Surely, word would spread. Is it just a power play?
“Imagine meeting you here, Ms. Stevens.”
I barely contain an outward jolt at the sound of Derek’s voice, recovering as he sits down in front of me, his navy suit complemented by a yellow tie.
“I’m sure this place is popular for busy people who don’t want to leave the building.”
He narrows his eyes on me, and while they are the same color as Shane’s, Derek’s are two shades colder. “I’m surprised my father let you leave at all.”
“Your mother influenced him,” I say.
“My mother has a way of influencing everyone. You too will be in a place of influence by my father’s side.”
“I’m not by his side. I’m outside his door and hardly influential considering everyone is betting me out of the door.”
“I’m not.”
I don’t bother pointing out his inference otherwise, nor do I like the sense of being the gazelle with yet another lion. Narrowing my eyes at him, I seek to set a tone with this man as I did his father. “You have no food, Mr. Brandon.”
“Derek.”
“Why are you here?”
“You work for my father, which means you’ll be handling sensitive material for both myself and my brother. It’s good business to know more about you. Clearly he’s already made that point. I’m late to the party.”
Unease slides down my spine. Does he know about me and Shane? Could he have seen us? We were together in the building and near here. I laugh and manage to sound amused. “He must be good then.”
“Good?”
“More like amazing if he’s already assessed me, considering I’ve had about five minutes in total conversation with him.”
His eyes glint. “Instead, he sent Jessica to get to know you and learn all your secrets.”
That hits a nerve I don’t want to exist, but logically I know he’s trying to make sure I’m not in their camp and crossing enemy lines. For all I know, his father warned him I was at lunch with Jessica. “My secrets,” I say, leaning closer, “are very interesting.”
He studies me, his attention piercing, his presence as commanding as Shane’s but with a cutting edge that makes one feel trapped rather than spellbound. “Are they now?”
“They are,” I say, stepping out on a tightrope. “I once told my boss’s son he was an asshole. He wasn’t happy. He even threatened to fire me.”
“And why was he an asshole?”
I sit back. “I guess he was just born that way.”
His lips curve and he laughs. “You’re entertaining, Emily.” And with that, he gets up and leaves, and I follow his path, confirming his departure, watching him turn left toward the building’s exit. That’s when my skin prickles and I cut my gaze to find Shane standing near the entryway of the restaurant watching me, his expression unreadable, but that dark, edgy energy is back. He stands there—just stands there—with me as his sole focus. I fear he thinks he just saw proof I’m colluding with his brother. I’m not sure what to do or not do, but before I figure it out, he turns and walks away. I start to go after him, but Jessica’s warning about discretion rings in my head, and I sit back down. I’ll tell her what happened. That’s appropriate, as Shane is my boss’s son. Just my boss’s son and if I keep treating him like more, I’ll become a tool Derek can use against Shane.
The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, lies in its loyalty to each other.
—Mario Puzo
CHAPTER TWELVE
SHANE
It’s nearly seven o’clock and I have six contracts to review—all of which legal says they need by tomorrow—and I can’t help but think the inundation of work is an effort to hide something I need to find. And what the hell does it say that I have to think that way to survive in a family-run business and I’m part of the family in question? I toss my pen down and lean back in the chair, tension stiffening my body. Pushing away from the desk, I stand and walk to the window, staring out at the sky, lightning ripping down the path of darkness, seeing another storm brewing. My mind travels to where it has been many times the past few hours: Emily. Then my brother. Then Emily again.
A knock sounds on my door. “Come in.” I turn to find Jessica in the doorway.
“Can I look at some of those contracts for you?” she asks. “I am a paralegal, you know. And you actually