Chapter 396

The panic as Becks tried to get off the table was only tempered by the very real need to be quiet about it. One last California roll that had been on her collarbone almost went flying except for the quick hands of Gemma.

“I’ll go see who it is and stall,” you whispered, heading for the door.

Moments later Sabrina was with you as you headed out into the hallway, the rustling of Becks and Gemma getting Becks’ clothes in order behind you along with some very quiet cursing.

With the positioning of the conference room down at one end of the building, the corridor with the stairs and elevator on it was offset from the door so you and Sabrina quickly moved to the wall on the opposite side. Sliding along it, the closest offices that belonged to the associates and paralegals were all still dark. At the corner, you glanced around the corner. The lights in the hallway were on but dimmer, and on your first glance you didn’t see anyone.

Your second glance, and Sabrina’s first, revealed who had just come up the elevator.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” Sabrina whispered.

Joy Bellagamba strutted out of the alcove where the elevators were located and made a right, heading towards the far end of the floor where the Senior Partner offices were.

You suppressed your urge to groan by gritting your teeth in a grimace. “I don’t know,” you whispered back. “But it doesn’t look like her mom is with her. Bellagamba definitely wasn’t here?”

“No, I checked every office,” Sabrina said. “What should we do?”

“Call security,” you said. “Unless she’s just here to pick something up for her mother. Maybe call Garrison.”

“Well, that means we need to know where she goes, so let’s follow her,” Sabrina whispered.

Following Joy wasn’t exactly an easy task - the main corridors were long and relatively straight. You ended up darting a dozen paces at a time, slipping into the open doorways of offices. At one point you were sure Joy must have seen you because she stopped walking, but she didn’t call out or come back in your direction, and she started walking again.

You tailed her all the way to the other end of the building, Sabrina practically stuck to your side as you moved in unison. She was barefoot, having kicked off her shoes before you were about to have fun with Becks.

At the end of the corridor, Joy went into an office and flicked on the light.

“Whose office is that?” Sabrina asked.

“I can’t tell from here,” you said. “It might be her Moms, or it might be Mr Fletcher’s.” You hadn’t had much interaction with Fletcher beyond fetching him coffee during the morning run.

Sabrina motioned for you to stay where you were and she darted closer down the hallway and then came back. “It’s Fletcher’s,” she whispered, her eyes wide.

“Fuck this,” you grunted quietly, pulling out your phone. You quickly texted Garrison on his cell, ’Joy Bellagamba just showed up and is entering SrPrtnr offices. Calling security.’ Then you went to the desk of whoever’s office you were in and picked up their landline phone, thumbing the button programmed to reach the front reception desk.