Page 68 of Before and After

“Shoo.” She waved her hands at me as she left.

I hurried through my tasks and checked in with my team. As the morning progressed, work ran like clockwork.

It was funny. I’d taken this job because I’d been desperate. I’d returned from New York with no savings, drowning in grief, and struggling to help Ollie. Tessa had given me the job because it was all she’d had available.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed it way more than I’d ever enjoyed my advertising job.

I spotted one of the security team in the corridor, staring at a report. “Hi, Hugh.”

“Allie.”

“Is Caden around?”

The man shook his head. “He’s locked in some security meeting with some of the international locations.”

“Oh. I’ll catch him later.” I forgot just how much he was responsible for.

I’d already arranged with Marcy for me to clean the ESG’s rooms again today. I pushed my cart onto level three and got to work. I made beds, dumped dirty towels, cleaned the bathroom, restocked the minibar. I avoided taking at peek at the bug, but I couldn’t help having a little poke around.

Unfortunately, there were no traces of drugs left lying around.Where were they keeping the stuff?

I wondered if they had a car. I carried in some more shampoos and shower gels, then set them up in neat rows on the vanity.

My gaze fell on their suitcases. One was in the closet and the other on a stand in the corner. Clenching a dustcloth in my hand, I crouched down and had a quick look in the case on the stand. I gently rifled through. All I found were clothes. Rising, I headed for the one in the closet.

I leaned over it.

“What are you doing?”

The voice made me jolt. I spun, clutching the cloth to my chest. My heart raced, trying to burst out of my chest.

Blake stood in the center of the room.

“I dropped my dust cloth.” I held it up and prayed he couldn’t sense the panic thundering inside me.

His gaze narrowed. His mouth was pressed into a hard line and suddenly, I didn’t think he was that good-looking anymore.

“Sure you weren’t having a poke around, Allie?”

I set my shoulders back. “I can assure you, housekeeping at the Langston Windward does not stoop in guest’s property. I’m cleaning.”

He scanned the room.

Play it cool, Allie.“I figured you’d be on the mountain.”

“I came back to get some things.”

Drugs? Maybe they were hidden in here somewhere.

He took a step closer. “You didn’t come and have that drink the other night.”

I cocked my head. “I was a little busy helping a woman who’d been drugged. You know anything about that, Blake?”

His eyes glittered. “Of course not.”

My heart thumped, but I lifted my chin. “No other women better get drugged or hurt.” I kept my gaze locked with his, then walked past him. “I’ll get out of your way.”

He gripped my arm.Hard.