Bishop.
Bishop just smiled. He picked up the bag and walked over to the stairs and began climbing. The bonds would probably take at least a day to get through. If not, one of his co-workers was sure to find him.
At some point, Addison would also grasp that although his face stung a little, it wasn’t actually falling off. Maybe he’d realize he’d been suckered with hot tap water. Or maybe he wouldn’t. Bishop didn’t really care. Right now, he had more important things to think about.
THIRTEEN
Vaughn Mayfield followed his two prospects into the elevator and then hit the button for nine. He smiled at them both as the doors silently eased shut, but kept his attention mostly on the woman. ‘Hot’ didn’t describe her adequately. Rhian Lerner was incredible-looking. He’d been captivated from the moment he met them outside the building.
The black skin only helped. It really brought out her large eyes. Made them seem like they were boring right into his brain whenever she looked at him. Like right now, for instance. And that coy, enigmatic smile she was directing his way held more than just professional interest. He was sure of it. He’d met enough horny women in the real estate business to know the signs. She clearly wanted Vaughn as much as he wanted her.
Her white boyfriend, Dennis Ackroyd, was oblivious. He just stood there in his suit, watching the numbers change. Which made a certain kind of sense. Vaughn knew he was some kind of accountant. A good one, evidently, if he could afford the rent on one of these apartments. They weren’t cheap. He was fairly tall, but stoop-shouldered, with thick glasses. Vaughn thought he looked completely out of her league. He was guessing she probably stayed with Dennis for his money and got her kicks elsewhere. Which was fine by Vaughn.
‘How come there’s no seven on the panel, Vaughn?’ Rhian asked. ‘Is it unlucky or something?’
‘Not at all. That whole floor belongs to the owner of this building and he’s very serious when it comes to his privacy.’
‘Oh. So he’s got his own private elevator, then?’
‘Exactly right. Here we are.’ The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. ‘After you, Rhian,’ Vaughn said. ‘Dennis.’
He followed them out and then led them down the left-hand corridor.
‘This is it,’ he said, stopping outside 906. Shifting his thick binder to his other hand, he pulled a chain of keys from his pocket, found the right one and opened the door. ‘There are two empty apartments on this floor, but this one’s south-facing. I think you’ll like it.’
‘Let’s see, shall we?’ Rhian said and went in first. Mayfield watched that tight little butt wiggle underneath the jeans and then Dennis blocked the view as he followed her inside. Vaughn closed the door and joined them in the living room straight ahead.
The next ten minutes he spent showing them round the large apartment, pointing out all the extra features, like the balconies outside the main rooms and the gym on the top floor. He emphasized the building’s security and told them he’d even throw in an extra parking slot in the underground car park for free. He
really
wanted Rhian to take the apartment.
They were in the master bedroom when she said, ‘What do you think, Denny? From where I’m standing it all looks perfect.’
‘Yeah, it seems okay,’ Dennis said, looking out the window. He didn’t sound too excited or impressed. Vaughn guessed he was long accustomed to giving Rhian whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it. But then, most men would.
Rhian turned to him. ‘It wouldn’t kill you to show some enthusiasm, you know. You were exactly the same when we . . . Hey, what’s wrong, baby? You feeling okay?’
‘Not really,’ Dennis said and turned with his hand pressed against his stomach. In the sunlight, Vaughn could see he looked a little pale. ‘Probably that seafood we had last night. I told you what happens when my system comes
Bishop just smiled. He picked up the bag and walked over to the stairs and began climbing. The bonds would probably take at least a day to get through. If not, one of his co-workers was sure to find him.
At some point, Addison would also grasp that although his face stung a little, it wasn’t actually falling off. Maybe he’d realize he’d been suckered with hot tap water. Or maybe he wouldn’t. Bishop didn’t really care. Right now, he had more important things to think about.
THIRTEEN
Vaughn Mayfield followed his two prospects into the elevator and then hit the button for nine. He smiled at them both as the doors silently eased shut, but kept his attention mostly on the woman. ‘Hot’ didn’t describe her adequately. Rhian Lerner was incredible-looking. He’d been captivated from the moment he met them outside the building.
The black skin only helped. It really brought out her large eyes. Made them seem like they were boring right into his brain whenever she looked at him. Like right now, for instance. And that coy, enigmatic smile she was directing his way held more than just professional interest. He was sure of it. He’d met enough horny women in the real estate business to know the signs. She clearly wanted Vaughn as much as he wanted her.
Her white boyfriend, Dennis Ackroyd, was oblivious. He just stood there in his suit, watching the numbers change. Which made a certain kind of sense. Vaughn knew he was some kind of accountant. A good one, evidently, if he could afford the rent on one of these apartments. They weren’t cheap. He was fairly tall, but stoop-shouldered, with thick glasses. Vaughn thought he looked completely out of her league. He was guessing she probably stayed with Dennis for his money and got her kicks elsewhere. Which was fine by Vaughn.
‘How come there’s no seven on the panel, Vaughn?’ Rhian asked. ‘Is it unlucky or something?’
‘Not at all. That whole floor belongs to the owner of this building and he’s very serious when it comes to his privacy.’
‘Oh. So he’s got his own private elevator, then?’
‘Exactly right. Here we are.’ The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. ‘After you, Rhian,’ Vaughn said. ‘Dennis.’
He followed them out and then led them down the left-hand corridor.
‘This is it,’ he said, stopping outside 906. Shifting his thick binder to his other hand, he pulled a chain of keys from his pocket, found the right one and opened the door. ‘There are two empty apartments on this floor, but this one’s south-facing. I think you’ll like it.’
‘Let’s see, shall we?’ Rhian said and went in first. Mayfield watched that tight little butt wiggle underneath the jeans and then Dennis blocked the view as he followed her inside. Vaughn closed the door and joined them in the living room straight ahead.
The next ten minutes he spent showing them round the large apartment, pointing out all the extra features, like the balconies outside the main rooms and the gym on the top floor. He emphasized the building’s security and told them he’d even throw in an extra parking slot in the underground car park for free. He
really
wanted Rhian to take the apartment.
They were in the master bedroom when she said, ‘What do you think, Denny? From where I’m standing it all looks perfect.’
‘Yeah, it seems okay,’ Dennis said, looking out the window. He didn’t sound too excited or impressed. Vaughn guessed he was long accustomed to giving Rhian whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it. But then, most men would.
Rhian turned to him. ‘It wouldn’t kill you to show some enthusiasm, you know. You were exactly the same when we . . . Hey, what’s wrong, baby? You feeling okay?’
‘Not really,’ Dennis said and turned with his hand pressed against his stomach. In the sunlight, Vaughn could see he looked a little pale. ‘Probably that seafood we had last night. I told you what happens when my system comes
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