Chapter 1
Chloe
It was almost nine in the morning when Chloe White walked into the Cambria Hotel lobby in Switzerland. She smiled at one of the volunteer receptionists as she approached the table at the entrance of the ball room. She looked around at all the familiar faces in the hotel and sighed. This was going to be a long four days. She was still cursing the fact that it had to be her at the convention and not someone else. She was not one to prefer the outdoors compared to a quiet night indoors. She walked to the reception and looked at one of the ladies seated behind the desk.
“Name?” the receptionist asked.
“Chloe White from Pittman and Associates,” Chloe said with a smile.
The woman handed her a name tag and Chloe pinned it on her maroon knee length fitted dress before she made her way into the ballroom. As soon as she stepped into the room, she felt a sudden wave of confidence overwhelming her. She had been a little skeptical about that particular dress but her assistant Molly had assured her that the burgundy dress that outlined every contour of her curvaceous body was the dress she could count on for the Crime Solvers Convention. Apart from that particular dress, Molly had gone all out to pack her sexy official dresses, the kind of dresses Chloe would wear on a Friday night so that she could go from the office and straight to happy hour…at least her idea of it which was basically opening a bottle of wine in the office with Molly and sometimes Arnold before going to some five star restaurant to have a five hundred dollar steak and a thousand dollar glass of wine. Some may have described it as being extravagant but that was just how they lived.
She had straightened her dark curls making her hair fall on her shoulders like a black silky waterfall. She had on a pair of nude colored stiletto heels. She could feel the men looking at her as she made her way through the crowd. And who could blame them? She was a gorgeous woman. It was something she had learned to live with from a young age as boys and men alike ogled her curves. By the time she got to her twenties, she was no longer surprised when she found herself a subject of many men’s fantasies. After all, she had always been a curvy woman even in her teens. The situation only became worse when she began working for Pittman and Associates, a fixer agency that threw her right into the public eye. She would have preferred to have one of the associates at her firm attend the convention but according to her boss, Arnold Pittman, this was too important to just send in an associate. The only thing that made the whole thing worth anything was the fact that Pierre Savant was going to be in attendance.
For the longest time, Chloe had been cyber stalking Savant Security Logistics but her stalking had nothing to do with their services. It was all about finding out what Pierre Savant was all about.
His likes and dislikes.
Where he liked to hang out.
What books he read.
Whether he was a movie person or a TV series kind of guy.
Her first encounter with Savant Security Logistics had been when her company contracted them to take care of one of their clients, an American born Indian actress. It had been one of those days that Chloe woke up knowing everything that could possibly go wrong was already in the pipeline. She had dealt with enough celebrities to know that they were literally a PR nightmare and even though her boss didn’t understand that they didn’t run a security firm, she had to make sure that Avani Lawrence was taken care of throughout her US visit.
“You should really consider incorporating a security agency or just beginning a security wing at P and A altogether,” Chloe said when she got to the office that morning.
“We already have too many PR clients to handle. This would be the worst time to start another wing,” Arnold, her boss had said.
“Just a suggestion. That’s all.” Chloe said as she drummed her fingers on the side of her chair.
“But the security stuff should not worry you. I spoke to someone who got me a great exclusive deal with SSL. They are the best in the business after all.”
Chloe raised an eyebrow over the other.
“SSL?” she asked. “SSL as in Savant Security Logistics?”
Arnold nodded.
“So, you’ve heard about them?” he asked and Chloe bit her lower lip before she nodded slowly which was not really what she wanted to do. She would have wanted to scream ‘YES! OF COURSE I KNOW HIM! I DREAM OF HAVING HIM IN MY BED EVERY FREAKING NIGHT…” but at the back of her mind, she knew she could not really say that.
“Pierre Savant, right?” she asked, feigning seriousness.
“Yeah, he is the founder and CEO. Someone knows her stuff quite well I see,” Arnold pointed out and she smiled.
“Well, I like to be in the know.”
“It’s a good thing you are in the know because we will be working with SSL for the foreseeable future,” Arnold said and Chloe felt a sudden panic.
Foreseeable future. Those words could have meant anything. A few weeks, or maybe months. A couple of years. She needed some kind of clarification.
“Foreseeable future,” she echoed. “How long is that going to be?”
“Right now we have a three year contract with them which benefits both of us. P and A is expanding beyond San Diego and they are spread statewide. But at the same time, we are going to be handing them the very thing they are looking for.”
Chloe shrugged.
“And what is that?” she asked.
“Boutique clientele,” Arnold said.
Chloe leaned back in her chair and sighed. She knew that Arnold was right. They did have a very sophisticated black book as far as their clients were concerned and SSL were definitely the right guys to partner with. As it was, they already had a steady flow of celebrity clients from Hollywood who needed complicated security details. There was no way just any small security firm could have handled that kind of business, not even on their best days.
“There will be a representative from SSL coming in to discuss Avani’s security logistics. I’d like you to handle it,” Arnold said and Chloe nodded before she stood up.
“Of course. Anything else?” she asked as she looked at Arnold.
“Yeah I have never really dealt with a Bollywood actress so I have absolutely no idea what you should expect,” he said and Chloe forced out a cynical laugh.
“After dealing with that woman who carried her own diamond studded toilet seat, I doubt anything can surprise me at this point,” she said before she walked out.
When she got to her desk, she pulled up one of Pierre Savant’s social media profiles and a smile slowly played on her lips. She didn’t know what it was but there was something about Pierre that just seemed to call out to her. She could not understand whether it was the all too subtle French accent or the fact that he was a well-muscled man who seemed to have some kind of hold on her. It was not a surprise to her when he made the Top 40 Under 40 and Forbes Mist Eligible Bachelors’ list. At the back of her mind, she could not help but wonder whether he was the reason why she had given into the convention outfits so fast because she usually didn’t give in to arguments with her subordinates. She was a very strong headed person, usually which made her a great person, actually perfect person for the job she was so well known for.
“Screw it. It’s a damn convention,” she thought as she walked in, her eyes wandering. “This has absolutely nothing to do with me and Pierre…hell there isn’t even a ‘me and Pierre’ anyway.”
*****
Chloe White was a household name when it came to a politician who needed to clear his name after being busted in bed with his mistress or a celebrity who had been caught snorting blow on a wild night out by the paparazzi. She had become the embodied version of Olivia Pope and the world loved her. The only thing she hated more than anything was how she couldn’t manage to even do grocery shopping because of how the world perceived her. She looked at one of the waiters walking by carrying a tray of shrimp and she frowned.
“Definitely not trying that,” she thought. “Or that,” she thought when she looked at a platter of pigs in a blanket. She usually had a strict policy when it came to seafood and white meat at parties.
She took a long deep breath. It was like there was absolutely nothing to eat there. She would have killed to have a burger and side of fries at that very moment but unfortunately for her, she was not in a country where she could get to a KFC or a McDonalds at every corner. She smiled when she noticed one of the waiters carrying a platter of different fruits on a stick.
“That is more like it,” she thought as she began walking towards the waiter. She had just picked an assortment of fruit when she sipped on her champagne.
“Oh I’m so sorry…” she heard someone say when she felt someone bump into her. She moved her glass up just in time to make sure that none of the spilling champagne got on her dress.
“It’s alright,” she said as she turned around to come face to face with a man in a navy blue suit. She could not help but wonder why he seemed so familiar. She could not really place his face but he seemed to have one of those faces.
“No, it’s not. I should have looked where I was going,” the man said.
“Seriously,” Chloe said as she smiled at him. “No harm, no foul.”
She looked at him and noticed that he was giving her one of those looks that said he was having a déjà vu moment.
“What?” she wondered. “Is anything wrong?”
“No…I’m sorry for staring but you seem so familiar to me.”
“Funny,” she said as she looked into his eyes. “I have the same feeling about you.”
The two looked at each other for a long time before the man raised an eyebrow over the other.
“Wait, Chloe? Chloe White?” he asked again and Chloe nodded, feeling a little surprised.
“Yes, but anyone could have read that on my name tag,” she said.
“I know, I know.” He took a long deep breath. “Think about it. Brentwood High?”
Chloe raised an eyebrow over the other and then forced out a laugh.
“No way,” she said in a low voice as she looked at the man’s name tag. “Matt Zimmerman,” she said in a low voice. “I had a classmate in high school by the same name.”
The man nodded again, smiling.
“Are you saying that you are the same Matt Zimmerman?” He nodded. “As in Matt ‘The Whizz’ Zimmerman?” she asked as she looked into his eyes and he nodded.
“The one and the same,” he said.
“Wow.” She was nodding. “How long has it been?”
“Since you left Brentwood without a word or since I did?” Matt said as he took a sip of his own drink. She smiled and shook her head.
“I think the sword cuts both ways in this one,” she said and he nodded.
“Well, I went ahead to graduate from Brentwood then did two tours in the Middle East before I came back to…” Chloe put a hand up cutting him short mid-sentence.
“Wait. You served?” she asked and he nodded.
“Yeah. Navy. Twelve years.”
“I’m sorry but it is a little hard to picture you as a navy seal.”
Matt reached for the dog tags hanging from his neck and smiled.
It was hard to imagine The Whizz as a navy seal. He was always so timid, so innocently easy to push around. Heck he was a mathlete for heaven’s sake. How exactly the innocent looking, big rimmed glass wearing geek from high school ended up as this perfect looking, muscular soldier…she just didn’t get it.
“How? I mean…what are you even doing here?” she asked.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Well, here. At the Crime Solvers Convention?” she asked and he smiled.
“I took a different direction when I left Uncle Sam’s service.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “The Zimmerman Security Company. Heard about it?”
“You are that Matt Zimmerman?” she asked as she looked at his business card. “You are just full of surprises today, aren’t you? I mean, what are the odds?”
“I know, right?” he looked at her as she took another sip of her champagne. “Maybe it is a company Pittman and Associates can think of contracting when it comes to their high profile clients.”
Chloe smiled and nodded.
“So, you know about my hustle, don’t you?” she asked and he shrugged.
“Hustle? Pittman and Associates is more like an empire. There is no way I could refer to a firm like that as just a hustle.”
Chloe bit off a square piece of melon and smiled.
“So, you know what I did after Brentwood. What about you?” he asked.
“My dad got a job out of town and we had to move to St. Louis. I graduated from there and then went to the UK, Cardiff University before I came back to the states and finished off my education at Brown.”
“Everything you always wanted,” he said and she nodded.
“Everything I ever wanted,” she echoed. “But it is obvious you know everything about me. How come you had to ask about that?”
“What, high school?” he asked and she nodded.
“You are not an easy person to find, you know.”
“What makes you say that?” she asked and he smiled.
“Come on. You think I didn’t try looking you up?”
“So, you have been checking up on me. Haven’t you?”
“To be honest, I always wondered where you went after Brentwood and what you were up to. I can’t tell you how many times I have tried finding you.” His eyes ran down her body as she shook her head. “And you were not easy to find either.”
“I like to keep a low profile,” Chloe pointed out. “My job demands it.”
“Well, I guess you do but seriously, you barely have a digital footprint,” Matt said shrugging. “I think you are actually worse than people in the White House.”
“Hey, my name is my brand. You can’t blame me.”
“I know that but I mean, we all need an outlet. Right?”
Chloe took another bite from her fruit stick. A pineapple this time.
“An outlet?”
Matt nodded.
“Yeah an outlet. I mean you spend every single day fixing people’s problems. Going above and beyond your call of duty. You need some kind of situation that keeps you sane.”
Chloe was looking right into his eyes as she sipped on her drink.
“I have an XBOX for that,” she said smiling. “That’s my outlet.”
“Gaming? That’s your outlet?” he asked in a tone that said he didn’t believe her. “You? Of all people?”
“Hey, what’s wrong with gaming? It’s awesomely private and engaging at the same time. After a long day, sitting back and shooting at people is the best thing ever. I mean, nothing beats that.”
“Wow,” Matt said laughing.
“What? It’s true, though.”
“Yeah, try saying that in a video game convention and see how many people give you a weird look.”
“Why would people give me a weird look?” Chloe shrugged. “Everyone is engaged in some kind of online gaming thing. It’s kind of the new Facebook.”
“Still…it’s you,” Matt said.
“And what’s the big deal with me playing video games?” she asked still a little confused.
“If I have to answer that then you have to take a good long look in the mirror.” Matt took a long sip of his drink. “Because it is obvious that you have no idea what you do to some of us out here.”
“Matt Zimmerman, if I didn’t know any better I would thing you were flirting with me,” Chloe said before she bit off the last piece of fruit from the stick she was holding.
“Well, maybe I am,” he said and she felt her heart skip a beat. That was definitely not the kind of response she had expected him to give. “Would that be so wrong if I did?”
“It wouldn’t. But it would definitely be a surprise. The Whizz I knew would have never done something like that.”
“To be fair, The Whizz you knew back then had nerdy glasses and braces. So, it was expected but when I became Matt Zimmerman, everything changed.”
“Yes, everything changed and one of those changes involves me sitting in my favorite chair enjoying a good game of Alliance of Valiant Arms.”
Matt shook his head and ran his fingers through his thick hair.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t think I will ever get used to hearing you say stuff like that,” he said and she laughed
“And why the hell not? I am getting used to this clean cut, full haired neat suit Matt. That’s a major adjustment on my part.”
He took another sip of his champagne and shook his head.
“I didn't know how I could explain it so you can understand. It is just one of those things that you try to get your head wrapped around but you never really get there.”
She nodded.
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
“So, I know this is going to sound like I am imposing or something but Pittman and Associates are more of a PR firm right?” he asked. “And this is a crime solvers convention. The only guys here are CSI’s, cops and security firms.”
“Actually we are more of a crisis management firm. And there is a whole lot of information out there we need to know in order to know what is what. I’m talking chain of custody, the latest tech in the market and how it can help us build or break a case. Stuff to do with crisis management,” she said.
“You just described what cops do.”
“And we both know that sometimes our boys and girls in blue need some help,” she said.
“I’m confused. Does P and A deal in crisis management, crime scene investigation or legal work?” he asked and she smiled.
“Actually, a little of everything.” She took a sip of her champagne. “We don’t maintain an A-list clientele just for being average.”
“Clearly,” Matt said nodding. “But hey, this is a good thing. Maybe this could be the beginning of a beautiful partnership. Work-wise I mean.”
“Whoa, let’s not jump the gun here.”
“I’m not jumping the gun, I’m just telling you of my prospects, Chloe. That’s all.”
She pushed a lock of her hair back from her face and smiled.
“Tell you what. How about I float the idea to Arnold Pittman and see if he would be willing to go another direction with security companies,” she said in a soft voice.
“So, you already have a contract with another security company?” he asked and she nodded.
“May I ask who…” his voice suddenly trailed off and Chloe noticed that his focus had shifted. He was no longer looking at her but at someone …something behind her.
“Matt?” she asked in a concerned voice but he never really heard her. Whatever or whoever it was he was looking at had his complete attention. “Matt? What is it?” she asked looking over her shoulder, trying to find whatever or whoever it was that he was looking at.
“Son of a bitch,” he said in a soft voice and Chloe looked over her shoulder again.
“What? What happened?” she asked as she turned back to look at Matt who was still looking at something behind her.
“I can’t believe he came here,” Matt said in a low voice
“Who?” Chloe asked again but all Matt was doing was taking long deep breaths, the way someone usually did when they were upset. “Matt, you are freaking me out now. Who’s here?”
“Pierre Savant,” Matt said in a low voice.