Читать книгу Merciful Law - Darby Sr. Rae - Страница 17

The guests began to arrive at six that evening. Amanda and I took turns greeting and escorting them to the music room where Emmet waited. The servers wandered with hors d’oeuvres and a variety of martinis served in glasses resembling flashlights. Emmet’s client, Purdy Co., was an international firm specializing in alternate energy sources. Tonight’s dinner party was to celebrate the launch of a product they had invented; solar powered flashlights. While searching the web for accents for the evening, I came across the glasses purely by accident. Amanda loved the idea so I ordered a few dozen. We had tumblers and candles embossed with their corporate logo. Amanda suggested we focus the theme and accents on the client instead of the law firm. The client loved it.

Dinner was served in the grand dining room with Jack Purdy, the founder and CEO of Purdy Co., at the head of the table. Emmet rose and gave an eloquent toast to the client for their partnership and recognized several attorneys in his firm for their dedication in support of the development and launch of the solar powered flashlight, called Sun-lights. I had never heard him address a group before. His words were fluent and powerful, as if he had practiced for hours. Before the main course Jack rose and articulated his appreciation to all in the room as well.

Two hours later the guests had finished their dinner. They sat relaxed with conversations humming from one end of the table to the other. Amanda and I ducked away to take a quick look at the atrium and make sure everything was in place. It looked perfect. The atrium was architecturally the most beautiful room in the house. Its glass walls and intricate white wood-work were accented by a majestic twenty foot arched ceiling. Two marble pillars defined the entrance stepping down into the room. In the mornings the atrium was even more breathtaking as the natural light beamed in and reflected off the marble floor. Emmet had left the room completely empty; no furniture, no plants, no artwork, nothing. Nothing to distract from the brilliance of the room; even completely empty it was breathtaking.

That night the room was transformed. To set the mood of a cigar bar or after hours club, lighting was strategically positioned indirectly throughout the room. Not just any lighting, though. Sixty Purdy Co. Sun-Lite flashlights were used instead of spotlights to illuminate the entire atrium; an accent that would surely be noticed by Jack Purdy. Leather couches and cocktail tables were arranged around the room to foster a relaxing environment and support comfortable conversation. Each table had three candles with a foil embossed Purdy Co. corporate logo. The south wall was illuminated with lighting from the deck outside, and on the deck overlooking the gardens were three more couches and a large four-drawer humidor stocked with the best cigars money could buy.

We were like two giddy school girls on the decorating committee for prom. “Emmet would never have agreed to all this because he’s a bit—”

I ended her sentence, “uptight and boring?”

“He would argue traditional and reserved,” she offered with an amused look as she turned on the background music; jazz.

Emmet and Jack walked slowly as the other guests preceded them. We both held our breath for Emmet’s reaction. As any great attorney, Emmet didn’t react until Jack did. Jack looked like someone had thrown him a surprise birthday party. He walked into the room with an awed expression as he noticed his newly launched product was the main source of illumination. As he neared the first coffee table, he picked up a candle and traced his corporate logo with one finger. His head turned to the south wall while he gazed out the window at the massive humidor surrounded by ornate freestanding ashtrays. Amanda and I both moved closer so we could hear what Jack was saying.

“Emmet, I don’t know what to say. Your firm has always gone above and beyond in providing us with the legal services we require, but this…this is a validation of the true partnership we have. This evening punctuates the attention to detail and priority you have always provided our company.” Amanda and I couldn’t hold back our huge smiles. Jack loved it and, therefore, so did Emmet.

The servers were moving through the room offering after dinner drinks and bite-sized desserts. Confident that everything was under control at the party, I headed upstairs to check on the boys. They were watching a movie in Emmet’s room. Apparently, it wasn’t a very engaging movie because it was barely past nine and they were peacefully sleeping. They looked like cherubs.

I couldn’t help myself; I had to get my camera. I couldn’t pass up this perfect picture. If Emmet didn’t catch me, he would thank me. If he caught me…he would probably feed me to Romulus. I tiptoed into my room to get my camera. I was surprised that Emmet would take my laptop, phone and keys but not confiscate my camera. That was a big detail for him to miss.

I had already packed my suitcases, even though I wasn’t to leave until Monday morning. While I bent over my suitcase rummaging through it, the two glasses of wine I had drunk impaired my balance and I felt myself teetering back and forth on my high heels. I was searching for my camera that was no bigger than a deck of cards. Finally, persistence paid off and I quietly slipped back into Emmet’s bedroom. I shot pictures from six different angles. It was so much easier working with still subjects.

Before leaving the room, I straightened up the covers and tucked the boys in. I walked over to eject the movie and turn the television off. When I turned back around I saw Emmet standing at the door.

“I didn’t hear you come in,” I said, trying to sound matter of fact, realizing I had set my camera down on the night stand and there was no way to get to it now.

“Just came up to check on the boys.”

“I know you prefer they don’t sleep in your room, but—”

“They can stay,” Emmet said as he opened the door wider to suggest it was time to go back downstairs.

I headed toward the door, gracefully tripping over my own feet, recovering just before I crashed into Emmet. “High heels and wine,” I said with a grimace. I hoped my actions would distract him from noticing the camera, but Emmet noticed everything.

“Annie,” he said, with a scolding tone.

He noticed, I thought. He’s going to throw me out of his house tonight… or worse, call the police and have me carted away. I guess I deserve it, though. How could I have exercised such a lack of judgment?

“You did an exemplary job with everything tonight. Jack is truly touched you used his flashlights for the lighting. Amanda said it was your idea.” His words were complimentary, but his tone made it seem as if I was being reprimanded.

“Thank you.” I exhaled in relief and quickly exited the room hoping he would follow right behind me, and he did. As we headed toward the stairs, I had a brilliant idea. Well, it was at best an average idea, but at the time the wine made me think it was a true genius attack.

“Emmet, I’m going to freshen up a bit before I come back downstairs.”

“You look fine, Annie,” he said with a stoic expression.

“Wow, every woman’s goal…to look fine,” I said, walking toward my room. This would give me an opportunity to retrieve my camera once he was downstairs. I went into my room, freshened up my lipstick and was ready to head to Emmet’s room. He met me in the hallway.

“Looking for this?” He asked, holding up my camera. What made me think he wouldn’t notice?

“No, it’s for you.” I lied.

“I’m supposed to believe you are giving me your camera?”

Might as well keep the lie going… “No, I am giving you the pictures on the camera.”

“Well, show them to me,” he insisted. He had no idea how to view them and I knew it.

I took the camera from his hands.

“Josh will show you in the morning. You weren’t supposed to see it until the morning.”

I walked back into his room, set the camera on the nightstand, and headed back downstairs.

“I don’t believe you,” he snapped.

“I don’t care,” I snapped back while defiantly raising my eyebrows. “I’m already fired.”

“It’s a shame too. You have a flair for entertaining.” His words were complimentary, but again it sounded like I was being reprimanded. And his mannerisms were dismissive at best. We walked back to the party in silence.

My conversation with Emmet was sobering. No longer distracted with the excitement of the party, apprehensively I reentered the atrium with a totally different perspective. I scanned all the faces in the room. Did they know me? Did they recognize me? Did they know Lawrence? Would they go tell him where I was and would he come for me? As I looked from one face to another a slight panic grew inside. How large was the world of international attorneys? Somehow, someway, at least one of these men or women had met Lawrence. My eidetic recall for faces was failing me for they all looked familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

“Come here, I’ll introduce you around,” Amanda said, taking my arm in hers. But I didn’t want to be introduced. I wanted to fade into the corner for fear I would be recognized.

“No, that’s okay. I’m more of a people watcher than a people person.” I took a deliberate step backward.

“Well, tonight you’re a people person,” she said, taking my arm once again. “You were my partner in crime with this event and everyone in the firm wants to meet you. Emmet never talks about his personal assistants to anyone in the office but me. For all they know, you could have been here for years and they finally have an opportunity to meet you.” She pulled me unwillingly further into the room. Amanda couldn’t have weighed more than ninety pounds, but Emmet had warned me she was a pit bull at getting her way. She towed me from one group to another, introducing me to most of the partners in the firm first. Once my brain was full of too many names to remember, she began introducing me to the board members and executive team of Purdy Co. Each time I did my best to direct the conversation to what they did for the company so they would ask the same kind of questions of me…and then Amanda would move me to the next group. I didn’t want anyone asking where I was from or how long I had worked for Emmet.

As Amanda continued to introduce me, I couldn’t help but notice two men watching. At first I thought it was just my paranoia, and then I realized they were watching me and talking about me. I tried not to make eye contact and when they looked away I asked Amanda who they were. Wrong move.

“Hey Rich, Bob, come here,” she said as she waived them over. “Hey guys, I want you to meet Annie. Annie this is Rich and Bob. They handle the international distribution channel for Purdy.”

I was sure my face went sheet white. International—surely they knew Lawrence. I tried to act natural, as if I was just meeting anyone else in the room, but I could tell they recognized me.

“Annie, I was just telling Rich how familiar you look, but I couldn’t place you. Where are you from?” Even if they had seen me before I would have looked quite different clad in a stiff business suit with my red hair pulled back off my face. Half the time I even wore glasses, although I only needed them for distance. Tonight in my ice-blue flowing cocktail dress and long dark hair they would be hard pressed to recognize me. The more they stared, the more I panicked.

“Michigan,” I answered too quickly. “Are you from there?”

“No, Rich and I are based out of Florida.”

The words he said immediately made me feel faint. I swayed backward.

Like a superhero, always in the right place at the right time, Emmet’s hand met the small of my back and gently straightened me up. “A little too much wine?” He asked.

“I think so, Emmet. I guess I didn’t eat much either.”

“Emmet,” Bob said, “I was just telling Annie she looks familiar; I can’t determine when we’ve met.”

“Oh, I hear that a lot, actually. I think I have one of those faces that resembles many others,” I said, not sounding very convincing to anyone and speaking way too quickly.

“So, Michigan,” Bob said. “That’s not it. How long have you worked for Emmet?”

“Just over a year now,” I said, praying Emmet and Amanda wouldn’t correct my lie and frantically wondering how I was going to explain it to them later.

“I never hear Emmet talk about you,” Bob said.

“Are you kidding?” Emmet chimed in. “The way you run Amanda around…you think I’m going to give you access to Annie too? Not a chance.” There was a courteous laugh.

“What’s your last name, Annie?” Bob asked.

“Logan,” I answered, finding myself leaning back on Emmet’s rescuing hand. I wanted to get away from these men.

“No, that just doesn’t sound familiar.”

“This is how Rich and Bob pick up attractive women,” Emmet interjected attempting to add a bit of levity to the conversation. “Whatever you do, don’t give out your phone number.”

The stress of the conversation was taking a toll on me. Once again I began to sway and Emmet steadied me. “Amanda, take Annie out to get some fresh air and please let Romulus out for a quick run. I’ll keep the guests inside until you return.”

“Great idea,” Amanda said. I knew she was dying to ask me why I lied about how long I had worked for Emmet.

We walked to the breezeway without talking. The fresh air helped revive me and I was relieved to be away from Bob’s and Rich’s stares. Amanda opened the door to let Romulus out and crunched down as if she was going to greet a toddler.

“How’s my little puppy, Romulus?” She asked.

Puppy? Romulus jumped around alternating between chasing his tail and licking Amanda on her face. I was surprised he didn’t knock her over. He had to be one and a half times her body weight.

“That’s my good boy…that’s my good, good boy,” she said, holding on to his slobbery mouth. I definitely drank too much wine. I was starting to hallucinate. Amanda continued to hug on Romulus until finally she said, “Where’s your ball? Go get your ball.” And Romulus tore off running.

“So, you and Romulus, huh,” I said. “He’s really comfortable with you.”

“He should be,” Amanda offered, standing and brushing her dress back into place. “I trained him.”

“You train attack dogs?”

“I did. Now I only do it for people I know.”

“No wonder Emmet says you’re such a pit bull. He says—”

“Annie,” she snapped, “you know I have no interest in talking about myself right now. I want the truth. You took pictures of Emmet and the boys even though he told you not to. You told those men you’ve worked for Emmet for a year when you have only been here for two weeks. I want some answers. Romulus and I both want answers, don’t we?” She gestured to Romulus and he began to growl.

“Okay, Amanda,” I stammered. “But I’m going to ask you to think twice before you say anything to Emmet. I know that’s where your loyalty lies, but just hear me out.”

“Start talking,” she said, repeating the gesture to Romulus…and his growl grew louder.

“The picture issue is easy. The boys wanted to do something special for Emmet for Father’s Day. They wanted me to help them put together a scrapbook with pictures and some of their artwork from school. Josh has it hiding in his closet to give to his dad tomorrow. Please don’t tell Emmet. The boys will be so disappointed if their surprise is spoiled.”

“And you lied to those men because?”

“That’s complicated. I left an abusive relationship. I felt like Bob was coming on to me. I didn’t want to seem temporary…vulnerable…I can’t explain it.”

“Well, that is sort of complicated.” Amanda picked up the tennis ball not completely satisfied with my answer. She threw it for Romulus and, I must say, the woman had quite an arm on her. “Annie,” she said, “I’m sure Emmet could tell you were about to pass out. I could. He already knows you aren’t who you say you are. That’s why he jumped to the conclusion that you were some sort of reporter when he found out you were taking pictures of him and the boys.”

“How does he know?”

“He did a thorough background check on you. He does that with everyone who works for him now. He’s had a couple bad experiences. So, this person you’re hiding from…do you think he’s looking for you?”

“I know he is…just not in Indiana. He thinks I’m somewhere else. Are you going to tell Emmet?”

“Not tonight, but I’ll have to eventually.”

“Well, could you wait until Monday? He wants me to be out of his house after the cleaning crew leaves. I just don’t have the energy for another tête-à-tête with him.”

“You have my word. I won’t say anything before then.” She threw the ball for Romulus once more. “Are you ready to go back inside?”

“I don’t think I can.”

“I’ll tell Emmet you weren’t feeling well. It’s almost ten thirty anyway. I think people are about ready to leave. When does the cleaning crew come?”

“Monday 8:00 sharp. I should be gone by noon.”

“You never know. Emmet may change his mind once he sees the album.”

“Emmet doesn’t hit me as someone who changes his mind.”

“Not often, Annie. But he is remarkable at admitting when he’s wrong. I’m just not sure how the conversation with Bob and Rich will factor into all of this.” She went back to playing with Romulus like he was a ten-pound toothless puppy.

I slipped inside through the mudroom to avoid the guests and headed straight upstairs. Was it just a coincidence those men thought I looked familiar? How could that be? They were from Florida and worked in the international aspect of the company. The only saving grace was they didn’t act like they had figured out how they knew me. I wondered if Emmet would ask me about it in the morning. For now, I would spend a few minutes thanking God for all of my blessings, including my safety… for now.