The Law of Motion (Law Series) (59 page)

             
I began to relax when I saw familiar faces amongst the crowd. Jeff and Ross were in sweeping behind stage, passing me as if they didn’t know me at all. Dario was standing at the only set of stairs that could access the stage from the front. Jackson—oh ever watchful Jackson— was standing on the catwalk in front of the balcony, scanning from above. 

             
Everyone was there, and I meant everyone. Press both local and national, men in suits seated along the first two long rows within the auditorium, and I could only assume that they were board members and higher ups. Sarah, was behind the stage on the opposite side, but her glare caught me directly.

             
The Neil Family, the
actual
Neil family sat on the same side behind the podium, looking almost perfect. The only thing that stopped perfection were the nervous and curious faces they had about the upcoming announcement. Apparently Paul hadn’t told them either.

             
It was almost surreal. I had never seen them before, well besides in newspapers and magazines when they would make their appearances along Paul’s side, but even those I never paid attention to.

             
Stephanie Neil was stepford wife reincarnate with a tad bit more modern apparel. Her all black dress and pearls were classic vintage, and the way that she sat straight in her chair with her ankles crossed, hands in her lap, screamed years of breeding that could only have come from money. The daughter next to her looked to be a few years younger than I. Twenty-two tops, and I knew that she was Scarlett. She dressed more rebellious, her crimson sheath dress and navy scarf pulled attention to her as she fidgeted between crossing her ankles and just eventually crossed her legs. She looked unsure about what was coming, but her main vibe was boredom as she checked her watch. Rosalia however, the youngest, was a carbon copy of her mother. Her deep purple dress with soft curls around her face showed nothing but patience as her head tilted upwards.

             
“Alright Alyssa, I’ll call you on when I’m done with my announcement.” Paul nodded walking onto the stage and grabbing the podium.

             
There were several flashing cameras and questions before he waved a hand calling the room to silence. “I’ll answer questions after I have made my announcement…”

             
I didn’t listen to much of Paul’s speech, because I was searching the crowds for anyone suspicious, but I could tell when he announced me as acting CEO because every soul with a press badge was out of their seats and screaming questions. He waved them back down before continuing, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of three sets that watched me and Kristen curiously behind stage. They weren’t allowed to react, but their eyes said it all. With Stephanie, there was sadness, Scarlett’s there was anger and Rosalia, it seemed like disappointment mixed with intrigue.

             
“Alyssa, he just announced you, get out there.” Kristen whispered grabbing me by the elbow and walking out. She took the seat on my side of the podium and I forced my feet to head to Paul’s side.

             
There was silence, and I could tell that they were waiting for me to speak. I scanned the crowed again, this time noticing the guy up front taking pictures. He was wearing a press badge, but when he pulled the camera from his face I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. It was Danny, disguised in his own way. He took another picture and winked before moving to get another angle.

             
I pulled the words form my head that I had practiced before, the few sentences that I could come up with at least. I feigned genuine words about how surprised I was that he requested my assistance with running things in his absence, and that I was truly honored to do so. I then went on to say that I was hoping to be able to handle things even half as well as Paul, admitting that I was indeed filling not only big but well-loved shoes. Lastly, I requested patience from everyone as I adjusted and then Paul and I opened the floor to questions.

             
“How long until you return as acting CEO of Neil Industries?” A man with a CNN press mic asked.

             
Paul took this one. “As I said before it is uncertain, at this moment my health is more important.”

             
Paul answered the few sets easily, and so did I, since they were basically my feelings, about taking over and what my goal was.

             
“Mr. Neil, this is the first time since Neil Industries was built that anyone other than a Neil has been a CEO, what do you think that your father would say if he were still alive?”

             
“I think that he would say that Alyssa, though not in name, is a Neil. He wouldn’t want anyone operating unless they were at full capacity, and I at the moment am not. It is better to go a pace you’re capable of for a long time, than to keep pace and burn out.” Another flawless answer.

             
The next one was directed at me, as I pointed to the guy across from me with a local newspaper press badge. “Miss Marshall, based on your last press conference, you said that if ever you were CEO you would sell the company, is that still your plan?”

             
“No, it is not. This company was built and ran by this family, and it will remain that way.”

             
What I thought was a well-constructed answer caused more roars and questions as Paul selected another reporter in the back of the room. “Miss Marshall, you assured us that you also had no interest in Neil Industries and that Paul Neil ‘wasn’t your father’ why the sudden change of heart?”

             
That was the question that I wasn’t prepared for, even though I knew that it would be coming.
Stupid hard hitting Politico reporter
, I thought to myself as I took a deep breath and attempted to talk from my ass.

             
“Though I couldn’t have been more honored, that Paul declared me as his successor, and told the world that I was his daughter, it unfortunately came at an inopportune time in my career. As you know I am a private investigator, my job is to blend and remain out of the public eye. At the time the news was released, it was threatening to compromise the case that I had been working on, so I was forced to do as much damage control as I could to salvage my work.

             
Just moments before I made my own announcement, I was in a meeting with Paul, explaining the situation so that I wouldn’t appear ungrateful in his eyes, since my
family’s
opinions are the only that matter to me. He understood my reasoning and told me that it only reconfirmed why he chose me in the first place, my dedication.

             
Now that the case is over, and I am no longer compromised, I am more than ready to relieve my f-father of his duties so that he may gather his strength.”

             
I smiled up at him hoping that no one noticed my slip, and he smiled down at me, probably because this was the first time that I acknowledged him as being a parent. He wrapped an arm around me and I fought the urge to freeze as I rested a head against his arm. A second later I tilted my head back up, though he refused to remove his arm. “Next question.”

I knew my girl was nervous, and was doing the best she could taking on tasks that she normally wouldn't do, but you wouldn't know it, unless you
 
really
 looked in her eyes. Those green, deep emerald pools were tired, wary, and just plain over it all by the time we'd  made her press conference. She insisted on looking over every inch of our security plans before we came, helped with looking into the security already there. She lined up her meetings, including the one to send Paul’s assistant on an extended vacation, and declared to everyone that Paul Neil was her father—and it wasn't even lunchtime yet.

I wanted to go to her, tell her she was doing fine, but I knew that we were being scrutinized by every employee, every visitor to this damn building. It didn't help that I fucking suspected
everyone
... She sounded worried and frustrated over the headset as she exited the stage, and I wanted to hold her, touch her, but my options were limited, because I couldn't do either of those things, not when someone could see, not when there were so many eyes on us.

She was dressed to absolute distraction, and just knowing what she was wearing under that skirt was not helping me. At all. She chassed as if she were walking an invisible line effortlessly in her heels, Kristen keeping step with her as she went over what would happen next. Paul would be alongside her for the rest of the day, and after that he would board a flight to the Poconos with his wife.

Paul had been grinning like a fucking Cheshire cat since the press conference, because Alyssa declared in front of everyone that she was his daughter, and actually embraced him. It didn’t matter that she was acting to him; they were always the words that he wanted to hear. He put a hand on her elbow directing her down the hall and she subtly pulled it away playing with her hair.

“Our next stop is the head of security for Neil Tower,” Kristen spoke low looking down at her leather itinerary. “This is where Bravo can get their ID badges giving them access to the entire building, Tink and Doc are pulling up out front now.”

I signaled Dario to fetch the girls at the front as we made a brief stop for introductions. Alyssa merely nodded up at her, biting her bottom lip for a moment. She was beyond beautiful; she was stunning, making me want to protect her from not only the bad guys, but now all the men that she was completely oblivious to.

Dario was back before the round of introductions was even over. It didn’t surprise me because people were coming out of the woodworks to get a decent look at Paul Neil’s secret progeny. Doc and Tink were dressed in business attire as well, and the look on Alyssa’s face when she saw them seemed to both ease her and cause her sadness.

“How come I couldn’t get a pantsuit?” She frowned, and her nose wrinkled as the last employee walked back to their cluster of gossip.

I chucked at her and resisted the urge to trace my finger down her nose to smooth it back out like I always did. Doc chuckled with me after giving Paul a cordial hello. “You are doing great sweetie.”

“I don’t feel like it.” She whispered. “Did you actually
watch
the press conference?”

“Yes, and you did amazing.” Tink seconded.

“You were completely full of shit, but it was amazing shit.” Kristen agreed, her voice barely picked up by the earpiece. We entered the security room and shut the door behind us.

"Frank," Paul greeted an older man in a nondescript rent-a-cop uniform. "I'd like you to meet my daughter, Alyssa Marshall. Alyssa, this is Frank Watson. He's the head of security down here."

              "My pleasure," he started, his voice raspy and his smile genuine as he took her hand.

"Thank you," she said with a sweet smile.

"Well, what can we do for you, Mr. Neil?"

"Frank, we're going to be making some temporary changes for the next few weeks. Due to the...circumstances, we need to up the security a bit. I've brought a few people in to help you," Paul explained, and Frank looked around the room.

"Yes, sir. Well, it's your house...we just live here. Tell us what you need," he chuckled, motioning for the other guards on duty to step forward. One was young, probably fresh out of high school, with light brown hair. The other was possibly my own age, looking skeptical, but willing, with blond hair and blue eyes.

"Actually, it's Alyssa's house now," Paul chuckled, squeezing her shoulder when she sighed. "I'll let her explain."

Frank turned his undivided attention to Alyssa as she started to explain. "Frank, this is Margaux and Tawny. They'll be taking over your video and audio monitoring. They'll need complete access to all of your equipment, not to mention an internet connection. Adrian, Jackson, and Macon..." she continued, pointing us all out, "are personal guards for us. They'll need unlimited access to everything...every floor, every door, every key entry. Dario and Roslyn here will be working with you on rounds and any calls you're needed on. I need every last one of these people to be included in anything that seems suspicious, unusual, or even just a little off. You can consider them a part of your team, but any and all questions or concerns need to go through myself, Dario, or Adrian."

"Okay, then, Miss Marshall," he chuckled, clapping his hands together one time. "First things first...let's get you guys some key cards and identification. That alone will let all employees know that you are clear for any floor, any office, and you'll use those to open all doors." He turned to the youngest guard behind him. "Ralphie, could you please show Margaux and..."

"Tawny," she beamed, stepping forward.

"Right, Tawny," he chuckled, shaking his head at her enthusiasm most likely. "Could you be so kind as to show Margaux and Tawny to the monitor room and help them set up. Get them anything they may need, okay?"

"Sure, Frank," the kid said with a nod, opening the door to the left of the counter for the girls to go on in.