15
LINDEN
“Do you think it’s a smart idea?”
My mood went gloomy as I settled down to my chair, contemplating whether I should be offended or ignore the fact that Sax doubted my plan.
“Don’t you have work to do?”
“Just answer me why?”
“Are you threatened or something?”
He scoffed, and an arrogant smirk appeared on his lips. “Me? A loser like Quinn Hunter threatens Sax Ryder.”
When I smiled and grabbed the resume on my table, he just cursed. He knew Quinn was just standing behind him.
“He’s standing behind me, isn’t he?” When I ignored to answer his question, he turned to Quinn. “Hunter, welcome to Osmium.” He offered his hand. That was what I loved about Sax and Kye. They just talk, but nothing personal or serious competition around here. The job was a job.
“Thank you, Ryder.” Quinn shook Sax’s hand.
“Sorry that you have to hear that.”
“It’s all right. I’m a loser anyway.”
“No, you’re not. You’re about to work at Osmium. Your agency—”
“I think that’s enough, Sax. I have work to do. Get out of my office.”
“Right away, boss.” He saluted as he beamed at me before he walked out the door.
“Take a seat, Hunter.”
“Thank you.” He unbuttoned his jacket. He was well-dressed, I got that. Well-mannered as well. His record was spotless if his resume and recommendation letter were on point.
“Feelings aside, I’m going to hire you because you have an excellent record.”
“Three tours would make you tough, sir.”
I chuckled. “First, we don’t call sir around here. I may run the company, but we call ourselves by our surnames, or if you have a code name, that’s fine. They call me boss sometimes because we’re like family here. Call me Linden, Hunter.”
“Thank you, Linden.”
“I know we both started on the wrong foot, and you know how I feel about Estelle.”
He broke the gaze. “Yeah. I admitted, but she was okay with it.”
“I wouldn’t ask you about your deal with your old employer. You’re going to start fresh here.”
Jasper walked in. “Busy?”
“Hunter, this is Jasper Greer. The COO. Jasper, our new guy, Quinn Hunter.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Greer.”
“He’s quick to catch up,” he told me as he shook hands with Quinn. “Pleasure is mine, Hunter.”
“Report for the last exercise.” Jasper dropped another file on my desk before he left.
“Thanks.”
Then my assistant walked in. “You have a visitor.”
“I don’t expect anyone at this time.”
“You might wanna consider it.”
“Miss Padilla, right?”
Hope side-eyed me. “I like him already.”
“Drop the miss. Padilla or Hope is fine.”
“Padilla then.” Hunter smiled.
“Hunter, go to Jasper on the other side of the building for briefing. And please, don’t call this building donut.”
Hope laughed.
“This is too futuristic to be called a donut. Thank you, boss.”
Once he was out, I raised a brow at Hope.
“Right. I’ll let her in.”
“Her?”
“Yeah.”
I opened the file Jasper dropped on my desk. I checked the team’s performance. It was better than I expected. Well, when they have high-tech simulation training, tenacious and hard-working men, I shouldn’t have expected any less.
There was a certain change in the air, the fresh floral scent filling my nostrils that caught my attention.
The black stilettos were the first that caught my eye, then the very long legs up to the white corporate dress cut just an inch above the knees.
“Done checking me out?”
If there was a saying that air knocked out of my lungs, that was probably the precise words to say of how I felt right now as I lifted my gaze.
She looked professional, sophisticated, and classy. Her hair was in loose curls just below her shoulders. Only this time, I didn’t see the anger and disgust in those beautiful blue eyes. Her lips should be banned from wearing red lipsticks, but yeah, her company sold them.
“Take a seat. What can I do for you?” I tried to act professionally even if my hands tingled to cup her face and kiss those sinful lips.
“Thank you for taking my appointment.”
“I don’t know you’d in my schedule.”
“Sorry.” She suddenly moved in her seat, seemingly uncomfortable.
“It’s all right. You’re here now anyway. Can I get you something?”
“I’m good. I saw Quinn before I walked in. Thank you for giving him a job.”
“His reputation is excellent, but you’re not here to talk about Quinn, are you?”
“Yeah. I personally came to take your advice on my PPD.”
Why did she come if he could just ask someone to hire PDD for her? Maybe she wanted to see me after how she literally kicked us out of her house. And she was still wearing that ring.
“I’m listening.”
“I only need someone who can keep me safe, drive me to work and personal errands. I want just like Quinn.”
“Do you want Quinn back?”
“I don’t think he would want that,” she replied. Given the tone of her voice, she had already set aside our disagreement last weekend.
“He works in Osmium, but my plan for him is to put him on a Team.”
“Is that dangerous?”
“Our line of work is always dangerous because we put our lives at risk to protect our clients.”
“I want him to choose if you don’t have other recommendations. I want him to work for me because it’s his choice.”
I picked up the phone and dialed the COO’s office.
“Is Hunter with you?”
“Yes,” Jasper answered.
“Put him on the phone.”
“Boss?”
“When is your training schedule?”
“Next week. May I ask why?”
“I want you to drive our new client until your training. It’s just temporary for a week. By that time, I have someone assigned to her.”
“Is it Estelle?”
“Yeah. Do you have a problem?”
“Not at all.”
“But she wants you to choose. If you want it, take it. If not, fine by me.”
“Of course. I will always protect her.”
“Done. Come to my office.”
“What did he say?” Estelle had been listening to what I said over the phone.
“He’ll be here. Why do you want him back even if he betrayed you?”
“He was put in a tough position. I did that to him. It’s easy to judge someone without knowing the other side of the story. He lost his job because of me. When you said he was still redeemable last Saturday, I realized everyone should be given a second chance.”
A soft knock interrupted us.
“Come in.”
Estelle was quicker on her feet, smiling at Quinn. “Even just for a week until I find someone—”
“Done. How could I say no to you?” Quinn smiled at her.
“Thank you.”
“You’re always welcome.”
“I’ll prepare the necessary documents. Will be in your email later today,” I told Estelle.
“Thanks.” Her reserve was gone. She was beaming from ear to ear.
“How did you come here?”
“I’m capable of driving. I’m a good citizen, never been have even a parking ticket.”
When she stood, I quickly offered, “I’ll drive you to your office. Quinn still has papers to process.”
“That won’t be necessary.” She waved her hand
“Are you avoiding me?”
At the corner of my eye, Quinn hid his smile. “I’ll go back to work so that I can be in her office in the afternoon.”
“Go,” I dismissed Quinn while waiting for Estelle’s answer.
“No. I’m sure you have a lot of paperwork to do.” She looked at my desk. I did have, but I wanted to squeeze her out to tell me the truth about her engagement.
“That can wait.” I rose from the chair to button my suit and gestured to the door. “Shall we?”
Her eyes began to narrow. Her nose flared. “Fine.”
She looked around as we walked out of the massive hallway. “Interesting design. I like that lounge.”
“At least you didn’t say donut.”
“A classic, yeah.” She chuckled.
“You didn’t just say that.”
“It’s pretty awesome, actually.” She looked up at the glass roof.
“Bulletproof.”
“Of course.”
“Would you like a tour?”
“I’ve taken a lot of your time. Maybe next time.”
“Looking forward to it, that if your fiance will allow you to be here alone in the male dominant workspace.”
“He trusts me.” I followed her in the elevator.
“Do you trust him?”
Her cheeks turned red. “What kind of question is that?”
“A valid one. Considering what you said to me in Marettimo, I’d never imagined you would wear his ring. You, the strong-willed, resilient, sensible, passionate woman, would never accept his proposal.”
“Well, it’s not your decision to make, is it? You lost that chance when you chose your own stupid morale.” As soon as the elevator slid open, she walked past me, striding toward the parking lot.
“You said it yourself. You’re not ready to be in a relationship.” I followed her. I wanted her to admit that she just made a huge mistake in her life. “Estelle.”
She kept walking, but I also had long legs. I could keep up.
“For God’s sake, woman. Just stop and talk to me.”
She stopped and faced me. “Why? What can you do about it?”
“I don’t want you to regret your decision. You’re a fighter, Estelle. Fight it. You’re stronger than that. Fight them. Go against their will. This is your life, remember?”
“I can’t do it. I’ll lose half of the investors and don’t want to lose my company.”
“I don’t know Weston had a share.”
“I didn’t know my father and Weston would blackmail me. It was an empty threat at first until it wasn’t anymore. They would convince the other shareholders to back out if I won’t marry Klayton. I can afford to buy some shares, but not the reputation of Star LLC.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I ran away to think, to make some other plans. I talked to other LLC companies, but Weston and my father were way steps ahead of me.”
“When did he propose?”
“I have to go.” She walked away instead toward her car.
“Estelle, answer me.”
She unlocked the car and got in. It wasn’t me to give up easily on someone or something. I knocked on her window.
I was surprised that she didn’t drive off right before me. She slid the window down.
“When?”
She might have seen those emotions in my eyes when she looked at me. “What’s the point of this conversation, Gabriel?”
I smiled when she called me Gabriel again. I knew our connection was still there, brewing till it flowed. “I wanna know.”
“I love collecting statement jewelry. When I saw you with Willa before I found out she was your sister, I wore this.” She showed me the ring. “On my right. I honestly didn’t know what I was doing. It’s an instinct, I think. So when you asked, I kinda went overboard.”
Fuck me. My effort to know the truth was totally worth it. “So you’re not engaged?”
“I haven’t met my father or Klayton, but I’m having dinner with them on Friday.”
“Why the fuck would you have dinner with those assholes?” My mood soured as quicker as hers.
“If you have amazing ideas on how to stop it, now is the time to share them with the class, Gabriel. Otherwise, just shut up and let me be in hell.”
“Give me a week or two.”
“Time is not my luxury right now.”
“We’ll talk tonight over dinner.”
“No.”
“Just let me drive you.”
“No.”
“Then what do you want, Estelle?”
Bewildered, she stared at me. “Nobody asked me that.”
