Page 5 of Miss Treated

“What time would you like to get lunch?”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” With apparent difficulty, she tore her gaze from her screen.

Huh. This was a first. Not as though I had an overinflated ego about it, but I never had to struggle for a woman’s attention. I fought my smile. “I asked what time you would like to get lunch?”

“We could skip lunch if you’d like.”

My brows shot up. Perhaps she was still uncomfortable over our impromptu meeting. “If you’re embarrassed over what happened in the lobby, I apologize. Wasn’t my intent to flirt over a feminine hygiene product.”

A pretty blush stained her cheeks. “No, it’s fine. I just meant you don’t have to spend the time taking me to lunch.”

“I know I don’t have to, but I’m already on thin ice because I haven’t toured you around the office yet. I’d hate to be out of a job for not taking you to lunch.”

Her expression was dubious. “Your own father would fire you?”

Wishful thinking. “No, much worse. He’d lecture me. Not only him, but then my mother would get involved saying I had bad manners. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

She sighed. Not the kind like “isn’t he adorable.” Nope, it was pure exasperation, not unlike my father’s sighs. “Noon is fine. Shall I meet you downstairs?”

So much for flirting. Then again, for all I knew, she had a boyfriend. “Yeah, I’ll meet you in the lobby at noon.”

Chapter Three

Kelsey

I didn’t have time for distractions. Especially when they came in the form of a finely tailored suit, sandy hair, and big brown eyes.

Thus far, Dominic had been nicer than I’d expected. I’d been around plenty of spoiled, rich kids growing up. Most of them had turned into entitled, asshole adults. But just because he wasn’t didn’t mean he was free of those rich-boy airs. I’d had enough of people who focused on money, titles, and if they belonged to the right country club.

Fine, I do the meal because it was expected. Lunch would surely involve an overpriced salad at an overpriced restaurant where I’d be forced to make frivolous small talk, and count the minutes until I could get back to work.

By mid-morning I’d set up email, obtained system access, and gathered the last five years of reported financials. Now that I knew fraud was suspected, I’d spend the rest of today plotting out the high-risk areas. This included petty cash, cash receipts, otherwise known as client payments, the setup of vendors in the system, and the payments to those vendors. On the billing side, I’d look at write-downs, and applications of retainers.

I was deep in the company’s chart of general ledger accounts when a knock sounded on the door. “Yes,” I answered without looking up.

“You standing me up for lunch?”

I glanced up to see Dominic leaning against my doorframe. He wore an amused expression. A glance toward the clock revealed it was ten after noon. Crap. “I apologize. I must’ve lost track of time.” I locked my computer, shoved my notebook into my backpack, and stood up in order to go.

“You’re taking your entire backpack with you?” he queried.

I put it down, feeling silly. No, I didn’t suppose taking my things was necessary. Instead, I locked the office door behind me.

He whistled low. “Sure you’re not with the FBI?”

“Of course not. I’m just careful with my stuff.”

He chuckled. “Very well. I have two options for you, but one will require a white lie on your part.”

“Pardon?”

He didn’t answer while we were together in the elevator, but once we were in the lobby, he looked over with what I now privately dubbed the “pretty-boy grin.” Good grief, that thing should be registered as a lethal weapon. I could only imagine how many panties had been charmed off with it.

“Trust me?”

My brows shot up. “I hardly know you.”

He threw his head back, laughing. “All right, let me break it down. We can go to this pretentious restaurant around the corner where upper management takes all the new hires. Linen tablecloths, overpriced menu items, and portions so small I’ll have to hit the vending machine by four o’clock. Or we could go to a more casual place with the best fish tacos in all of San Diego.”