A Clandestine Corporate Affair - By Michelle Celmer Page 0,48
he wasn’t going to do this in front of Ana and her father. And especially not Max.
“Why don’t we step outside,” Nathan said.
Jordan scoffed. “It’s cold and raining.”
“Don’t be a sissy,” Nathan shot back, realizing, when the false cheer slipped from Jordan’s face, that he sounded just like their father. Somehow his family always managed to bring out the worst in him.
Jordan walked to the door and grabbed his coat. Nathan pulled his own coat on and followed him out onto the porch. It was cold and damp and the sky was spitting down icy rain.
“Isn’t this cozy,” Jordan said, dropping all pretense of holiday cheer. “You spending the holiday with Ana Birch and her daddy. I guess now we know who to blame for the sabotage.”
“Jordan, do you really think I could do that?”
“You can’t deny this looks pretty damned suspicious.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, or I feel I need to justify my actions in any way, but her father wasn’t supposed to be here. He just showed up, which I’m sure you can understand. Besides, I wasn’t even seeing Ana when it happened. I didn’t even know I had a son until a few weeks ago. I broke up with her before she knew she was pregnant.”
“Did she think it was someone else’s?”
He gritted his teeth and glared at Jordan.
Jordan shrugged. “Just a thought.”
“She planned to raise the baby alone.”
“What if she’s responsible for the sabotage?”
“Ana?” That was the most ridiculous thing Nathan had ever heard. “Not a chance.”
“Why not? What if she was bitter and wanted to get back at you for dumping her? Or maybe she did it for her father.”
“She wasn’t exactly lusting for revenge. If anyone had the right to be pissed, it was me. And as for her father, they aren’t exactly on the best of terms.”
“He’s her meal ticket.”
“She lives off a trust left by her mother. She doesn’t get a penny from Birch Energy. And even if she did, she doesn’t have a malicious bone in her body.” Nathan had to wonder, if Jordan really was responsible for the sabotage, would he so vehemently try to blame someone else? Or was that just his way of deflecting suspicion off himself? Had he caught on that he was being investigated?
Nathan had been quick to defend Jordan, but he honestly didn’t know anymore.
“How did you find out that it was Ana I was seeing?” Nathan asked.
“I followed you, genius. You’re not exactly 007, you know.”
Apparently he wasn’t, not that he’d expected someone to be tailing him. “How did you know Max is my son?”
“I didn’t. Not until I saw him up close. He looks just like you, and the birthmark was a dead giveaway.” He blew hot air into his hands, then stuck them into his coat pockets. “Are you going to marry her?”
That was the second time he’d been asked that question today. “I’d say there’s a good possibility.”
“You know that’s going to mean a job offer from old man Birch.”
That’s the second time that had come up, too. “Why would I want to work for him when I’m CEO of Western?”
Jordan grinned. “You’ve got to get through me first.”
“I plan on it.”
Jordan shivered and stamped his feet. “It’s cold as hell out here. Can we maybe go back inside now?”
Nathan folded his arms. “Who said you’re invited?”
“You would make your baby brother spend Christmas alone?”
“My baby brother who just accused me of sabotage.”
Jordan shrugged. “Okay, so maybe I overreacted.”
“And how do I know you’re not going to run to Adam and the board with this?”
“I’m ambitious, but that would just be too easy. I prefer a fair fight. Besides, I guess I owe you one.”
It was the first time Jordan had ever acknowledged what Nathan had done for him. Who knows, Nathan thought, maybe there is hope for us yet.
The front door opened and Ana stuck her head out. “Sorry to bother you, but everything is ready. I just need someone to carve the turkey.”
Jordan shot him a questioning look.
“Do you mind if my brother stays for dinner?” Nathan asked her.
“We’ve got plenty of food,” she said, then added sternly, “But I do not want my son’s first Christmas to turn into World War Three. As long as everyone plays nice, it’s fine with me.”
Jordan flashed her a charming, borderline flirtatious smile. “I always play nice.”
He did, Nathan thought wryly, right up until the second I turned my back and the knife came out. But it was Christmas, the