Page 3 of An Eye For Illusion

I hear two women’s voices outside the office door. One of them is raised. Judging by the administrative assistant’s demeanor before, it isn’t hers. I set the picture down and make my way over to the chair across from the desk, sitting just as the large office door pushes open.

I turn in my seat to find a stern-faced blonde dressed in a navy skirt and matching blazer. Her skirt stops a few inches above her knee. The clack of her heels grows louder with every step. She damn near stomps toward me.

“Mr. Brooks, I didn’t call you here to ogle me,” she says as she stops right beside my chair.

The nerve of her to think I find her attractive. Taking in a client’s appearance is part of the job. Nothing more.

I stand, refusing to give her the impression she intimidates me. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Her shocked expression brings me more satisfaction than it should. I should be more interested in landing this case. Not just for myself but for Dunn Security Group. The more high-profile clients we represent, the better.

“Have a seat, Mr. Brooks,” she says dismissively.

She walks behind her desk, unbuttons her blazer, and takes a seat across from me. She crosses her long legs, leaning back in her chair as if she’s waiting for me to present a case for why she should hire me.

That isn’t how this works. She called Dunn for help. Liam chose me for the case. I won’t ask this overconfident trust fund baby to hire me. She needs my help, and I won’t try to sell her on it.

“You called us, Ms. Foster.” I remain standing, my hands clasped behind my back. The ball is in her court. I don’t need a thing from this woman. Least of all, an attitude.

She uncrosses her legs and shifts forward in her chair. She grabs the top of her desk with both hands and pulls her chair under it. My eyes travel from her face to her cleavage, her full breasts now greeting me.

She softly clears her throat. My eyes blink before turning my gaze out one of the floor-to-ceiling windows. I did get caught ogling that time, although I won’t admit it to her.

“Mr. Brooks, what I require of you is simple. I’m set to marry Elliott Moore in three short months. I’m not sure Elliott is the caliber of man who should marry into a family such as mine.”

I keep my face indifferent, but everything about this woman sets me on edge. “What I require of you…” “Caliber of man…” Who the fuck does this woman believe she is?

“What do you suspect Elliott is up to?”

“Well, I don’t know. That’s why I’m hiring you. That’s for you to find out and report back to me.”

“Most people don’t hire a private investigator without some sort of evidence or suspicion beforehand,” I explain.

She runs her hands through her long blonde hair. Her breasts shift with each movement she makes. She takes her time, smoothing out her hair before clipping it high on her head. Her soft curls fall around the clip.

“I’m not most people, Mr. Brooks. Do you want the job or not?” she asks in a no-nonsense tone as she lowers her hands back to her desk.

Do I want the job? No. Will I take the job? Yes. I’ll saddle myself with putting up with Jade Foster for Liam and for Dunn Security.

I blow out a breath, not giving a damn that she sees how annoyed I am with her already.

“Yes, I’ll do the investigation.” I don’t use the words she did. I’m working for her, and she wants me to know she’s the boss here.

She slaps the top of her desk with both hands. “Wonderful,” she says almost cheerfully.

She pulls a file from a drawer and stands, extending it to me over the desk. She leans forward much more than necessary for me to reach the file. Clearly, she wants me to “ogle” her, as she put it.

“Everything you need to investigate Elliott is in this file.” She gives me a wink as I take it.

Part of me wants to scowl, and part of me is a little turned on.

What the fuck?

I’ll admit that Jade Foster is an attractive woman, but the bite that accompanies her looks isn’t as attractive.

I flip open the folder and find all of Elliott’s personal information and calendar schedule for the next several weeks. She has everything—business meetings, a golf schedule, and even doctor’s appointments.

I close the file and look at her with a raised eyebrow. I’m not so sure she’s not a private investigator herself.

---