Page 26 of Anti-Hero

He lifts a brow. “Is that a problem with your schedule?”

Yes. I’ve already got a packed agenda. Not only will I have to find time to review this information, but I’ll have to reschedule all my afternoon meetings. I’m talking to Kensington Consolidated’s COO right now though, not my dad.Yesisn’t the right answer. Or a possible answer.

“Not at all. What time is the meeting?”

“Three p.m.”

I nod. “I’ll have my assistant add it to the calendar.”

“Your assistant?” He glances at the empty desk outside my office.

I clear my throat. “Yes. She’s starting today.”

My dad nods. “Good. I’m glad you hired someone.” He heads for the door. “I’ll see you at the meeting?—”

“It’s Collins Tate,” I blurt.

He pauses. Inclines his chin. “What?”

“My new assistant. My new assistant is Collins Tate. Lili’s freshman roommate at Yale? She came to Lili’s graduation party? Her parents are both professors?—”

“I remember.” My dad finally cuts off what wasfartoo much information.

“The assistant position was only posted internally,” he continues. “How did she … ah. Lili?”

“Lili,” I confirm. I have no qualms about tossing the blame on my sister. Sheisthe reason Collins was hired. “She found out I didn’t have an assistant and knew Collins needed a job. She’d just moved to New York from Chicago.”

“Was she an assistant in Chicago?”

“She …” Honestly, I have no idea what Collins did in Chicago. “She’s smart, Dad. She’ll be fine.”

He appears unconvinced. “It’s an important role with a lot of responsibility. She’ll be managing your calendar, taking your calls, assisting with any projects?—”

“She’ll be fine,” I repeat.

“I know your sister is … willful?—”

I snort at the understatement.

A quick smile crosses my dad’s face. Lili’s a wrecking ball of willful.

“But she chose not to be involved with the company. The decisions you make here areyourdecisions, Kit, understood?”

I’m plenty capable of telling my sister no. Pretty muchhave a lifetime record of it. But if I say that, I’m worried my dad will wonder why I didn’t say no to her about Collins working for me.

And even though I spent the weekend second-guessing my choice to hire her, I’m also oddly panicked by the thought of hernotworking for me. I know Collins thinks pestering her for years was nothing but a game to me, but she’s wrong. It wasn’t entertainment, and it wasn’t simply about sex. Collins has never treated me like a blank check or stepping stone. Ilikeher, and that means I’d rather have her as my off-limits assistant than go another two years without seeing her.

“Hiring Collinswasmy decision,” I say firmly. “She’s competent and qualified, and she needed a job. And I’d prefer to work with someone I know than a complete stranger.”

He nods slowly. “Just be careful. Mixing the personal and the professional can get messy.”

I lift an eyebrow. “Which is why you work with your brother and hired your son?”

Dad grins. “Touché.” He starts toward the door again, only to stop and snap his fingers. “Before I forget, I’m supposed to tell you to be at your grandfather’s at seven sharp on Saturday.”

I sigh. I almost successfully forgot about that dinner. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Seven, Kit,” he reminds me sternly. “Don’t be late.”

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