by Chloe Lang
Izzy saw how Tom and Lyle leered at Brandi’s ass. No wonder. Brandi couldn’t have been over twenty-eight and had a perfect figure.
Brandi led them into the man’s corner office, which was massive. The view of downtown could be seen from the floor-to-ceiling glass walls.
Talking on the phone, Mr. Moody sat behind his desk. He motioned for the three of them to take a seat. “Get the shipment sitting at Tibury to its destination ASAP. Understand?”
Tom and Lyle took the chairs right in front of the desk, leaving her the sofa, which was to the side. The pissing match was already beginning and she was coming out the loser.
“Kenneth Mason is my man on the ground there,” Moody continued. It was obvious to her that he was used to getting his way. “See him. He’ll know what to do.”
The door opened and two extremely attractive men entered the office, each carrying some files. Tom and Lyle took little notice of the duo, keeping most of their focus on Mr. Moody. But she couldn’t seem to stop staring at them. They were mirror images of one another—twins, no doubt. They each had thick black hair. Their dark eyes mesmerized her. Six-three or six-four in height, filling out their gray suits perfectly.
I would love to know what is under their clothes. Muscles for days, I’m sure. Oh my God, Izzy, stop it. They were too young for her, but they might not be too old for her daughter, Gabby.
And then the two gorgeous beasts were standing right in front of her.
“Do you mind if we sit next to you, my lady?” The one to her left smiled and bowed.
The one on her right also bowed. “Or are you saving the sofa for another?”
She grinned at their antics, which made her feel a little less nervous about the meeting. “Please, my lords. The seats are yours.”
They each kissed the back of her hand, giving her butterflies.
I need to get a grip. I’m at least ten years older than they are.
Moody held his hand over the speaker of his phone. “Boys, this is a business meeting, not a renaissance faire.”
“Please.” She started to scoot from the middle to the side of the sofa, but before she could, the two of them sat down on either side of her.
Mr. Moody’s voice rose as he continued his call. “No arguments. Just make it happen.” After hanging up the phone, the man turned to them. “So let’s get down to work. My time is money.”
She had an instant dislike for the man, but he was an important client. Her feelings weren’t going to get in the way of her doing her job.
Moody handed a folder to Tom. “There are three confidentiality agreements inside. I’ll need the three of you to sign them before we can proceed.”
“Shouldn’t we introduce ourselves before papers are signed?” the other handsome twin asked. He and his brother might be too young for her but she couldn’t help but like their manners and style.
“Fine.” Moody seemed irritated but didn’t push back at him, which seemed a little odd. Maybe her first impressions about Moody’s personality were wrong. “I’ll go first. I’m William Moody, CEO of GWI. These are my two nephews, Clay and Jay Gibbs—Vice President of Marketing and Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions respectively. And you three are?”
Tom leapt to his feet and shook Moody’s hand. “I’m Thomas Kinder, the lead of the team, sir. It’s a pleasure to be working with you.”
Lyle stood as well, offering his hand to Moody. “I’m Lyle Gibson, sir. It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve been following GWI for years now.”
As Lyle continued the sucking up, she ventured another glance at Clay and Jay Gibbs. God, they are gorgeous. They could be male models, if they weren’t sporting the name of one of the largest companies in the country.
“Miss?” Clay looked at her with his big dark eyes.
“Yes?”
“Everyone else has introduced themselves but you.”
Oh God, I wasn’t paying attention. “Of course,” she said in her most professional tone. “I’m Isabella Clemens, but you may call me ‘Izzy.’ That’s what my mother called me, except when she was angry with me.” Stop rambling, Izzy.
Clay and Jay smiled at her, which only made them look more appealing.
“Now that the introductions are done, let’s get down to business,” Moody said. “Tom, give your two associates the paperwork.”
“Yes, sir.” Tom handed one to Lyle first and then to her last.
“It’s your typical confidentiality agreement.” Moody’s impatience was obvious. It was clear he wanted to get this meeting over with as quickly as possible.
She looked at the page but the letters were blurry. “I need my glasses.” She reached in her purse and began unloading its contents on the coffee table in front of her, Clay, and Jay. “I know they’re in here.” The pile began to grow as she brought out her makeup, her keys, some tissues, several receipts, and her checkbook. But still no reading glasses.
Jay grinned. “Next time Clay and I have to pack for a trip, we’re calling you, Izzy. How in the world does all that stuff fit in your purse?”
“Magic.” She laughed just as her fingers found her glasses. “Here they are.” Then her cell rang. Great first impression. “I’m sorry. I should have turned that off.”
“Yes, you should have,” Tom scolded.
She looked at the screen. “It’s my daughter. Let me text her that I’m in a meeting and will call her back.”
Moody was staring at her, which made her nervous. What was he thinking? “Go ahead, Ms. Clemens.”
Tom and Lyle glared at her. She had no doubt they would report her actions to Mr. Jenkins the moment they returned to the office.
As fast as she could, she typed, Honey, I’ll call you back. In a meeting.
Okay, Mom, Gabby sent back.
She turned her cell to silent and looked up from her screen. “No more interruptions. I promise.”
“Are you sure you shouldn’t have taken that?” Clay asked her.
“It might have been an emergency,” Jay said.
“Oh no. Gabby would’ve typed 9-1-1 if it had been urgent.” She couldn’t get over how nice these two gorgeous men were being. They seemed genuinely concerned and interested in her. She put on her glasses and began reading the agreement Moody had given her, Tom, and Lyle.
Tom shook his head, the disgust on his face as clear as could be. “You don’t have to read this, Isabella. We always have to sign papers like this. Mr. Moody is very busy, and you’ve already taken up too much of his time.”
“Mr. Kinder, it is always best to read a document before you sign it.” Jay had come to her defense.
Tom instantly backed down.
Clay turned to her and smiled. “Izzy, take all the time you need.”
He and Jay were true gentlemen. Any woman would be lucky to date one of them.
“Thank you.” She tried to get a better read on Moody.
The man looked at her strangely, as if he were trying to read her thoughts. “Take your time, miss.” Moody clicked a button on his phone. “Brandi, cancel my next appointment.”
As quickly as possible she scanned the document. “Seems to be in order.”
“Then sign it,” Lyle snapped at her.
“I need a pen.” She looked over the contents of her purse, which were still laid out on the coffee table. There wasn’t a pen in sight. “I know I have one.”
Jay laughed and reached into his suit coat and produced a pen. “Use mine, Izzy. Please.”
She couldn’t stop staring into his and Clay’s eyes every chance she got. I’m being ridiculous. “I appreciate it.”
She signed the paperwork.
“Allow me.” Clay held out his hand. “I’ll hand it to my uncle.”
She smiled and gave him the signed document. Mr. Moody was more age appropriate for her. Even though he was a nice-looking man, his personality was less than charming. She had always been a sucker for a man who could make her laugh. That definitely wasn’t something Moody was capable
of, but his good-looking nephews were.
Moody glanced at the agreements that she, Tom, and Lyle had signed. “Everything is in order. Let’s get right to it.” He turned to Clay and Jay. “Tell them what you have discovered.”
The twins handed her, Tom, and Lyle thick files and explained that there was a discrepancy in two of GWI’s field offices.
“Chicago and London each have several GWI warehouses.” Jay’s tone was serious. Gone was the levity he’d entered the room with. “Most seem perfectly normal. The inventories fluctuate up and down.”
Clay nodded, clearly just as concerned with the business at hand as Jay. “Each city has a single warehouse that is out of the ordinary from all the rest. We can find where inventory is going in but we can’t find any report that shows where it’s going out.”
“Have you contacted any GWI personnel to check on those warehouses?” she asked them.
Tom glared at her. “That’s putting the cart before the horse, Isabella.”
“I disagree,” Clay said. “Because that’s exactly what we did, Mr. Kinder. The funny thing is no one in London or Chicago seemed to be aware that these two warehouses even existed.”
“We sent someone in each city to check on the warehouses,” Jay said. “But both were locked down with no access that either man could find.”
“Do you believe that someone on the inside is embezzling from GWI?” Lyle asked.
“It’s possible,” Clay said. “We just don’t know.”
“Or it might be that the report that tracks these two warehouses has fallen through the cracks,” Moody offered. “We have tens of thousands of reports at GWI. We just went through a major restructuring. That’s why you three are here. We want you to find those missing reports so that we can clear this whole mess up.” He punched his button. “Come in here, now.”
“Yes, sir,” Brandi answered through the intercom.
When she stepped into the office, Moody motioned her to his desk. There was no respect for her from him, but Izzy couldn’t miss how flagrant his gaze moved up and down the young woman. The man was a complete ass.
Tom and Lyle were checking her out again.
God, men can be such pigs. But Clay and Jay seemed to be the exception. They weren’t looking at Brandi. They’re looking at me.
“I want you to book flights for Mr. Kinder and Mr. Gibson on the next flight to Chicago.” Moody looked at her two co-workers. “That won’t be a problem, will it? I want you on this ASAP.”
“No, sir. I was just wondering about Isabella,” Tom said. “You won’t be needing her, I assume.”
“On the contrary,” Moody said. “I’m sending her to London, along with my nephews.”
“Sir?” Tom and Lyle said together, obviously as shocked as she was by what the man had said.
She turned to Jay and Clay, who were staring at her with broad smiles. Oh, boy. I’m in trouble. How was she going to keep things professional with them when they would be spending so much more time together? How long would they need to stay in London? Until the job is done, Izzy, that’s how long.
Seeming quite pleased with himself, Moody leaned back in his chair. “Of the three of you, I am most impressed by Ms. Clemens, and I will communicate that to Mr. Jenkins. If there is embezzling going on, which I doubt, it will likely be centered in London.”
“Mr. Moody, that is why you should send me and Lyle.” Tom was agitated by the man’s declaration. “I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot, but trust me, Isabella is new to the firm. Despite her age, you should know that she only graduated six months ago. She’s very capable of small jobs, especially with the right supervision, but she doesn’t have enough experience to tackle such a vast issue as this.”
“I’ve made my decision, Mr. Kinder. Ms. Clemens is the lead for this project. You and Mr. Gibson will be reporting to her. That’s final.” Moody turned to her. “How long do you need to pack, young lady?”
Young lady? Now he’s turning on the charm. Why? “I can be at the airport ready to go in a couple of hours.” That was pushing it, but she wanted to let all of them know that despite what Tom had said, she was ready to tackle this project head on.
“Nonsense,” Moody said. “You may be in London for several weeks. You’ll need plenty of time to pack. Tomorrow is soon enough.” Moody looked at his secretary. “Arrange for Clay, Jay, and Ms. Clemens to take the corporate jet to London. Also, have a car ready to pick her up at her home and take her to the airport.”
“Yes, sir.”
Corporate jet? Izzy could see the jealousy all over Tom and Lyle’s faces.
“After you finish with that, get Alberto on the line.”
“Of course.” Brandi left the room.
Tom sighed. He’d lost the war. She was being given a chance to prove herself, thanks to Moody.
Maybe I have been misjudging him. “Why do you think London is the key and not Chicago?” she asked the man.
“Good question, Ms. Clemens. London is outside the United States and farthest from GWI’s home offices. That is why it is the key,” Moody stated in a matter-of-fact tone. “Plus, we just acquired the company in London last spring. Chicago has been part of our family for over three years. If someone is stealing from my company, they will be conducting the operation from London.”
Brandi’s voice could be heard through the intercom. “Alberto is on line one, sir.”
“Good. I’m sending out the accountants and Clay and Jay to your desk.”
“Yes, sir. I’m making the arrangements now.”
“Keep me informed of every step of this project.” Moody brought his phone to his ear and turned his chair around. “Hola, Alberto. Como esta?”
They’d been dismissed without so much as a “thank you” or “I look forward to working with you.” Nothing.
Walking out of the office with the four men, she realized her first impression about Mr. Moody had been correct. He was an ass. But that ass had given her a chance of a lifetime, and she meant to do the best job she could.
The five of them stood in front of Brandi’s desk as she finished booking their travel. Clay and Jay stood on either side of her, which was causing the butterflies they’d given her earlier to stir inside her.
Brandi printed out Tom and Lyle’s itineraries and confirmations first. “All set, gentlemen.”
Tom turned his attention from Brandi to her. “Isabella, Lyle and I will be in Chicago by eleven tonight. Since you won’t be leaving until the morning, I want us to go back to our offices so we can plan our strategy for this project.”
“That won’t be necessary, Tom. Tomorrow, you report to the GWI office in Chicago and wait for my instructions. I’ll contact you and Lyle once I get settled in London. Then I’ll let you know how we will proceed.”
Tom’s eyes narrowed and his face darkened. “Look, Isabella, don’t be—”
“I think you heard the lady, Mr. Kinder,” Clay said firmly.
“Izzy is in charge of this project,” Jay added. “As my uncle said. That’s final.”
She smiled as Tom and Lyle walked away. She felt empowered and on top of the world. This was her chance, the one she’d been waiting for.
“Izzy, since we’re going to be spending a lot of time together for the next week or so at least, how about Jay and I take you to lunch?”
“Great idea, Clay.” Jay grinned. “That way we can have a chance to get to know each other better. What do you say, my lady?” He bowed once again like he and Clay had done earlier in Moody’s office. “Would you grace these two humble knights with your company over a delicious meal?”
Clay joined in the fun and bent at the waist, grabbing her hand. “I knowest a fine establishment that is fit for a princess of your caliber. Haveth thy heard of the Burger King?”
She laughed. “How can I refuseth such honorable knights?”
They each offered her their arms and the three of them walked out of the building together.
She tried to remind h
erself that they were much too young, but her heart kept arguing that they were perfect for her. Oh Izzy, you better be careful with these two or you will get into trouble.
Chapter Three
Jay loved the feel of Izzy’s arm against his. God, she is gorgeous.
Her long blonde hair accentuated her green eyes beautifully. The top of her head came to his shoulder, making her appear five-foot-eight—but she did have on six-inch red stilettos. She was petite. Dripping wet she couldn’t be more than 110 pounds. She was a woman comfortable in her own skin. He loved how she’d handled herself with her two co-workers. They were both pricks, but she didn’t let them get to her. She took charge.
Izzy was the total package of what he liked in a woman. She was perfect for him, and he could see that Clay felt the same way about her. He and his twin had shared women before, but no one as beautiful as her.
“My lords, we passeth the wonderful fine dining Burger King.” Her sense of humor kept him smiling, and her voice was like silk to his ears. “What sayeth thou?”
He and Clay laughed.
Clay had texted him while Izzy had been talking with her two co-workers with the plan. Burger King had only been a ruse. They wanted to impress her.
“Sir Jay and I haveth decideth to taketh thee to Dos Hermanos.”
She giggled. “You sound like you have a speech impediment, Sir Clay. But I didn’t think Dos Hermanos was open for lunch, only dinner.”
“That’s correct, but we know the owners, Izzy.” Jay took her hand and lightly squeezed it. “They’re opening up just for us.”
“Wow. That is remarkable, guys.”
When they got to the entrance of the restaurant, he pulled on the handle of the door. It was locked. Damn. So much for impressing her.
Clay was already on his cell, likely trying to reach Miguel or Roberto.
“There’s always Burger King,” Izzy said with a smile. “Great burgers.”
Suddenly, Miguel came rushing up beside them with keys in hand. “Sorry, fellas. I got caught in traffic. Roberto is already in the kitchen preparing your meal. And who is this lovely lady?”
Izzy held out her hand. “I’m Isabella Clemens.”