13

Rochelle took off her jacket and hung it over the back of her chair. Despite the air conditioning in the meeting room that Ivers International had provided for her and her colleagues, it was warm. Her colleague Antonio had removed his jacket two hours earlier and turned over his shirt sleeves. He sat opposite her on the long conference table, working through a pile of files, searching for any oddities. Nicole, who sat at the other end of the table wearing a short sleeved blouse, was working on the electronic files, which she’d copied from Zach’s computer.

A frustrated sigh came from Nicole, and Rochelle tossed her an inquisitive look. “Anything?”

Nicole shook her head. “This guy is as clean as a baby after its bath.”

“Mmm,” Antonio grunted, closing one file and putting it on the pile, before picking up the next one. “Nicole is right. There’s nothing that sticks out.” He lifted his eyes from the file in front of him. “I’m getting the feeling that somebody is playing a joke on us.”

Rochelle moved her head from left to right. “The SEC has to follow any tips they get and find out if there’s anything to them.”

“I know that,” Antonio said, “but I can’t pull evidence out of my nose.” He tapped his finger on the manila folder in front of him. “How much do you wanna bet that I won’t find anything in here either?”

Rochelle sighed. “No indication that there could be other bank accounts from which he made those stock trades?”

“Nothing of the sort. At least not under his own name,” Antonio replied.

“I can’t find anything either that leads me to believe that he moved money to other accounts, which we haven’t found yet. If he is trading his own stock, then he’s hidden the accounts pretty well,” Nicole said.

Rochelle nodded. She’d come to the same conclusion. But she couldn’t give up that quickly. Her boss expected results and telling him that Zach hadn’t committed any wrongdoing wasn’t going to cut it. No, Todd Yochum wanted a conviction. He needed a big case to bring the SEC into a good light with the public.

“Continue. There must be something,” she encouraged her colleagues and herself.

When her cell phone suddenly vibrated on the table, she picked it up and looked at the text message she’d received.

Need to talk to you. Alone.

The message wasn’t from her brother, but from a number she hadn’t programmed into her cell yet. Nevertheless she recognized it instantly: the message was from Zach.

After what had happened the night before, she didn’t think it would be wise to be alone with him. Simply thinking of the events of the previous night heated her blood. She’d almost had wild sex with Zach in the foyer of her apartment, so much had his kisses and his touch aroused her. She couldn’t deny that the passion between them burned just as hotly as before, even though they both knew they had to stay away from each other.

Her hand trembled when she typed out a short reply and hit send.

No.

Apparently Zach didn’t like her answer, because within seconds he’d sent another text.

Please hear me out. I want to apologize.

Damn him! How could she deny somebody who wanted to apologize for his mistakes? No, she had to remain steadfast. Besides, her colleagues couldn’t find out that she was meeting Zach.

I can’t be seen with you, she wrote back.

Instantly his reply came: Take the elevator to the 45th floor. Code 569336. The floor is empty. There will be nobody apart from you and me.

She hesitated.

Please.

In five minutes.

She powered down her laptop. “I’m gonna go for lunch.”

Nicole looked up from her computer. “So early? It’s only half past eleven.”

Rochelle smiled and stood. “I’ve been up since five this morning. My stomach is growling.” She snatched her handbag and her jacket and turned toward the door.

“Wait, I’ll come with you,” Antonio called after her. “I need a sandwich.”

Rochelle looked over her shoulder. “Great! I wanted to look for some shoes while I’m out. You can help me choose the right pair.”

Antonio instantly grimaced. “Oh, you know what? Why don’t you go ahead? I’d better finish this file first before I take a break.”

“As you wish.” Rochelle opened the door and left the conference room with a silent sigh of relief. Luckily, she was aware of Antonio’s aversion to shopping.

As calmly as possible she walked to the elevator and pressed the button. Moments later the doors opened and she entered. She turned to the keypad left of the door and typed in the code Zach had given her. Then she pressed the button to the 45th floor and the elevator started moving.