CHAPTER 3
“Zane Alexander. Man, I haven't seen you since . . .”
When the man in front of him couldn't come up with an answer to his own comment, Zane supplied it. “Graduation. Boarding school.”
Too long ago to be thinking about now. So long ago Zane had to think a moment to remember this guy's first name.
Harvey. That was it.
Harvey Durst, one of the many descendants of the Durst family fortune, because only the elite rich were accepted to that particular boarding school.
It had been a time in his life he hated and never wanted to think about again. But he was being forced to do just that by the asshole in front of him.
It was guys like this who'd made boarding school unbearable. Little clones of their billionaire daddies. Selfish, self centered, self important.
There were maybe a handful of guys he'd grown up with at that school he didn't want to pummel. A mere one or two he'd actually called friend over the years. Harvey was not one of them.
“That's right.” Harvey tipped his prematurely balding head. “You disappeared after graduation.”
Zane wished he could disappear right now. Glancing around the wedding reception, he searched for Missy to help get him out of this conversation.
He didn't see her but he couldn't avoid seeing the guy in front of him waiting for a response. “I pursued some different interests.”
“So I heard. Someone said you joined the Navy. Seriously?”
This guy was asking for a smack down and Zane would be dead serious about giving him one if he had been worth his time. As it was, Zane wasn't risking his reputation or his company's future for this idiot.
“Well, I couldn't think of anything that would piss off the old man more than that, so . . .” Zane shrugged.
“You always did have it out for your old man.” Harvey laughed.
What Zane had said was one hundred percent the truth. Every step of his military career was another nail in the coffin that was his relationship with his father and Zane enjoyed every swing of the hammer.
But now he was out. Serving his country in the private sector. No less important work and way more money.
Life, was good.
As he spotted Missy, life got better.
“I have to catch up with someone. Good talking to you,” Zane lied and, before he could be waylaid again, strode across the reception hall.
He hooked his hand into the crook in Missy's elbow and leaned low.
“How long before we can leave?” He whispered into her ear so the couple standing opposite wouldn't hear.
She glanced up at him, eyes wide with warning but didn't answer.
Melissa Greenwood, daughter of Senator Greenwood, might have to be polite and listen to people drone on about topics he couldn't care less about, but he didn’t.
Just as she had to attend this wedding for a couple they barely knew, because the bride's father was a huge contributor to Senator Greenwood's failed bid for the presidential nomination last year. But Zane didn't have to be here . . . except that he did because he was Missy's date.
“Mr. and Mrs. Moskowitz, have you met my boyfriend Zane Alexander?”
“I don't think we have. We’re friends of the Senator.” The woman spoke while the man extended his hand and pumped Zane's.
“Nice to meet you,” Zane said about to zone out again until he could drag Missy out of there, when she squeezed his arm.
“Zane, Mr. Moskowitz was just telling me how he owns commercial buildings in the D.C. area. Aren't you looking for office space for GAPS?”
That piqued his interest. “I am, actually. Do you have anything currently available?”
Could this damn wedding he hadn't wanted to attend actually yield something useful?
He focused his attention on the conversation, hoping to make this wasted afternoon worthwhile. If he could come out of here with a lead on an office rental, it would save him a ton of time searching, and win him some points with the senator for giving the business to one of his associates and supporters. Win-win.
“Actually I do have a vacancy, available immediately. Nice space on N Street. Walking distance to the Dupont Circle Metro. Street parking. Restaurants nearby. Ground floor. There’s a larger space in the front and then a smaller private office in the back. Plus a closet and bathroom. Forty five dollars a square foot.”
As Missy continued to chat with the wife, the husband now had Zane's full focus. “That sounds great. When can I see it?”
The man laughed. “You don't dilly dally, do you?”
“Not generally, no.” In the SEALs, dilly dallying could get people killed. “But it really sounds exactly like what I'm looking for.”
“And what is it you do?”
This is where things could get tricky. Calling his company what it was, a private military contractor, tended to scare people.
It was easier to say, “Private security consulting.”
That was true. But it was only part of the story. That explanation left out the whole other part of what GAPS did. Working government contracts, sometimes doing things very much like he'd done while in the SEALs working for the Naval Special Warfare Development Group.
Mr. Moskowitz nodded. “Interesting. I'll keep you in mind if anyone asks about security companies. I'd be happy to recommend you.”
Zane forced a smile. “Great. Thanks.”
Yeah, great. Now he'd get a bunch of calls from housewives looking to get an alarm system installed on their front door. Or security cameras so they can see if their maids were stealing.
He should probably come up with another line of what the company did. Maybe scaring them away with the PMC explanation wouldn't be too bad after all.
But at least one good thing had come of this conversation. He was one step closer to securing that space for the Guardian Angel Protection Services D.C. satellite office.
“Here's my card.” The older gentleman handed Zane a business card. “Call my office and my secretary will arrange a time for you to get in and see it.”
“How about Monday?” Zane asked. He had to get to Virginia Beach to meet with Jon in the near future and he wanted to be able to tell him this part of setting up the office was settled.
The man laughed. “Monday should be fine. It's unoccupied.”
“Perfect. Thank you.”
“You're welcome. Pleasure talking business with you.” The man leaned in conspiratorially. “I hate these things usually.”
A kindred spirit. Zane smiled but knew better than to voice his agreement aloud. “I'll call your office Monday.”
The man nodded and after a quick word to Missy, Zane made his escape to the bar.
One hurdle crossed. Now all he needed to do was hire staff. And furnish the place. And get the internet and phone hooked up.
Shit, he'd forgotten about all that setting up an office entailed. Jon had done the leg work setting up the Virginia Beach office. But this D.C. branch had been Zane's idea so he'd have to deal with it.
Though, there were people he could hire to do most, if not all the work for him. Zane liked that idea. Things were looking brighter.
Hell, even being at this wedding he hadn't wanted to be at didn't seem so bad anymore. And he was about to go get another glass of some very fine and very old whisky courtesy of the bride and groom.
There was no doubt that the sheer number of weddings they'd have to attend this month alone sucked. He wouldn't change his mind about that. But open bar? That helped ease the pain and it was exactly where he was headed now.
When he turned back to the room, fresh glass in his hand, Missy was next to him. “You look less miserable.”
He lifted a brow at her choice of words.
“Far less miserable. Almost giddy, in fact.” He used his free arm to wrap around her, hauling Missy against him. “You know what would make me even happier?”
“No, we can't leave before they serve dinner.”
He twisted his mouth at her accurate guess. “Can't blame a man for trying.”
She cocked up one pretty brow. “Actually, I can.”
Zane sighed. “I don't know why everyone doesn't just elope. So much easier for all involved. Hell, I'll still send them a gift. Happily, as long as I don't have to sit through another one of these things.”
Missy rolled her eyes. “It's four hours out of your life. You'll deal.”
“Four hours I'll never get back,” he mumbled, quickly pasting on a smile as the senator and his wife, Missy's parents, walked up to them. “Senator. Mrs. Greenwood. Enjoying yourselves?”
“It was such a beautiful ceremony.” Mrs. Greenwood turned to her daughter. “Didn't you just love her dress? And the bridesmaids looked beautiful.”
Missy nodded. “Yes, everything was lovely.”
“I liked the different dresses in the same color for the attendants. That's something to keep in mind for . . . whenever.” Mrs. Greenwood's gaze skipped to Zane and back again so quickly he almost missed it. Almost.
He raised his glass to his lips and swallowed the hard liquor. He needed to keep his mouth busy because there was no way he was touching that hint.