Big Ben (See No Evil Trilogy #1) - Nana Malone Page 0,40
the tube from King’s Cross then home like I normally would.”
“You took the tube in that dress?”
“Well, I had my shawl on by then, thank you. And yes, in that dress. I didn’t really want to take an Uber. Dexter would have been on me about the cost, saying I was wasting money and I hadn’t waited for him.”
“A real charmer that one. Why were you even alone?”
“Well, he didn’t want to leave just yet. And to be honest, I couldn’t find him.”
His brows lifted. “You couldn’t find your date?”
“He was probably chatting or something, and honestly, I was quite a bit fried from what we’d already experienced, you know, in the closet and what not?”
The corner of his lips tipped up at that.?Asshole.
“I just wanted to get out of there.”
He frowned. “So much so that you didn’t find the person you came with?”
I bit my lower lip, and then he frowned. “What am I missing?”
My top row of teeth worked on my bottom lip. “I have social anxiety. Sometimes I really can’t do crowds. Sometimes, I manage okay. I might go to a concert and never even feel a twinge of adrenaline. But at other times, there could be five people and I’m sweating buckets. I was pretty pumped tonight. I was able to do a tour and had no sweats or anything. And I felt pretty comfortable talking to everyone. Anyway, Dexter was upset with me at the fundraiser. He said that I was making too much of everything and that I was faking it in some way, I guess.”
“Why are you with this bloke?”
“I have my reasons.” Not really.
“You have to admit, this looks bad. I run into you when I’m in the midst of liberating critical information that I need. The next thing I know, you’re at the right place at the right time, and I had no option but to slip you the drive, otherwise, I’d have been found out.”
“That wasn’t my fault. I was coming to yell at you for breaking my pin. Last thing I wanted to do was help you.”
“Or you were trying to steal the drive from me, which makes me wonder who the hell you are and what you want with it? How would that information benefit you at all? Unless you mean to blackmail everyone.”
My eyes went wide. “I would never blackmail anyone. How dare you even suggest—”
He shook his head. “You see how I’m here with you right now on a Jack the Ripper tour? Isn’t that blackmail?”
My jaw unhinged. “That is not blackmail. We had an arrangement.”
“Blackmail.”
“No, you’re twisting what happened.”
“Am I?”
“Oh my God, yes. You came in and offered me a bribe to not ask any questions.”
It was his turn to sputter. “You weren’t handing over what I needed.”
“And now you’re shouting.”
He quickly lowered his voice. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. And for the record, you joined me in that closet. I was minding my own business.”
He sighed. “Oh my God, you are the most infuriating woman on this planet. I swear to God, if you would just once do what you were asked or told...”
“Why?”
He frowned. “What do you mean, why?”
“Well, I mean, why? Why should I do what I’m asked or told? What, because I’m a woman?? Because I work for you? Because you know better and I know nothing?”
He opened his mouth to speak but then shut it promptly. “You know that’s not what I mean.”
“Isn’t it though, Mr. Arrogant? Why should I just do what you tell me?”
“Jesus Christ. Because I’m concerned about your safety.”
“Well, you weren’t concerned about my safety when you handed me whatever the fuck was on that drive.”
“I didn’t hand it to you. I needed it tucked away for safekeeping.”
“And you slipped it to me. How is that safekeeping? Because I am not safe.”
“I don’t know if the two events are related, but I don’t see any possible way that they couldn’t be. I’m sorry about that, but who the fuck would have seen you? That slip was clean. No one should have noticed. And even if they did, why would they be after you, not me?”
I should tell him the truth. Tell him how I had made a copy, but I didn’t.
“Okay, let’s get you the hell out of here, and then we’ll figure out what to do in the morning.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, for starters, you’re going to need security.”