Bride Behind the Mask novel Chapter 642

Maggie's head was spinning, and she felt like her brain had suddenly doubled in size.

"When did you become such a child?" she muttered under her breath, more to herself than to anyone else. If he didn't want to help, fine, but did he have to be so irritating?

She skirted around Fred and headed for her car, which was parked nearby. If it weren't for the slippery backroads covered with a fresh dusting of snow, she wouldn't have even considered asking for his help. Her drive over had been nerve-wracking, with her tires struggling for grip more than once. Worried about the danger of driving back alone, that's why she had asked Fred for a ride.

It seemed she was on her own, after all. As Maggie reached her car, she fumbled for the door handle, but before she could open it, she was unexpectedly enveloped in warmth. Turning her head, she found Fred draping his overcoat over her slender frame, his long arm snaking around her back to guide her towards his own luxurious Mercedes-Maybach.

"I thought you didn't want to help me?"

"If you've got your own car, why do you need me to drive you, Maggie? Is this another one of your ploys to get close to me?"

Sarcasm dripped from Maggie's retort: "Not at all! I'm just not brave enough to drive in this weather, afraid of an accident, that's all! And you, all talk and no action, yet here you are, concerned about me?"

Fred's lips tightened slightly as he looked down at the petite woman wrapped in his coat, her face alight with a mischievous yet prideful smile. Despite himself, he felt a twinge of helplessness.

"Don't flatter yourself; I'd just rather not scrape you off a tree," he said dryly.

Maggie, now lacking enthusiasm, fell silent. The next second, she found herself being ushered into the passenger seat of the Maybach.

The heater was cranked up high, but Maggie's hands were still stiff with cold as she struggled to text her contact, Zack:

"I need the surveillance footage from before the factory fire, send it ASAP."

Zack's reply came almost instantly.

"Ms. Lockwood, can it wait until tomorrow? Accessing surveillance footage requires a supervisor's approval, and I've already tried calling the boss, but he didn't pick up. Probably asleep."

Maggie could almost feel Zack's helplessness through the screen. She thought for a moment, then turned to Fred, her eyes questioning.

"Any chance you could pull some strings for me?"