Betrayal (Infidelity Book 1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,82

some of the best hackers in the world, she was the one who kept me informed on all things Demetri Enterprises. Hell, she kept me informed on all things Lennox Demetri.

We had a regularly scheduled appointment every Monday morning. During that time she briefed me on everything I would need to know during the upcoming week. Today wasn’t Monday. It was Wednesday.

Deloris was more than the brains behind my security, she was one of the few people I considered a friend. Jocelyn introduced us, and after I lost my wife, Deloris was the only one who understood. Although there wasn’t enough of an age difference, Deloris had thought of Jocelyn as a daughter. Since Jo’s family shut me out, and my family didn’t care, Deloris Witt was the one who acknowledged my loss—our loss. Sometimes I wondered if her current devotion was because of me or because of Jo. Either way, it was there.

Deloris had been with me in Del Mar because of the sensitive meetings scheduled during that trip and because she had family in the area. As the head of my security, she’d kept my detail intact and out of sight. As my friend, she’d been elated that I was interested in someone. It was impossible for her two roles not to meet.

From the time I met Charli at the pool in Del Mar, until hours before she entered the presidential suite, I had no doubt that Mrs. Witt knew everything about her. I didn’t need to ask. If she hadn’t known or had learned anything that she felt would be detrimental, she would have suggested I cancel the first dinner. Instead she made menu suggestions and helped.

Although I was curious when I asked the front desk to deliver flowers to Charli’s room and learned there was no one by that name listed in their reservation, I never asked Deloris for more information. Even after Charli ran off, I sought out Chelsea myself. I wanted to learn about Charli with an i from the fascinating golden-eyed beauty herself.

After the first night, after I found Charli in her suite, I specifically told Deloris that I didn’t want to know any more. The mystery of Charli was part of her allure.

“Good morning, Mr. Demetri. It’s going to be another warm one.” The doorman greeted me as he opened the door to the street. I didn’t need the weather app on my phone. I had Hudson.

Instead of replying, I simply nodded, letting Hudson know that I’d heard. I was too preoccupied with the reason Deloris was in the backseat of my car.

Hudson was right, as usual. Humid air blanketed me as I exited the cool building, instantly plastering my starched shirt to my skin beneath my suit jacket. The semi-circular drive only held a few cars at once. That limitation often required drivers or taxis to idle out on the street and be called when the riders were ready for pick-up. Isaac was never on the street. If I said I’d be present at seven o’clock, I meant six fifty-five. I never wondered as I stepped onto the brick walkway if Isaac would be there. He always was.

When I saw the large car, I knew it was Isaac, even though he wasn’t driving my usual Mercedes. Instead, he had one of the Demetri Enterprises limousines. The change in vehicle set my nerves on alert. Something was going down and whatever it was Deloris wanted to discuss it privately.

Stepping from the driver’s seat, Isaac met me at the backseat door. “Sir, good morning. Did you receive my text?”

“Good morning, Isaac. I did. I see Mrs. Witt wasn’t comfortable in the sedan.”

“No, sir,” he answered as he opened my door.

I tried to read Deloris’s expression as I sat, but with her experience she was a master of non-disclosure.

Once the door was closed and we began to move, she began, “Mr. Demetri, I considered calling you last night, and then I decided this information was best shared in person.”

“You have my curiosity piqued. Is it Oren? Did he do something?”

“No, sir.” She uncharacteristically took a moment to consider her words.

“Mrs. Witt…” When she addressed me as Mr. Demetri, it meant the matter was strictly business. “…out with it.”

“It’s about Infidelity.”

I clenched my teeth. I hated that company. Demetri Enterprises was one of its biggest investors. I wished I could blame my father for that one, say that he got involved one late night in a high-stakes poker game and ended up with a company