Page 32 of Unleashed

Ms. Lucas

From: Trevor Bradshaw

To: Maren Lucas

11:25 AM

Fifteen minutes for $6000

From: Maren Lucas

To: Trevor Bradshaw

11:32 AM

Oh my God, FINE.

From: Trevor Bradshaw

To: Maren Lucas

11:33 AM

I’ll see you at 2

11

Trevor

“You’re late.” Maren is waiting for me in the conference room I booked for us. She glares at me as I walk in. “I’m not staying longer because you couldn’t manage to get here on time.”

I get why she’s pissed. I pushed hard for this time with her. Spent thousands of dollars to have it. But this company will always come first, and I was stuck on a call I couldn’t cut short.

The reminder that I can’t make promises to Maren—or anyone else for that matter—should have kept me from being where I am now.

It didn’t.

Because now that I know more about her—about the life she lives—I can’t seem to stay away. To keep myself from trying to help her in any way I can. Ways she knows about—like the money I’ve already transferred to her bank account—and ways she doesn’t.

Like the cameras set up around her home so I can make sure no one tries to hurt her and her daughter.

“I wouldn’t expect you to stay late to accommodate me.” I close the door before setting the coffee I brought down in front of her, along with the pack of cheese crackers she prefers to have as an afternoon snack. “I apologize for being behind schedule. I was arguing with our current paper supplier.”

Maren’s eyes snap to my face. “Really? About what?”

She seems genuinely interested to hear what’s going on. I don’t want to burden her with the issues that come with running a company of this size, but it’s obvious she still cares about her former position. Still wants the job to be handled correctly, even if she’s not the one doing it.

“They’re attempting to double the price they charge us.” I lower into the chair next to her. “It’s something companies regularly do because they know it’s a hassle to find a new supplier, and assume we’ll just pay the additional amount to avoid the inconvenience.”

Maren scoffs, expression filled with disdain as she grabs the coffee I brought. “You’re not going to do that, are you?”

“No. I’m not.” Every penny this company makes is important. Not just to me and my family, but to the people we employ. I recognize other companies need to make money too, but I would never simply increase our prices because I feel like I have a customer between a rock and a hard place. It’s not right.

“Good.” She takes a small sip, and I watch as her eyes close for just a second as she savors the extra sweet taste.

Providing her with something as simple as a cup of coffee prepared the way she prefers it shouldn’t be as satisfying as it is. And maybe it’s not. Maybe the deep settling in my chest is because I know now Maren and her daughter will always be safe. That I can always make sure no one is bothering them.

Maren sets her cup down, taking a deep breath before turning to me. “Why am I here, Trevor?”