Page 83 of Irresistible Temptation
“Mr. Brandfield, I’m going to have to ask you to step aside.”
“It’s okay,” said Juliet quietly, holding out her arms.
I watched in horror as the officer hooked the metal handcuffs around her small wrists, and guided her toward my office door.
“I’m right behind you, Juliet,” I called after her. “We will figure this out.”
She didn’t so much as turn her head before disappearing out the door. I followed behind them, keeping my distance to not set off the officer. By that time, the office was full of employees who hadcome into work, not expecting this kind of show. They watched with wide eyes and gaping mouths. Some even had their phones out recording. I glared at them, making them quickly stop and put their phones away.
The press was going to have a field day with this, but the only thing I was concerned about in that moment was Juliet, who was currently in handcuffs heading to jail.
Andpregnant.
I watched as she disappeared behind the elevator doors, her eyes on the floor. I waited for the other elevator and rode it down to the lobby, walking out to the curb where my driver waited. I watched as the police car with Juliet inside peeled away from the curb, the blue and lights casting reflections off the surrounding glass buildings as the siren came to life, filling my ears.
“Follow that car,” I told my driver, clambering into the backseat. “Quickly.”
He jogged around to the driver’s seat and took off, weaving through traffic as best he could in a limo. A cab probably would have been a better choice, but it was too late for that now. Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the police station. There was no sign of Juliet as I jogged up the stairs and entered the building.
I walked up to the front desk, clearing my throat to get the attention of the officer who was sipping coffee and reading the morning paper.
“I’m here to post bail for Juliet Martin,” I said.
The officer looked up at me before turning to his computer and typing on the keyboard, each click clack painfully slow.
“I’m sorry, I don’t see a Juliet Martin in here.”
“She just arrived,” I said breathlessly.
“If that’s true, then she is probably still being processed. You’ll have to wait.”
“Please,” I said, placing my hands on the wooden surface of the desk.
“It’s procedure, sir,” he said with a shrug.
I let out an exasperated sigh and turned to go wait in a nearby wooden chair. I slumped into it, the rickety wood digging uncomfortably in my back. It was nothing compared to what Juliet was probably going through right now. Fingerprints. Photos. Jail cell. I shuddered thinking about it, knowing she was probably terrified and alone.
My phone trilled loudly throughout the lobby of the police station, causing the front desk officer to shoot me a look. I quickly slipped my phone from my jacket pocket and stepped outside.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Chester?” asked a worried voice.
It was Will.
Shit.
“Hey, man,” I said, rubbing the back of my head.
“What the hell is going on?” he asked. “I heard there was an arrest at the office. It’s all over the news…”
Of course it was.
“Shit,” I muttered.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You’re not sitting in a jail cell?”
“With my cell phone?” I asked pointedly, stepping out of the way of an officer coming up the steps.
