Page 15 of Nanny for the Single Dad Cowboy
Zane raises an eyebrow. “Perfect is a good thing, Jace. You’re acting like she’s a threat to your empire.”
I grit my teeth, adjusting the chair to face him. “She might as well be. Her references check out, her résumé is flawless, but my gut? It’s screaming. Something’s wrong. I can’t shake it.”
Zane steps closer, shaking his head. “You’ve been burned before, I get it. But maybe it’s time to do more than stew about it. Why don’t you run a background check? Full sweep. Make sure nothing is hiding in the shadows.”
I pause, considering it. He’s right—he usually is. “Yeah,” I say slowly, my voice low. “I need to know exactly who I’m letting around the ranch, around our family. I can’t afford mistakes. Not after everything.”
Zane smirks again, this time with a hint of approval. “Then do it. If there’s nothing there, you’ll stop obsessing. If there is…” He taps the side of his head. “You’ll know before it becomes a problem.”
I nod, dismissing him with a wave. It’s time to dig, make sure I’m not being paranoid.
First, the basics: name, aliases, previous jobs. Everything comes back flawless. A résumé like hers should have some minor blemishes, a little messiness. Instead, it’s spotless, polished, almost unreal.
I pick up the phone. “Hello, this is Jace Morgan. I’m following up on a reference for Sienna Carter.” I keep my tone neutral.
The first reference is a calm, professional voice. “Yes, Mr. Morgan. How can I help you?”
“I just have a few questions about her work ethic, reliability, and anything you can share about her time with your company.”
“Oh, she was exemplary. Never a problem, always ahead of schedule, extremely professional. We were sorry to see her go.”
I hang up and run a hand over my face. Too perfect.
Next call.
“Hi, this is Jace Morgan again. Calling for a reference about Sienna Carter.”
“Ah, yes,” the voice says, a bit too friendly. “She was fantastic. Smart, capable, completely trustworthy. Honestly, one of the best we’ve had.”
I stare at the phone in my hand, jaw tight. Every reference is glowing. Too glowing. Something’s not adding up.
Leaning back in the wheelchair, I mutter under my breath, “You don’t just sweep through three references without a single slip unless you’re hiding something.”
I tap into some deeper databases, combing through online records. That’s when I start seeing the breadcrumbs—mentions of her last employer, AegisTech.
The name hits a nerve. I remember it from the conference—sleek, corporate, too polished. And the CEO, Richard. Yeah, that guy. He was a total dick.
And now, she’s tied to this mess? I scroll through the news articles, whistleblower reports, lawsuits filed, and boardroom meltdowns. Names, figures, shady deals—everything pointing to a company built on corner-cutting, lies, and intimidation.
I tap my fingers on the desk. Something isn’t adding up. Every reference has come back spotless, yet here she is, linked to one of the biggest corporate train wrecks of the last decade.
My gut churns, and I mutter under my breath, “You expect me to believe you had nothing to do with this?”
Even before I’ve confronted her, I know I need to get answers. And if she’s lying, she won’t like the consequences. I don’t care that we shared a night of passion once; my family comes first above all else.
I lean forward, tapping the phone again, dialing her line, summoning her to my office.
My hands rest on the wheels, fingers tightening, loosening, tightening again. I rehearse the words in my head, my voice low and controlled.
A knock on the door makes me tense. “Come in,” I say, keeping my voice steady, professional.
The door opens, and there she is. Pink hair pulled back, eyes alert, posture straight. She steps in carefully, scanning the room.
“Mr. Morgan,” she says, voice polite but wary.
I motion toward the chair opposite me. “Have a seat, Sienna.” My tone carries no warmth.
She hesitates, then slides the chair back and sits. I watch her. Every shift, blink, tiny tightening of her jaw tells me she’s aware of what’s coming.
