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  “Laurel?” Marilyn poked her head around the door. Her red nose indicated she’d yet to really gather her composure. “Paul is asking for everyone to assemble in the trading room as soon as possible.”

  All three women waited until Marilyn closed the door before speaking.

  “No,” Grace responded to Laurel’s offer, doing her best to tame her loose strands before dealing with whatever Paul was about to throw their way. Laurel couldn’t help but wonder if it had anything to do with Smith. “Keep the business card. I’m not saying anything to anyone. My imagination was running away with me. No one is going to try and frame Rye or implicate me in any way.”

  Laurel and Cynthia attempted to talk over one another, both of them agreeing that Grace needed to reconsider her stance on providing Rye with an alibi. Cynthia even added on that Paul would eventually discover that Grace was involved with his biggest competitor and call her onto the carpet, per se. It was better to face this head on like Laurel should have done with Smith from the very beginning.

  “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I honestly think silence is the best course of action here.” Grace took a deep breath before stepping toward the door. “Let’s hope we’re being called together right now because there was a break in the case, and they caught the suspect. Maybe the police have captured Brad’s killer, and then we can all get back to our lives without any more drama.”

  One by one, they filed out the door. Laurel couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder at the yellow crime scene tape strewn across the entrance to Brad’s office along with that official-looking seal with two signatures scrawled on it with a sharpie. It still wasn’t real that he was gone, and it was certainly harder to accept that his demise had been in such a horrific fashion.

  Grace was right in a way. Everything could return to somewhat normal operations with an arrest and a decent plan for the future. Laurel wasn’t sure what that blueprint looked like at this very moment, but it would be a start to put the Power Point up and get a glimpse of the design.

  Would it hold New York City?

  Or would Smith and the life he offered be the centerpiece of her future?

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Smith noted the numerous employees who entered the trading room for this impromptu meeting. Their daily briefing usually included only the traders and analysts. Paul asked for everyone to join them, meaning either an announcement was on the way or the police had contacted him with an update on Brad’s murder.

  It was most likely the former, because Smith had been in Paul’s office for the last ten minutes. No phone call had interrupted their discussion nor had Marilyn conveyed any message that would indicate otherwise.

  The beautiful woman he was seeking finally walked into the trading room, and a spike of satisfaction shot through him when her gaze immediately sought his. The waves of her chestnut hair hung over her right shoulder, telling him that she was still somewhat tense regarding these unusual circumstances. He was pleased when she weaved her way toward him through the additional employees standing around the large trading desk.

  “How did your meeting go with Paul?” Laurel asked with concern, crossing one arm around her waist as she held a disposable coffee cup from the downstairs café. “Did he find out about your future plans?”

  “Yes, but those might be changing in light of new information.”

  Paul had every right to be angry regarding Smith’s decision to start up his own firm. With that said, the manner in which Paul learned of those future plans hadn’t been conducted the way Smith had intended. He had given assurances that he had no intention of stealing clients, but that promise would eventually fade given the fact that Manon Investments would no doubt close their doors at some point in the not too distant future.

  “What does that mean?” Laurel asked, her eyes skimming over everyone in attendance. She most likely noticed that Josh was missing. She bit her lower lip, taking with it some of her pink lipstick. “Changes for you or Manon Investments? Is that what Paul wants to discuss?”

  “I don’t know what Paul is going to say today, but he does want to sit down with me later to go over some possibilities that could save a lot of the staff their jobs.” Smith had employed one of the best head hunters in the business, but her services might not be needed if Paul offered Smith the ability to choose from the employees of Manon Investments. It would be in everyone’s best interest, but Smith understood how that would ultimately look to Detective Mancini as the investigating officer. It would only cause the man to narrow his focus, as if it wasn’t limited enough by all the intrigue going on around here. “Were you able to talk to Grace?”

  “Yes, but we’ll discuss that at home.” Laurel shifted closer to Smith when Vern and Blair chose to stand right next to them. Laurel lifted the coffee cup to her lips while shooting Smith a warning glance. He was still focused on her use of the word home, sporting a bit of a smile. She lowered her voice to barely a whisper. “Have you heard from Josh?”

  Paul began speaking before Smith could answer her, though he wouldn’t have been able satisfy her curiosity.

  Josh had been radio silent.

  “First, I want to thank everyone for coming in today,” Paul said, speaking loud enough so that everyone could hear him over the whir of the numerous computers lining the trading desk. He paused long enough for everyone to give him their undivided attention. “Brad would want Manon Investments to proceed and put the needs of its clients first…even above his own death.”

  Silence blanketed the trading room, though Smith couldn’t help but notice that Steve wasn’t buying the emotional speech that was being given. As a matter of fact, the man seemed rather angry.

  “I called you all to this meeting to clear the air and to ask that you do the same.” Murmurs of curiosity rose. Paul raised his hand to hush everyone as he continued to speak. “It was our dream that Manon Investments be much like a family. We strived every day to make this your second home. Let’s face it. We all work crazy hours, spending more time with each other than many of our own families.”

  That got a few chuckles from the administrative staff, but it was evident that some of the analysts and other employees didn’t have the same line of thinking when it came to their environment. It wasn’t a surprise to Smith when someone commented on that fact.

  “Paul, get on with it.” Steve had been leaning forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees. He usually dressed in black pants and a white buttoned-down shirt, though minus the tie. Today, he wore a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved blue shirt that had seen better days. “Say what you want to say, but don’t try and change the fact that this place has turned into any other firm out there. We’re all cutthroat, looking out for our own asses. It’s why Josh is still down at the station being interrogated by the police.”

  Smith rested a hand on Laurel’s lower back when she audibly inhaled her surprise. Honestly, he was quite taken aback that Josh was still at the station.

  “Steve, all I’m saying is that we need to rely on one another. No one should ever feel that they need to keep secrets in light of—”

  “And why wouldn’t they feel the need to protect themselves?” Steve rubbed his eyes in frustration before leaning back in his chair and spinning around so that he could call out those in question. “Josh was right here in the office the night Brad was murdered.”

  “Steve,” Paul warned, most likely having wanted to be the one to share that bit of information.

  “Vern was made an offer to work for Marshall Securities.” Steve didn’t heed Paul’s advice. “And Cynthia, well, let’s not forget she’s involved with one of our clients who was overheard threatening Brad’s life.”

  “Casting stones is never a good idea when you live in a glass house,” Cynthia warned, her calm demeanor still set in place. She didn’t even blink at the fact that Steve called her out in front of the entire firm. “One, my personal life is none of your business. Two, it’s my understanding your own brot
her-in-law is the one who Paul was considering bringing on as another managing partner.”

  Cynthia’s announcement drew another round of murmurs and all eyes were now back on Paul, looking for a reaction.

  “Yes,” Paul announced, nodding his head in Cynthia’s direction at her defense to Steve’s accusations. “Cynthia is right, and I gave her permission to share that information in case I wasn’t here this morning in light of Josh’s situation. I’m heading down to the station after this meeting to see if I can help alleviate the situation in any way. To enlighten you on my decision to bring on another managing partner, Brad wanted to concentrate solely on the portfolio of stocks. He was in total agreement to bring someone else on board with the clout to garner more assets under management. Steve’s brother-in-law works out of London, and he was the perfect choice to head up the international side of the business. Of course, things have now changed quite a bit. Please understand that the confidentiality of such a decision was not to keep you in the dark, but for the board to decide if it was in the company’s best interest to go forward with such a resolution at this given time.”

  “You say that now, but that’s because we all know Manon Investments will close its doors in less than eighteen months.”

  “Steve, is there something else you want to get off your chest?” Paul asked bluntly, apparently not willing to play the man’s game any longer. “I called this meeting to let those who—”

  “You mean you want the rest of us to spill our secrets, but keep your own.” Steve apparently had some deep-seated anger over something that not everyone was aware of, including Smith. It was something he would have to address with Paul should they end up working together in the future. There was no doubt that man could weave his way in and out of high net worth individuals as if he were a string of diamonds. “No thanks, Paul. I’ll take my own chances with the police.”

  There was clearly something more going on between these two men that had somehow managed to stay hidden amongst the carnage.

  Everyone had fallen silent at the exchange.

  “Brad’s death has been a shock to all of us. Our reactions to this and how we choose to go forward will define Manon Investments in the forthcoming days.”

  Paul did his best to salvage what was left of his speech. He’d lost control of the situation, but he successfully managed to spin it around by lifting everyone’s spirits and clarifying how relying on each other was paramount. Trust and honesty were thrown into the mix, but the end result was that Paul would do whatever was in his power to make sure everyone came out on top at the end of the road.

  “That was a beautiful speech, Paul. Thank you.”

  Smith wasn’t surprised at Meredith Manon’s presence. He’d seen her quietly step inside the trading room, careful not to call attention to herself as Paul wrapped up the meeting. Smith was quite shocked that she would come to the office when she’d steered cleared of this place for the last two years.

  Her words were like a beacon in the dark.

  The staff immediately gathered around her, giving their condolences. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t been married to Brad in many years.

  “Well, this is uncomfortable,” Blair mumbled as she walked past them on her way to join everyone else.

  Blair pasted on a fake smile as she stood next to Grace, who just happened to be happily edged out of the crowd. There were a few stragglers who seemed to hesitate on what to do in this situation, but most eventually followed. The trading desk phones had already been ringing with news on the futures and other markets, so it wasn’t a surprise that Steve stayed behind to answer them. He didn’t seem to mind, though. It was business as usual for him.

  “Why is she here?” Vern asked to no one in particular, but he seemed to expect Smith or Laurel to answer seeing as they were the only ones left on his side of the room. “Come on. They’ve been divorced for years.”

  “Meredith and Brad were still close, though,” Laurel pointed out softly, her compassionate gaze landing on the grieving woman. “Losing someone you were that close with can’t be easy. You should cut her a break, Vern. There is some blood left in those veins, right?”

  Smith rubbed his tongue over his teeth, denying himself the privilege of coming to Laurel’s defense when Vern scoffed at her light scolding. He didn’t join the others, but instead, walked over to the trading desk and pulled out a chair to sit next to Steve.

  “Well, he’s off my fucking list, along with Steve.”

  “What list?” Laurel asked distractedly, still holding the disposable coffee cup close to her chest. Her concerned gaze was focused squarely on Meredith, but her follow up observation wasn’t on the grieving woman as he’d thought. “Smith, this can’t be good.”

  Josh was standing behind the gathered crowd, looking anything but relieved that he wasn’t at the station. As a matter of fact, the anger that flushed his cheeks might very well land his ass back there.

  “Are you seriously showing your face here after what you’ve been doing these past few months?”

  “Josh,” Steve called out a warning, standing up so fast that his chair rolled back a good six feet. The phone was still in his hand, hanging down at his side. “Don’t do this.”

  “You’re fucking the ex-wife of your boss…the one who was found dead three days ago,” Josh said accusingly, glaring at Steve as if he were responsible for the man’s murder. Maybe he was. Either way, the entire office was now filled in on another possible scenario. “Did you do it, Steve? Did you kill Brad Manon or was it her, you fucking coward?”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Did you hear that Josh quit?”

  Laurel looked up from the quarterly report she’d been reading over to find Grace standing in her office doorway with a cup of sanity. Her blonde hair was perfectly pulled back in a French twist, not giving away her previous panic over Rye Marshall’s whereabouts last week, for which she had supplied an alibi.

  It was hard to believe ten whole days had passed since Laurel had found Brad’s body in his office. How could there be no leads, especially given that so many people had motive to see him dead? There wasn’t such a thing as the perfect murder. Or had unicorns come back in vogue when she hadn’t been looking?

  “I figured Josh would make that decision, considering his baggage,” Laurel shared, wishing things could have been different. After Josh had found out that Steve had been having an affair with Meredith, it had certainly ended their previous friendship, but it had also damaged their working relationship beyond repair. “At least the police have cleared Gareth regarding that threat Marilyn had taken out of context.”

  So many things had happened over the course of the week, but a lot of it beneficial to those she cared about. Cynthia had decided to end things with Gareth, considering their roles in the construct of the business. It wouldn’t surprise Laurel to find out that Gareth was pulling his money from the fund, just so that there wasn’t any conflict. He didn’t seem to realize that wasn’t the only reason Cynthia had backed off of their affair. She appeared content with her decision, though, and that was all that mattered to Laurel.

  Paul was around the office more, giving speeches to anyone he thought would benefit from his wisdom. He’d become somewhat philosophical of late. It wasn’t a bad thing, but it was a bit much to take when he tried to recreate the old atmosphere from years prior that had died a brutal death along with Brad. Unfortunately, there was no going back to those initial days of the firm in its infancy.

  “I’m worried about Cynthia.” Grace handed Laurel one of the coffees she’d been carrying, not bothering to take a seat. The market was open, trades were being negotiated, and nothing got in the way of the daily grind. “I think she’s having a harder time with her decision than she lets on. Are you free Thursday night? I was hoping we could take her out for drinks.”

  “Absolutely.” Laurel missed their time together, but nothing had been the same since Brad’s death. “And thanks for the java.”

&nbs
p; Grace lifted a hand in acknowledgement as she walked out of the office, leaving behind a faint scent of her favorite perfume. She hadn’t said a word about Rye since last Monday. It was obvious that the police hadn’t realized that Grace and Rye weren’t together that night or else they both would have been called in for more questioning. At least, that was the current working theory she was going off of.

  Speaking of calls, Laurel’s cell phone rang. She’d left it in her purse, which happened to be underneath her desk. It made a hollow buzzing sound, followed by the familiar ring. Who would be calling her personal number at ten o’clock on a Monday morning? Even her mother knew to call the office when Laurel was at work.

  “Hello?” Laurel had come very close to not answering the number displaying on the phone, not recognizing the digits. The only reason she swiped the bar to the right was because of the pending investigation. Detective Nielsen had reached out to her twice regarding that horrible night, looking for further details. All of his questions had been put through Meg and approved. “This is Laurel.”

  “Laurel, this is Alice. I know you’re at the office, but Smith wouldn’t transfer me to your line.” Smith’s mother sounded as cheerful as she had last night, though that might have had more to do with the second glass of wine she’d had after dinner. “I was wondering if you’d like to go shopping with me on Saturday for the charity ball we’ll both be attending.”

  Laurel hadn’t been too pleased when Smith had answered for her, saying that they would be honored to attend the formal function to pull in money for one of the local hospitals. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to support the cause, but those personal insecurities of hers had reared their ugly heads. She hated feeling out of her element.