He leaned forward, his arms on the table. Before her eyes, she saw his veneer slipping away, revealing the monster underneath.
“It’s not every day that I have a pure genius before me, Grace Zoe Jefferson.”
At the sound of her birth name, everything inside her choked, but he wouldn’t gain an inch on her. Mimicking his posture, she leaned her arms on the table.
“You know how to ruin a date, Jamieson. I never thought you were a man to judge a person by her past.”
“My dear, I prefer to peel away all the layers to make sure I know the person in front of me. Intimately. Zoe Somersby may be an enticement, but Grace Jefferson is the tool I need.”
Part of her wanted to know more about what he was going to say. The other part of her wanted to flee. Now.
He leaned back in his chair again, getting his cell phone out of his pocket, putting it on the table.
“I know Grace Jefferson vanished years ago. With rumors in her wake. But the more I dug into her, the more impressed I’ve become. It’s not every day that we meet an actual code breaker.”
At the name her father called her, she winced, her throat closing. “You watch too many movies.”
“No, no. It’s incredible, truly beautiful that someone can see a puzzle and resolve it in matters of seconds. To learn languages just by listening to people speak, or to decipher passcodes as if they magically appeared in your mind. Isn’t that what your dear father tried to do with you, all those years ago?”
This was turning into pure madness. Into a nightmare. Her throat was so tight, she almost couldn’t speak.
“A beautiful mind, a beautiful woman. Exactly right where I want her to be.”
“What are you saying?”
“It took me some time to find you. You were hidden deeper than I expected. And working for the government to boot, wasting your talents. However, the choices you made were perfect for what I had in mind. And a bonus, I could mess with one of my damned sons at the same time.”
Unable to stay seated, let alone be close to him, she grabbed her bag and got to her feet.
“I wouldn’t go if I were you, Zoe.”
Deep down, she wanted to punch him until he turned into bloody pulp, until he stopped breathing altogether.
“I’ve had enough of your madness.”
“Enough so you risk the lives of your parents.”
At that, Zoe laughed. “You can kill them for all I care. If they’re not dead, they’re already rotting in prison.”
Turning on her heels, she was about to leave when she heard his next words.
“And what about your baby brother? Should he have the same fate?”
Despite the cold fear running through her blood, she forced herself to turn and look at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, don’t play dumb with me. It’s impossible in your case. I have to say that it’s pure luck that made me find him. You had been through a lot, gaining custody of him, making him disappear from the face of the earth. I admire you.”
“You’re deranged.”
Without another word, he touched his phone and a picture appeared. If not for being in public and determined not to show any weakness, she would have fallen to her knees. Lucas. There he was, getting out of school, his mop of brown hair caught in the wind. He looked relaxed, and blissfully unaware.
“Sit down, Zoe. And don’t make me repeat it again.” His voice sounded like a whip, and her eyes still on the phone, there was no other alternative but to follow his order.
“Now that I have your attention, listen carefully. Over the next few days, you’re mine. Don’t worry, I’m not the pervert you think I am. I only want your brain. And if you do as I say your brother will remain unharmed. Do we have an understanding?”
Mechanically she nodded. What else could she do? Her mind was numb. Her life a living nightmare.
“I will request three specific assignments from you at precise moments. And you will need to accomplish them. I won’t blow your cover, I need it too much. And you better not either. Do everything I say, succeed, and in five days, you can return to your life and nobody gets hurt.”
Slowly, she clenched and unclenched her fists on her lap, trying to come back to the present and get a sense of what was going on. So, you’re not interested in Archer’s company. I need to remain close to him for the duration of the sale, if you need me elsewhere…”
“No, my dear. Everybody in my little scenario is exactly where they need to be. If you do as I say, it will be seamless. And you may even come away unscathed from my plan. Only if you follow my orders. Remember that I have eyes on you. You try to tell your boss or anybody about it, the man following your brother will act on my call. Am I clear?”
Closing her eyes, Zoe nodded and finally returned her gaze to him. “What’s your purpose in all this? If you don’t want to buy the company, what do you want?”
“Don’t bother your marvelous brain with it. Just be ready. And remember that I have eyes on you.” Getting up, he threw some bills on the table and walked away without a backward glance.
