What these predators didn’t know was that Titan Energy had the complete support and backing from three of the largest oil companies in the United States. By mutual consent Titan needed their support and vice versa. Titan, thanks to Louis’s and Jacob’s connections, was the only company to have sole ownership of lifelong land and offshore drilling permits. They couldn’t be touched. If Titan went down it would cause a domino effect on the rest of the companies. As long as their backing remained solid and constant, hostilities were kept at bay. No businessman was so stupid as to challenge all three mega holdings in order to raid them. It was a delicate situation, but one that had worked for decades. But all that would change shortly.
Andre briefed his father on the current situation regarding Jo Butler. “Damn, I thought I’d already taken care of this.” Daniel Buchanan said gruffly.
“What do you mean?” Andre asked.
“Dad told me about his plans to write a biography months ago. Then about five weeks ago he informed me that he intended to hire someone. I discouraged it, but apparently not firmly enough.”
“Why didn’t I know about any of this?”
“I needed you focused on Quinton and Cole. My senate announcement is in a few weeks and I didn’t want any family scandals hanging over my head. So, how are you going to end this before it goes too far? What are your plans?” Daniel asked.
“I’m not sure yet, since this is the first I’ve heard about any of this,” Andre responded, as he easily swerved through bridge traffic arriving on Douglas Island. PR troubleshooting was individual in most cases. He couldn’t use the same tactics for every situation. Some required subtlety and tact while others needed a more forceful hand. Until he met Jo, he had no idea what direction he’d present.
“Are we sure this Joe Butler is who he says he is?” his father asked.
“The Jo is a woman.”
“A woman, are you sure about this?” Daniel asked, obviously agitated.
“I’m positive,” Andre said.
“Damn, another woman at the cabin. I knew this was going to happen,” Daniel said angrily. “Every bimbo gold digger on the west coast is probably lined up waiting for a shot to strike it rich. We can’t afford to have another scandal like last year. That woman damned near cost us a contract with her bogus baby accusations. We don’t need this right now.”
“I agree. I’m on my way to talk to Granddad now.”
“Fine, talk to him, but realize it’s a long stretch. You know how he is when he makes up his mind about something. You need to keep her away from him, not the other way around.”
“How do you suppose I do that, baby-sit?”
“Be creative, distract her,” Daniel offered.
“Why don’t I just offer her money?”
“Fine, try it, but I think you need to be more proactive this time. She may not be a pushover like the others. Perhaps you can run interference. Get between them.”
“You’re suggesting I seduce her?”
“I’m suggesting you do whatever it takes.”
“I haven’t used seduction to get a woman for personal gain since college. With rampant sexual harassment charges, it’s not worth the risk. But I’ll keep my options open,” Andre agreed.
“Damn, this couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time. We have too much riding on this meeting tomorrow, not to mention everything else we have going on.”
“Understood, but Granddad is insistent. Apparently he went to Lydia to get her. I’ll contact Ben to begin an extensive background check.”
“Good, we need to know everything about her.”
“Don’t worry, I’m on top of it, Dad. This won’t get out of hand.” He sped down the dark road leading to the massive iron gates. He pressed a button on his dashboard. The gates opened instantly. He drove up to the house and parked beside his grandfather’s black car. Seconds later he bounded up the front steps and opened the front door.
“See that it doesn’t. A chopper will be there first thing in the morning to bring Dad to Anchorage. You’ll only have a few days to get rid of her. I don’t have to tell you that time is of the essence.”
A cold wind breezed in as he opened the door. He quickly closed it and continued listening. “Understood. I’ll call you and let you know how it’s going.” Andre said, and then closed the phone. He turned and looked up. The woman standing on the landing stopped.
They looked at each other, but said nothing for a few seconds. “It was you,” she whispered with a smile.
“You,” Andre said softly, as soon as he realized that it was the same woman from the airport. He walked toward the steps just as she came to the last one and stopped. They stood eye to eye, his expression stone cold.
“We’ve met,” she said easily. He nodded once. “At the airport, you grabbed me away from the cart.” His eyes narrowed. Her once mildly curious expression was changing to surging confusion.
Amused, he spoke as he extended his hand. “Andre Buchanan. And you are?”
“Joanna Butler, Jo Butler.” She extended her hand, remembering what she had promised Jacob. There was no way that he was going to find fault with her. She needed this job and messing up wasn’t an option. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Buchanan,” she said.
“So you’re the person my grandfather hired.”
“I’m the ghost writer, yes.” A sudden uneasy nervousness spiked through her.
Andre’s expression didn’t change. Still assessing her, he shook her hand but held it slightly longer than necessary. He smiled inwardly then walked over and leaned his back against the handrail. He crossed his arms and gazed at her with interest. “So, you’ve come to expose the family secrets,” he challenged.
She stiffened her back defensively as his dark penetrating eyes glared at her. “Excuse me?” she asked, trying not to show how annoyed she was getting.
“Isn’t that what you do?” he asked, knowing it would knock her off guard. It was one of his tactics.
“No, I’m a better writer than that,” she replied, showing spunk.
Her response intrigued him. He smiled knowingly. “I presume you’ve already met my grandfather,” he said, changing the subject.
“Yes, I have. Jacob is a wonderful man. I think we’ll partner well together. I’m excited to continue writing his story.”
“I bet you are.”
His tone was edged was sarcasm. She picked up on it instantly. “Excuse me?”
“Just making an observation,” he said. “My grandfather is indeed a wonderful man. He doesn’t deserve to be made a fool of for anyone’s personal agenda. And he’s not in the market for a permanent partner arrangement, understood?” Jo opened her mouth, but nothing came out. “Am I to interpret the pause as a sign of admission?”
“Admission of what? What exactly is it you think I intend to do here, abscond with the family jewels or the family patriarch?”
“It’s been tried before.”
She shook her head knowingly. “Oh, I see. I’m the enemy here to topple the mighty Titan Empire with a tawdry tabloid-like bio.” He didn’t respond. “To put you at ease, I’m just here to do my job. I write what I find and what I’m told and I’m very good at what I do. Your grandfather has my resume and samples. If you’re concerned about my credentials, I suggest you check them out.”
“I intend to.” His pointed reply seemed to end their quick, biting repartee. A few seconds passed with neither speaking.
“Look, perhaps we got off on the wrong foot. I just want to do my job, nothing more, nothing less.”
“You should know this whole idea of writing my grandfather’s history isn’t going to be warmly received.”
“So I’ve noticed.”
“I don’t like the idea of my grandfather hiring someone I haven’t checked out.”
“Sounds like something you should take up with him.”
“Whoa, whoa, y’all need to chill out and get back to your corners.” Both Jo and Andre turned to see Bane walki
ng up. “Hey, Jo,” he said easily, and then grasped hands with Andre. “What’s up, dude, hey welcome back. Y’all need to keep it down.”
“Everything okay here?” Andre asked with added concern.
“Fine, as long as the two of you keep your voices down. I could hear you all the way in the kitchen.”
“Sorry, I guess the conversation got a bit overheated,” Andre said, looking at Jo’s murderous eyes glaring at him.
“Ya think?” Bane said jokingly. Andre smiled and nodded his understanding. It was obvious to Jo they were close.
“Sorry about the disruption,” Jo said, “it won’t happen again.” She looked at Andre knowing that he got her point.
“Well, well, well, here you are. Hello, young people. I don’t suppose I’ve interrupted anything, have I?” Jacob said.
“No, not at all,” Jo said, stepping farther away from Andre.
“No, Granddad, we were just discussing your biography.”
“A bit more than discussing I’d say,” Jacob remarked.
“I checked on dinner. It’ll be ready in about twenty minutes,” Bane said.
“Excellent, that gives us just enough time for a drink and a bit of conversation in the library,” Jacob said.
“Sounds perfect,” Jo said.
“Oh have mercy, what a divine creature you are,” Jacob added, admiring Jo in her jeans and green sweater. “You look absolutely scrumptious.”
“Ditto,” Bane said, then heading back to the kitchen.
“Thank you. And thank you again for your very warm welcome. Your home is beautiful and it really is a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m honored to work on your very impressive life story.”
“I don’t know how impressive it is, but I am ready to get cracking,” he said as he slapped his large hands together happily. “I’ve already dug out several boxes. Bane put them in the office area in your room. My office is down here. It’s got a dozen or so more boxes full of documents, receipts, letters and journals. Perhaps we can get started going through them first. We’ll need to put them in chronological order and then start…”
“Granddad, perhaps that should wait until later. I’m sure your guest is tired,” Andre said.
“On the contrary, I’m fine,” Jo said.
“Then after dinner perhaps,” Andre suggested, glaring at Jo.
“Ah yes, quite right of course, but first I suggest a welcome drink in the library. Shall we?” Jacob offered, holding his arm out to Joanna. She grasped his arm and was led through the spacious living room to the dining room.
Andre followed. He knew at that moment that he had his work cut out for him. It seemed that his grandfather was already enamored with this writer and he himself had issues that he needed to resolve. Sparring with her was merely a front for what was really going on. He needed her off guard while he regrouped. The problem was that he wanted her from the second he first saw her. His yearnings had only intensified after the clash.
He smiled unwittingly, admiringly. He assessed her a second time that evening. She was attractive, but he already knew that from their brief encounter at the airport earlier. Having changed her clothes, her appearance was more casual this time. He liked what he saw then, and now, seeing the sweet curve of her waist and the abundant swell of her breasts was sending a barrage of signals to his groin. Her hair was down on her shoulders and she looked every bit a seductress. He tensed, feeling his body react again. She was getting to him without even trying.
Earlier, he’d been taken off guard. Understandably he was tense, it had been a long week and the pull of sexual release was exactly what he needed. Long business trips and being consumed by a heavy work load had a tendency to do that. He wanted her then, but duty called and pursuing her would have been a distraction. Amusing and more than likely extremely fulfilling, but still a distraction. He didn’t do distractions when his family needed him.
The sparkle in her eyes and the spirited way she shot back at him stoked the fire already burning in his gut. Few women would dare engage him in such a dispute. Obviously she didn’t care. He liked that. Hypnotically he watched the smooth sway of her hips as she walked ahead with his grandfather. She had an apple bottom, just as he liked them, tight and firm. His hands itched to touch her there and everywhere else. This was going to be a long night.
His brief romances were quick and uncomplicated and both parties always parted satisfied. He’d had his share of romance, none particularly serious. He was too busy for serious. The understanding was always simple: physical only—no emotions. But unfortunately, emotions sometimes got in the way. When women got too clingy or wanted more than he intended to give, he very easily and quickly ended the union.
“Jacob, you have a call in the office,” Bane said, finding them in the library. “It’s Daniel, he wants to discuss tomorrow.”
“I have to take that,” Jacob said, “Andre, do me a favor and show our beautiful guest around a bit. I’ll meet you later in the dining room.” He walked out. Andre turned to Jo and smiled.
“Shall we?”
Chapter 4
He led, she followed. They walked through the house mostly in a companionable silence. He paused with a brief description, then she’d peek in. The house was far larger than she thought. It came complete with a heated indoor swimming pool with retractable roof and a glass wall of windows showing the connected outdoor pool, basketball court, movie theater and solarium. When they arrived back at the two-story library, the tour ended.
She looked around at the mint-condition books as Andre walked over to the desk and opened the laptop. She watched as he pressed a few buttons, then a printer on the credenza activated. When the pages started printing he looked up at her.
“Tell me, Ms. Butler, what exactly do you expect to get out of all this?”
She’d been waiting for this. “What do you want me to tell you?”
“How about the truth?”
“Fine, the truth is I just want to do my job,” she said. He walked over to the printer and grabbed the papers. “I presume this is when we do the legal jargon?”
“Very perceptive,” he said, flipping through quickly before handing them to her. She took them as he picked up a pen from the desk. “It’s a standard nondisclosure agreement. The terms are nonnegotiable. Basically all intellectual property obtained in the process of your employment here is the express property of the Titan Corporation. Whatever you find, uncover or learn stays here. No exceptions. This contract can also be dissolved for any reason.” She didn’t look at the papers. She just took the offered pen and signed. “Trusting?”
“Confident,” she said, handing the signed pages back to him. “I don’t get it, what exactly is your problem with me? Do we know each other aside from the airport earlier?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“My job is to plan for the worst. You’re an unknown, that makes you a threat.”
“What does that mean? How am I a threat to anyone?”
“It means that I’d rather not have to deal with you and my grandfather in the near future,” he said.
She looked at him, confused by his remark, and then it hit her exactly what he was suggesting. “If you’re saying what I think you’re saying, then you’re kidding me, right? Me and Jacob? He is old enough to be my grandfather too.”
“That hardly matters, does it?” he said.
“Maybe not for some, but it does to me. Look, your grandfather is a sweet man, he’s interesting, and his business sense is brilliant. I admire that, but that’s it. That’s as far as it goes. He’s not exactly my type when it comes to my personal life.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
“I realize this family has had problems in the past. I’ve recently read about them. I’ve even read about Jacob’s occasional liaisons, and yes, I’m no fool, there are women who would love nothing better than to hook up with a man like your grandfather. But I’m not one of them.”
“Again, I�
��ve heard that before,” he said dryly. “My grandfather is no fool, but he does like the attention of attractive young women. Unfortunately that attention often comes with a high price. My job is to protect my family, even from themselves.”
“But not from me. I’m not a threat. Obviously there’s no way I can prove to you that I’m not here to cause trouble, so you can either take my word for it or not. I was hired to help Jacob complete his bio and that’s what I intend to do.”
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable in that resolve.”
“I’m writing the Jacob Buchanan biography,” she said stubbornly.
“No one is writing a Buchanan biography.”
“You’re not seeing the big picture. Imagine all the aspiring businessmen out there. Your grandfather is a legend, a role model. The sum of his experiences is priceless. He’s an incredible man with a fascinating story to tell. I would think you’d be honored to have others know that. People would be fascinated to read his life story.”
“People are fascinated reading tabloid trash, that’s hardly motivation for me to hand my family over to them with a bow on top. So you’ve obviously discussed publication with him?”
“I view any discussion with Jacob regarding this venture as confidential.”
“Have you shopped proposals?” he asked more pointedly. She didn’t answer. “Silence is often a sign of admission.”
“What are you so afraid of? Whatever was done was done in the past. Your persistent defensiveness makes me think this family really does have secrets to keep,” she said.
“The only thing this family wants to keep is our privacy. We’ve had outsiders come here before. They all have the same ulterior motives, reporters wanting a story, business associates wanting inside information, so-called friends wanting favors and of course lovers using their position wanting whatever they could get. Why shouldn’t I think you do too?”
“I can’t stop you from thinking whatever you want. But I know the truth,” she said.
When It Feels So Right Page 4