Sammie

My father gave me a few days off after I got out of the hospital. I’d like to say they were productive, but I spent the time binge watching reruns of my favorite crime procedural. Not that I deal with serial killers in my line of work, but the doctor on the show is very much my type.

Going back to work was a relief. I missed my normal routine down to talking to Jeremy about his family. Getting to my office, I could see the bag I left when I went to the engagement party. I still felt bad that my hospital visit had interrupted the end of the party.

Nancy had assured me that there was nothing to forgive, but I still felt guilty. I told her I’d take her and Pike out to sushi one day. My wallet was already groaning, and neither one of them was selfless enough to turn down a free meal. Before the end of the day, my father sent me a memo for a meeting with a new client. Heading over to his office for the preliminary meeting, I met Jeremy on the way.

“I hear you snagged us another client.” Jeremy held a Siren coffee cup in his hand. I stopped and looked over at him. The man was giving me a gentle smile and held his other hand with a thumbs up.

“I don’t have the details yet. Do you know which one?”

“Now that would be a spoiler!” Jeremy chuckled to himself. He always found things out before me. I never could figure out his source. If he wasn’t so loyal to Steele Security, he would have been a great spy.

“Not if you and everyone in the office already knows except for me.”

“Aw, not you know it isn’t like that. It hasn’t been announced yet.”

“One of these days you are going to have to tell me your source.” Jeremy smiled mischievously. “Are you headed into the meeting?”

“Naw, I have another one to go to,” he said before turning and entering one of the other conference rooms on the floor. Watching as he disappeared, I continued into the conference room when my father sat with a portfolio in front of him. I pulled out a chair to sit in and scooted over to see what he was looking through. I was surprised to see Tempo Art Gallery on the cover.

“I thought Tempo had a contract with TCSP?”

“They did, but from what I hear, not for much longer.” He handed me the file and I looked through it.

“Touch, Cover, and Shield Protection did this?”

“Allegedly. They are letting the lawyer’s handle it.” Pulling out a brochure, he laid it on the table. “But that does mean that they need security for the Shell exhibit.”

“I heard we got a new contract. Just doing a single event isn’t a contract.” Flipping though the file, each lapse in security measures for the gallery shocked me.

“Just call it a trial. Officially, they need to notify TCSP that they won’t be working with them any longer, but they don’t want to cut the relationship prematurely.”

“Is that because of the break in?” Martin Steele nodded. He stood and walked over to the window. From here, I could see the top of the art gallery. It made sense to delay the official cutoff, but I wondered how we would be able to manage setting up the security of the event if we couldn’t do it openly.

“You need me to go in under cover?”

“Just for a few weeks. The opening of the Shell exhibit was delayed because of the murder, but they are going to go ahead with the opening.”

“We’ll put our team in under cover so that TCSP isn’t aware.” Looking through the file, I realized something. “They don’t mention a cover for our team, have they talked to you about it?”

“They said they were open to suggestions, but since they’ll be here in a few minutes, we can talk about it then.” He walked over to the head of the conference table and sat in the chair. It wasn’t long before Martin’s secretary escorted two men into the conference room.

One was towered over the secretary and had to be at least six feet or more. His dark hair was cut long on the top and tapered to his neck. The outfit he wore was professional, but obviously trendy. The man with his was a little shorter with lighter hair and a simple off the rack suit that had seen better days. The juxtaposition was startling, but I could tell that the two were close.

“Thank you for having us.” Reaching out his hand, he shook my father’s hand first and then my own. I couldn’t help the tingles that inched their way up my forearm before he let go. “I’m Zachary Soest, owner of the Tempo Art Gallery. Please call me Zach.” Turning to put his hand and pull the other man forward he continued. “With me is my friend Joe Hopkins. For matters such as these, I rely on his judgement as he has more understanding of the requirements for security than I do.” The man’s friend also reached out to shake hands.

“Pleasure to meet you,” he said before turning to his friend and giving him a almost imperceptible glare. I have a feeling that he would have smacked Zach if it weren’t considered unprofessional.

“Thank you for coming,” I said, guiding them to sit at the conference table. “This is my father Martin Steele, CEO here at Steele Security. I am Samantha Steele.”

“Let’s have a seat and discuss the particulars.” The next hour was filled with discussions on the plan for the Shell exhibit and the upcoming transfer to Steele Security. Zach’s lawyers were working with the police to see if they could find evidence of direct fraud from within TCSP management and that was one of the reasons that we had to initially go undercover. We would all be invited to the opening and go as guests to maintain security.

After settling the details, my father left me to handle the rest. Joe pulled me to the side.

“I believe that Zach needs to have someone by his side during the premier.” Joe whispered. I gapped at him in confusion before stealing a glance at Zach.

“I don’t think that is a decision you can make without him,” I said, pointing at Zach. Glancing up, Zach shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“What are you up to now, Joe?”

“Just finding you a date for the party.”

“I said I would be fine.”

“Come on, she can protect you. All you have to do is let her.” Joe turned to me and asked, “Ms. Steele, would you attend as Zach’s partner? I think it would be the easiest thing to do.” I looked over to Zach who refused to meet my eyes.

“As far as I know, Zach has never attended an event with someone. It would be suspicious.”

“I believe that we could make it work. After all, he is your savior.”

“Huh?” I looked over to Zach in confusion. Joe looked over to Zach, laughing as if he had discovered some wonderful secret that was meant to be shared.

“You mean you don’t know?” He turned to Zach laughing. “I never thought you’d be so forgettable.” Turning back to me, he continued. “I’ll wait outside and let you two talk.”

“Wait, what do you…” Before I could ask any more questions, he was gone leaving the owner of Tempo behind. I looked over to him in uncertainty. After a moment’s hesitation, Zach took a deep breath.

“I wanted to check to see how you have been since your attack.” Zach murmured quietly.

“How did you know about it?” I asked, startled by his statement.

“I was the one who brought you to the hospital.” Zach looked over to me. Memories of the attack flit through my mind and I remembered at the end a tall dark hair man running toward me. Had that been him? Then memories of my time in the hospital flooded back and I blushed.

“Did you stay at the hospital with me?” I asked nervously. My heart raced and I couldn’t look at him. I hoped that he would say no, but a sinking feeling told me that I was wishing for the impossible.

“Just for a little while,” he replied. “The doctors wanted someone to stay with you while the drug was in your system.” I fely my face turn hot and I remembered going to the restroom and pulling someone in to try and lock lips. Had I… I peeked over and looked at Zach who was staring intently out of the window. The tips of his ears were a startling shade of red. That told me the answer to my question,

“I was hoping we’d meet so I could thank you. I also wanted to apologize for what I did in the hospital.” I said awkwardly.

“Think nothing of it.” Zach’s gruff voice made me blush again as I shifted in embarrassment. “You were under the influence and not entirely yourself.”

“Still.”

“Please, don’t worry about it. I am just glad you have recovered.” At that Zach stood and walked to the door. Before he left, I called out.

“I’ll go with you,” He looked back at me in astonishment. “To the Shell opening, I mean. Since we met that way, it’s good cover, if you are okay with that.”

“I look forward to it. Shall I pick you up here?” I nodded and he finally left. I sat back at the conference table, shocked at my behavior.

“Why did I do that?” I wondered.