Page 27 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

"Any idea what caused the elevator to stop?" I asked, looking back at the firefighters who were now inspecting the elevator shaft.

"Looks like a mechanical failure," one of them replied. "Maintenance will have to take a closer look."

"Who usually inspects them and why wasn't this caught?" Damn, my tone had been more Max than Jared, and I quickly smiled to mask it. "I mean, what's the usual scenario here? Why does this sort of thing happen?"

He launched into a detailed explanation that I did my best to understand, and when he was done, my eyes automatically sought out Cordelia who was downing her water and looking a little tired, a smudge of something on her cheek and a streak of dirt marring her pretty blouse.

After thanking him and the rest of the first responders, I made my way over to a quiet Cordelia. "Ready to get out of here?" I asked her.

"More than ready," she replied.

We used the stairs this time, all the elevators closed for further inspection, an EMT going down with us to make sure we didn't collapse or something, I supposed.

I wanted to tell Cordelia to take the day off tomorrow, and the next day too if she needed. But as Jared, I couldn't do that. And it was even more annoying that I couldn't call my driver to come get us.

So I settled on a cab, insisting that I drop her off first, despite her protestations. After finally relenting, she leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, her hands folded in her lap. Something made me want to reach out and touch her, offer her comfort even though I knew she'd bite my head off. But I stopped myself.

Instead, I looked out the window, surprised at how nice the street was where Dee lived. The taxi rolled past elegant brownstones and meticulously maintained townhouses, their stoops decorated with potted plants.

When the driver pulled up to her place, I whistled. It was a classic pre-war building with an elegant arched entrance, wrought-iron gates, and lush greenery. "Damn. And I thought you said Max Sterling wasn't paying you well."

She quickly gathered her stuff. "I'm a smart investor, Jared," she said coolly as she opened her door.

"I guess so."

"Wish I could say I had a great night." She shot me a smirk. "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," I answered. But she'd already shut the door.

I watched her until she made it safely inside, all the while wondering what else remained hidden under her cool exterior, discovering belatedly that she’d left a wad of cash on the seat, most likely thinking Jared was a poor fucker.

Eight

Annalise

"I'm surprised you can even walk today," I said to my sister Aria.

"What do you mean?" she asked innocently, taking a bite of her grilled salmon.

"Last time you went to that little bed and breakfast, you came back bow-legged."

Her face flushed pink. "Well, at least I'm getting some."

"Touché," Astrid chimed in with a smile.

"Some of us are busy working," I argued.

Aria wiggled her brows at me. "Some of us can do both."

"Well, not all of us are blessed to find someone like Ethan."

It was a strange thing to say considering we'd all despised Ethan not too long ago. But time has a way of changing your mind about certain "facts" that you were one-hundred percent sure about.

All she did was smile, that love-sick look on her face that was actually pretty annoying. But I bit my tongue, not wanting to be a bitter, mean, big sister.

Instead, I glanced around the cute little bistro we'd chosen to meet at, not too trendy, not too fancy, perfect for a Sunday afternoon light lunch.

"So how's work been going?" I asked Astrid, who I knew was busy with her winter collection, even though it was the tail end of summer.

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