Page 16 of Unraveling an Enigma
After exhaling a rugged gasp, Brandon’s eyes flick up to mine. “You need to be more vigilant about anything you say or do over the next few days.”
He clears his throat with an impromptu cough. His face is marred with apprehension. “Is Isaac Holt Mr. Unattainable?” he questions in a hushed whisper.
My eyes dart to his. He is staring at me with unease. His dazzling hazel eyes are begging for me to deny his accusation. Unable to lie any longer, I nod.
“Bloody hell, Isabelle,” he murmurs while dragging his hand over the top of his hair. “How long?”
“Officially, a little over a month, but I met him before I even knew who he was,” I answer, my tone brittle.
His brows stitch together so tightly, an extensive set of wrinkles indent his forehead. He looks utterly flabbergasted.
“I’m petrified of flying,” I explain, my tone feeble. My fear is so nerve-racking, my voice trembles even while explaining my fear.
“I was working up the courage to enter the boarding area at the airport, when, in total embarrassment, I pushed off the railing and crashed right into Isaac. I didn’t have a clue who he was at the time,” I explain, my grim gaze seeking Brandon’s.
“Isaac took care of me and iced the bump on my head from us accidentally head butting.” I smile when the memories of that day filter through my mind. “I didn’t think I’d see him again after that. So, you can imagine my surprise when I turned up to my flight, and I was seated next to him, and even more surprising than that was my seat was in business class.”
My brows lower down my face as I shake my head. I still haven’t gotten over the coincidence of running into Isaac again that day. What would the odds have been out of the millions of people traveling that day, I end up being seated next to him?
Brandon’s anxious gaze roams over my face. His lips have curved downwards. “Who paid for your flight, Izzy?” His tone is low and sultry.
My heart rate kicks up a gear. “The Bureau.”
Brandon would already know this. When you're assigned to a team, all travel expenses are included.
“Did you request for your ticket to be upgraded to business class?” he queries.
My brows pull together tight before I briskly shake my head. I don’t have access to an impressive bank balance that could pay for an upgraded ticket.
Brandon’s chest expands so much, the buttons on his business shirt nearly pop. “Did Isaac have any way of knowing you were on his flight?”
I initially shake my head, until the memories of that day slowly dribble through my brain. Isaac did collect my belongings, so he may have seen my boarding pass I’d printed earlier that day.
“He may have seen the boarding pass, but it would have only been for the quickest snippet of time,” I eventually respond.
In a flash, the supply closet door swings open. My palms dampen with sweat when Alex walks into the already stuffed room. The closet is so minute in size, it already struggles to contain both Brandon and me. Now that Alex has joined us, it is stifling and uncomfortable.
Alex’s thinly slitted eyes dart between Brandon and me. He has a scary, menacing snarl formed on his lips. “It is now after 11 AM, and that report I requested to be completed first thing this morning has still not been finalized, but you have time for a friendly chit chat with Isabelle in the supplies closet,” Alex remarks, his tone thickly doused with sarcasm while his stern gaze affixes to Brandon.
Brandon remains quiet, but I see a nanosecond of anger flash across his usually expressionless face.
Alex’s austere gaze turns to face me. “I need to see you in my office.” He pivots and stalks to the door. Once he exits, his head turns back, so his eyes can dart between Brandon and me. “Immediately, Isabelle.”
I nod before turning my gaze to Brandon. He smiles reassuringly, easing my uncertainty. With reluctance, I spin on my heels and follow Alex out of the supply closet. The beating of my heart grows more erratic with every step I take.
Isabelle
My heart smashes my ribs when Alex lowers the privacy blind in his office. The normal glass wall I’ve never seen shadowed before plunges the room into an eerily gray color once the blind is fully lowered. Alex walks to the corner of the room and switches on an antique lamp before gesturing for me to sit in the chair opposite his impressive, well-organized desk.
Once I am seated, he sits in his well-worn leather chair, his blue eyes darting between mine. Although his gaze is stern, there’s something underlying that makes the pulse in my neck twang with concern.
“Because of your unwillingness to cooperate with their investigation, the internal affairs department is recommending you go on unpaid leave until they have finalized their investigation,” Alex advises, his gaze never once leaving mine.
The room spins as a knot twists in my stomach. After swallowing harshly to eradicate a lump in my throat, I nod, acknowledging I have heard him. My hand shoots down to fiddle with the hem of my shirt. My brain needs something to occupy its time, so the desire to refute their erroneous claims doesn’t come out of my mouth before I have time to do it accurately.
“Although I don’t agree with their investigation, I believe it will be best for my department if you do take a step back,” Alex continues, his tone less harsh. “Running an investigation like ours is already hard enough, let alone having the internal affairs department breathing down our necks.”
I nod again since I can’t form words to express my authentic remorse for shrouding his department in controversy, but also grateful he doesn’t agree with their investigation.
