When he loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt with a negligent hand, Kate’s breath caught in her throat. Despite her nervousness and knowing what he was, heat spread through her and she felt the disconcerting force of his attraction. She frowned. The last thing she wanted was to find this man attractive.
He glanced at her again with his shrewd dark eyes, as if he knew she had been studying him. Kate forced herself to continue a direct gaze.
“How many years did you work for the Institute for Human Behavior in San Diego?” he asked.
“Three,” she answered, without flinching.
“My grandfather might be lax about it, but I may check that out.”
She nodded. “Please do.” If he did, by the time he received the feedback, she hoped to be long gone.
While reading the resume, occasionally he’d look up and glance at her. She hoped she hadn’t made an enemy of him––at least not yet. There would be plenty of time for that when he was behind bars.
“What made you decide to take a job here instead of going into private practice?” he asked.
She couldn’t tell the truth: that she wanted him to rot in jail for the rest of his life. “I’ve always had a desire to work in the corporate world.” She hoped he bought that because she wanted the lying part over. She hated to lie, which reminded her of her conman stepfather.
His gaze swept over her. Did he see through her disguise?
Good Lord, she had to be brave. He was intimidating.
Something lurked in the back of his eyes. “And Mr. Connor, our last Human Resources Manager, what happened to him?” Trent asked.
Irked by his question, she tensed. If Trent Farrington cared about his family business, he should know that.
“He retired,” she answered flatly.
“I see. It must have been sudden,” he ground out, “because I wasn’t notified for any input on who was to take his place. And now, my grandfather has replaced him with a woman?”
Kate straightened in her chair, remembering he had called her ‘sweetheart’ in the lobby. Not only was Trent Farrington a despicable person, he was also a male chauvinist. She remembered the meeting with his grandfather… Did it run in the family?
“Something wrong with me being a woman?” she asked in her coolest tone.
“No need to take offense, Miss Meyers. Or…is it Mrs. Meyers? You didn’t indicate your status on your resume.”
“It’s Dr. Meyers.”
He scowled. “So which is it? Are you married or not?”
This was outrageous. The man couldn’t be flirting with her, could he? His tone was accusatory if anything. “I’m not married.”
“I knew it!” He bounded out of his seat and stepped toward her. The suddenness reminded her of a leopard pouncing.
She shrank back in her chair, her heart pounding. “What do you know?” she whispered.
Farrington slapped his hand down on her chair again and leaned over her, his breath warm against her ear. “What was that little show in the lobby? Thought I might fall for you if you fell into my arms, is that it?”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You bumped into me.”
He moved away from her and straightened. “Right,” he said with dry sarcasm. “How convenient, and certainly not a coincidence that I got a feel of your assets?” His eyes gleamed with a mocking light.
The blood drained from Kate’s face. “That was an accident, and you caused it.” She curled her hand into a fist. If she didn’t need this job to send him to jail, she’d punch him and tell him where to shove it. “Mr. Farrington,” she said as calmly as she could. “As your new HR Manager, I must inform you that such comments are inappropriate and unacceptable in the workplace.”
Dismissing her statement, he let out a dry chuckle. “My dear old grandfather is at it again. Trying to fix me up with yet another qualified woman.”
“Qualified? Qualified for what?” she choked out.
“My question exactly.” His brow furrowed. “He really didn’t tell you? He’s looking for a wife for me, and he’s very active about it. Check the employment records. In the past two years, he’s hired at least ten single, attractive women to work here. He’s thrown them at me. Fortunately, most of them are all now married—to someone else. The man just won’t give up.”
“But you have me all wrong. I—”
“You’ll see. He’ll make up some excuse for us to work together. Closely. I’m sure of it.”
The blood rushed to her face. She rose from her chair. “Listen, Mr. Farrington, I’m not interested in marriage…”
Trent snorted in disbelief.
Kate choked out a laugh at the absurdity. “Come on. You can’t believe I’m scheming with your grandfather to marry…you?”
“I must admit he should know you’re not my type. However, he could be taking a different tack…and must be hoping I have librarian fantasies.”
She gaped at his rudeness. Conceited pig. She swallowed the words rushing to her lips. If she wasn’t so worried about being fired, she’d have said them.
Kate inhaled a deep breath to calm her rising temper. “Marry you?” she said dryly. “Why I’d sooner push you off the roof of this building.”
He reared back in shock.
She enjoyed the taken-aback expression on his face. Was that because her comment made him think of her brother Matt, who fell to his death on the job, or had she chipped away at his ego?
Since she couldn’t risk losing her job on the first day, she gave him a faint smile before softening her words. “You see, I’m not marriage material either, just like you. I have no desire to marry anyone. I want to be left alone to do my job.”
At that moment, James Farrington sauntered through the doorway, wearing a smile. “How’s everything? Are you two getting along?”
No way, Kate thought. Not in a million years. She’d just found out Trent Farrington thought she was out to marry him. Of all the idiotic things for him to come up with.
“Everything is fine,” Trent said. It was an obvious lie because he glared at her, even now.
James Farrington beamed at them both, totally missing his grandson’s sarcasm. “We had a long discussion on the day I hired her. She will be an asset to our staff.”
“Oh, I am sure she has some assets,” Trent drawled.
He flicked his gaze over her as if to say that while he might think she had something going for her in the boob department, he wasn’t succumbing to her charms.
Kate lifted her chin. Did he really think his grandfather had only hired her just because he wanted to throw another single woman in his path? She frowned and studied the older man.
James Farrington fumbled through the papers at his desk with a satisfied smirk on his lips.
Frowning again, Kate glanced back at Trent. His eyes lazily contemplated her. She shifted uneasily in the leather chair. Let him worry about his grandfather’s matchmaking. The only thing she didn’t like about it was that Trent Farrington was now on guard against her. That wasn’t a good thing if she wanted to gain enough trust for her to investigate and gather the information she needed.
She caught Trent’s gaze.
Pointing a finger at herself, she shook her head to indicate she wasn’t in on any of his grandfather’s schemes, but Trent lifted a sardonic eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest.
He didn’t believe her.
James Farrington stood and held out his hand, signaling an end to their meeting. “Dr. Meyers, welcome on board. If you need any help hiring employees for the job sites, contact Trent. I want him involved, and he has final approval over all new employees. I’m sure he’ll be glad to help you with anything you need.”
After thanking the older man for the opportunity to work at the company, she gave his grandson a curt nod and left the office. She hoped this would be one of the few meetings between them. Trying to loosen the stiffness in her shoulders, she walked back to her office. She
wouldn’t ask for his help, even if it was to save the planet from an asteroid. If she had questions, she’d ask someone else at the company. Good grief, he thought she and his grandfather conspired to marry him off—to her.
With his good looks, she imagined Trent Farrington had to fight off many women his grandfather threw his way. Poor man… Yeah, right. She hoped he’d turn tail and run anytime she came close to him. That would make her job of investigating him so much easier.
On her way back to her office, she muttered to herself about how wrong they were about her… Imagine. Her, of all people, wanting to marry Trent Farrington. She wanted to scratch his eyes out or use his guts for garters…but marry him? No way. She was sorry to disappoint the grandfather, but the only honeymoon his grandson was going to enjoy was one alone—and in a five-by-eight jail cell.
Now, she had to get down to work and find the evidence to convict him, then get the hell out of this company before they discovered her ruse.
The old man had smiled at her…as if he knew something she didn’t.
And yes. There’d been sparks, but not the kind Trent’s grandfather hoped for.
* * *
After Doctor Meyers left, Trent scrutinized the older man’s face, and didn’t he have a sheepish grin. Trent clenched his teeth and inwardly groaned.
After closing the office door of his grandfather’s office for privacy, he faced the older man. “All right. Out with it. Why did you hire her? I’m not falling for your innocent look. You’re too shrewd.”
“We needed a HR Manager. So, what did you think of Dr. Meyers?”
“Depends on what you mean? Are you trying to set us up?”
“Not a bad idea. I like her. Why?” His grandfather smiled blandly. “Are you interested?”
“Miss Meyers is not my type.” Trent scowled.
His grandfather chuckled. “She isn’t, is she? Too bad you’re only interested in women with empty heads and trumped-up sexy looks. Have you thought that a nice, intelligent woman could pass on better genes to my great-grandchildren? Besides, she’s pretty no matter what she’s wearing.”
“Damn, I’m not thinking about your great-grandchildren.”
Dr. Meyers and her sour glances glared at him in his mind. If his grandfather’s intentions weren’t so serious, he’d burst out laughing. She obviously disliked him.
‘Marry you? I’d sooner push you off the roof of this building.’ Had she really said that? Her attitude was a refreshing change from the women who threw themselves at him all the time.
The sudden thought of how he and the doctor would get those children sent an unwelcome surge of heat through him. First, he’d ditch the awful glasses, then pull the pins from her hair and caress the long silkiness falling over her shoulders. He suspected she hid a good figure and he remembered her full breasts. Images of her lying naked in his bed flashed before him.
“Since you’re not thinking of reproducing any Farringtons as yet,” his grandfather muttered, “someone must consider these issues for you.”
Trent’s gaze shot toward the elderly man, who was still talking about great-grandchildren, while Trent had been lost in his own thoughts of the strangely appealing Dr. Meyers—and how he’d bed her. He suspected his self-imposed celibacy these past couple of months for the sake of the company had to be responsible for this ridiculous attraction he felt for the dowdy psychologist.
“Trent, at least discuss your problems with Dr. Meyers.”
“I don’t have any problems,” Trent grumbled.
“Then allow your mother to make the arrangements and you can marry Cecilia. Granted she’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I can’t wait forever. Your mother is fond of her. The Farrington brains will just have to make up for her shortcomings. I want great-grandchildren to bounce on my knee before I die.”
Trent folded his arms over his chest. “I thought arranged marriages went out with the invention of the light bulb.”
“I’ve told you where I stand on this issue. I warned you two years ago to find a wife. It’s your duty. You have one month to produce a fiancée, or I’m changing my will.”
“I don’t really care what you do with your money, but I do care about the company.”
Trent hated arguing with his grandfather because of his age. He could walk away and start over, but Farrington Construction was part of him, his birthright. He’d been groomed for Farrington Construction and had been brought to his grandfather’s office for his indoctrination before he was even a teen.
For years, what was expected of him and Roland had been drilled into them. Finally, Trent rebelled when he’d gone away to Princeton. Wild parties and wilder women––and Roland had blazed the same path before him.
His grandfather leaned toward Trent. “Is the legacy of this family not important to you?”
Trent narrowed his eyes. “Of course it is. Have you given this pitch to Roland? He’s older than I am.”
The old man’s face reddened. “You’ve got the right last name and the Farrington side of the genes. Roland’s a carbon-copy of his knuckle-headed father whom I detest.”
Trent knew the story of Aunt Vera’s marriage against his grandfather’s wishes and the subsequent divorce. Her ex-husband had then absconded with half of her fortune. James Farrington had never forgiven the man or let her forget it.
Trent had reasons and might dislike his cousin these days, but fair was fair. “You can’t blame Roland for his father.”
“There’s more to it than that. I won’t be around forever. I want to know this family isn’t going to die out. I want to know that your parents’ failed marriage didn’t ruin you or influence your relationship with women. Or your mother’s…” His grandfather placed a hand over his heart and coughed. “Did her coolness effect you?”
For the first time, Trent thought the old man looked weak. His grandfather had saved him from despair as a child and had never asked him for anything. Was it possible that his parents’ failed relationship and his unhappy early childhood had affected his ability to have meaningful relationships with women—as well as his opinion about marriage?
Trent shoved a hand through his hair. He owed the man so much. “I won’t talk to your new shrink, but I’ll think over what you’ve said.”
* * *
On her second day at Farrington Construction, Kate entered her office after an evening working at the Children in Crisis Center, where she’d read a story to a little girl who’d reminded her of herself at six. Not only was Annie petite and blond, and all arms and legs, but seeing her bruised face deeply touched Kate’s soul. She would do everything she could to protect children like Annie from abusive parents.
Not all children had wonderful lives, and most weren’t born with silver spoons in their mouths. Her thoughts turned to Trent Farrington—the rich, spoiled playboy. He probably had a great family life, too, but he’d chosen to cheat and risk lives.
Not wanting to dwell on what his private life was like, she shoved him from her mind.
She crossed the floor to the windows. Did people really get used to looking down from this height? She didn’t think she ever would, and she partially closed the drapes to avoid the dizzying view.
With a satisfied sigh, she returned to her desk, ready for work. Last evening, she had piled folders of potential construction workers on her desk because while she investigated she also had a job to do. Before she got engrossed in actual work, she picked up Matt’s supervisor’s file, which Darcy had retrieved for her.
Perhaps his boss could tell her a little of his conversation with Matt before he died, as well as what happened afterwards. Kate bit her lip. She’d just have to think of an excuse to go to the construction site to question Stephen Carr about products that might be below code. Would he even confide in her? Matt had told her before he died that when he had challenged his supervisor about some of the condition of products that the man had told Matt to keep his nose out of it, that Trent Farrington must be trying to save money, a
nd to back off if he wanted a paycheck.
Probably not. He hadn’t told the police or OSHA.
She flipped through his records and found a resignation letter. Oh, no, Carr had left the company! A note in the file stated a final employment check had been mailed to him two months earlier.
Now she might never get the chance to talk to the man. Disappointed, she glanced through the rest of the file to find a home address, but those papers had been removed. Perhaps she could get an actual address from Accounting and now that Stephen Carr didn’t work for the company, perhaps he’d be more likely to tell her the truth.
She scooped up the file and strode toward the entrance to Darcy’s office area. Kate stopped before entering when she heard Trent Farrington’s voice on the other side. She frowned and listened.
“A week from this Friday,” he said in his deep, rich tone, “the company will be hosting a benefit in the ballroom. If you’d like to attend, here are two tickets.”
“Thanks, Mr. Farrington,” Darcy said.
“Call me Trent. We’re not formal around here.”
“All right, Trent. I’ll ask Kate if she’d like to go, too.”
He chuckled. “Dr. Meyers? I can’t imagine she knows how to have a good time.”
His comment stung, but Kate wasn’t sure why she cared. She clutched the files closer to her chest. Well, he could laugh about her all he wanted. She didn’t care what he thought of her because she hated him.
“Not at all like you, is she?” he asked in a smooth voice.
“No, but Kate can be a lot of fun if you give her a chance.”
Kate clenched her teeth. She imagined his dark gaze roving over Darcy, who had worn a tight-fitting green dress with matching high heels today.
Did Trent prefer women who dressed like Darcy? Of course, he did. What man wouldn’t? Besides, who cared what type of woman he liked? In jail, he wouldn’t have any of them.
“Is the party formal?” Darcy asked. “What should I wear?”
“Since the benefit is close to Halloween, it’s a tradition for my grandfather to host a masquerade. Unfortunately, costumes are required to get in.”
Disguised with the Millionaire (Dangerous Millionaires Series Book 2) Page 5