That Bad Boy & That Bad Man Duet (Completed)

That Bad Boy - 2. Maude

The event on Friday evening had been a huge success, all those days getting everything planned and then in a few hours it was over. The finally tally was yet to be confirmed but the charity treasurer Alistair was talking at least two point five million in donations and through the silent auction, Funds that could make a real difference.

I looked down at my list of tasks for the day, Mondays were always busy and with the things I needed to do for the charity on top of my actual job as a city librarian.

I knew it would be a full day. I had to contact each of the winners to arrange payment and delivery. My gaze travelling down the list, smiling at some of the more familiar names, then my eyes widening as I see the name against the last two items Mr Leonardo Genovese, my mind pulling up the man from that night... Leo? 

 Leo was part of the Genovese family, a family even I had heard off. I had only been in the city about two months before I had started hearing the name more frequently, who they were, what they were involved in... allegedly. I had never expected to meet one, never expected him.

My jaw drops at the amount he has paid 50 thousand for the Pride and Prejudice and a cool million for Beedle the Bard, I reach for the phone, with that size bid, not to mention his name, surely it would be better if Alistair or our chairwoman Natalie made contact... at least I hoped they would, I could try then, to forget about the dangerous and beautiful man with searching eyes that had haunted my unsettling dreams the last few nights.

Alistair had argued but Natalie had jumped at the chance, not unsurprising and I wondered if she would use it as another way of parading her daughter in front the single men of the city.

 Katherine had taken a dig Friday night when she had seen me talking with Leo, but by the time I had returned from my break he had left, I had felt relief and had hidden my smile as Katherine had looked for him before joining the Mayor and his guests.

Natalie also joining them and I had been realistic and gone back to the room holding the silent auction lots, covering the two tables Katherine should have been overseeing as well as my own, letting Peter and David head back to cover their own tables.

It was late morning before I had contacted everyone and made arrangements and was about to leave for lunch when Natalie and Alistair conference called. "Maude, Leo Genovese has asked for the books to be sent to his office, the account has been settled. Can you make arrangements?"

I agreed and take down his office details, updating them on my work that morning before ringing off.  Looking at the office address I see it is only one block away from the library and as its lunchtime, I could drop the books off and then pop to the little deli in the square for a sandwich.  The books were already ready to go in safety boxes and whilst they were not bulky they were heavy, so I would need to go there first, but it would get everything done and I could put all thoughts of Leo Genovese behind me.

The Genovese office block looked like every other corporate business headquarters, large expanses of glass and metalwork, stunning abstract art hung in the huge atrium and an imposingly large oak desk manned by both a beautiful receptionist and a huge security guard, sat in the centre.   Taking a deep breath, I carried the boxes towards the desk and waited to get the girls attention. 

 In the almost silent empty space I wonder what she was doing, until finally she raises her head. "Can I help you?" her lip curls as she looks over at me. I can almost hear her silent question, What is someone like me doing here?

"I have a delivery for Mr Genovese... Leo Genovese.  Can I leave it with you?" I indicate the two boxes and she looks across at the security guard before answering.

"No, you can't, we do not accept parcels from unknown sources without first screening them" she tells me as the security guard gets up and I see his hand rest on the gun at his hip.

"They are expected, I'm from the Community Library Charity, these are two books Mr Genovese won in our auction, as I was passing I thought it would be best to drop them off.  All you need to do is call him and I'm sure he will confirm this" I explain, feeling panicked as the guard is joined by another and they are both watching me suspiciously.

"We have had no notification of this and frankly its an unlikely story. I don't know what you are trying to achieve but its not going to happen" she retorts and I sigh frustrated.

"Look, if its that much of a problem, I will take them back and organise a courier, I thought this would be a goodwill gesture but now I see I was wrong, I am already on my lunch break and do not want to spend all of it arguing with you"

"I think you should come with us miss, till we get this sorted out" one of the guards steps up next to me, his hand gripping my arm and I try to stay where I am but he pulls me after him, ignoring my calls to stop.

They escort me to a small room, taking my bag, containing my phone and ID and the parcels and locking me in, I had told them to be careful with the boxes and had asked them to call the library the charity or even to call Mr Genovese but they silently ignored me.

An hour later I was still waiting and panic again was building, had they forgotten me, I should have been back at the library and I was regretting not eating breakfast or having my usual mid morning coffee. I never did well with skipping meals and now I had thought about it, my stomach wanted to make its displeasure known and my throat felt parched.

At hour two I tried the door but it was locked and no amount of banging or shouting had brought anyone, I groaned and rested my head on my arms, maybe if I rested for a bit I would feel better. The slight flicker in strip lighting in the ceiling was already making my eyes twitch and head ache.

By hour three, my head was pounding and I felt sick, stressed from the situation I knew the migraine was going to hit me hard, but there was nothing I could do, I tried to bang on the door again but the action hurt me more, so I sat back down and prayed help would come soon.