“Marcus isn’t here,” he says simply. “It’s you I want to talk to.”
I swallow and reach under the desk to pluck my phone from the filing cabinet sitting under it. I unlock it and causally bring it up and sit it on my desk. Walter’s eyes flick to it, then back to me. I keep smiling, as if I’m not at all concerned he’s here.
“Me?” I ask innocently.
I stretch my arms forward, putting the phone where he can’t see it.
“I wouldn’t call him, Katia. What I have to say will only benefit you.”
Yeah, right.
Loony.
I slowly move my fingers over the keypad, only glancing down once to make sure Marcus’s name is on the screen. I type two words. Walter. Here. Walter is too busy smirking at me to notice my fingers moved, and at his words, I lean back, pretending I’m no longer going to call Marcus.
“Okay,” I say, putting my hands where he can see them. “I won’t call him.”
His smirk gets bigger. “That’s a wise choice.”
“I know who you are, Walter. I also know what you’re doing here and I’m just going to say, before you start, that I’m not interested.”
The phone rings beside me. The reception phone.
“Excuse me, I have to take this.”
I don’t let him answer; I just answer the phone. “Tandem Machinery, Katia speaking.”
“Get up, walk out of there, and call security.”
It’s Marcus.
“Of course, sir. He’s currently out at the moment, but can I take a message?”
“Good girl,” Marcus praises. “Don’t let him know its me. He’s dangerous, Katia. He’s also insane and will say whatever he can to make you doubt this. He wants this company and he’s willing to do whatever he can to get it.”
“I understand. I’ll tell him you called.”
“Get up. Get out. I’ll be there in five.”
“Thank you.”
I hang up and smile back up at Walter. Then I stand and say, “Excuse me, I have to pass on this message, and—”
Walter lashes out, curling his fingers around my arm. I gasp as he pulls me closer, and my eyes dart around to see if anyone is around to help. They’re not. Most are out to lunch right now.
“Listen to me, girl. Marcus Tandem is a bad man. Did you know this business is only a cover up?” He laughs bitterly. “He messes with bad people and money. He works with criminals, bringing in dirty money and running it through his business to make it clean. He runs the operation silently. You didn’t think he made enough money for this house with just hiring and selling machines, did you?”
My body jerks.
“You’re a liar.”
“Am I?” he growls. “So you’ve never had strange people show up to your house, telling him to back down.”
I flinch again.
My father.
Oh God.
“That’s what I thought. Your husband is dealing in some dangerous shit, and he’s going to get himself hurt if he doesn’t stop. I’m here to make a deal with him.”
“Let me go,” I whisper.
“What I have to offer is worth listening to.”
“Let. Me. Go!” I scream.
The sounds of a door crashing open fills the space and then there’s Marcus’s booming voice, as he barks, “Fuckin’ let her go, Walter.”
Walter lets me go and turns, grinning at Marcus. “Well, Marcus, so glad you could join us. I was just telling your dear wife about your extracurricular activities.”
Marcus’s eyes swing to me and I swallow. “Is it true?” I whisper.
“No,” Marcus barks, but there’s something in his eyes.
He’s not going to tell me the truth, and that fucking burns.
“There’s more for me to tell her, of course,” Walter begins, but Marcus lunges forward. He’s got six men with him, so Walter’s guys are no match.
I scurry backwards, moving towards the door.
The news my husband is messing with criminals and helping them with their illegal money has put my body into some sort of shock, I’m almost sure of it. With tears in my eyes, I run out, knowing exactly who will have the answers for me, the answers my husband is refusing to give.
My father.
CHAPTER 27
NOW
Katia
My phone rings constantly as I drive towards my father’s workplace. My mind is spinning and I honestly don’t know what to think. My life just seemed to come good and now it feels like it is spiraling out of control again. Is Marcus dangerous? Is he a bad man? Does he help bad men? Is he lying to me? It’s all too much.
I hunted down my father’s workplace by Googling his name. Turns out he’s been living here for a while now. God, he was so close. I wonder if my mother knew all that time and just didn’t tell me? Nerves fill my tummy as I pull into the car lot in front of a massive twenty-or-so story building. My father is well off, it would seem.
The sign on the door states that I’m at Penner’s Holdings. Okay, scratch that, maybe my dad isn’t the rich one, because whoever this Penner is, clearly he isn’t struggling. As I walk through the front doors, Penner’s name is everywhere. Screwing up my face, I walk to reception with shaky legs. There’s a pretty blond girl standing behind the reception counter, giggling on the phone.
Professional.
She looks up when she sees me and seriously, she does a double take. Yeah, yeah, I know my eye is swollen and I look like shit. Jesus. You would think she’s never seen someone in despair before. I ignore the look she’s giving me and ask, “Is Pierre here?”