CHAPTER 27

 

Chapter 27

 

“I want to see it.”

Lisa sat stiff across from John, knees pressed together, fingers gripping the strap of her purse like a lifeline, while he leaned back in his chair behind his desk, one eyebrow raised, looking way too relaxed for her liking…

Behind him, the city stretched out, all heat and glare through the giant windows but the office felt cold and impersonal - just like him.

“You want to see what, Ms. Presley?” He asked, voice dripping with mock courtesy.

“The contract. The one Michael signed.”

“And why exactly would I let you see that?” He snorted softly, a sound that barely qualified as a laugh.

“Well, he … Michael … he told me about it. That it was… important. That he felt like maybe he didn’t understand everything in it. I thought if I could just…”

“Let me stop you right there.” John held up a hand, his expression sliding into something almost pitying. Almost. “You’re not his lawyer. Hell, you’re not even part of the agreement, are you now, Ms. Presley? So why would I waste my time explaining anything to you? Or showing you a document you have no business seeing?”

Lisa shifted in her chair, her gaze darting to the side.

The office was all dark wood and deep, muted colors, the kind of place that screamed money and power.

Heavy bookshelves lined the walls, packed with thick books and neatly stacked files, while a few loose papers sat scattered on the massive desk. A bulky printer and a fax machine took up space on a side table and filing cabinets stood against the far wall, their drawers slightly ajar, stuffed with who-knows-what.

“I just don’t see why it’s a big deal…” She mumbled. “If there’s nothing wrong with it…”

This time John laughed outright, loud and sharp.

“If there’s nothing wrong with it? Ms. Presley, you don’t even know what you’re asking for, do you?”

“I know Michael wasn’t sure about it. He said it felt…”

“Michael is a grown man…” John interrupted, his tone turning harder. “He has the same set of eyes and the same amount of brainpower as the rest of us. If he didn’t read what he was signing, well, that’s on him. And if he did read it and still went through with it, then guess what? It’s not my job to hold his hand. Or yours, for that matter.”

Lisa felt her throat tighten. She hadn’t expected him to make this easy, but the sheer weight of his condescension felt like a cold hand around her neck.

“Please…” She said, her voice soft. “It’s just… he’s been so stressed about it. You… you saw what happened after the concert… You don’t care if he’s healthy enough to go through another twenty shows?? I… I thought if I could just see it, maybe I could…”

“You thought what?” John leaned forward, elbows on the desk now, his voice dripping with disdain. “That you’d waltz in here, bat your lashes, and I’d hand over confidential paperwork? My, you have a fascinating perspective on how things work. Let me make this crystal clear for you, Ms. Presley. You don’t matter in this equation. Not even a little bit. So do yourself a favor and stop embarrassing yourself.”

She felt her face burning hot, and she blinked quickly, trying to keep the tears from welling up and he just smirked, leaning back again with that infuriating calm.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re about to cry…” He said, his voice laced with mock concern and Lisa ducked her head, her fingers twisting the strap of her purse. Then, a tear slipped down her cheek, and she wiped it away quickly, but it was too late.

“For God’s sake…” He mumbled, rolling his eyes. “Do you want a glass of water or something?”

“Yes. Please.” She nodded slowly, her voice catching in her throat and John pushed himself to his feet, muttering under his breath something about women being drama queens as he walked toward the door…

However, the moment he was gone, Lisa’s head shot up, she wiped her face dry and then scanned the room quickly one more time.

There. A small cabinet near the window, its bottom drawer slightly ajar…

Earlier, when she had walked in, she had noticed a folder sticking out with bold, block letters scrawled across it - MJ.

And so now she shot up from her seat and crossed the room in a few quick strides, her heart pounding. She grabbed the folder and opened it, revealing a mess of loose papers and her fingers flew through them, flipping past spreadsheets and legal briefs until she found it - the contract, its title bold across the top.

Bingo!

Lisa quickly looked over her shoulder to check if he was coming back before her eyes skimmed the first page, then the second. Her chest tightened as the words sank in. This was it. Exactly what she had come for.

But then she heard the faint shuffle of footsteps outside and she shoved the contract back into the drawer, closing it quietly, then rushed back to her chair. She sat down picking up her purse again and curling her fingers around the strap as John walked back in, holding a glass of water like it was the most inconvenient thing he had ever done.

He set it on the desk in front of her with a clink.

“There…” He said, not bothering to hide his irritation and Lisa reached for the glass. She took a small sip, forcing herself to look shaken again, to keep playing her part…

“I’m sorry…” She said, her voice small. “I just… I thought…”

“Don’t…” He said sharply, cutting her off. “And as much fun as this little chat has been, I’m going to have to ask you to leave now. I have a meeting and I’m already late as it is.”

She blinked up at him, hesitating. “But…”

“Ms. Presley.” He grabbed a stack of papers off his desk and tapped them against the surface, his tone making it clear he was done with her. “I don’t have time for this. Go home. Or go find Michael and have a heart-to-heart. Whatever it is you do.”

Her jaw tightened, but she nodded and stood, slinging her purse over her shoulder and he walked her to the door, his hand hovering near the small of her back. A gesture that made Lisa shudder.

The corridor outside was narrow, lined with framed certificates and stock photos of generic cityscapes and there, at the end of it, they reached his assistant’s desk, a small, cluttered workspace manned by a young woman in her twenties.

Her brown hair was pulled into a tight bun, and she wore thin-rimmed glasses that sat slightly crooked on her nose. She glanced up as they approached, flashing a polite but tired smile.

“Have a nice day…” The girl murmured, her voice flat and Lisa smiled back and nodded, before she followed John toward the elevator.

The ride down was silent and awkward, and it felt like an eternity before they reached the ground floor. They stepped out into the street, and John adjusted his jacket, giving Lisa one last look and an indifferent nod.

“Try not to get lost on your way home, Ms Presley. The world’s a big, scary place. And say hi to Michael, though I’m sure I’ll talk to him soon.” He scoffed and rolled his eyes at her before heading toward the black sedan waiting for him at the curb.

Lisa watched him climb inside before the car pulled away and slipped into traffic, leaving her standing there, alone on the sidewalk.…

She let out a sigh, looking around… The street outside the building wasn’t exactly lively, she noticed a taxi crawling past, its driver gesturing wildly at another car wedged too close, while a group of teenagers stood clustered by a falafel stand, laughing loudly.

Across the road, a man yelled at a delivery driver parked in front of a gated lot but then a small cafe with faded green awnings caught Lisa’s eye, and without thinking too much about it, she headed there and pushed the door open, letting the soft chime of the bell announce her arrival.

Inside, the cafe was small and a little run-down, but cozy in its own way. The faint aroma of coffee mingled with something sugary, probably pastries behind the counter and Lisa shuffled toward a table near the window, her steps slower now. She pulled out a chair, the scrape of wood against the floor louder than she expected, and sank down into it, letting her purse slide off her shoulder to the ground and she leaned back, exhaling sharply.

“What can I get you?” The voice startled her, pulling her out of her thoughts when a young waitress stood beside her, holding a notepad and a pen.

“Cappuccino, please.” Lisa said after a beat and the waitress nodded and walked off, leaving Lisa to her silence.

Her eyes drifted back to the window. Cars passed, their horns cutting through the air while a man on a motorbike wove recklessly between them, earning shouted curses from the drivers and on the sidewalk, someone was haggling with a vendor over a stack of dates.

The waitress returned, setting the cappuccino down in front of her and Lisa mumbled a soft thank-you before the girl left her alone again, and Lisa wrapped her hands around the cup, letting its warmth seep into her palms.

She took a small sip while her mind circled back again, refusing to stay in the present, taking her back to the conversation she and Michael had had on the rooftop…

After he had spilled everything, the dire financial situation, the reckless contracts he was bound to, the twenty concerts lined up like dominos waiting to fall, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it.

She had asked him for answers, for alternatives, but Michael, as stubborn as ever, had waved her off.

He was determined to push through, as if sheer willpower could carry him across the finish line unscathed but he had collapsed after just one performance. One!

There was no way he could survive twenty more!

They had returned to his hotel suite that night, and when he had asked her to stay with him again, she just couldn’t say no.

She hadn’t even wanted to.

There was something so peaceful about being close to him, about sharing the same space, even if it didn’t solve anything.

Surprisingly, she had fallen asleep quickly while he held her close but she woke up again in about an hour or two, her thoughts getting zoomies in her head, racing in every direction at once. Every time she managed to drift off, she would wake again, her anxiety dragging her back to consciousness and at one point, around three in the morning, she had woken up again, her heart pounding for no reason she could name…

This time, though, she realized she wasn’t the only one awake. Michael’s eyes were open, watching her in the dim light filtering through the curtains, his arms still around her, his body warm and solid against hers.

For a moment, she didn’t speak, didn’t move, and she just let herself feel the steady rhythm of his breathing and the heat of his skin feeling safe and calming.

“You’re awake…” He murmured.

“So are you…” She countered. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I’ve been sleeping much better with you here. But it’s… still not great. You?”

Lisa frowned. She couldn’t bring herself to admit how much his situation was messing with her and the lie was already slipping out, quick and easy.

“I’m just… hungry…” She said, forcing a small smile and Michael blinked, then let out a quiet laugh.

“Hungry? At three in the morning?”

“Yes… It happens to some people, thank you very much.” She shot back, her tone teasing now while his laughter grew, a warm, easy sound that cut through the silence in the room.

“You’re something else…” He said, shaking his head.

“Wait!” Lisa let out as she tilted her head from his shoulder, looking up at him. “There’s still the lava cake in the fridge. I’m calling dibs!”

Michael stared at her, incredulous.

“Hey! It was for me!”

“Yeah, was… you snooze, you lose.” She shot back, already sliding out of bed.

Lisa tiptoed to the main room and the fridge door squeaked slightly when she opened it. She grabbed the enticing cake, along with a fork, and made her way back to the bedroom.

Michael was still lying there, propped up on one elbow, watching her with a mix of amusement and disbelief as she climbed back onto the bed, balancing the dessert in one hand and the fork in the other, grinning at him.

“You’re ridiculous…” He scoffed.

“Maybe…” Lisa shrugged, scooping up a bite of cake and popping the gooey, chocolatey goodness into her mouth. She hummed in satisfaction, throwing him a smug look. “But I got the cake and you don’t… ha.”

Michael’s eyes widened at her little jab before he burst out laughing, the sound so rich and unfiltered it actually made her chest tighten. God, she missed that sound.

She watched him as Michael fell back against the pillows, still laughing, and Lisa decided to take pity on him, holding out a forkful of cake with a teasing raise of her eyebrow. “Want some?”

He stopped laughing, hesitated for half a second, then leaned in, letting her feed him the bite. She watched as his lips closed around the fork, his smile widening as he chewed and Lisa leaned against the headboard, plate balanced on her lap. Michael shifted sitting up and the mattress dipped under his weight, making the plate on her lap wobble and Lisa shot him a sharp glare.

“Don’t you dare drop it!”

“Relax, Lisa. I’ve got the reflexes of a cat.”

“Yeah, right…” She scoffed, nudging his knee with her foot and he snorted, ready to fire back, but before he could, Lisa scooped up another generous forkful, thick with melted chocolate, and dangled it just out of his reach.

“Beg for it.”

Michael cocked an eyebrow, his dark eyes catching the moonlight. “Beg? For cake?”

“You want it or not?”

His gaze flickered between the fork and her face and then, out of nowhere, he lunged, snatching the bite straight from the fork with his mouth before grabbing it from her hand with a triumphant grin.

“Hey!” Lisa yelped, laughing as he leaned back with a grin, chewing like he had just won a damn trophy.

“You’re such a child, Michael.” She accused.

“A child with cake, looks like.” He shot back, winking. “Your turn to beg.”

“Nah, I’m good.” Lisa rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in mock disinterest and Michael grinned even more… like he knew she was full of shit.

“Oh, are you sure, Lise? Because the cake is to die for and I don’t think you can really eat it without a fork.”

“Fine. Can I please have one more bite?”

Michael chuckled, clearly enjoying this way too much, and he scooped up another piece of cake, making sure to load it on the fork with exaggerated care. Finally, he held it out to her, and she took the bite, the richness of the chocolate melting on her tongue and when Lisa opened her eyes, she caught Michael watching her. This time, however, he was not smirking. Not teasing. He was just looking, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Good?” He asked.

Lisa swallowed, suddenly hyperaware of how close he was and how easy it would be to close the space between them. She forced herself to smirk, pushing the fork back into his hand.

“So good.”

They continued like that, trading bites and quiet laughter, until the plate was scraped clean and Lisa set it aside on the nightstand.

“That was dangerous…” She said, leaning back against the pillows. “I’m gonna need to run like ten miles tomorrow.”

Michael stretched out beside her, one arm behind his head.

“You? Run? Since when?”

“Shut up.” She rolled her eyes and he laughed again. Then Lisa turned to face him, ready with another playful jab, but the words froze in her throat when she saw the way Michael was looking at her again.

His dark eyes were fixed on her, intense and unguarded, like she was the only thing in the world worth seeing. There was something in his gaze, something that made her heart trip over itself.

“What?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper but Michael didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with a touch so gentle it made her shiver.

“You…” He said finally, his voice low and rough around the edges. “You’re... so beautiful.”

“Michael…” She started, but he shook his head, silencing her without a word. He was closer now, so close she could feel the warmth of his breath against her cheek and her pulse thudded in her ears as he reached out again, his fingers brushing against her jaw, tilting her face toward him.

For a moment, he seemed to hesitate. She could see it in his eyes, like he was giving her one last chance to pull away but… she didn’t....

And then he kissed her.

It started soft, almost hesitant, his lips barely brushing hers and the gentleness of it made her heart ache. She felt herself melting into him, her hands finding their way to his neck as he deepened the kiss, his mouth moving against hers.

The world narrowed to just him… to the feel of his lips, to the faint scent of his cologne and to the way his hand cradled her face like she was something fragile and precious.

She had never felt anything like that with any other man, this mix of softness and fire that made her feel both completely safe and irresistibly drawn to him.

When Michael finally pulled back, it was only by an inch and their breaths mingled in the small space between them.

His eyes searched hers, dark and unreadable, before he spoke.

“I love you, Lise.” He said, the words quiet but firm, like he had been holding them in for a long time and couldn’t keep them back any longer, and Lisa opened her mouth to reply, but he didn’t give her the chance.

His lips found hers again, more urgent this time, and she welcomed him, her fingers tangling in his hair as he kissed her like he never wanted to stop. Michael pulled her against him, the heat of his body pressing against her firmly while he wrapped his arms around her like he just couldn't get close enough. Then she felt his tongue brushing against hers, and Lisa gasped, the sound immediately swallowed by his mouth….

They were kissing, their moans filling up the room when Michael withdrew his tongue and nipped at her lower lip instead, a playful tease that sent a shiver down her spine. He moved his lips lower, and her breath hitched as he trailed soft, feather kisses down her neck, each one sending a jolt of pleasure straight to her core.

When he pulled back, Lisa grabbed his face in her hands, unable to stop the smile that spread across her face.

“I love you too…”

She saw Michael’s eyes light up, and before she could say anything else, he was kissing her again and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them at all.

His hands slid down to her waist, holding her like he was afraid she might disappear and they stayed like that for what felt like forever, trading kisses that ranged from breathless and intense to soft and slow.

But nothing more happened.

There was no rush, no urgency to take it further now and Michael and Lisa didn’t need anything else at the moment…

The next morning Lisa stirred awake before the sun, the pale light of dawn barely filtering through the curtains.

The digital clock on the nightstand read 5:42 AM and beside her, Michael was still asleep, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

She lay there for a moment, her mind drifting back to the chaos of the night before… the chocolate cake, the kisses, and that look in his eyes...

But now, in the quiet stillness of the morning, her thoughts turned darker and heavier again.

The fucking contract…

It hung over her like a storm cloud and so somewhere between sleeplessness and the all-consuming worry about everything that could happen to Michael, an idea had sparked. Fragile but insistent and Lisa knew she needed to act on it fast…

Sliding carefully out of bed, she grabbed her robe from the chair and wrapped it around herself before she glanced back at Michael one more time, making sure he hadn’t stirred, then slipped quietly out of the room.

The hallway was dim and she walked slowly toward the elevator, her pulse quickening with each step. Once inside, she pressed the button for the roof and leaned against the wall, her thoughts racing.

She needed privacy for what she was about to do...

Michael couldn’t hear her, and she couldn’t risk anyone else overhearing, either. And the roof was the only place she could think of…

When the elevator doors opened, Lisa stepped out into the crisp morning air... The rooftop was empty, just as she had hoped and she crossed to the far edge, where the view opened up to the city below.

The sky was just beginning to change, the deep indigo of night giving way to streaks of gold and orange while the sun crept up slowly, its light catching on the glass towers.

It was breathtaking but Lisa didn’t really have time to linger on it now. She did the mental math on the time difference, before she pulled out her phone, her fingers hesitating over the buttons as she searched for a number she hoped she still had, one she hadn’t used in months… She paused for a beat before she finally pressed the call button.

The line rang once, twice, three times. She almost hung up, but then a deep, gravelly voice answered.

“Hello?”

“Tom? This is Lisa Presley. I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.”

There was a pause on the other end, just long enough to make her second-guess herself but then he spoke again, his tone a mix of curiosity and surprise.

“Lisa Marie. No, it’s fine. Just… not the call I was expecting tonight. What can I do for you?”

Lisa took a deep breath, clutching the phone tighter.

“I wanted to talk to you about Michael. About a contract he signed.”

“Go on...”

“It’s… not right. I think they’re exploiting him. Tom, he now looks even worse than he did after the trial, which is insane. He’s tired and agitated, barely holding it together, and they’re pushing him harder than anyone should ever be pushed. He’s gaunt, sick, and they don’t care at all. They’re just squeezing every last bit out of him, and I… I don’t think he’s going to survive this if it goes on.” She paused, voice trembling. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t know who else to contact for advice and help.”

Tom didn’t respond immediately, but she could hear him shifting, like he was sitting up straighter or something.

“What exactly are they doing?”

Lisa pressed her free hand to her forehead, trying to organize her thoughts.

“They’re recording everything. Rehearsals, performances, all of it. I think… I think they’re planning to sell the footage, even if he…” She trailed off, unable to say it out loud. “He has fainted multiple times but they don’t care if he’s okay. They only care about their profits…”

Tom let out a low sigh, but his tone stayed calm.

“And Michael hasn’t come to me about this because…?”

“Because… I… I don’t know. I think it’s because he can’t afford to…” Lisa said bluntly. “You probably know better than anyone what his financial situation looks like after the trial and he thinks he can’t afford you... I can, though.”

“Michael is a good man. One of the best I’ve ever worked with. If he needs help, I’m here for him, and I won’t ask for a penny.”

“Thank you…”

“I’ll need a copy of that contract, though.”

She hesitated.

“I don’t know how to get it…”

“You’ll have to find a way…” Tom said, his tone calm but firm. “I’m not the kind of lawyer for this… I focus on criminal trials. But if you can get your hands on it, I’ll make sure to find someone who specializes in this stuff. Someone who can dig through it and figure out if there’s a way out for him.”

Lisa nodded.

“I’ll figure something out.”

“Good…” Tom said. “And Lisa…?”

“Yeah?”

“Michael is lucky to have you in his corner. Don’t let him forget it.”

 

 

She finished her cappuccino and stood up, brushing invisible crumbs off her lap.

After a quick glance around, she pulled out her wallet and threw the right amount in dinars on the table, leaving a small tip, too.

The warmth of the coffee lingered, but the sharp edge of her nerves hadn’t dulled. Then, with another glance to make sure no one was paying her any undue attention, she stepped out into the street.

Lisa took a steadying breath, her resolve tightening and then, with a purposeful stride, she turned and walked back into the building.

The elevator ride to the 42^nd floor felt endless and Lisa watched the numbers light up one by one, trying to calm her hammering heart. She had rehearsed this in her head probably a dozen times, but the stakes made every moment stretch unbearably.

When the elevator dinged, she stepped out and slowly scanned the hallway ahead, quiet and empty, before she walked to the small office where John’s assistant sat.

The girl looked up as Lisa entered, her fingers still moving over the keyboard before she stopped typing and Lisa smiled warmly.

Showtime.

This was the moment, the one that would determine whether everything she had been planning would fall into place or crumble.

Every word, every gesture, every bit of acting … Lisa needed to nail it.

“Hi there, sorry to bother you again. I’m Lisa Marie Presley. I was just here with Mr. Evans like twenty minutes ago.” She gestured vaguely behind her, as though indicating the path to John’s office. “I signed a contract with him. It was about my CD release.” She smiled again, this time with just a hint of self-deprecation. “A little thing I’ve been working on. Anyway, I just realized I forgot to make a copy for my lawyer, and I really need it. Total oversight on my part.”

The girl’s brows drew together.

“You need the contract?” Her English was excellent, though not without a slight accent and her tone was polite but still somewhat skeptical.

Lisa nodded earnestly.

“Exactly. I hate to trouble you, but it’s kind of time-sensitive. My lawyer’s been breathing down my neck about it… You know how they are.” She laughed lightly, hoping it sounded genuine, but the girl didn’t bat an eye. Instead, she eyed Lisa carefully, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as though she wasn’t quite sure what to do.

“Mr. Evans keeps all contracts in his office. I can’t just let you take it.”

“Oh, of course not!” Lisa said quickly, holding up her hands as if to show she wasn’t a threat. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I just need to make a copy and send it to my lawyer. I can use the fax machine right here, if that makes you more comfortable. I promise I won’t even take it out of the room.”

The girl hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“I should call Mr. Evans and ask.”

“Oh, I already tried.” Lisa said smoothly, leaning in just a little. “He’s in an important meeting right now and told me to go back and ask you for it. He doesn’t have time to come back and give it to me.” She smiled, keeping her tone light. “But it’s just a copy, so if it’s easier, I can wait here while you grab it. I don’t want to put you in a tough spot.” Lisa bluffed and the girl’s expression softened slightly, though the hesitation lingered and she glanced toward the hallway leading to John’s office, her fingers tapping lightly against the desk. Then, finally, she stood.

“Okay. But just a copy. Come with me.”

“Of course…” Lisa said brightly, stepping aside to let her lead the way. “Thank you so much. You’re a lifesaver.”

The girl unlocked the office door and pushed it open, and Lisa’s eyes swept the space quickly, her pulse ticking faster. She spotted the drawer, exactly where she had seen Michael’s contract before.

John’s assistant lingered near the doorway, arms crossed, watching her every move as Lisa made her way to the desk, pretending to scan the folders, her eyes darting over various papers and folders.

She acted as though she wasn’t entirely sure what she was looking for and her fingers brushed over a stack of papers before she picked up a folder and flipped it open, feigning a sense of discovery.

“Oh, here it is…” She lied, holding up a random piece of paper with a smile she forced to seem relieved. “That was easier than I thought.”

The girl’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t move any closer and Lisa somehow managed to keep her cool, though her heart raced like crazy.

Keeping her face neutral, she let the folder slip from her fingers and it dropped onto the floor with a soft thud, just enough to seem like an accident.

“Oh, whoops…” Lisa muttered, bending down smoothly, as though it was just a natural reaction and while crouched behind the desk, she quickly reached for the drawer behind her opening it, her fingers brushing the corners of the contract she had really come for… the one with Michael’s name on it.

She grabbed it swiftly and stood back up, walking casually toward the fax machine in the corner of the room, as if nothing had happened, holding Michael’s contract in her hand pretending it was the one she claimed was hers.

The fax machine required a phone number to send documents and Lisa keyed in Tom’s number she had memorized, her fingers steady despite the nervous energy buzzing through her. She fed the contract into the machine, watching as the page disappeared.

“This won’t take long…” She said over her shoulder, keeping her tone light, thankful the girl had decided to stay at the doorway, unable to see what was written on the paper she was about to fax.

The machine beeped softly as it worked, and Lisa glanced at the small screen to make sure the transmission was successful. When the page went through, she exhaled quietly, pulling the contract out and smoothing it before she turned back toward the desk, careful to keep the contract in view as she approached.

The assistant’s eyes tracked her every move when Lisa bent slightly, sliding the contract back into a random folder placed on the desk.

It didn’t matter anymore…

She made a show of straightening the pile of papers and folders, before she looked at the girl again.

“All set… Thanks for letting me do that. I really appreciate it.” Lisa said, probably the first truthful thing she had said all day, when she held up her hands, palms out. “See? Nothing taken. All good.”

The girl nodded slowly, though her expression still seemed cautious.

“Okay. But next time you should wait for Mr. Evans and let him give you the contract himself.”

“Absolutely.” Lisa said, flashing her most disarming smile. “I’ll remember that. Thanks again. Have a great day!”

She walked out of the office with measured steps, her heart pounding as she made her way back to the elevator. Once inside, she let out a long breath, leaning against the wall as the doors slid shut. Her fingers moved quickly over the phone buttons, typing out a message.

 

Got it. I just faxed it to you. L.