In the end, I stayed until the salon closed, helped clean up and took the long way home. It took about one minute of being alone in that big apartment to make the dreaded feeling of loneliness set in. I plopped down onto the couch and sent a message to Richard but after ten minutes of no response I figured he was in the middle of something big. I could always call the Brooks sisters, it was only a little after 10:30 and there was no doubt they would be awake. I just wasn't in the mood, though.
Another ten minutes of silently debating what to do, and I composed a text to Stefan.
Me: Thank you for the coffee. The whole staff loved it! Sry about the work craziness today. Hope everything was resolved.
Not even five minutes went by before Stefan's reply came in.
Stefan Harrison: Happy you all enjoyed! And I'll let you know when it is, looks like this will be another late night. At least the people stayed safe and my guys got there before the thieves were able to get away with anything.
Me: Your guys got there? What does that mean? Don't you have a building full of employees to help you out?
As I waited for the next message to buzz in I searched the kitchen for something to snack on. I fixed up a quick deli sandwich and returned to the couch to check messages.
Stefan Harrison: Guess I haven't explained it too well, have I? Basically, we are Harrison Towers because we have two buildings. The one I work in is where the business end is handled. The other is where a team of men that have either military, police force, or similar backgrounds work. They monitor the cameras 24/7 and if something is happening, they go to that location immediately. Other security companies alert the police. W/us, our guys know what to do and keep our customers safe until police officers arrive.
Stefan Harrison: There are many people that work here but I'm very specific. They will handle the day2day stuff but certain bits I refuse to let others do. Setting up the new accounts within our system-I do. Handling the data entry after break in's-I do. It's important it is all done right. And to insure that, I do it myself.
Me: You know, you impress me immensely, Stef. This is a truly honorable line of work and you take it very seriously. This will sound cheesy, but I am so proud of you.
Stefan Harrison: Babe, that one text was all I needed to make me remember why I do what I do. Thank you. Xox.
There was nothing more I wanted to send through messages. For some bizarre reason I got the sudden idea that instead of just letting sleep ease my sour mood-I had to see Stefan. After another late, stressful night I wanted to stop in and make everything better the way he had for me.
Within minutes I was out the door and back in my car, heading once again to Harrison Towers. If I stopped to think about it, I would more than likely talk myself out of it and return home. Keeping my mind preoccupied became easier the louder the radio sang out. Singing along worked even better and before I knew it I was parked in front of the building. Last time I was here a guard told me there was no parking here, but no signs warned me away. Something told me though that even if it was a no parking zone my car would be in this exact spot whenever I came back.
I pushed through the glass doors with no resistance, which surprised me considering this was a security company. One would think after hours the doors and everything else would be sealed up tight. It was eerie walking through the dimly lit, empty lobby toward the elevators. Every other time I had been here dozens of people moved about, coming and going. My finger shook as I called for the elevator. Immediately the doors opened and I jumped back, afraid something was waiting inside.
After convincing myself some killer wasn't going to pop down from the ceiling, I got in and pressed Stefan's floor. The doors closed but nothing happened for a few moments. Just as I was about to try something else, the elevator jolted, carrying me to the top. The reception desk was lit by only a single desk lamp instead of the annoying face of Stefan's assistant. Moving down the hall a soft illumination peeked under the doors of his personal office.
With a deep breath to reduce the shakiness in my bones, I turned the knob and quietly walked in. My earlier vision of Stefan sitting at his desk in a big empty building with a single light wasn't far from the truth. The lamp was brighter than I had originally imagined but the rest remained the same. Stefan's soft chuckle brought me from my thoughts as I focused on him.
"Were you trying to sneak up on me, Miss Desmond?"
I pulled the door closed behind me. "Would it be possible?"
Stefan's eyes followed my cautious steps towards him, leaning back in his extravagant leather chair. He folded his arms behind his head and smiled.