Scott stared at Laura for a while. “Yes, I can,” he said, and he walked over to his desk in the corner of the room and picked up his phone like he was already done with the conversation. “And I will. The bodyguards will be here soon, so I suggest you go upstairs and get ready to meet them.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Laura crossed her arms over her chest and stood there, trying to look defiant even though inside she felt like she wanted to scream.

Scott looked up from his ...