More Than Meets the Eye - Page 128

“You’ll need some of them.”

It took no convincing to get Aya on board.Her only condition was that they thought this through— Baz ignored the ‘for once’she added.Impulsive as it had been, he didn’t regret letting Sami into his life.Least of all now.Besides, the plan was simple.Step one, free Sami.Step two, lock up Ian.Step three, settle the case.

And yet, Aya had to ruin it with follow-up questions because she ‘didn’t want to embarrass herself by making allegations they couldn’t back up.’

Baz wouldn’t dare to call her a buzzkill, but he sure thought it.And smiled.It was so good to have her back.

“How sure are you that Ian really didn’t tell Captain Green about our settlement offer?”Aya asked.

“He had me destroy the only copy you gave him right after the meeting, so unless you’ve sent him another one, I don’t see how he could have.”

“That’s good enough for me,” Baz decreed.If only they could contact Captain Green directly without risking being fined for overstepping.The long way around it was.“Can you call Ian’s boss?”

It would be better coming from Aya, in case the news about his and Sami’s affair had already spread at Hoffman & Cobb.

“The managing partner’s name is Henry Arden,” Sami supplied.“I’ll have Baz forward the number to you.He is protective of his employees, but he also cares about appearances too much to risk a scandal, so he should hear you out.”

“Aya is very persuasive.”As long as this Arden guy picked up the phone, she’d get into his head.She didn’t even need to lie; evidence which raised concern about Ian’s conduct had indeed shown up on her doorstep.

The real challenge was protecting Sami from retaliation.And that took them back to the polished halls of Dunkeld Wilson, with the envelope of evidence secured under Baz’s arm.

The elevator doors dinged open.He squinted against the light bouncing off the black tiles.Erika’s office was a short walk down the hall.She’d see them before they could explain… Would she decide to send them away?Had she fallen for any more of Ian’s lies?Had they come up with a plan of their own to get rid of both Sami and him—

Baz forced his brain to hit the brakes.No scenario he could construct in his head would make this conversation any more predictable, let alone easier.Getting Sami that immunity deal was all that mattered, and time was running against them.Once Ian’s boss knew, Sami was at imminent risk of becoming a scapegoat, and it would be Baz’s fault for initiating all this, and that could not happen.

He felt a soft pressure on his shoulder, found Sami’s lips on top of his suit.Smiling, Baz placed his hand on the bottom of his spine.Just until they got into Erika’s range of sight, but those five seconds were worth it.

Erika’s secretary leaped out of her chair.Baz did not slow down.“Excuse me!You can’t go in.”

“Try and stop me.”

His heart was in his throat, but he pushed the door open, made sure Sami was through before he let it go.

Erika’s glare would have had him freeze any other day, but now, he pushed out his chest and faced her like the goddamned lawyer he was.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“We need to speak to you.”

“Erika, I tried to stop them—”

Erika cut her secretary off with a flick of her hand.“It’s okay.Leave us.”

Baz willed his breaths to go deeper.First hurdle taken.Now they only had to sell it when Erika’s snarl looked all but gracious.

“Did I not make myself clear yesterday?”she asked in a low voice.

“There’s been a new development.Erika, this is Sami Adam, Ian’s soon-to-be ex-assistant.He has information you need to hear.”

“So you have been conspiring.”

“Only since yesterday.Hear us out, please.We need your help.”

He forced himself to keep up the eye contact instead of allowing his gaze to seek refuge elsewhere, tried to recreate Eevee’s puppy eyes.If he had to beg, he would.He’d get down on his knees if that was what she wanted him to do.

As it was, Erika required no such indignity to lean back in her chair, her arms tightly crossed in front of her chest, one eyebrow arched.This better be good.Well, it was.

Sami listed Ian’s crimes relating to the Captain Green case first, then others where Ian had gone up against a Dunkeld Wilsonattorney.Baz handed her the pages of evidence to back up his claims of foul play.