Page 6 of The Easy Way
He exchanged a glance with the tall, dark-haired bodyguard-slash-assistant who followed him everywhere, and the assistant nodded. “Next weekend, sir. We arrive a week fromtoday.”
“Good man, Jack,” Shaw said with a smile, patting the man on the shoulder. “Don’t know what I’d do without this guy, I reallydon’t.”
Jack looked at Cam intently, almost unnervingly so. The man was attractive, with blue eyes, tanned skin, and a distinctive mole beneath his eye that gave him a rakish look, but he wasn’t Cam’s type atall.
Jack winked and gave him a small smile. “I enjoy making myselfindispensable.”
Ugh.Definitely not histype.
Cam blinked and turned back to Shaw, so distracted by Jack’s weird look – was itflirtation? –he almost missed what Shaw had said. “St. Brigitte?” herepeated.
“Mm. The Tyndalls’ private island, for their annual charity do. I know for a fact you and Bas were invited. Good publicity for the companyandfor public servants like myself.” He winked atCam.
“No,” Cam said flatly. “I won’t be going. And I sincerely doubt Bas will either.” He didn’t think Bas had ventured out of his apartment inweeks.
Shaw sighed. “If I’ve told Sebastian once, I’ve told him a million times - you need to lean on the people around you in times of crisis! I really think I could be a help to you, Cam, if you let me handle some projects for you. I helped your dad found Seaver Tech, and I haven’t been out of the game very long, either.” He gave Cam the you-can-trust-me smile he’d used to win his Senate seat two years ago, just around the time he’d left his position atSeaver.
“And I’ll tell you the same thing Bas told you, Uncle Shaw,” Cam said coolly. “I appreciate the offer, but we’ve got things undercontrol.”
He knew Shaw meant well, but his constant offers of help over the past year had become grating - more like a condemnation of Cam’s ability than a sincere desire to help. Though maybe that was Cam’s own insecuritiestalking.
“You two are so stubborn.” Shaw shook his head with fond exasperation, and not a strand of his hair changed position. “I’m going to keep asking. And just wait until your Aunt Lucy hears you’ve refused our helpagain.”
Lovely. He couldn’twait.
Shaw turned to congratulate David Pearce on landing a new contract and Cam flagged down a waiter who scurried over to replenish hisdrink.
“Yeah, I was pretty thrilled it came through,” David was saying. “Especially given the possible FBI investigation. But Drew said it’s beenhandled.”
Cam’s attention was caught. “Investigation?”
David’s eyes widened and he glanced quickly from Cam to Shaw to Drew, who stood nearby talking to socialite Lydia Tyndall. “We received a notice from the FBI a couple weeks back about an investigation into a security breach originating at Seaver Tech. They were asking to talk directly to Sebastian, since he’s the CEO and head of development, so any security breach would be in hispurview.”
“Andmine.”
“Well, right, but…” David swallowed hard. “I tried to get in touch with Bas first. When he didn’t return my calls or emails, I worried the investigator would start calling my team, so I got Drewinvolved.”
Cam watched Drew shake Mrs. Tyndall’s hand and walk towards the main bar at the front of the room. “Did you.” It wasn’t aquestion.
“He sent them a letter, or whatever, but I don’t know whether they’re going to drop it.” He paused to lick his lips. “He sent out a company-wide memo saying nobody should allow FBI agents on the premises or answer any questions without consulting Legal first.” David glanced at Shaw again, then back to Cam. “I would have thought he’d have toldyou?”
Cam nodded, his eyes still on Drew. “So wouldI.”
“Likely he thought he was helping you out, my boy,” Shaw said jovially. “You’ve got too much on your plate. More than you can handle. It’s what friendsdo.”
No. Taking control without giving someone a choice wasnotwhat friendsdid.
Cam plastered a brittle smile on his face and excused himself from David and Shaw. Drew had gone too far, and it was past time they had areckoning.
God, what I wouldn’t give to have my parentshere.
The thought surprised him. It had been a long time since anything like that had popped into Cam’s head. After his parents died and Sebastian checked out, Cam had done a bunch of bargaining with the Universe.How do I do this job? Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.The Universe had sent him nothing but the echo of his dad’s voice:Seavers never back down,Camden.
It hadn’t been easy, but Cam had learned how to fake competence like a champ. He was not a self-made billionaire like his father, a tree-hugging philanthropist like his mother, or a tech genius like his brother, but he wasthe only goddamn Seaver in theroom.
Now, he carried the Seaver name before him like a shield, drew himself up to his full five-feet-ten, and locked eyes on his target at thebar.
