Page 74 of The Next Door Billionaire's Deception

Agents?

The FBI. My ‘contingency plan’.

“Send them in.”

Chapter 22

Melissa

“Idemandameetingwith him this instant!”

Fuming, I lean over the desk, but the young man I’m talking to doesn’t budge an inch. A good receptionist.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. But, as I’ve told you, Mr. Lamar isn’t available.”

“Don’t you know who I am?”

Little drops of sweat running down his forehead betray his nervousness.

“I do, Miss Durham. U

nfortunately, I can’t help you. If you wish to see him, I can fix an appointment for you.”

“How soon can the appointment be fixed?” I ask, sighing.

“It depends on his schedule, ma’am. Rest assured, you’ll be contacted as soon as Mr. Lamar’s available. Do you perhaps want to leave any message?”

I glance around the reception area. There are cameras in different corners, with red lights blinking. Good.

“Tell him it’s about Vibrant Corp,” I say, as loud as possible.

“Okay, ma’am. I’ll be sure to deliver –” The ringing of the landline telephone on the receptionist’s desk cuts him short.

“Yes? …. Uh, yes sir …. Yes, this is her first time here …. I should allow her in? …. Alright sir. I understand.”

He drops the phone on its receiver, then turns to me. “Apologies for the inconvenience, Miss Durham. Mr. Lamar will see you now.”

As I walk past the desk, a smile plays on my lips. He isn't one for missing out on business. This is a deal he'll be interested in and that's enough to bait him.

The automatic doors slide open as I get closer to the spacious office that serves as John Lamar’s base of operations. With a wide sitting area complete with a bar stacked with different wines and spirits, along with decorations like the bronze sculpture of a bull on one side of the room, and a portrait of Lamar himself, no expenses were spared in making this office as regal as possible.

In a corner, a large LCD screen propped up against the wall is showing a golf game, and Lamar’s sitting on a swiveling chair nearby, watching. He doesn’t move an inch as I enter.

“I’ve come to talk to you, Mr. Lamar.”

“About what?” He asks, his back still turned to me.

“Vibrant Corporation. That’s what.”

He swivels to face me, his gaze is intense, lips straight.

“Want me to tell you something interesting, Melissa?”

From the time I became CEO, Lamar has shown no respect or regard for me, even though I’m someone with a high position in the company. It’s a formal setting, yet he chose to call me by name.

I grit my teeth, taking deep breaths to calm my throbbing heart. Now’s not the time to get angry. I hate to admit it, but he’s important to me now. Even though he’s a corrupt, devious scumbag.

“Please, Mr. Lamar. I came here only for one thing.”

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