Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
The computer is still on–it comes out of sleep mode when I move the mouse–so I quickly scroll and follow the instructions I memorized on how to clone the entire hard drive. Once I get that copying, I also download the entire mailbox, not that I think there will be anything of use in there, but you never know.
I hope this gives us something to go on!
It says the cloning will take another thirty minutes, so I slip back out of the office and head upstairs to my mural in case the security guy comes around again. I use the time to clean up my area, rinse my brushes, and fold up the drop cloth for tomorrow.
My phone rings, and I check the screen. “Madi,” I answer the call. She’s probably just leaving work now. Her job as head of Torrent Cosmetics fully occupies her now. More than the Moon Co job, even, because at least Brick had boundaries. He didn’t work weekends or too late at night.
“Aubrey!”
“Hey you.”
“Hi! How are you? I’m sorry, it feels like forever since we’ve hung out.”
The familiar ache in my chest at losing my BFF to her fiance throbs. “I know. I’m good. Can we do something together? Just you and I?”
“Yes. I’d love that. How about…” I picture my bestie flipping open the calendar app on her phone and scrolling through it. “How about next Thursday evening?”
“Does that mean a week from this Thursday?” I clarify.
“Yes. I’m sorry, I’m slammed this week, and Brick and I are going to the Adirondacks over the weekend.”
It doesn’t go unnoticed that she never invites me there, other than for their engagement party.
“Yeah, okay. Next Thursday it is,” I say hollowly. I really need to get a life. A boyfriend. Someone to fill the gaping hole left when Madi moved out.
“What are you up to right now?”
“I’m actually painting a mural at the Sentient building this week.”
“What?” At least Madi is appropriately shocked. But it guts me that she doesn’t even know why I’m here or what I’m up to. She doesn’t know anything that’s going on in my life right now.
“There’s a good reason. I’ll tell you all about it when we get together.”
“Wait, no! Tell me now. I have to know.”
“I would, but I’m here working now, so…I can’t really talk.”
“Oh, my God! What is this about? Now I’m dying.”
“Good. Then I can be sure you won’t cancel our date.”
“Aubrey, I’m sorry about last time.”
“No, no. It’s all good. We’ll chat next week. Ooh–you know what? There’s a good eighties cover band playing at All Night.”
Eighties music is my favorite. I’m obsessed with the whole decade as a result of my parents’ taste in music. In college, Madi and I had a Go-Go’s cover band, and we played at All Night.
“Perfect. Let’s meet there.”
I perk up. It will be like old times. “Yay! I can’t wait to catch up.”
“Okay. Me neither. Love you!”
That wrenches a smile from my lips. “Love you, too. Bye.”
I check the timer on my phone. Twenty-six minutes.
The download should almost be complete now.
I slip back into the stairwell and jog down to the tenth floor again. The drive is copied. I quickly disconnect it and tuck it back in the front pocket of my overalls then head back to the staircase.
I’m two flights down when a door opens.
Fuck. It’s the security guard. “Hey,” he says sharply. Then he recognizes me. “Oh, it’s you.” His brow furrows. “What are you doing in the stairwell?”
Sweat makes my palms clammy. I resist the urge to touch the pocket of my overalls to make sure the drive is out of sight. “Oh, I’m just leaving now. I’m done for the night!” I chirp.
“But why are you in here? This is the fire escape.”
“No, I know. I actually have a bit of claustrophobia, so I prefer taking the stairs to the elevator. Especially at night when there’d be no one around to hear me scream.”
He blinks at me.
Fuck. Am I a horrible liar?
“I would hear you scream.”
Was that a threat? Does he want to hear me scream? Is this guy a serial killer? I spin out of control as my heart chokes my throat.
He relaxes into a grin, and my knees nearly buckle with relief.
“But I get it. I just like to take the stairs to stay in shape.”
“Right! That too.” I sound out of breath. A little crazy. “Well, I’d better get going! It’s late.” I rush past him, taking the stairs at a jog.
For a few moments, I feel him watch me, but I don’t look up. I just keep on running all the way down eight flights of stairs until I get to the ground floor.
I throw the door open to the lobby and suck in a deep breath.
The security guard at the front desk gives me a startled look. “Where’d you come from? Is something on fire?”