Page 135 of Smoke Screen
Putting scheming college students from her mind, she strode to him, clasping his hand. “Hi, Percy. Have you missed me?”
“You know we have. Place just isn’t the same without your smiling face. Are you back to work?”
How, after all this, could things ever be the same?
That alone sent a punch to her chest. Later. She’d deal with it later.
“No. Just here …”To accuse President Thompson’s nephew of setting me up.She cleared her throat. “Sorry. Just here for a meeting.”
Phin appeared at her side, nodding a greeting at Percy. “There’s Zeke.”
She swung her head around, spotted Zeke coming off the escalator, waving them forward. She took one step, then halted. All guests were required to have a pass prior to visiting the executive suite. Given her current status of administrative leave, she was technically someone smack in the middle of a gray area.
Not quite an employee, but more than a guest.
Maddy looked back at Percy. “Do we need guest passes?”
He waved a hand. “You’re fine.”
“I don’t want to get you in trouble. It’s okay to give us a pass.”
His kind eyes drooped. “I’m not giving you, of all people, a guest pass. Y’all go on up.”
Bubbling tears threatened, and she peered at the floor, blinking them away before meeting Percy’s gaze again. “Thank you.”
“We should go,” Phin said, drawing Maddy’s attention.
She followed him to the escalator where Zeke stood.
“Junior and Three just got here,” Zeke said. “Everyone’s in the conference room. Thompson asked us to step outside so he could show them the video in private. Rohan and Cruz are in the hallway.”
“Does President Thompson know I’m here?”
“I told him.” He held his hand for Maddy to precede him on the escalator. “Not sure he wanted the complication, but you have the right to face this kid.”
They rode the escalators up, up, up while Maddy’s heart slammed against her ribs. In the next few minutes, the truth might come out.
Vindication.
As satisfied as she’d be, if Louis Three was involved, the Thompsons would suffer enormous emotional and political fallout. On a national and maybe even global scale. Absolute catnip for President Thompson’s enemies.
All created by his own nephew.
When this was over, Maddy intended to find her mother and siblings and wrap them in a group hug. Hold them so darned tight, she might not want to let go. She simply could not imagine a betrayal like this from them.
At the executive suite door, Zeke swiped a keycard. More than likely Aileen’s.
Phin and Zeke headed straight down the hallway toward Rohan and Cruz, who lingered in front of her office. Two Secret Service agents stood across from them just outside the conference room.
Maddy paused and Aileen rose from her seat, coming around the desk and extending her arms.
Was Aileen about to hug her?
They’d been friendly and shared a mutual respect, but hugging? That was new.
She stepped right up and wrapped her arms around the much shorter Maddy, giving a light squeeze.
“Something crazy is going on,” Aileen whispered, her voice a jittery rumble.
