair and waited for Stanley to look up. When he did, she lifted an eyebrow. “Managers do what in this company?”

“Provide guidance, ensure accountability, and facilitate ongoing programs,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Did you do any of those things?” She reached for her pen and started spinning it through her fingers.

“I did.”

“To whom and when? Where are the meeting minutes? Who was the team lead you assigned? Why haven’t I seen any documentation indicating shortcomings within your section?”

The man jumped up and started pacing. She watched Elliot move from the corner of the room to stand behind her desk. Stanley glanced at him and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Come on, Maya, not everyone is a fucking machine. We can’t work your hours and function. It’s ridiculous to hold people to a standard of perfection that isn’t realistic.”

Maya stopped spinning the pen and bridged it between her two index fingers. “Stanley, please sit down.” The man dropped into the seat he’d taken minutes before. His foot tapped thefloor, and his face was still red. She set the pen down and leaned forward. “We’ve been through a lot together. I’ve seen your work and know how good it can be. What has been happening these last months can’t continue. I know about your pending divorce and affair with your nanny. I can understand why you're distracted. But I’m willing to overlook?—”

The man jumped up and slammed his hands on her desk. “That isnoneof your business.” Spit shot in her direction. He spun and headed toward the door. “That’s personal. You have no right.”

“Stanley,” she said his name quietly and watched him stop at the door.

“What?” He turned around and glared at her.

“I called you here to give you another chance to get yourself together.”

“Oh, thank you, your majesty.” The man bowed. “Do you want your humble servant to grovel at your feet? Because I’m not going to do that. Offense intended. Screw you.”

Maya blinked and sat back. “I don’t understand the need to make a personal attack. Did I ask you to grovel?”

“Oh, no, you didn’t. Not yet. I’m so sorry I haven’t lived up to your unbelievable standards. Miss Holier than Thou, you think you could do better? You can’t. I’m the best out there, and you know it.”

She cocked her head as she tried to digest the yelled rant aimed at her. She’d wanted to help him. Mentioning the divorce and the nanny, common knowledge throughout the entire company, shouldn’t have set him off that way.

He sneered at her. “You think you’re poised for a grand IPO, but you won’t do it this time. I’ll applaud from the sidelines as I watch you fall on your face.”

“Stanley, where is all this coming from? None of this is necessary or warranted.”

---