CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Morning, Ells,” Benny greeted brightly. “Ooh, and you’ve brought two handsome men for me to drool over on this otherwise dreary Monday morning.” He preened when Knox and Linus followed Ellie into the reception area. He was wearing skin-tight black trousers and a silk multicolored shirt that somehow worked for him, his hair in that deliberately messy style.
“Good morning, Benny,” Ellie returned briskly, her voice containing none of the warmth he had heard the last time she spoke to the young man.
But Knox could see how hard it was for Ellie to speak at all.
In the end, he had been the one to tell her the name of the person who had repeatedly betrayed her while appearing to be her friend. Followed by Linus showing her all the proof he had, including photographs, as proof of the accusation.
The three of them had discussed the situation for a short time after that disturbing revelation, all of them agreeing that it would be better to wait until Monday morning to confront Day’s unsuspecting accomplice.
Ellie had seemed to shut down after that. She was present physically, but her thoughts and emotions were definitely elsewhere. All Knox had been able to do was make sure she was hydrated and ate when they ate. She had done both robotically.
Linus had offered to stay in a hotel, but both Knox and Ellie had objected to that idea. After all, the other man was only here at all because Knox had asked him to look into Andrew Day.
Even so, Knox had half expected Ellie would want to sleep in the spare bedroom last night rather than with him, and he had breathed a sigh of relief when she returned from the adjoining bathroom in sleep clothes and climbed into bed beside him. When he tentatively turned on his side and placed an arm over her middle, she had turned into his arms and begun to quietly sob against his chest.
Knox had let her cry, knowing it was what she needed to do.
Day’s betrayal had been bad enough, but Knox knew this second one had come as a complete surprise and shock to Ellie.
She had accepted the arrangement when Knox told her he was coming into the office with her Monday morning. Linus had come too because he had all the digital and photographic evidence.
Not that any of that upset was evident in Ellie’s demeanor this morning. Once they reached Aragon Tower, a mask of haughty professionalism had fallen and was firmly in place by the time they entered the HERA offices to be greeted by a sunny Benny.
“Everything okay?” Benny prompted after no one had responded to his teasing comment.
“No Sally today?” Ellie asked instead of answering him.
Benny grinned. “She was here when I arrived twenty minutes ago, but went down to the bakery to get some of those caramel muffins you like but that they are always sold out of by ten o’clock.”
Ellie gave an abrupt nod. “When she gets back, could both of you come to my office?”
Benny frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“No,” Ellie bit out tautly. “I just want to talk to both of you when Sally gets back.” She swept through to her adjoining office.
“This other handsome gentleman is Linus Wynter,” Knox introduced when Benny continued to look concerned.
Benny’s blue eyes widened. “Are you a member of the Wynter family that owns the prestigious Wynter Security this guy works for?”
Linus nodded. “I’m in charge of all our company’s digital and online security, yes.”
“I don’t suppose you’re looking for a somewhat flighty but beautiful boyfriend to spend your vast fortune on?” Benny encouraged coyly.
“I’m afraid not,” Linus refused with a smile.
“Guess I’ll stick with the one I’ve got then.” The younger man gave another concerned glance in the direction of Ellie’s office. “I have no idea what’s going on,” he said softly, “but whatever it is, I’m counting on you to please make sure that Ells is okay at the end of it.”
“Will do.” Knox dipped his chin in agreement before following Ellie into her office. Linus came too, closing the door behind him.
Ellie sat behind her desk. She looked like the same Ellie Knox had met that first day in his office, and yet also nothing like her.
The big-framed glasses that had hidden half her face were gone, and she was now wearing contact lenses, revealing those electric aqua-blue eyes and sharp cheekbones. She had blow-dried and straightened her golden hair so that it fell halfway down her back. Her black business suit must have been a recent purchase because, unlike the other suits Knox had seen her in, this one fitted Ellie’s slender curves perfectly. She wore a bright red silk blouse beneath the jacket, the same color as the soles on her four-inch black high-heeled shoes and the gloss on her lips.
This morning, she looked every inch Eleanor Hall, successful businesswoman.
Knox knew it was a shell, of course, having held Ellie through the night as she in turn cried and then fell into an exhausted sleep, before waking and following the same pattern over and over again.