“Wow,” Ricky whispers as he moves to stand next to me. “Someone is going all out to make your ride to work a special one.”
I turn to look at him. “Don’t mention this to Margot, okay?”
The last thing I need is my sister questioning me about the full-on buffet on wheels that swooped in to pick me up today.
“My lips are sealed, Juliet.”
I guarantee that by handing him the twenty dollar bill that I tucked in the front pocket of my pants. I do that every morning, so I can stop and buy a large coffee and a pastry from Palla on Fifth.
They make the best cup of coffee in the city. It’s pricey, but it’s an investment that has always served me well. The extra jolt of caffeine keeps my energy level high for hours.
He thanks me with a curt nod of his head. “Let me help you with your laptop case.”
Before I can hand it off to Ricky, Drew has it in his hands. “It’s my pleasure to help in any way that I can, Miss Bardin.”
With a shrug of my shoulders, I say goodbye to Ricky again and settle onto the soft leather of the back seat.
Scooping up the cup filled with coffee, I let out a sigh when I see the distinctive logo stamped on the side of it.
It’s from Palla on Fifth.
Mr. Bane is either a mind reader, or the man knows almost everything there is to know about me.
Chapter Twenty-One
Juliet
“I thought I’d be working at the Bane Enterprises building,” I stress the last three words to Nigel.
He steps aside as a man with a briefcase rushes past us on the sidewalk.
“Mr. Bane prefers to work from home.”
I look up at the building that houses Kavan’s penthouse.
When I left here on Saturday night, I had no idea that less than thirty six hours later, I’d be back.
“We can conduct the interview at his office,” I suggest. “Then I can work there piecing it together while he comes back here to work.”
He shoots me a look. “That won’t work. Mr. Bane is expecting you. I’ll see you up and get you settled in your office.”
“I have an office in his penthouse?”
He nods as if that’s a normal thing. “I do as well.”
I’ve heard stories about eccentric billionaires before, but this tops them all.
I understand that Mr. Bane has his reasons for wanting to stay out of the public eye, but this seems extreme.
I don’t get to set the rules for this assignment, so I nod. “All right.”
Nigel moves to grab my laptop case. “I can help with that.”
I hold tightly to the handle, wanting to maintain control over something. “Thank you, but I’m fine.”
He offers me a small smile. “I realize this may seem unorthodox, Juliet, but I assure you that you’ll find your office comfortable.”
“I’m sure I will,” I say, even though I don’t believe it because I didn’t think I’d ever step foot in the penthouse again.
“Shall we head up?” I take one last long lingering look at the SUV that I just climbed out of.
It’s my escape route. It’s the way back to the normalcy of the life I had up until a few days ago.
It’s also the direct route to either my desk in the RumorMel office or more likely, the unemployment line.
“I’m ready,” I say with all the confidence I can muster as I head into the building where Kavan Bane is sitting in wait for me.
I get the once-over as soon as I enter the penthouse.
Mr. Bane, dressed in a dark gray three-piece suit, black button-down shirt, and matching tie, rakes me from head-to-toe.
I look professional. My outfit won’t win any awards for best-dressed journalist, but it’s fine.
I’m here to gain insight into the stunning man in front of me. That’s my only objective.
“I trust that the drive here was satisfactory.”
It was in a luxury SUV with a free hot cup of coffee and delicious berries and grapes.
I usually take the subway to work, so this edges out that ten-fold.
“Yes, it was fine,” I say because I don’t want to focus on a car ride when there are much more important things to discuss.
“I have a conference call shortly.” He glances at the big silver watch on his wrist.
It’s an Abdons watch.
I know that because several of the celebrities I’ve chased after for stories have had similar watches.
“All right,” I offer in response.
“Nigel will show you to your office.” His hand motions to a corridor. “If you require anything, he’ll help you.”
I nod.
“We’ll get started once my call is done.” He glances at Nigel. “I need you back at the office by eleven to meet…”
“Understood,” Nigel interrupts him in a rush as if Mr. Bane was about to reveal the name of someone notorious.
“Mrs. Baxter,” Kavan finishes his thought.
That’s a name I know, and there’s nothing notorious about her. Beverly Baxter heads a charity that is focused on helping young pregnant women. Baxter House provides lodging and medical care. They also have many programs that support the moms and their children after birth and beyond.
In the limited research I’ve done on Bane Enterprises, I haven’t found a link between Baxter House and Bane Enterprises.
I make a mental note to question Kavan about that.
He studies my face. “I’ll speak with you soon, Juliet.”
I stand next to Nigel as I watch Kavan walk down a corridor and disappear into a doorway before the door softly closes.
“Are you ready to see your office?” There’s a bright note in Nigel’s voice.
I look up at him. “How long have you known him?”
I can tell he’s debating whether or not he should answer the question. His eyes flit across my face before he looks down. “I was one of the first people to hold him after he was born.”
As hard as that image is to render in my mind, I try.
“His life has been spotted with misery, Juliet.” He lowers his voice. “He’s come out of that with a level of strength that I admire.”
Adjusting the strap of my purse over my chest, I nod. “You care about him.”
He lets out a heavy exhale. “Like a son.”
If a man as gentle as Nigel sees Kavan in that light, he can’t be as bad as all the books I bought portray him to be.
“I trust him with my life,” he adds. “There is no one else on earth that I can say that about.”
I take in the slight smile on his face.
It suddenly disappears and is replaced with laughter. “Don’t quote me on that, Juliet.”
I laugh too. “Consider it off the record.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kavan
Scrubbing a hand over my forehead, I slam my phone on my desk.
My father’s connections in business are still haunting me.
He was the type of man who bought up companies that could barely stay afloat. With his magic touch, they’d blossom into something formidable. That always made the former owners proud.