Chapter 46
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My hands started to tremble, I’m not sure if it was from anger or fear, or a combination of both. Bradley took the phone from me and read the text messages, muttering curses as he did so. A couple of new ones popped up which I was able to read.
“What do you mean he is going to kill her on Monday? What’s the hurry? I thought you guys wanted to wait for a couple of months. Did something happen?”
Fiona’s reply was almost instant. “That b***h got me arrested late this afternoon. Thank god Dad bailed me out. She’s going to pay for humiliating me like that! And what did you mean when you said you wanted to break up with me? Why the hell would you want to do that?”
Adam seemed to ignore her questions about the break up. Instead, he asked more questions about their plans to kill me. “Are you sure that you and Alan would inherit Fredericks Design? I think she wrote a will at the same time she had her lawyer do the prenup. I’m not sure, but since we were going to get married, and she was already making me a partner, I think she left the company to me.”
“SHE DID WHAT???” Apparently she didn’t like that response. Adam didn’t answer.
Bradley handed the phone back to Sean, who read the most recent rexts before passing the phone to Spencer and Tony. It looked like a game of pass the hot potato.
The two lawyers directed their gaze my way, then Spencer questioned me about Adam’s claim. “Anna, I don’t recall talking to you about a will. Did you go to a different lawyer to do that?”
“Nope. I did mention to Adam that I was having a will drawn up, and I may have suggested that I would be leaving all my worldly goods to Uncle Caleb. I guess even back then my gut was telling me not to trust him. Why would he tell her I was leaving the company to him?”
“Wishful thinking?” Jenna suggested. “Who knows how his mind works? Did hearing what he did this morning give him the kick in the pants he needed, or is he playing a game? I still can’t believe he actually told Anna what the vipers had planned. Does he think that she will change
her mind about breaking up with him?”
“He can wish all he wants,” Bradley growled. “This woman is my wife, and there’s not a damn thing he can do about it. Right, Sweetheart?” His hand cradled the back of my head as he planted his lips on my, as though sealing the deal.
When I caught my breath, blushing at being kissed so thoroughly in front of everyone, I nodded my head in agreement. “That’s right. You and me, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Gray.” My heart fluttered as I said those words for the first time. “I like the sound of that,” I whispered to
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Bradley
Me too, Ped. Me too‘ He puncuated his words with soft kisses to my face
“Ahem.” The clearing of a throat was followed by Victor chuckling “Get a room, you two
Bradley grinned like a cheshire cat, as he responded, “Oh, we will. The snickers from the other guys made me bury my head in Bradley’s neck, embarrassment coloring my face
Sean brought us back to the matter at hand, which was them not wanting me to go to
Fredericks Design Co on Monday morning. “Anna, I agree with Spencer. Let Tony, Jonathan and HP deal with the three women. I don’t think you should even leave this building until you’re
ready to leave for the airport. Then you need to disappear completely until your birthday. No
public announcement of your marriage, no public appearances, no going into any of the Graystone offices, and no coming back to Halifax.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Sean held up his hand, silencing me. “Anna, I am your
security advisor. I know exactly what’s going on, I know what’s at play, and what’s at stake. What was it your grandfather used to say? ‘Do not tell the devil where your goat is tied? You
have to trust me on this, please! My team and I have kept you safe this long, let us do our jobs,
and continue to keep you safe. Please turst me.”
Did you just compare me to a goat?” humor laced my voice. Sean turned red as he realized
what he had just said.
“Well, technically, yes. Goats are a precious commodity in some cultures. For many families,
your goat is the only thing that supports and feeds your family. So you protect your goat with your life because you are protecting the continued survival of your family. His gaze never
waivered from mine, sending me a message he couldn’t speak outloud.
If he is saying what I think he is saying, the survival of the Graystone International family is dependant on my survival. Faack! That is a heavy burden to bear.
I agree with Sean, you have to stay safe, Anna. Spencer added, giving weight to Sean’s professional opinion.
“How do I disappear for four months? I know all the Graystone companies are well run, but I
need to keep tabs on everything. The quarterly meetings are coming up, who’s going to handle them?‘ This was so very frustrating. I had worked hard this past year to be taken seriously by the senior managers of each of the ten companies that was under the umbrella of Graystone International. On top of that, there was Fredericks Design Co.
This is where Bradley’s years of running a billion dollar business came to the rescue. ‘Red, millions of people work remotely. You can too. We’ll get a cell phone that can’t be tracked, you
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will have your laptop and we’ll have it so your IP address can’t be traced. Working remotely for
the next few months means we can travel, on my private jet of course, so no one can track your location.”
“Your private jet? What about Graystone’s jet? Couldn’t we use that too?” My question seemed to make the men uncomfortable. “Okay, why not the Graystone jet? Is there an issue with using it?”
Sean lowered his head hiding his face from me for a few moments. He gave a sharp nod of his head, raising it to look at me. “Anna, there is a certain faction within Graystone that we believe is working with Lydia and her plan to wrest control from you. We know who they are, but as yet, can’t touch them. We don’t want to give them any opportunity to leak your whereabouts to her and Alan. So it’s safer for you not to use the Graystone jet. To let you know, the Graystone jet is back in Toronto, and the Gray Industries private jet will be picking
you up on Monday.”
“You know guys, it would be so much simpler if you all could just tell me everything. This beating around the bush is painful, and in my opinion, a freaking waste of time.” A hit of the anger I was feeling was easily heard. “But fine. I have no choice in the matter, apparently. So
I’ll deal with it.”
“If Anna can’t leave the apartment until Monday, what does that mean for me getting my things from the place I’m staying. Is it okay for me to go out?” Jenna looked concerned. Tomorrow was the end of August, and she had to have her stuff removed by mid–afternoon at
the latest.
Sean advised that she could go out, but Victor and a full protection team would be going with her. The vipers taking Jenna as a way to get to me was a very real possibility according to
Sean.
“The team will be waiting downstairs and ready to go at ten in the morning. They will bring a van with blacked out windows so there is no chance of spotting you. The team won’t let you out of their site, especially now that Fiona has gotten a good look at both you and Victor.
This is all so freaking cloak and dagger that it’s unbelieveable. If I wasn’t right in the middle of it, I would think someone was trippin if they told me this story. I am not liking all the intrigue, secrecy, and, much as I hate to admit it, fear. Yet the emotion at the top of the list is anger. Anger that I have probably been lied to regarding my mother. Anger that every single one of these people who are protecting me, have their hands tied by NDA’s. Anger that NDA’s were needed in the first place. Anger that my beloved grandparents didn’t trust me enough to think I
could handle being told the truth.
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Suddenly, I felt completely exhausted. I needed to go to bed and sleep. I needed to be snuggled up in bed, held tight in the arms of the man I had come to love in such a short time.
“Guys, I’m sorry, but I’m exhaused. I need to go to bed. Goodnight.” Rude as it was, I got off Bradley’s lap, went to my bedroom and closed the door. I was over this day.
