Humph, Kate thought ironically, if she were picking out Trent’s costume, he’d wear a black-and-white-striped prison outfit with a ball and chain around his ankle.
Remembering how cute Darcy had looked sitting at her secretary’s desk, Kate gritted her teeth. She could just imagine Trent sitting on the edge of her friend’s desk, flirting with Darcy. Didn’t the spoiled playboy have better things to do than chat it up with her assistant and deliver invitations to parties? No wonder people under his employ were being killed or hurt.
Tired of eavesdropping, Kate strode through into the smaller front office only to find that Trent wasn’t sitting on the edge of Darcy’s desk, as she’d imagined, but stood several feet away. Today, again, he was impeccably dressed and handsome in his dark suit with a crisp white shirt and burgundy tie. He looked tall, fit, and lean. Once again, his amazing good looks sent an electrical shock to her senses and her pulse leaped.
Kate winced. Oh, Darcy, watch out for him. He’s oozes sexual appeal—he’s dangerous.
However, if the awed expression on Darcy’s face indicated anything, she might already be under his spell. And if Trent’s grandfather has his way, Darcy might also be a candidate for an upcoming wedding.
When Farrington glanced toward Kate, his smile faded abruptly. With narrowed eyes, he stepped toward Kate until he was so close she had to tilt her head to see his face.
His power ploy to make her feel small wasn’t going to work. “Good morning, Mr. Farrington,” she said coolly.
He gave her a curt nod. “Dr. Meyers.”
So there wasn’t going to be a ‘call me Trent’ for her? Kate straightened her shoulders and decided she wasn’t going to let him get to her today. She was determined to remain her usual calm self.
Since this meeting appeared to be between him and Darcy—and Darcy had been forewarned about Trent’s womanizing and that he was a crook—Kate started to walk past him.
He stuck out his hand with two tickets, stopping her. “Here.”
Her gaze flew up to his. So he’d invite her too, but without any cajoling, or explanation of what the tickets were for. No, of course not. A man seeking physical beauty wouldn’t want to personally invite someone like her to his party. He probably felt obligated to pass on the tickets because she worked there. Fine. She had no intention of going to a benefit sponsored by his corrupt company. He probably stole the funds collected for the charity.
She glanced at the tickets in his hand and her resolve grew. The benefit was a week and a half away and she planned to be long gone from the company by then—with damning information in hand, to prosecute him.
Still, she couldn’t refuse the tickets he held in his extended hand. To be civil, she took them. “Thank you. Aren’t you going to tell me what the tickets are for?” she asked sweetly, unable to resist looking up into his dark eyes.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “A masquerade…benefit ball. Next Saturday. You should come,” he said in a clipped tone.
“All right.” Frowning, she tried to pass him again.
He nodded toward her office. “I’m here to talk to you.” He strode through the door as if he owned the place. Her shoulders sagged—because he did. Own the place.
Reluctantly, she turned and followed him, her stomach knotting. Once she was inside, he closed the door and looked down at her.
“Will this be brief?” she asked, exasperated by his commanding ways.
“Not that brief.”
Her shoulders tensed. She was fairly sure she officially worked for his grandfather and not him. “I’m very busy at the moment. I was just stepping out of the office. Would you mind setting up an appointment with Darcy?” she said, doing her best to keep the irritation out of her voice. “She’ll know my schedule.” She sidestepped him to get to the door.
Trent was not to be put off and stepped into her path. His body effectively blocked her exit. “Unless it’s a bathroom break, the time for our talk is now.”
Was he purposely trying to make her angry? Because it was working.
“I was on my way to Accounting,” she said through tight lips.
“Please…have a seat. This is not easy for me to say.” At his insistent tone, her stomach fell. Had he found out something about her?
Since he was the boss and she was his employee, Kate nodded and went to her desk to take on the power position. She reluctantly sat and folded her hands on her desk and gave him direct eye contact. Her heart was beating wildly yet she focused on presenting a calm facade. “Yes, now what can I do for you?”
He blew out a deep breath and took the chair across from her. “I’m here to…apologize.”
She gaped at him. Only moments ago, he had put her down in front of her assistant.
“Listen.” He picked up a paperweight, toyed with it, then placed it back on the desk. “We started out wrong. Why don’t we clear the air? I admit I have somewhat of a temper. I shouldn’t have accused you of being in on any scheme my grandfather had in the works.”
Now he was making sense. “You’ve got that right.”
“I’ve told you I have my reasons for my suspicions, but I was rude, and you didn’t deserve it.” By his voice and expression, he sounded sincere. “Let’s begin again. My grandfather thought you might need help in HR and I’d already intended to take a closer look at who’s hired at the company. I’d also like to check the personnel records of our existing employees. It’s not something I normally concern myself with, but unfortunately, I must at this time. You and I will be working closely together—”
“We will?” she blurted out. Why was he interested in this department all of a sudden? “I mean, of course, if that is your wish.”
“Yes, so I thought it would be better if we began again, on a more civil footing.”
She sank back in her chair and contemplated his sincere expression. “I’d like that, too.” A halt to their open hostility would help her remain cool during her investigation, make her work easier. “Really, I don’t think your grandfather had any tricks in mind when he hired me.”
His dark eyes evaluated her again and he shrugged. “Both he and my mother can be deceitful about trying to marry me off.”
The seriousness in his expression made her smile. For a second, she forgot she hated him. “Why? Won’t your grandfather get his wish soon enough? I thought the woman I met in the lobby on my first day was a contender.”
“Cecilia Sheffield?” His lips twisted cynically. “No. She’s not.”
“Well, I’m sorry, but it’s amusing that you thought I could be one of those women your grandfather is trying to set you up with.” She pointed to her outfit, then up to her hair and glasses.
He cocked his head. “You might have a certain appeal.”
“Me?” Her eyes widened at his flattery, but then she realized a player like him might find something to like in every woman, or tell them he did. She shook her head. “And you have no reason to worry as marriage is the last thing I want.” At the gleam in his dark eyes, she added, “I meant at the moment… Maybe someday.” She picked up a file from her desk and thumbed through it, hoping he wouldn’t notice the heat spreading on her cheeks.
“You’ll need to hire a temporary replacement for Mac.” He was the man she’d heard had burned his hands on the job site the day before she had arrived at the company. “Plus, we’ll need more crew. Did you get the memo describing exactly what hires we need?”
She tapped her finger on a stack of folders. “Yes, and I’ve looked into several applicants for those positions. Do you want to look at the files?”
“I’d like to, but weren’t you off to Accounting?”
“It can wait.” Going to Accounting could wait because working with him might reveal something.
Kate picked up the stack of files and moved them to the large table where it would be easier to work. Trent rolled his chair close to hers and she caught a whiff of his tantalizing aftershave. Kate tried to ignore the rapid beating of her heart
as he reached across her for the top file. She told herself the reaction was only because she had to gather evidence to convict him––and this definitely could be an opportunity.
After discussing several applicants, Kate’s uneasiness waned. Deciding she could let her guard down a bit while she investigated him, she relaxed in his company. “Only two more.” She handed him the second-to-last file.
His fingers brushed hers as he accepted the papers. Startled by the contact and the warmth of his bare skin, she dropped the file. The papers scattered onto the floor.
“Oh, my fault.” Kate rolled back her chair.
Trent knelt down. “I’ll get them. Read the last file to me.”
She scanned the application. “The name is Michael Peterson. He used to work for Blake Building and Construct—”
“Frank Blake? For how long?” Trent’s voice was muffled under the table.
“Five years. Who is Frank Blake?” He seemed to have a more than casual interest in that person.
“Only our biggest competitor. He runs a slime-ball operation. Put that one aside.”
Could it be any slimier than the one Trent Farrington ran?
Trent straightened up. The intensity in his eyes made her wary. “I’ll take Peterson’s file with me.”
“What’s wrong?” she whispered. His body language and tone indicated something had changed.
He stood. “Nothing. I think that’s enough for one day. And do not hire anyone with a connection to Frank Blake. I don’t trust him or anyone that has worked for him. Please send me any records of employees at our company who previously had a job at his company. I also want you to check the files of anyone you consider hiring.”
He gave her a curt nod and headed for the door. Then he paused and turned. “I hope I didn’t hold you up too long.”
“No, I’ll head over to Accounting now. Wait!” She jumped to her feet. She couldn’t let him get away without asking him one more question. “Since a worker was killed on the site four months ago, I wanted to ask you what I should say to any potential employees who might inquire about our safety record.”
“Tell them the man’s death was a regrettable accident,” he said, his voice turning cool. “The man didn’t take the proper precautions or check his equipment before use.”
His words kicked her in the chest, forcing the air from her lungs.
He tipped his head. “Have a good day, Dr. Meyers.”
Fortunately for Trent Farrington, he’d left her office before she could pummel him with her fists. If she didn’t have to bite her tongue to keep her job, she’d have accused him of jeopardizing his workers’ lives to save a dollar.
CHAPTER FOUR
After returning to his office, Trent dropped down in the chair at his desk and scanned the file on Michael Peterson. The connection to one name stood out like a rusty nail—Frank Blake. Blake would profit if Farrington Construction didn’t get the Karger Building built on time. Trent shoved his hand through his hair. He was suspicious because of that poor kid who was killed, and recently, because of the incident where Mac burned his hands.
And to have his grandfather, whose health seemed to be rapidly deteriorating, breathing down his neck, trying to force him to marry, added too much pressure.
As well, he now had to face the enigma of his grandfather’s latest addition to their staff, Dr. Kate Meyers.
While he retrieved the papers from under the table, his eyes had focused on her slender ankles. His gaze had traveled up to her exquisite calves. Hell, he’d gotten turned on just by looking at her legs in those sleek, high heels, which, by the way, didn’t fit at all with the unattractive clothing she wore.
What was it about her that got to him? Did she wear a perfume, formulated to intoxicate males? Was there such a thing? He scoffed. No, because if there were, his grandfather would have purchased it long ago for one of his other hires.
But even her scent didn’t explain why he enjoyed their sparring. He must be experiencing some sort of a chemical attraction to her. Another thing was her lack of interest in him. He’d never made less of an impression on a woman and that intrigued him.
For the sake of his sanity, he should find one discrete woman for a bedmate, but images of Dr. Meyers flashed before him whenever he thought of a woman in his bed. Did her lips taste as sweet as they looked? He groaned. Forget it. She was definitely not interested in him.
Then who?
Certainly not Cecilia. Everyone in the building would know the next day and his family would have him married and chained to the Sheffields before he could shout no. Thankfully, he wasn’t the least bit interested or tempted by her.
Another available woman was Darcy King, who he could probably seduce without trying, but it wasn’t Darcy who attracted him… It was her boss…
In spite of himself, his thoughts returned to Dr. Meyers. Now, having a brief no-strings-attached liaison with her would be an interesting switch. He was used to flamboyant women who flaunted their looks. She might not be interested in him now, but what if he turned on the charm? She said she wasn’t interested in marriage—and neither was he… So perhaps…?
What the hell was he thinking to even consider making a move on Dr. Meyers? In spite of what she thought, his grandfather had definitely hired her with marriage in mind. Besides, she seemed about as uptight as any woman could be. Damn it. Why did that make him want to loosen her up and bring that incandescent smile to her lips—for him?
He groaned. If he wasn’t careful, he’d fall into his grandfather’s trap and Dr. Meyers would be psychoanalyzing him too. In spite of what his grandfather thought, he didn’t have a problem with a commitment. He just didn’t want a wife. Period.
Since he couldn’t trust his family’s motives, and he couldn’t trust himself around her, he realized he had to stay as far away as possible. He could still maintain a good working relationship—by phone and email instead of face to face.
He had to prove that as a single man, he was committed to the business. And for now, his focus had to be on keeping his crew safe while completing the building and winning the award and bid. He had to convince his aging grandfather to turn over control of the company.
The last thing he needed now was to be distracted by Dr. Meyers.
So, first things first. How could he fix this outrageous, blatant, escalating desire he was developing for her?
He reached into his pocket for his wallet, pulled out the few condoms he carried and shoved them into the back of a drawer. There—he had just curtailed his sex life. After a bitter paternity suit several years ago, he always used his own birth control. Thank God for DNA tests, which had proven he wasn’t the father of the baby.
He leaned back in his chair, satisfied. While his sexual drive was strong, he was the master of his body. He could handle a few more months of celibacy to keep the company his main focus.
Taking a deep breath, he scooped up a stack of correspondence. With his jaw set firmly, he resolved to stop thinking of Dr. Kate Meyers…though he admitted he was intrigued. Besides, something did not ring true about the woman.
He settled down, planning to work until well past eight p.m., and counted on exhaustion to keep his mind off sex and his growing fascination with their latest employee.
* * *
A man with a hat pulled low over his forehead drove a rental car along NE 3rd Street.
He surveyed the empty streets. Blanketed under darkness, the city held an edge of calm he liked when he handled this kind of business. He parked near the construction site of the towering office building—all concrete and open steel girders at this stage.
The clock on the dashboard read four a.m. Not much more time before daylight and this place would be crawling with workers.
He took the last sip of convenience store coffee. Soon, no cheap coffee for him. After this job was finished, he’d collect big—with enough to retire if he wanted to and then he’d live the life. While a price had been agreed upon, with some money deliver
ed to him before he started and the rest promised after the job’s completion, there were ways of squeezing more money once the job was done. Especially when his clients freaked out that he might leak the name of who hired him to the police. He knew the value of his work and wanted a bigger stake in the prize.
He pitched the empty cup into the back seat. Not wanting to leave fingerprints at the construction site, he slipped on heavy gloves.
He strode to the entrance of the chain-link fence surrounding the work site and stuck the key into the lock. The gate swung open with a clang. However, he wasn’t particularly concerned about the noise as the place was empty, and he’d dressed to blend in with the rest of the workers, should their paths unexpectedly cross.
After grabbing a hard hat, he headed up one of two construction elevators that hugged the outside of the building. The wind blew harder as he traveled higher in the open-cage car. He rode to the thirteenth floor. Someone’s lucky number.
He exited the elevator and moved around the outside of the building. He pulled out a few pins from the scaffolding and replaced each with a half, sawed-off one. The scaffold would hold for a while, until weight caused the pins to snap and then, kapoowweee.
He chuckled under his breath. A few good deeds for the company before he left. Then he went to several more floors and did the same thing. If he hurried, he had enough time to remove a bolt here and there and spill some acid on a few cables. Little, unnoticeable tweaks that would cause devastation later.
At the moment, no one would know when another ‘accident’ was about to happen—not even him. That’s why he planned to stay the hell away from this section of the building when he visited the site again. Otherwise he too might be a goner.
He looked over the edge to the concrete slab far, far below. Anyone underneath this thing when it fell would be history. After the next accident, he wanted the praise that he truly deserved from the boss. And he wanted an appropriate payoff.
He crossed some girders and rode the elevator on the other side of the building to the ground.
Disguised with the Millionaire (Dangerous Millionaires Series Book 2) Page 6