Page 46 of Trust Me

“So? They’ll know you and will roll out the red carpet. I’m trying to prove to you that even a lowly consultant like myself can get past this hotel’s intense security.”

“Then you want me to stay here? How the hell do I know you won’t lie, sit in the lobby for a while, and then come out and tell me you made it to one of the exclusive suites.”

Of course he doesn’t trust me. He shouldn’t, but that’s not the point.

“Give me your phone.” I hand out my hand.

“No.”

I suck my teeth. “You’re so damn difficult. Fine.” I pull a pen out of my bag and take his hand. I write my cell phone number on his palm. “Call me in five minutes.”

He parts his mouth, but I put my finger to his lips to shush him. “Just follow along. Call me in five minutes.”

I wait until he nods to remove my finger.

As I head into the hotel lobby, I search out the different employees behind the counter. I decide to approach the employee who looks the youngest and least confident.

“Oh my god,” I say as soon as I get to the counter. My outburst startles her. I drop my eyes to read the name tag on her vest. “Callie.

“You have to help me,” I insist, looking at her nervously. “I just started as the executive assistant for Mr. Caldron. Do you know him?”

She shakes her head.

“How could you …” I trail off. “He’s only the CEO of WineCorp. We’re in Williamsport for the big wine festival that’s this weekend. You know about it, right?” I gesture to the huge sign in the middle of the lobby welcoming visitors to the Williamsport Wine Festival.

“You have to help me.” I take Callie’s arm to increase the desperate look I’m going for. “Mr. Caldron left an important file in his suite. Heneedsthis file for his meeting today. I told him I would come back and get it for him. But of course, I forgot to get the keycard from him. He’s waiting at our meeting spot, thirty minutes away. I know you don’t normally do this, but is there any way …”

I trail off to let her figure out what I’m asking.

Callie bites her bottom lip and looks to her left at her other colleague. Thankfully, the other employee is busy with another huge group of patrons.

“Please, it’s the Luxe Room. I just got this job and cannot afford to lose it. Mr. Caldron is very demanding.”

She starts typing something on her computer. “W-We don’t have a reservation under that name.”

While she’s glancing at the computer screen, I hang my hand with my phone in it over the desk. From this angle, I can read the reflection of her screen.

“He never books under his name. Can you try Emerson? It’s his wife’s maiden name. A little trick he uses for privacy,” I say, able to read the name from the reflection in my phone.

She nods but then straightens. “Um, well.”

“Please, I’m—” I hold up a finger when my phone rings. “Hello? Mr. Caldron?” I look at Callie as I answer Kyle on the other end.

“Who the fuck—”

“Yes, sir. I’m at the hotel. The problem is, I-I …” I turn desperate, seeking eyes to Callie and mouth.‘Please.’

She nods, and I know I’m in. She quickly writes down the hotel suite's elevator code and opens a lock drawer handing me a keycard.

‘Thank you,’I mouth and wave. “Yes, sir. I’m on my way up to your suite now,” I say as I walk away just for good measure.

When I reach the elevators that lead up to the suites, I tell Kyle, “Meet me in the Luxe Room,” before hanging up.

The elevator ride is short. Less than ten minutes after entering the hotel, I walk into one of the most fascinating suites I’ve ever been in. By the bathrobe strewn over the back of the couch, I guess the actual guests of this room are out for the day.

Still, I should spend as little time here as possible.

“Shit,” I startle when a knock on the door. My phone buzzes with a text from Kyle.

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