I don’t know why.”
“Because that’s what big brothers do. I know, I have two of them.” Although in her case, they didn’t just protect. They domineered.
Mr. Everette smiled. He wasn’t nearly as intimidating as she’d first thought. At first glance he seemed so dark and intense, but he definitely had a softer side. “With a sister as pretty as you, I’m sure it was a full-time job.”
Wow, she really liked this guy.
“Well,” he said, rising from his chair. “I’m glad we had this talk. But I should let you get back to work.”
She stood and smoothed her skirt back into place. “Thank you for the advice.”
He reached across the desk to shake her hand. His grip was firm and confident. “Good luck, Miss Monroe.”
She left Nathan Everette’s office feeling a lot less unsure of herself than when she’d walked into work that morning. The first day of her first undercover assignment may have had a bit of a bumpy start, but things were definitely looking up.
She hobbled back to her desk on her poor tortured feet, yet she felt a renewed confidence. If she could maintain her cool in a meeting with the CEO, CBO and CFO of a multibillion dollar corporation, she could handle just about anything.
When she got there she kicked off her shoes and opened her top drawer, fishing out the flash drive. It was time to go get some information.
“Is it my imagination or were you a lot taller the last time I saw you?”
At the sound of Mr. Everette’s voice she gasped in surprise and dropped the flash drive back in the drawer. She whipped around, slamming it shut with her backside. He stood in his office doorway, arms folded, leaning against the jamb. And he must have been back for some time because not only was his coat off, he’d removed his suit jacket as well. “You’re back early.”
“I made it as far as the lobby and got a call that the meeting was cancelled.”
If she hadn’t been called away, he would have without a doubt walked in on her “investigating.” The thought made her knees go weak. Next time she would have to make sure that he’d actually left the building before she set foot in his office.
“Imagine my surprise when I returned to find that my new secretary was already playing hooky.”
“N-no … I wasn’t …” She stopped and took a deep breath. What was the point of making excuses. “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”
“Where were you?”
Okay, she could handle this. It was all about thinking on her feet, and being prepared. So of course her mind went instantly blank. “The, um … HR office.”
“Human resources?”
“Yes.”
“For …?”
“Paperwork. There was a form they forgot to have me sign.”
“And they stole your shoes while you were there?” he said, nodding to her stocking feet.
“No, of course not. They’re under my desk. They’re new and they were pinching my toes.” At least that much was the truth. “I can put them back on—”
“Oh no. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for your sore feet. Although maybe they would hurt less if you sat down.”
She lowered herself into her chair.
“I need to go talk to my brother,” he said, and before she could stop herself she sucked in a breath. Did he know she’d just been there?
No, of course he didn’t. How could he?
He gave her an odd look. “Problem?”
She gestured to her feet. “Sorry, sore toes.”
“As I was saying, I have to talk to my brother before my mother blows a gasket. But if anyone calls, I’m in a meeting.”
“Of course.”
With one last curious look her way, he walked out.
The man must have thought she was a loon.
Her cell phone started to ring and she pulled it out of the desk drawer, where she had left it again.
And it was her sister, Mary. Again. She pressed the talk button. “Hey Mary, what’s up?”
“You sure are tough to get ahold of,” Mary snapped in lieu of a hello.
Jane sighed. She had half a mind to just hang up on her. She wished she had the guts to do it, but things had been so strained lately already, she didn’t want to make it worse. Mary was just pissy because Jane was no longer around the office to do her grunt work. Despite having graduated with higher honors than every one of her siblings, and passing the bar with flying colors, up until the day Jane had left, they had continued to treat her like an intern.
“I’m at work. I haven’t had a chance to call you back.”
“Whatever,” she said, sounding like a spoiled adolescent. Though she was the older sister, she didn’t always act like it. “I’m just calling to remind you about this Friday.”
“What about it?”
She sighed dramatically. “Monthly dinner with the family, stupid.”
Jane ignored the “stupid” remark, because although Mary may have been prettier, and more outgoing and popular, they both knew Jane was smarter. Though sometimes that was more of a liability than a asset. Being the “smart and practical” sibling didn’t leave a lot of room for error.
“But we usually do that the last Friday of the month,” she told her sister. “That’s not until next week.”
“Don’t you remember, we decided to do it a week early because Will has a business trip the following week.”
“That’s news to me,” she said.
“I could swear we talked about it.”
“Nope.” But then, since she’d left the practice, there were a lot of things she didn’t hear about until the last minute because no one bothered to call her. She figured it was probably her punishment for deviating from their master plan.
“I’m sure I told you, but whatever. Mom booked our regular table at Via Penna. Seven o’clock.”
“I’ll try to be there.”
“You’ll try? What is your problem? You can’t even make time for your family anymore?”
“Jeez, Mary, don’t have a cow. I’ll definitely be there, okay?”
“I’ll see you Friday,” she said, then hung up without saying goodbye.
Jane grumbled
