The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, releasing him into the hallway. He knocked twice on the door, it opened almost instantly.
Alex stood there.
"Mr. Baldwin," Brian said, trying to steady his voice, offering a hand in gratitude.
"Please, call me Alex," came the smooth response. "Nice to meet you. Love your movies."
"Thank you. High praise coming from you."
They shook hands. Alex's grip was strong and dominant. Brian didn't miss the message: I'm the one in control here.
"I want to say thank you," Brian continued, "for what you're doing for Eva."
"You sent her to the garage," Alex said.
Brian inhaled slowly, guilt cutting through his chest. "She wanted to go by herself," he replied. "I wanted to go with her, but…" He paused, running a hand through his hair. "You must understand, finding her son is the only thing that keeps her going."
