7. NICO
7
NICO
" Y ou overpaid.” Seb kicks his feet up on my desk, sliding his hands behind his head. He looks casual, but his eyes narrow as he stares at me. “What were you thinking? I’m surprised you got it past the board.”
Seb has been pestering me about this since I added the extra ten million to the purchase price of Lansen, but I’ve given him the same answer every time. “ It’s a good business ”. I keep my words to a minimum so he can’t squirrel out whatever meaning he’s searching for, but the fucker won’t let up, especially not today, when the Lansen team is moving into our building. Jack and I managed to wrap up the deal in less than a month, and this day has careened towards me like a freight train.
I swipe my arm across the desk to knock his feet off. The shock of it nearly sends him flying out of the chair, but he grips the armrests and shoots me a death stare.
“If I didn’t know you better,” Seb says when he’s recovered, “I’d think a pretty face and a good pair of tits had you digging deep for that company.”
This irritates me. “That’s not how I do business.” I glance at my watch. Kate will be in the building in the next fifteen minutes.
Why am I thinking about her? It's not as though I don't have enough to occupy my mental space. It must be because the Lansen team is starting today.
But why do I feel so… on edge ? We’ve done buyouts before. This isn’t new.
Seb arches a brow. “I saw you out on the balcony with Kate at Jack’s party. It looked heated.”
I sigh, deciding to edge closer to the truth. “She was kicking her feet in. Didn’t want to sell her dad’s company. She would have done everything she could to stop Jack selling up. And you know how much he adores her. He might have let her sway him. I’m thinking of taking her to lunch today. See if we can sort things out.”
Seb purses his lips, but before he can say anything else, his phone pings.
“Shit,” he says as he reads the screen. “Matt’s downstairs. He’s got Charlie with him.”
“Why?”
Seb scrunches his face. “Where’s your head at? He’s here for work experience. Matt wants him to spend the summer in the office.”
I can’t believe I forgot. I pull my phone out of my pocket to see seven missed calls from Matt. He’s heading to New York today, and if he realises I forgot about Charlie joining us, he won’t be happy.
Together, Seb and I head for the lift and take it down to the lobby.
Matt is standing off to one side, near the sofas. Charlie is lounging on one, arms spread across the back. He might be dressed in a suit, but his body language tells me he doesn’t want to be here.
When he sees me and Seb crossing the lobby, he peels himself off the sofa and stands.
I’m struck by how tall and gangly he is for a fifteen-year-old. He’s good-looking, but his skin is pale and speckled with acne. The blue hair is gone, leaving only a shaved head, which makes him look emaciated.
He traipses towards us. “Hey, Uncle Nico. Uncle Seb.”
“Hey, big guy,” Seb replies, giving Charlie a fist bump. “Good to see you’re sober this time.”
Charlie cringes. “Don’t remember seeing you.”
Seb laughs and Matt scowls.
“And the hair,” I add. “Did you shave it yourself?”
“I did,” Matt says.
Charlie throws his dad a resentful look, and I wonder how Matt shaving Charlie’s head played out. I’m guessing it didn’t involve a relaxing head massage.
Seb nudges Charlie. “Kept the tongue piercing, though?”
Charlie gives his first little smile, and it’s only for Seb. He pokes his tongue out, briefly flashing the piercing. “Yup.”
Matt puts his hand on Charlie’s shoulder and Charlie winces a little at the contact. “Go get signed in. Get your office pass. They’ll sort you out at the desk.”
Charlie trudges towards the reception desk, leaving the three of us alone.
“I need you to watch him while I’m away,” Matt tells me.
Uh-oh . Something’s up. Matt’s often abroad, but in the months I’ve been back in London he’s never asked me to take a particular interest in Charlie. I’m not the type to babysit.
“No blue hair. No piercings. No alcohol,” Matt clarifies.
“Where’s Gemma?” I ask. “Shouldn’t his mum be the one to watch him?”
“She’s at home, in the Kensington house. But can you keep an eye out when he’s in the office? I know he’s young, but it’ll keep him out of trouble while I’m away.”
“Fine,” I say, although I’m not fully concentrating. I’ve half a mind on the fact that Kate Lansen’s going to be arriving any minute now. My gaze drifts to the entrance.
“Are you sure?” Matt asks.
I drag my eyes from the doors back to Matt, who’s glaring at me like I’m the kid not listening at the back of the classroom. I collect myself instantly. “Yes. Definitely. I can do that. Watch out for Charlie in the office. Don’t let him get into trouble.”
Matt sighs, sounding relieved. “Good.” He checks his watch. “I don’t have long. Flight’s in two hours.”
Matt stops talking as Charlie returns. A green lanyard hangs about his neck with an office pass attached to it.
“You’re with us for a couple of months, then?” I check, directing myself to Charlie.
“Yup. All summer.” Charlie gives a cocky twitch of the head. “Beats hanging out with Dad. Not that he gave me a choice.”
I nod, like this makes total sense, even though there’s a lot about the statement that raises questions. “What are you most looking forward to?”
Charlie’s gaze flicks towards the entrance. His jaw falls open and I’m pretty sure he forms the word ‘ wow ’, although he doesn’t make a sound. “Who is that ?” he asks.
I glance over to see Kate walking into the building, and a rush of heat assaults me. She looks even better than she did at the party. How she makes a pencil skirt and white shirt so damn sexy, I have no idea. If I weren’t acutely aware of Seb watching me for a reaction, I’d probably be gawking just like Charlie.
“That’s Kate Lansen,” Seb says coolly. “Our newest recruit.”
“Oh, that’s her?” Charlie says it like he’s heard her mentioned before. It makes my hackles rise. “She is hot as—”
“Watch your mouth,” I snap. “You talk like that about a colleague in the office and I’ll fire your arse faster than you can say ‘ hot as fuck ’.”
Charlie tilts away from me, eyes widening. Next to him Matt straightens, surprised by my vitriol, but then gives a tense nod to signal he agrees with my reprimand.
“Shit, Nico,” Seb mutters. “The kid just got here. Cut him some slack.”
Charlie shifts awkwardly on the spot, mumbling, “Dad said the same thing.” He glares at Matt, his voice clearer when he adds, “You said Kate Lansen was gorgeous—”
“Enough.” Matt booms, before lowering his voice. “In the office, we don’t comment on people’s appearance. It’s a hard rule.”
“Actually, I’d call it a flexi-rule,” Seb interjects. “If I’m about to go into a meeting with my fly undone, you can definitely comment.”
I’m not sure anyone hears Seb apart from me, because Charlie and Matt are too busy glaring at one another, which is just as well because if Charlie comments on Kate again, I’ll wring his neck. I don’t know why, but hearing him call her ‘hot’ as if she’s nothing more than a teenage boy’s pinup irked me.
Matt beckons one of the receptionists over. She rushes out from behind the desk and Matt instructs her to take Charlie up to his desk to meet his new team.
When they’re gone, Matt turns to me and Seb. “If he acts out, or messes anything up, I’ll make it up to you, I promise. But please, I need you both to swear you’ll be there for him if he needs you.”
Seb and I share a glance, and I’m pretty sure he’s thinking the same as me. What the hell are we signing up for ?
I want to say no, but Matt is looking so desperate that I can’t deny him. “Sure.”
“Absolutely,” Seb agrees.
“Great. I owe you. I’ll see you in a few weeks.” Matt bids us farewell and heads outside, where a car is waiting to take him to the airport.
I look at Seb. “Did he sound weird to you?”
Seb pouts his lower lip. “A bit. He’s been anxious about heading back to the States and leaving the kids with Gemma. Charlie’s a handful, sure… but Lucie’s only three. How hard can that be?”
Just as I’m wondering what’s going on in Matt’s private life, Seb nudges me and points at where Kate is standing, talking to her brother, Jack, who’s just arrived. “Go on then.”
I’m tempted to tell Seb to shut the fuck up because his knowing glances and smirks are dangerously close to teasing and that pisses me off, but it’s not worth my time. There’s nothing here to tease about. Kate hates me. But the least I can do is be polite.
I walk towards the Lansens with Seb at my side.
“Morning, Jack,” I announce, setting a professional atmosphere from the get-go. Kate, her back to me, goes rigid.
“Nico.” A wide smile spreads over Jack’s face as he takes my hand and shakes it vigorously. “Didn’t realise you’d be in the office in person.”
“Where else would I be?” I answer casually.
Slowly, Kate turns to face me. I don’t miss the way her eyes rake over me in what appears to be appreciation before she throws a frosty glare my way. It’s enough to give me whiplash.
Seb greets them both with equal enthusiasm, before drawing Jack away towards the lifts.
Subtle, Seb .
Left alone, Kate and I stand in awkward silence. I’m painfully aware of the way her breasts move beneath her silk shirt with each inhalation. The neckline exposes an irresistible hint of cleavage, and I have to drag my gaze away.
It won’t do me any fucking good to be staring at a woman I can’t touch.
“Little K.”
“Not in the office, Mr. Hawkston.” Her lips curve as if she’s delighted with herself at having dared to correct me.
I bow my head in apology. “Where then, Miss Lansen?”
Kate’s eyes widen.
Fuck. Did that sound suggestive? I meant to say something respectful, but apparently my brain-to-mouth connection is faulty. My imagination, however, is working perfectly to create a list of alternative locations, all of which are lewd as fuck.
Kate doesn’t move. Is she waiting for me to explain myself? I don’t know whether to apologise or pretend I never said it, so I say nothing. I keep my expression neutral and stare at her, and she stares back.
My pulse beats in my neck like the repeated thwack of a blunt guillotine.
I have no idea how long we stand like that, or if we’re standing too close. She’s warping my perception of time and space. Everyone in the building could be staring at me right now, and I wouldn't have a clue. Wouldn’t even care.
All of a sudden, Kate turns and marches towards the lifts without another word.