Chapter 4 #2
"They're not alive, either of them," she said, her brows knitting together as she gave me a quizzical look. Had I pushed too much in asking about them? Was she growing suspicious?
"Sorry, my mother never married, I didn't have a father growing up, so I was just wondering how it all worked. I'm sorry to hear they lost their parents," I said, trying to save face.
Macey nodded and focused on some papers before her. "I'm also sorry to hear that, although I'm sure your mother did her best raising you, you ended up going to college and seem like a nice, capable young woman. I guess we'll see just who you are and how well you fit with this company."
"Of course, so, what will I be doing exactly?"
Macey launched into an explanation of accounts payable, receivable, payroll systems, and specialized client invoicing.
I was just glad I'd refocused her attention from being potentially suspicious of me.
I needed to be careful and trust no one, not until I knew who my siblings were and what happened to my father.
The company structure was more complex than I'd expected, with numerous subsidiaries and partner businesses flowing into the main enterprise.
"Lion Freight Services is our largest subsidiary," Macey explained, pulling up a spreadsheet. "That's Grayson's primary focus. You'll handle their weekly reconciliation reports."
I nodded, mentally filing away this connection to my half-brother. At least I'd be working with his company's finances, even if I might not see him in person.
A knock at the door interrupted Macey's explanation.
Roman stood there with another man—taller, broader, with short dark hair and the kind of face that made you look twice.
His shoulders filled the doorframe, and the sleeves of his button-down shirt strained against muscular arms. What caught my attention most, though, were his eyes—dark and intense, like they could see right through me.
"Elena, this is Jackson Graves," Roman said. "He manages our IT department and is part of our security team. If you have any computer issues, he's your man."
Jackson stepped forward, extending a hand. "Ms. Peters."
When our hands met, an unexpected flutter raced through my stomach. His grip was firm but not aggressive, his palm warm against mine.
And damn it if he wasn't a delicious piece of eye candy. Ivy would have had a field day with him, trying to lure him into her web.
She's not here, thankfully.
No. He was not an option. I shoved that naughty hope down instantly. We had a job to do.
"Jackson's office is just down the hall," Roman continued. "He'll be setting up your computer access and showing you our systems this afternoon."
"I'll be around if you need anything," Jackson added, his voice deep and smooth. "Computer problems, printer issues, whatever comes up."
Yeah, he had to be married. There was no way he was taken. Not that I'd seen a ring. Again, I shouldn't have even been looking for one.
"Are you suggesting I'll break something on my first day?" I asked, attempting humor to mask the strange effect he was having on me.
The corner of his mouth twitched upward, not quite a smile but close enough to transform his serious face into something dangerously appealing. Curse him. "First days and technology rarely mix well. I'm just being prepared."
That almost-smile did something to my insides that I hadn't expected and definitely didn't want. I was here for a purpose, not to develop a crush on the IT guy. Even if he looked like he could hoist me over his shoulder and bring out all my wildest fantasies.
Yep, my mind was definitely going down the drain. Maybe the past few weeks had been too emotional and I was coming undone.
"I'll try not to crash your entire system before lunch," I promised, the words coming out as I tried to shut off my mind and scold my inner self.
"Appreciate that." This time the smile reached his eyes, creating small crinkles at the corners. "I'll be back at four to set up your accounts."
After they left, Macey raised an eyebrow at me. "Don't get any ideas about that one."
"What?" I felt heat rise to my cheeks. Of course she had seen it. Was it that obvious? "I wasn't?—"
"Every new female hire gets those ideas. Trust me, it never ends well. That man is devoted to his job and nothing else." She turned back to her computer. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, expense reports..."
Well… he wasn't married then.
Of course that was what I got from that statement.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of information, forms, and system overviews. By lunch, my head was swimming with account numbers and filing procedures. Macey sent me to the break room with directions to return in thirty minutes.
I took the opportunity to call my mother from my car instead.
"How's the new job?" she asked after I'd checked on her condition.
"Good so far. Henderson Financial Group seems like a solid company.
" The lie made my stomach knot, but it was necessary.
If she knew I was working for Donati Enterprises, she might google them and discover Meredith's connection.
From there, it wouldn't be hard to learn Meredith's maiden name was Cassaro.
I couldn't risk her uncovering my real motives, especially if she'd been hiding the truth from me, which I inwardly hoped wasn't the case.
"That's wonderful, honey. Is the pay what they promised?"
"Yes, and good benefits too." That part, at least, was true. The salary would help with her medical bills, even if that wasn't my primary reason for taking the job.
"I'm so proud of you, Elena. Always landing on your feet."
Guilt twisted in my stomach. "How are you feeling today?"
"Better than yesterday. The nurse said my numbers are improving."
We chatted for a few more minutes before I had to go. As I headed back to the office, I spotted Jackson coming out of what must have been his office. Our eyes met, and that same flutter returned to my stomach.
I reminded myself why I was here—to discover the truth about my father's death and hopefully secure some kind of compensation for my mother. Getting distracted by an attractive IT specialist wasn't part of the plan.
But as I watched him nod in acknowledgment before turning away, I couldn't help thinking that some distractions might be harder to avoid than others.
Especially with an ass that looked that good in dress pants.