Master

The building was an entire block of skyscraper comprised almost entirely of glass. We had to park in an underground parking lot used by visitors. They had a freaking lot solely for visitors! Rather than walk back outside, we took an elevator and emerged on the ground floor, that was apparently manned by the biggest bodyguard in history. He was at least twice of Grayson's size and not a single hint of fat anywhere. Why would a cooperate have such a behemoth manning their front desk? Grayson walked ahead and flashed his badge at him. He nodded and pressed a button. The steel glass separated and we were let in to the grand reception. Without pause, Grayson turned his attention on the model parading as a receptionist.

"Good morning to you all, welcome to Ryki's. What can I do for you today?"

"Good morning ma'am, I'm special agent Callahan from the FBI and I'd like to see Mr Sedof."

Special agent? Since when? I raised my brows at Anna and she looked stumped as I was. I hope to God Grayson had a good excuse as to why he changed from being an army ranger to working for the FBI and failed to inform me. How many more things was he hiding from me?

"Of course special agent Callahan. I'll just put a call through to his secretary." She replied without batting an eye or losing her megawatt smile while the same information left me floored.

I ignored whatever she said on the phone while I took a look around the magnificent reception. Anna tapped me a while later and I flashed a vacant smile at the receptionist as we followed Grayson to a lavishly decorated room. It was decked out in silver and black and comfy couches of the same colour. A large plasma tv was showing a rerunnod a football match.

"Mr Sedof's assistant will be with you shortly. You can wait for him here." The receptionist announced with a smile before shutting the door behind her. The secretary led us to a waiting room and informed us that Mr Sedof's personal assistant would be with us shortly.

"So, Grayson, pardon me, I meant SPECIAL AGENT Grayson...." A GQ model walked in and halted my words.

I guess Ryki's had a certain type of people they employed; the unfairly beautiful. Anna would fit in right here. Me? Not so much.

He held his hand out to Grayson. "Hello, special agent Callahan, I'm Sean, Mr Sedof's assistant." He turned to Anna and I, "I'm assuming you are agents as well?"

Uh.. "Yes of course, we are special agents too. May we see Mr Sedof?" I blurted before Anna could botch it up with the truth.

"I'm afraid Mr Sedof is out of the country and he's not expected back any time soon. Did you have an appointment?" His eyes were guileless as he stared is down.

"Not exactly, but its quite important that we speak with him."

Sean's eyes grew cold. "I'm afraid you can't simply waltz into Mr Sedof's office when you want. His schedule is booked months in advance. If you'd like to have a meeting with him, you will have to book an appointment."

Damn. The receptionist had given us leeway because she thought we were all agents from the FBI here on official business and now I'd blown it.

"Really? Five minutes. That's all the time we need." I tried again.

"May I see your ID cards again?" He narrowed his eyes at me.

"That will not be necessary. Our supervisors will be in touch about that appointment. Thank you for your time." Grayson asserted and herded us out of the waiting room before I could make any more attempts to persuade the P.A.

"What was that about?" I screeched once we were back in Grayson's car. That was our only shot at seeing Vladimir.

He ignored me and started the car before driving out of the parking lot.

"I was trying to make sure you didn't get arrested for impersonation. You're welcome." Grayson shot back.

"How are we going to see him now?" Anna wondered.

"I'll work something out."

"Without us?" I spluttered.

"Yes Jo, without you. He's the freaking owner of a chain of companies with outlets in several companies and you expect to waltz into is office and secure a meeting with him just like that? Really?" He snarled.

"So why did we come here if you knew we wouldn't be able to see him?"

"Because I know you Josie." What the hell was that supposed to mean. "You never let things go." My nostrils flared in offense. "Tell the truth Jo. If I'd told you earlier that I needed to find a way to meet with Vladimir alone, would you have stayed home? No, Josie, you wouldn't have. You'd have just pranced over to Ryki's and demanded to see him." I clenched my fists and stared out the window mutely.

There was a frosty silence in the car as Grayson drove us home, until I piped up again. "You drove us all the way here just to prove a point?"

"Yes. Vladimir is a powerful and dangerous man, and tact is needed to confront him. You have none of that Jo or experience and that's why I need you too to stay out of this."

"Why are you harping on me? Anna wanted to come too."

"Unlike you, Anna does as she's told. She doesn't stir up trouble like someone I know." He retorted pointedly.

His phone rang before I could make a comeback.

"Yeah? Are you sure about this? That's good news. At the hive? Okay, I'll be there in a few minutes." He ended the call and turned apologetic eyes on us. "That was a co-worker of mine. He has a lead on a case were working and I have to go speak with him. I'll see you guys later, okay?"

"Of course dear. We'll see you later tonight, yes?" Anna smiled at him sweetly.

"Sure. And go HOME. Not anywhere else." He replied, looking right at me.

Happy to have his eyes on me - for whatever reason- I blew him a kiss and alighted his car. Anna did the same some seconds later and then Grayson's black truck drove off, leaving us in the driveway of our house.

"Aren't you bothered by Grayson evasiveness?"

Anna slanted me a look. "What evasiveness?"

"Did you know when he started working for the FBI?"

"No, but..."

"Were you also aware that Grayson knows Vladimir?"

"No. How would Grayson have known him?"

"Didn't you hear the anger in his voice when he was describing Vladimir?"

"The man is a mob boss! Of course Gray doesn't like him, and anyone with a phone can find out information about anyone. You did the same thing, didn't you?"

Be that as it may, "He didn't tell us that he was working for the FBI."

"I'm sure he had his reasons. Look, stop making a mountain out of a molehill, okay? Grayson will tell us everything. He always does."

"Fine. I guess you're right. Why don't you go in? Im heading to Charlotte's place."

"Now? Why?"

"Because dad has been kidnapped and I'm upset. I just want to vent or something."

"Okay. Please be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you too."

My face softened and I enveloped her in a hug. My relationship with Anna wasn't the most cordial but it was nice to know she worried about me. When we separated, she flashed me a smile and went into the house while I called an Uber.

A blue civic Honda pulled up three minutes later. Opening the owner's door, I entered and told the driver to go "The hive."

When he was talking to my mum earlier, he had called Vladimir 'master'. That was an unusual way to address someone you don't know, which only led to one conclusion. Grayson Callahan knew more about my father's kidnapper than he was letting on and I was going to find out the truth, one way or another.

Really, this was his fault. He knew better than to ignite my curiosity by blatantly hiding shit from me. He knew I could never resist a puzzle.