Page 22 of Ruthless Secrets
This time, she meets my gaze, and I decide then and there to tell her the truth.
Or at least part of it.
“No. It’s not a coincidence.”
Clara nods her head, and I can’t help but smile as I see her cheeks turn pink once again.
“So, I’ve heard very good things about your work ethic from a colleague of mine.”
“Really?”
“From the sounds of it, you seemed like you would make a great addition to my team, so I was interested in hiring you. Then I found out that you were the mystery girl in the wedding dress, and I wanted to hire you even more.”
“Oh…”
A crease appears between her eyebrows, and I laugh.
“Don’t worry, I expect nothing from you except focus and hard work. I am your boss, first and foremost.”
Clara glances at me, and I can’t help but notice the flicker of disappointment in her eyes.
Interesting…
Clara could only stayfor half an hour before she was due at work, which was probably for the best. Being around her was driving me crazy with lust, and it didn’t help that her eyes kept roaming over my body.
It was a good thing I put the bar between us so she couldn’t catch sight of the fact that I was rock hard the entire time.
Maybe offering her a job at Nox wasn’t the greatest idea.
After I finish up some meetings with the suppliers in the late afternoon, I leave the club in the hands of Levi and drive out to Westchester. My brother has invited me over to his place for our weekly dinner before our kid sister, Rosa, heads off to camp tomorrow for two weeks.
The fact that Rosa is going to be a high school senior in afew months blows my mind. I still remember the day my parents brought her home from the hospital like it was yesterday. There might be ten years between us, but we’re incredibly close.
I would do anything to protect my little sister, or my family for that matter. Ever since my parents died, the responsibility of the family has fallen to Andre and myself, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly.
My brother’s Westchester residence is the epitome of luxury, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, dark oak accents and expansive grounds. The estate once belonged to our parents, but Andre inherited it as the head of the family.
I can’t deny it’s the perfect place for him to settle into married life.
His wife, Lila, opens the door, and I’m greeted by a squeal from her one-year-old daughter, Holly, who’s balancing on her hip.
“How’s my favorite niece?”
Holly strains against Lila’s arms to get to me, and I laugh.
“I know you prefer me to everyone, but you shouldn’t make it so obvious.” I take the baby from Lila and lift her up onto my shoulders.
“She is a fickle child.” Lila chuckles. “Come on, dinner’s ready.”
I find my brother opening a bottle of wine in the dining room. He spies his daughter on my shoulders and rolls his eyes.
“You drop her, and you’re dead.”
“Your lack of faith in me is insulting.”
Lila shakes her head at us. She has settled into her role as my sister very well. It’s hard to think that she’s only been in our lives for a couple of years. It feels like I’ve known her my whole life.
Speaking of sisters, I glance around the room and notice Rosa is missing.
