Free Backstage Demands by Kristina King

window blinds closed. After composing herself, she turned on her computer. She wanted to know who actually owned the Triumph Tower buildings. If the MC was on one end of the road, she wanted to know who was on the other end, and she needed to talk to Jasper again. Why hadn’t he told her about his affair with Lucas’ fiancé?
    “Probably because it wasn’t true.” She said the words to herself aloud as she ran various searches through the browser until the phone rang. “Lauren Holden.”
    “Lauren, it's Jasper. I need to see you. Can you come today? They’re going to kill me. I want you to know everything before they do it.” His voice sounded desperate yet determined.
    “Jasper! What the hell is going on? You need to tell me everything. I feel very unsafe right now and I’m sure there’s more going on here than you’re letting on. Why didn’t you tell me about the affair with Jackson’s fiancé?” Her tone was hushed, irrationally concerned that someone might hear her through the walls.
    “Lauren, just get down here. I will tell you everything, I promise – and I didn’t tell you about the affair with Jackson’s fiancé because there was no affair. I do not want to talk on the phone, just get down here and we’ll discuss everything.”
    Lauren sighed feeling completely out of her league.
    “Listen I’ll be there as soon as I can. I have to wait for Darla. She wants to meet me after probably to make sure I’m not going to sue the firm for getting thrown in a van, hooded and kind of kidnapped!”
    “Shit … Lauren, she’s in on it. You need to lay low and if you can, get off this case. It’s too dangerous.” He was having second thoughts quickly about getting her more involved. “Just get off the case if you can, I’ll figure it out on my own.” He hung up.
    Lauren stared at the phone. He went from committing to telling her everything to completely flipping in wanting her off the case immediately. Jasper was in trouble and she was going to help him, but she had to be smart about it.
    Marta walked into the office with a knock.
    “Ms. Lovell called. She said she has to move the meeting until tomorrow morning, first thing. You are not to talk to anyone about the case, you are to come directly to her office. Tonight she wants you to stay here until you get all the Connor files prepared for your meeting with her in the morning. She said she’s going to go over everything with you again and you’re not to make a mistake like you did today, ever again.”
    Lauren looked up at Marta completely confused. Why would Darla send the receptionist to give her this message? Why didn’t she just call Lauren herself?
    “Sure. No problem. Marta, can you let me in her office? Some of the files are in there.”
    Marta shrugged and motioned for her to follow her.
    “I have to stand here while you get them. You understand, right? What kind of mistake did you make today?” She unlocked the door for Lauren, letting her inside and watching from the door.
    Lauren was quickly going through the files on Darla’s desk. She found a Connor’s file and another labeled “Triumph”. She grabbed both and headed back to Marta.
    “I was being an overachiever. Almost pissed off a client.” Lauren fed Marta some gossip in return for letting her in the office. “Thanks, Marta. You’re a big help.”
    *
    Lauren stayed at the office for an hour. She wanted to get to the prison as soon as possible, but she still needed to get home and talk to Peter. She wanted to tell him what the Brass Bonds did to her and see if he knew anything about them and Darla Lovell. She knew Peter knew her from the industry but maybe he had information that could shed some light on things. She stuffed the files in her brief case and headed out.
    She called Peter’s office on the way home. He wasn’t there. The receptionist said he was headed home to change for a late dinner meeting with clients.
    “Perfect.” Lauren said to herself. She could