Page 70 of Forbidden Desires

“You’re protecting her because she makes this business a lot of money.”

“I’m not going to lie, Emerson. Since she jumped on board, I’m certainly enjoying the newfound profits she’s bringing in. It’s business, I’m sure you can understand that. It’s why you’re here, after all. Unless you came all this way downtown just to see me.”

I stand, knowing I need to get Em out of here. She’s so angry, and going back and forth with him when he’s already agreed to help us isn’t going to change anything. “Thank you, Mr. Prescott.” I hold my hand out for him to shake, and he obliges. I offer a smile because I’m polite, not because I like the man.

“Nice seeing you again, Miss Alexander. I guess now I know how to get your attention.” He winks at her. Actually winks. I shake my head, not even able to comprehend what I’m seeing.

She scowls. “Don’t try it again. Gisele’s right, next time we get the lawyers involved.”

“If I were you, I would be asking myself who’s out to get you, because I can assure you, sweetheart, it’s not me. Someone within your organization is enlisting the help of Miss Turner to report on what they see. Might want to work out who.” His words are laced with poison, but both Emerson and I acknowledge that he's right. Someone wants to hurt the Alexanders.

Emerson seethes. “You must know exactly who she’s talking to. You could help us if you wanted to.”

"If you change your mind on that date, sugar, I'm sure I can jog my memory," he says with a devilish smirk, and even I want toslap him. What the hell is this guy playing at? Can’t he read the room? She hates his guts.

By the look on Emerson's face and the way her hands tremble as she snatches the folder back from him, I can see she’s about to throw a hissy fit, as Paisley would say. So, I grab her arm and pull her toward the door with me. “Thank you for your help,” I say over my shoulder as we march out the door and back to the elevator.

Once safely inside, I turn to her, taking her by each shoulder. “What the hell was that, Em?”

She’s furious, her breathing ragged, her hands balled into fists. “You can’t ever tell anyone what happened in that room today. Especially not Brody.”

I look her over. I don’t like keeping things from him, but that’s not my story to tell. “I won’t, I swear. I don’t think I even understand what happened.”

“We have history, and it’s not a good one. He was trying to get under my skin. Thank you for keeping a level head when I couldn’t,” she says, her words clipped she’s so worked up.

I take her hand. “Any time. Thank you for coming down here and helping me when it caused you so much stress. I’m so sorry we put you in this position. It wasn’t fair.”

“I did what I had to.” She squeezes my hand back, and I can see by the look on her face she knew he wouldn’t listen to anyone else. He’s doing this for her and her only.

“Do you need a hug?” I ask her, not sure how to broach this. She’s not touchy-feely like Mae, and even though I have confided in her as more than just my boss over the last few weeks, I’m still not sure if she’s the hugging type when she’s upset.

“Yes,” she whispers, sounding close to tears, and I wrap my arms around her, trying to offer some comfort.

The elevator comes to a stop, and she pulls back from me. “I’m so happy for you and Brody. He deserves an awesome girl likeyou in his life, and I’m pretty excited about the prospect of us being sisters one day,” she says, blinking away her tears.

I smile, so grateful for her support. She could have been awful about all of this since it affects her so much, but she’s been amazing. “I think you’re getting ahead of yourself, but I hope so. I really like him; he gives me butterflies.”

And he really does. I wouldn’t be going through all of this for some fling. He’s the real deal, I know it. He’s worth all the looks I got today and whatever comments I will have to deal with when I return to work tomorrow. Because what we have is something special.

Chapter 34

Brody

My uncle Oliver and his associate Bill take a seat in the meeting room where I have been waitingwith Emerson. By their solemn expressions, I already know I won’t like the results of his internal audit.

“Oliver, what can you tell us?” I ask, my knee bouncing under the table.

He adjusts his tie, an uncomfortable glance passing between him and Bill. “I brought you both in today to discuss my findings of the audit.” The two of them have been here for a week and a half going over every aspect of the business with a fine-tooth comb.

“Your initial thoughts were correct, money is disappearing. I’ve discovered what I think are two ghost employee contracts. Substantial sums of money being paid into two different accounts, as if the people are employees of this hotel. But before I take it any further, I need to make sure my findings are true.”

“What are their names?” asks Emerson.

“Shelana Caldwell and M.H. Caldwell,” says Bill, reading from his notes.

“Are they employees here, Em?” I ask my sister, still not sure of all our employees’ names myself yet.

She shakes her head, looking confused. “No, neither of them ring a bell.”

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