Sins of the Innocent: A Novella by Jamie McGuire

Author:Jamie McGuire [McGuire, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jamie McGuire LLC
Published: 2015-06-27T23:00:00+00:00

The elevator ascended, chiming at almost every floor, letting businessmen and women on and off. I stood shoulder to shoulder with the employees of my mom’s company, Titan Shipping, but few recognized me. Unlike her, I spent my days training for something she called much more important.

The stainless steel walls reflected every movement, every glance down at the floor, while strangers stood in close quarters, waiting to be set free or for more people to join us. Some held files, and some cleared their throats or sighed, anything to fill the awkward silence.

By the time I reached the top floor, only two remained. The doors opened, and a man gestured for me to go ahead.

“Thank you,” I said.

I passed him and walked down the hall, straight to Mom’s office. I greeted her longtime assistant, Beth, whose eyes widened with recognition.

“I don’t believe it!” she said with a trace of her Oklahoma accent. “What brings you downtown?”

“I need to speak with my mom, please.”

“Of course. I’ll just tell her you’re here.” She picked up the phone and wedged it between her cheek and shoulder, shuffling papers and winking at me while she waited. “A pretty young lady is here to see you. She looks like your husband. Okay, a little like you, too.”

Beth smiled and set down the phone onto its base. “Go on in. And don’t let it be a year before I see you again, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, passing by her desk.

I turned the knob on the door that still read both Mom’s and my grandfather’s names. Her office hadn’t changed since I was little, if ever. She still used grandfather’s phone, the chair was more than just comfortably worn, and the same paintings were on the paneled walls. Every time I visited, it was like going back in time.

Mom was sitting at her desk, navigating her mouse. After a few quick clicks, she rolled her chair away from her monitor, so she was in full view. “Well, this must be important.”

“You know why I don’t come here.”

She nodded. “It never gets better? I suppose, with Grant being across the hall, the Others would still come around. The Archs do tend to attract them.”

I frowned. Grant was grandfather’s old partner, and he’d run Titan until Mom was ready. Dad didn’t care for him, but we tried to respect grandfather’s wishes. As overconfident and flirtatious as Grant was, one more person to protect her was hard to complain about.

“It’s not him. It’s this building.”

“Right. Well, I suppose Jack using it as a hub for trading stolen relics outdating the Bible would make it sort of a hotspot. Have a seat, honey.”

As I got comfortable in the plush leather chair in front of her desk, Beth knocked on the door just before entering. “Just wanted to let you know that I have the Bergman meeting at three, and then I’m going home to pack.”

“Thank you,” Mom said with a smile. “Have a safe trip.”

Beth waved at me. “Maybe we can plan a dinner at the new house when I get back? Chad makes a pretty mean barbeque chicken.

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