Page 110 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
His pleas are left unanswered when I nod.
“Jesus, Isabelle.” He drags his hand over his head, flattening his new do. “How long?”
I hesitate. He just cautioned me to remain quiet, but now he wants all the details. “Officially, a little over a month. But I met him before I knew he was being investigated.”
When Brandon gives me a look as if he’s not buying my story, I explain, “I'm petrified of flying.” My fear is so nerve-wracking, my knees knock even while explaining my concern. “I was working up the courage to enter the boarding area at the airport when my push off the railing had me crashing into Isaac.” I smile when the memories of that day filter through my mind. “Isaac took care of me. He iced the bump on my head before offering up a pain reliever for my throbbing head. I didn’t think I’d see him again, so you can imagine my surprise when I was seated next to him for my flight to Ravenshoe. If that wasn’t already shocking, it was a business-class seat.”
I’m still shocked about that day. What would the odds be out of the millions of people traveling that day, we’d be seated together?
“You flew business class?” When I nod, Brandon’s lips crimp. “Who paid for your flight?”
I give him my bestduhface. “The Bureau.”
He knows this. When you're assigned a team, travel expenses are included.
“Did you request for your ticket to be upgraded to business class?”
I shake my head at Brandon’s question. I don’t have the means to upgrade my ticket now, much less back then.
Brandon’s chest expands so much, the buttons on his dress shirt nearly pop. “Did Isaac have any way of knowing you were on his flight?”
I almost shake my head until the memories of that day trickle through my mind. “Isaac collected my belongings, so he may have seen the boarding pass I had printed earlier that day, but it would have only been for the quickest second…”
My words stop when the supply closet door swings open. When Alex enters the already stuffed room, its minute size shrinks even more. He bounces his eyes between Brandon and me before they finally come to rest on Brandon. “It’s after eleven, and the report I requested first thing this morning is still not finalized, yet you have time for a chit-chat with Isabelle in the supply closet. Perhaps I need to increase your workload?”
Brandon remains quiet, but he doesn’t need to speak to express his anger. It’s visible on his usually expressionless face. Happy he has Brandon on tenterhooks, Alex shifts his focus to me. “I need to see you in my office.” He pivots and stalks to the door, only stopping to ensure I’m following him. “Now, Isabelle.”
Nodding, I drift my eyes to Brandon, praying today won’t be the last time I associate with him on a professional level.
CHAPTER7
ISABELLE
My heart smashes against my ribs when Alex lowers the privacy blind in his office. The glass wall I’ve never seen shadowed frosts, plunging the room into an eerie gray coloring. After switching on an antique lamp, Alex gestures for me to sit in the chair opposite his well-organized desk. Once I'm seated, he sits in a leather chair, then props his elbows on his keyboard. Although his gaze is stern, there’s something behind them that has the vein in my neck working overtime.
“Because of your unwillingness to cooperate with their investigation, IA is recommending you go on unpaid leave until they finalize their inquiries.”
The room spins around me. This is worse than first perceived.
“Although I don’t agree with their scrutiny, I believe it’ll be best for all involved if you take a step back.” His deep timbre softens to a whisper. “Running an investigation like ours is hard enough. We don’t need IA breathing down our necks.”
Guilt makes itself known with my gut. The last thing I wanted to do was shroud his department with controversy. That’s why I fought my feelings for Isaac for so long, I didn’t want this to be the outcome, but now that I’m in love with him, I can’t give him up. The only thing I'd change if given a redo of the last three months would be to tell Isaac the truth from the beginning, then maybe I wouldn’t be left defending my honor on my own.
“Once IA’s investigation is found unwarranted, I’ll accept you back into my team, Isabelle, but until then, you need to gather your belongings and leave the office immediately.”
With a fake smile plastered on my face, I nod before standing to my feet and heading for the door. Once I have the stainless-steel handle grasped in my hand, I crank my neck back to Alex. “Isaac isn’t the man you think he is.”
I exit his office, denying him the opportunity to reply. Several eyes follow my brisk track to my desk. Other than my satchel, phone, and FBI-issued revolver, I don’t have any other personal belongings, so I’m ready to leave in mere seconds.
As I place my gun into my satchel, the heat of a gaze captures my attention. Theresa is gawking at me from across the room. A smirk is stretched across her face, hiding her vicious snarl, and her arms are crossed in front of her chest. Her condescending stature reveals what I already know—the instant I leave this office, gossip about my dismissal will spread like wildfire.
I stop returning Theresa’s glare when a deep voice says, “I’ll walk you out.”
My eyes stray to Brandon, who has his backside propped against my desk. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want you thrown under the bus with me.”
He makes apfftnoise. “I don’t care what they think. You’re my friend, Izzy, and until proven guilty, which willneverhappen, I’ll have your back.”
I bump him with my hip, pretending his words don’t have me on the verge of tears. “Thanks, Brandon.”
