AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She hurries to her desk, tapping at the keyboard to wake the computer. “I know, but I really prefer to be early.” She pauses the flurry of motion to smile at him, then aims the smile to include us both. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” says Finn. I just nod and turn, ready to shut the door to my office. It’s too much. I need to pack it in.
The main office doorknob rattles, and someone pounds on the door.
Finn is there the next second, already urging Natalie back, waving her toward my office. She comes to stand next to me. I fight the urge to grab her hand.
We hadn’t discussed unexpected guests, so I have no idea what Finn wants us to do. People very rarely come to our office without an appointment.
Finn cracks the door, leaning into the gap.
“May I help you?”
“Who the hell are you? And why the hell are you blocking the door?” booms an irritated voice I know all too well.
“It’s okay, Finn,” I say, gesturing for him to open the door. He steps back, letting go just as Nicolas Pendergrass Sr. shoves the door open, only just missing Finn’s arm as he backs quickly out of the way.
“Not good business, having your door locked during business hours, Nic. You’d know that if you’d come to work for me.”
“Good morning, Dad,” I say. “Come on in. We were just about to open.” I hold out my arm, hoping he’ll follow me and ignore everybody else. No such luck.
“Who’re you?” he asks, glaring at Finn.
“This is Finn,” I say, thinking fast. “My next-door neighbor.”
Finn glances my way and catches on quickly, thank God. “Finn Hale,” he says, offering his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir. I just stopped by to see if Nic needs me to check on his cat again this week.”
Dad shakes his hand, but his attention has already moved on. “And who is this lovely creature? Shame on you, Nic, you didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend.”
“This is Ms. Casteel,” I say coldly. “My assistant. Come on back; we can talk in my office.”
Dad doesn’t take the hint, walking over to Natalie’s desk and offering his hand. I can see her struggle with not wanting to take it but also not wanting to be rude. She shakes his hand. He holds on too long, and a red haze begins to form in front of my eyes.
“Dad!” I say, loud enough to startle everybody. Whoops. Too bad. “You haven’t seen my new artwork. Let me show you. It’s back here.”
That works, finally. After a lingering glance at Natalie that makes me want to punch something—maybe my own father, his age be damned—he finally comes through to my office. I shut the door firmly behind him.
“Good Lord, Nic, you’ve been keeping secrets.” He clucks his tongue at me and wags his eyebrows. “Can’t say I blame you. She is one tasty little thing, isn’t she? I bet she’s?—”
“You will please refrain from speaking that way about my employee,” I say, as firmly as I can manage without shouting at him. I’ve managed to keep him out of the office for the last year by always meeting him somewhere else. It’s been easy to convince him it’s more convenient for me to come to him, which usually has the added benefit of being true.
“Make sure you don’t leave what’s-his-name alone with her too long,” he says, pointing at the door. “He might get there before you do. ’Course, some women are worth it.” He chuckles. “And I bet she’s?—”
“What brings you out here so early?” I ask, hoping both to distract him and to get this over with as fast as possible. “I could have met you for lunch. Is Mother okay?” The thought has my stomach clenching.
“Your mother is fine,” he says, rolling his eyes. No such enthusiasm for thoughts of his wife. Of course not. “That’s not why I’m here. I’m here about your brother.”
I frown. “Is he all right?”
“Well, I don’t know, do I? I haven’t heard from the little prick since he borrowed ten grand off me last month. That’s why I’m here, Nicky. Tell me where he is.”
I shift papers around on my desk for no other reason than to remind him that I work here and that I should probably do something that might help me pay the bills at some point this morning.
“I told you the other day, I haven’t talked to him.”
Dad catches it this time, his ears pricking up at my words. I should know better than to use the same phrase every time.
“You haven’t talked to him? Or you haven’t heard from him?” he asks pointedly. I sigh.
