Remington only put his phone down once the lights in Lizetta''s room went out.


    Yet, instead of starting the car, he reclined his seat, adjusted his position, and closed his eyes.


    The air was damp, making his clothes feel mmy and cold against his skin.


    He opened his eyes again, searching for something to cover himself with, ncing around the car.


    On the passenger seaty a suit jacket, once an expensive designer piece, now crumpled and dirty, having been used as a rag.


    There wasn''t much else in the car to use as a nket.


    Finally, Remington reached for the oversized teddy bear in the back seat, pulling it over with some reluctance and hugging it close.


    "Guess it''s just you and me tonight, buddy. Let''s keep each other warm," he muttered.


    The bear stared back at him with big, goofy eyes, but its fluffy bulk was surprisingly


    warm.


    Lizetta slept dreamlessly through the night, undisturbed by the thunderstorm she had feared mighte.


    Morning broke with clear skies and lush greenery outside her window. She stretched, then headed to the bathroom, blissfully unaware that someone had kept watch outside her vi all night, leaving just half an hour ago.


    Remington drove straight to the office, freshened up in the break room, and emerged to find Cedric waiting.


    As they headed to the staff cafeteria, Cedric began briefing him on the day''s agenda.


    In the elevator, Cedric, noting his boss''s unusually good mood, dove into the report. "Mr. Dashiell, we received some HR documents today that require your signature. It seems Winters has been reported for some serious issues."


    Remington remembered Winters as a smooth operator, someone who knew how to y the game.


    He looked at Cedric, knowing that if Cedric brought it up, there must be more to the story.


    Raising an eyebrow, he prompted Cedric to continue, who swallowed nervously.


    "Well... I found out Winters had an unpleasant encounter with Mrs. Dashiell a few days ago."


    Remington''s expression darkened as he pieced things together.


    "Was this when Liz was at the elevator?"


    "Yes, Mrs. Dashiell was here to discuss a coboration between Madden Media and the Starlight


    Group for our tenth anniversaet


    Cedric exined, recounting how Lizetta had been hassled by Winters. and even escorted out by security.


    Remington''s face grew stormier, and the air in the elevator felt suddenly thin.


    Cedric wiped the sweat from his brow. "I checked, and the security guards didn''ty


    a hand on her, but still..."


    She was embarrassed, and it wasn''t fair.


    Remington didn''t me the guards but said coldly, "Winters is a fool. Does he believe everything Ste says?"


    Remembering Winters'' odd behavior at the elevator that day, Remington almostughed out of frustration.


    He''d been so ted to see Lizetta at the Starlight Group that he hadn''t even questioned why she was there.


    Lizetta wouldn''t just show up out of the blue. If she wanted to see him, she''d have let him know first.


    She wasn''t about to surprise him like she once might have.


    Remington sighed inwardly and instructed Cedric, "Winters isn''t entirely to me Ste''s probably up to something else. Look into it thoroughly."


    Cedric nodded, "Will do."


    Remington added, "Reassign the rest of this morning''s tasks to Louis. Focus on this investigation first."


    Cedric, feeling like he was bing more of a private investigator than an assistant thought to himself that he might open a detective agency once the boss finally won Mrs. Dashiell back.


    But for the sake of his tenthkefront vi, he was determined to excel at this new


    role.