Tempting The Boss (2 page)

“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” she lied. “Why are you still hanging around? Wouldn’t have anything to do with the pretty party planner, would it?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Grace is an event coordinator, not a party planner. Trust me, she’s had to remind me over a dozen times.” Simon glanced to the clock on his computer. ““There’s still time to stop at the hospital, you know.”

And just like that, her headache was back. “What’s the point?” She pulled out a chair.

Simon leaned back and was silent for a moment. “It will make you feel better,” he said softly.

She stared him down as an unexpected wave of grief washed over her. “Seeing my father unconscious on a hospital bed won’t make me feel better. I promise. Stick to what you’re good at and tell me how the Miller plants are looking.”

In a heartbeat, he was back to the professional she was used to. “It looks risky. The price is amazing, but that’s only because they’re not bringing in any profit.””

“What about the scrapping project? Have you looked over the projected revenue increase if we install it into all the plants?”

He ran his fingers through his short red hair. “I wish I had a definitive answer for you, but I’m still researching. I don’t want to tell you anything when I’’m not sure myself.”

“Fine,” she said, not bothering to hide her annoyance. Her consultant wasn’t consulting, the handyman had completely showed her up downstairs, and she had no idea what Terry was up to. “Can you at least tell me if you’ve heard anything about my brother?”

She didn’t know how it was possible, but somehow Simon’s face became even more somber. “The guy I have tailing him says he splits his time between the hospital, his lawyer’’s office, and with his girlfriend.”

Even though she wasn’t surprised, the news still felt like a blow to her gut. “His lawyer? He’s not getting the company, Simon. I won’’t let it happen.”

“I’m on your side,” he pointed out. “I know firsthand what happened to Green’s when Terry was in charge. But you’re going to have to fight for it. If your father did change his will before his heart attack last week, there’s a good chance that the court will honor that, even if he does take you to court. But if your father hasn’t changed it since Terry was CEO…” He trailed off, not needing to say what they both knew.

As her face fell, he continued. “Keep doing what you’re doing. As long as the profits stay up and the employees stay happy, you have a leg to stand on. If you show any sign of weakness, Terry will jump on it. You can’t give him any advantages in this fight.”

Simon and she really thought alike sometimes. He knew she couldn’t sit back, so having a goal was exactly what she needed. And right now, her goal was to make damned sure her employees would defend her if Terry did try to take over. “I’’m on it.” She stood. “Keep me updated on the scrapping project numbers, all right?”

“Of course,” he assured her.

She walked out, thinking over Simon’s advice.
Stay strong. Don’t show weakness.
Easy peasy. She’d been doing that for years.

CHAPTER TWO

Dean rolled his shoulders. He loved working gigs with Grace, but he sure as hell hated wearing a suit. He never understood how people wore them day in and day out. He’d never be able to get any work done if he felt as if he were trapped in a fabric prison all day.

But everyone else seemed to be comfortable enough. Of course, considering how busy the open bar was, that might be the alcohol working its magic. He wouldn’t mind a glass for himself, but he had a lengthy night ahead of him. Long after everyone cleared out, he’d be overseeing the teardown. But he could make more working one night with Grace than an entire week of house calls back home.

It didn’t used to be this hard to make a living. When he worked with Bill Heder, the jobs were steady enough and pay was reasonable. But when the economy went south, so did Bill. In the years since, Dean had scrambled to make a name for himself: working nights, weekends, holidays and any job that would give him some advantage in a crowded market.

A flash of dark hair caught his eye and his gaze landed on Victoria Green. She definitely looked different than when he’d managed to piss her off earlier. For one, she was smiling. Instead of the tense, uptight woman he’d met hours ago, she seemed happy and relaxed. No one changed moods that quickly.

No. This was an act.
He’d been to so many of these fancy parties, he could recognize the fake joy from a mile away: rubbing shoulders with the high and mighty, pretending to be best friends with everyone.

“Please stop looking at the client like you want to strangle her.” Grace came up to his side.

Dean ripped his gaze away, trying not to let his embarrassment show. He owed it to Grace to at least be professional. “Sorry. I was lost in thought.”

“Umm hmm,” she muttered. “What’s going on with you? I know she pressed a few buttons, but—”

“It’s not her,” he bit out even as his eyes once again found Victoria and lingered a few seconds too long on the little black dress that hugged her curves just as well as her pencil skirt from earlier that day. “I’m stressed, that’s all.”

Her brow drew together. “Is everything okay with Katy?”

Instinctively, he pulled his phone out of his pocket to check for any missed messages. Not that there’d been any ten minutes ago, but he never felt comfortable when he was out of town. “It’s her first time alone.” He put the phone back in his pocket.

“Wow. That’s a big step.”

“I’m trying my best not to think about it.”

“How’s that working out for you?” asked Grace with a subtle grin.

“Like shit. I never should’ve left her alone. When she was begging and pleading in front of me, it made so much damn sense, but somehow all of her magical powers seem to slip away once she’s gone.”

Grace let out a laugh and he glared at her.
It wasn’t fucking funny.

“She’s a good kid, Dean. I don’t think she’s ever broken a rule in her life.”

“That makes it worse! It’s always the good ones that fall hardest, Grace. I’m telling you, I should’ve never left her.”

“Dean, I’m sure—” Grace abruptly stopped talking and a big smile filled her face. “Victoria, are you enjoying yourself?”

Dean jerked as he realized she’d walked up right behind him and he’d hardly noticed. He forced a tight smile, but Victoria was more focused on Grace.

“Everyone seems to be having a great time.” Victoria’s previously fake grin was replaced with a more hesitant smile.

This was a woman who’d obviously prefer to be anywhere else
, thought Dean.

“If you hear any complaints at all, let Dean or I know. Andre is also around here somewhere too.”

Finally, Victoria looked at him. Her lips tightened. “What do you specialize in, Dean?”

He shrugged, but Grace answered for him. “Dean does everything. Hard labor, electrical, plumbing, even security on a few occasions. He’s great to have around when a fuse blows or an outlet decides it doesn’t want to work.”

“If I don’t know how to do it, I’ll figure it out.” It sounded like bragging, but that should really be his life’s motto: figuring out how to do jobs he never wanted in the first place.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here.” Victoria held her hand out to him.

He stared at her manicured hand; the matte white nails caught his eye. He’d crawled in some of the hotel’s dirtiest and nastiest corners before he’d cleaned up and slipped into the suit. It almost seemed wrong to touch her.

But it seemed as though she was doing her best to apologize, and he respected that she wasn’t one to hold grudges. Especially over a damn screw. He met her handshake, surprised at her firm grip. As quickly as possible, he pulled away, not wanting her to feel the rough calluses on his palms or notice how beat to shit his own nails were. He might be dressed the part, but he sure as hell didn’’t fit in here.

“I need to keep making the rounds, but I’ll make sure to let one of you know if anything comes up.”

Dean stepped back and allowed her room to move past. “We’ll be around,” he assured her as she strode to a well-dressed couple who sat at a table behind him.

“Hey Dean,” said Grace.

He raised his brows. “Hmm?” he asked, still looking at Victoria.

“Still worried about Katy?”

He jerked around to stare at Grace. “No. Why?”

A knowing smile covered her lips. “Didn’t think so.” She walked away and left him alone as he realized just how transparent he’’d been.

~~~~~

Victoria flipped through the flashcards in her hands. Her heels were the only sound in the quiet hallway as she paced back and forth, trying to commit all her talking points to memory. Public speaking had never been her forte. Even at more informal parties like this.

All she wanted to do was go up there and give a small speech about why her employees were so important and tell them everything they had all achieved together.

But she also wanted to spotlight a few exemplary ones, and she didn’t want to say any names wrong or confuse any of the award winners. But, no matter what, she didn’t want to be that CEO who needed to look at flashcards to remember her employees.

If she were walking down the hallway in her office, this wouldn’t be an issue at all. But once she was in front of a crowd, with her voice being the only sound in the room, suddenly her mind would go blank.

“Focus,” she said to herself as she quickly went through her speech out loud. “Thank you so much for coming. Green & Sons is honored, blah, blah, blah. Joke about the Henderson surprise order last month. Segue into how it wouldn’t be possible without the hard workers. Then I—”

A slight shuffling from behind her caught her attention, and she turned around. The hallway was well lit, and considering she stood at the end of it, there wasn’t any way for someone to sneak up. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’’t alone. Quickly, she hid the cards behind her back. How disingenuous would everyone think she was if they thought she couldn’t remember all her employees?

Taking a deep breath, Victoria decided to head back to the ballroom. She was as ready as she’d ever be. Her presentation was scheduled to begin in fifteen minutes, so she could freshen up in the bathroom and check in with Grace once more before she went up.

The man came from out of nowhere. One second she was completely alone, the next she was body slammed by someone wearing all black and shoved into the wall. Her head hit so hard it seemed to bounce off; pain shot through her body.

Before she could catch her bearings, something small and tight wrapped around her throat. As her air was completely cut off, Victoria’s eyes widened. This wasn’t some drunk guy who couldn’t hold his liquor. He was strangling her.

Whatever he was using, it was painfully cutting into her neck hard enough that it felt as though it must be cutting through the flesh. The abrupt attack, combined with the claustrophobia of being cut off from oxygen, set off a panic.

As her assailant pulled harder, her feet lifted off the floor. She leaned back against him, trying to get even the slightest bit of air, as she turned her high heels into weapons. She kicked back as hard as possible. She wanted to elbow him too, but she couldn’t bring herself to let go of the bastard’s wrists, even knowing she wasn’t getting any air while holding on. Somehow she felt as though if she let go, he would pull hard enough to completely remove her head.

Frantically, as her vision blurred, she kicked back even more. Black splotches appeared as the hallway disappeared.
Shit. She was never going to make it…

Her body crumpled to the ground. She was so unprepared, she didn’t get a chance to brace her fall. Luckily her shoulder hit before her head and slightly cushioned the fall. As she gasped for air, she tried to see what was happening. But her eyes were so blurry, it was no use. The sounds of the struggle came to her first. Then she made out the two black figures.

One mercilessly pounded the other one with punches, but Grace didn’t recognize either. She pushed herself up and finally saw the man on the receiving end of most of the punches wore a face mask, only his eyes and mouth visible.

Alarm bells went off in her mind. She needed to do something. Help her strange savior, call for help.
Something
. But before she managed to make herself useful in any way, the attacker pushed himself up and ran.

The one helping her took a step after him, but abruptly halted and turned back to Victoria. Recognition snaked through her. “Dean,” she croaked out. Embarrassment shot through her. Somehow the thought of him seeing her like this seemed so much worse than a random hotel worker.

“Are you okay?” He quickly looked to the attacker’s form as he disappeared down the hall. But instead of chasing the man down, Dean pulled his phone from his pocket and punched something in.

That was all Victoria needed to spark the life back in her. She forced her shaky legs to strengthen and shot up as she snatched the phone from Dean’s hands. “What are you doing?” she snapped.

He looked at her as if she were insane. “I’m calling the cops. That guy was trying to kill you.”