ShatteredTrust_w5401

by Stacey Joy Netzel

  Her hand reached forward, then hovered over the button. She’d have to face Justin on the other side of the doors. She squared her shoulders, knowing that a man wouldn’t think twice about the confrontation.

  But she wasn’t a man, was she? And what good had acting like one done her? Maybe it was time she started acting like a woman and see where that got her.

  A woman would listen to her hammering, aching heart and regroup in private.

  Wouldn’t she?

  Chapter 8

  Justin didn’t reach to rub his stinging face until the doors of the elevator closed. All the while he fought the absurd sense of disappointment that had flooded through him the moment he realized his identity was no longer a secret. He’d known it would happen, so why should it matter to him?

  Jordan’s chuckle brought Justin around in the doorway.

  “I guess she knows who I am.” He closed his office door and crossed the room.

  “Good guess.” Jordan sat on the front edge of Justin’s desk. “Your Marley Wade is quite the…observant woman.”

  “Obviously she’s not mine. Not that I’d want her,” Justin added quickly as he sat behind his desk. “She’s got a hell of a swing.”

  Jordan laughed, swiveling to face him. “Well, she knew right away I wasn’t you. Apparently your eyes are lighter,” he advised with a grin.

  Ignoring a tiny flare of pleased ego, Justin shrugged a shoulder. “So she’s observant.”

  “Okay, whatever.” Jordan straightened and scooped a folder off Justin’s desk. “What brings you by the office? I figured you’d be down at the job site running the show, getting things back on schedule.”

  “Dad called, said he wanted to talk to the two of us about something. Besides, I got everything situated out there earlier.”

  “She thinks you fired her because she’s a woman.”

  Justin’s head jerked up. “She said that?”

  “She assured me she wouldn’t sue.”

  “How gracious,” Justin muttered. Fired because she was a woman. What a load of bullshit. He stood corrected. She did know something about being female; she knew how to twist things around.

  The door opened and their father leaned in. “Good, you’re both here. We’re meeting in the boardroom in ten minutes. Don’t be late.”

  After he’d left, Justin placed his hands on his desk and pushed to his feet. “Let’s go see what this is about.”

  “Yes, let’s. And then, as long as you’re here, we’ve got some business to discuss with him, too,” Jordan said cryptically.

  Jordan didn’t explain further as they made their way to the boardroom. They were the first ones there and when Jordan started to take a seat along the side, Justin tapped his arm and motioned to the head of the table.

  “Sit at the front. We own this company, not him.”

  When Dale entered the room and saw Jordan at the head of the table, with Justin to his right, he hesitated. Justin wanted to smile at the look on his father’s face but kept his expression void of emotion. Dale recovered quickly and strode forward to sit at Jordan’s left.

  “Thanks for coming in, Justin. As you both know, the bidding for the new Jenkins building opens this week. Our architects have come up with a few proposals, but I wanted to show you this other design.”

  The Jenkins job would attract bids from across the country from every major player in construction, including the company Justin worked for.

  As Dale spread a set of drawings on the table, Jordan sat forward. “That bid is worth millions.”

  “That’s why I wanted you two to see this.”

  Justin took one look at the plans his dad laid before them and was instantly impressed.

  “What do you think?” Dale asked after a moment.

  Jordan looked at Justin. “I like it, but you’re the expert.”

  He took a few more minutes to study each drawing. They were really good. In the corner of the last one, he noticed the artist’s name in fine print and almost groaned out loud.

  M. Wade.

  He pushed the drawing away and sat back. “We can’t use this design.”

  Dale stared at him liked he’d gone crazy. “Why not?”

  “We need this,” Jordan added quietly.

  Justin’s gaze sliced to his brother.

  “The architect gave it to me herself,” Dale explained. “In fact, she works for us. She’s the general contractor out on the Forrester site.”

  Comprehension dawned on Jordan’s face. Justin looked back at his father. “Was.”

  Dale frowned. “What?”

  Justin blew out a breath. “I fired her. We can’t use the design.”

  “Why did you fire her?”

  Because I thought you were having an affair with her. Because I also thought you might be conspiring with her to ruin the company Granddad left to us instead of Mom, and by default, you. Because—

  “I was going to offer her an internship so we didn’t have to pay for the design,” Dale told them with a deep frown. “Next time you might want to ask me before doing something so rash.”

  Justin sat forward with his jaw clenched. “First of all, Dad, I don’t have to ask you when I want to fire one of my employees.” His father’s expression hardened but Justin ignored it. “And second, it’s unconscionable to take advantage of Ms. Wade like that.”

  “What do you know?” Dale spat. “She’s been angling for that damn internship from the first time I met with her.”

  “That doesn’t matter. I’m not sure how Granddad handled it in the past, but there’ll be no more unpaid internships.” He glanced at Jordan who’d remained silent. “Do you agree?”

  “Completely.”

  “That’s the whole idea of an internship,” Dale explained as if Justin were five years old. “Both parties get something they want, it’s completely legitimate.”

  “Not when you take obvious advantage, and you know this design is worth a lot of money,” Justin argued. “Anyway, it’s out of the question, she’ll never come back. What else do you have?”

  Dale shoved more drawings across the table to Justin. A quick glance at each one confirmed none compared; Marley Wade’s inspiring design had the best chance of winning the bid for Hunter.

  Of all the reasons Marley had been meeting with his dad, Justin couldn’t believe this was it. He felt like a complete ass.

  “Justin?” Jordan prodded.

  After a quick glance at his father’s smug expression, Justin met Jordan’s gaze. Looking back down at the good-but-not-good-enough drawings in front of him, Justin gave a short, negative shake of his head.

  “So now what?” Jordan asked.

  “How bad do we need it?” Justin asked, even though he knew the answer.

  “We’re staring at crimson red.”

  Things just kept getting better and better.

  “What the hell are you two talking about?” Dale looked from one to the other. “Have you managed to run this company into the ground in less than two weeks?”

  Jordan directed a hard look at their father. “As former CEO, Dad, you should be aware that any damage to Granddad’s company happened long before we took over.”

  Dale’s gaze narrowed, but he remained silent.

  “Which brings me to another order of business we have to discuss.” Jordan reached to press the intercom button on an electric panel built into the table. “We’re ready, Bonnie.”

  The door opened and a rounded, balding man entered.

  Dale looked back at Jordan. “What is this about?”

  “Please sit down, Ron,” Jordan said, ignoring Dale. “This is my brother, Justin. Justin, Ronald Reed, our chief financial officer.”

  After shaking the man’s hand, Justin waited with interest to hear Jordan’s answer to his father’s question. Why did Jordan want to talk to their father with the CFO present? Ronald Reed sat next to Justin, and Justin noticed a sheen of sweat on the man’s pasty forehead.

  Jordan spoke first,
directly to Dale. “There have been some withdrawals from your business account recently that haven’t been accurately documented.”

  Dale bridled with indignation. “Are you accusing me of stealing the money?”

  “We just want to know where it’s going, Dad. The company is in serious financial trouble and every dollar needs to be accounted for.”

  Dale pounded a fist on the table as he stood. “You ungrateful sons-a—”

  Justin rose as well. “Jordan simply asked you a question, Dad.”

  His father’s blue eyes bored into him. “He’s accusing me of stealing from my own family!”

  “He’s asking for an explanation of some funds that you haven’t even bothered to look at yet. Seems to me, if you didn’t take the money, you’d be more interested in seeing what he’s talking about instead of name calling.”

  Dale’s gaze narrowed. He sat down without another word. Justin followed suit and listened over the next ten minutes as they went over the financials. While his father explained each of the questionable withdrawals, Justin’s mind wandered—straight to Marley Wade.

  Of course she would be the one to have designed such a beautiful and completely perfect building. It was just his luck lately. And, of course, their need for the Jenkins job was beyond desperate.

  She’d never sell them the design after he’d fired her. He was pretty sure he knew her well enough by now to bet on that. But he couldn’t blame her. He wouldn’t, either. Besides, a design that good deserved the architect on hand for the creation.

  He debated his next step, though really, he knew he had no choice.

  ****

  Marley dropped her bags to the floor and collapsed on her bed. No wonder she’d never liked shopping; it was exhausting. She might have only purchased a few outfits, but the sales girl had insisted she try on countless items.

  Still, the girl had been friendly and helpful, without a single condescending look or snicker at Marley’s lack of fashion sense. Marley was pleased with everything she’d bought. So far, this part of her journey into womanhood had progressed quite nicely. If only life were so easy.

  The phone rang and she jumped to answer, praying it was Nate. “Hello?”

  “Marley? It’s Bonnie. I swear, I didn’t know about the firing. I want to apologize—”

  Anger quickly overcame her disappointment at not hearing her brother’s voice. She sat up straighter. “There’s no need. Forget it.”

  “No, really. I’m sorry. I—”

  “Apology accepted.” She hung up the phone. She didn’t want to hear excuses from a single person at that company. And if anyone really needed to apologize, it was Justin.

  The phone rang again. She left her bedroom and started down the hall. She counted the sixth ring and heard the answering machine as she peered inside Nate’s empty room. He had to come home sometime, right?

  By the time she reached the kitchen, the ringing began again. When the machine told the caller no one was home, she reached to unplug the entire thing.

  Justin’s voice leapt from the speaker, making her jump. “Marley, I know you’re there. Pick up the phone.” Long pause, then a grudging, “Please?”

  She glared at the machine.

  “Fine, have it your way.” He slammed the phone down and the machine clicked off.

  “That’s right,” she muttered. As if he had a right to be mad because she refused to talk to him? As if she’d wronged him.

  The phone remained silent for the next hour. When she recognized a growing restlessness as disappointment, she stalked into her room to put her new clothes away. A light-weight, tan, scoop-neck sweater in particular was her favorite. It fit close, the solid material ending at her rib cage. The crocheted bottom extended to her waist, and the matching sleeves fell an inch below her elbows.

  The sales girl had said she looked great and then handed her a pair of low-rise jeans that hugged her hips. Marley stripped off her tee shirt and pulled the sweater on. Looking in the mirror, she decided to leave it on for a morale boost. Besides, she could get used to dressing more like a woman in the comfort of her own home.

  By the second hour of silence, after she’d emptied the dishwasher and done two loads of laundry, Marley switched on the radio and began to clean the closet she’d avoided on Saturday.

  He sure gave up easily, the jerk. Proved he wasn’t worth her time moping around.

  If you asked her, being a woman sucked.

  Chapter 9

  Justin mounted the wooden porch steps of Marley’s log home, his stomach knotted tight. He knocked hard to be heard over the music blasting from the open window and prepared himself to eat crow. Suddenly all went quiet. He knocked again.

  The door flew open. He had a five second vision of Marley with free-flowing hair, wearing a sexy sweater and—

  “Too soon,” she declared and slammed the door in his face.

  Music blared to life, twice as loud as before. He pounded on the wood. When he received no response, he paced to the end of the porch. Running a hand through his hair, he blew out a breath and fisted his hands on his hips, debating his next move.

  His gaze narrowed on the door before he strode over and grasped the knob. It swung open without resistance. He really should yell at her for not locking it again.

  His gaze swept the room, locating her reaching into the closet. Alarm shot through him and he sprang forward to grab her from behind. Pulling her back with his arms crossed over her front, he pinned her against his chest. She struggled against his iron hold.

  “You aren’t going to need anything you’ve got in there,” he warned against her ear.

  “Let me go!”

  “I can’t believe you were going for your gun.”

  She stilled and twisted to look at him over her shoulder. “Paranoid much? I was hanging up my jacket.”

  He looked down and, indeed, saw a jean jacket lying on the floor at her feet. Damn, he couldn’t catch a break with her, could he? His shoulders relaxed slightly.

  Her heat seeped into him, especially where his right forearm snugged under her breasts. Taking a deep breath to counter a surge of awareness, he unintentionally drew in her scent. She smelled good—as fresh as line-dried sheets. And he could feel the erratic beat of her heart. Desire urged him to turn her around and cover her mouth with his.

  He dropped his arms and stepped back. “I didn’t see the jacket.”

  She scooped it off the floor with a defiant look at him before reaching for a hanger. Her head tilted toward the shelf above her, and when she faced him again, he was taken aback to catch the tail end of a smile.

  “I don’t recall inviting you in.” Her voice ran as cold as a mountain stream overflowing with spring runoff, and he forgot the brief flash of humor.

  “I knocked.”

  “And I didn’t answer.” She put her hands on her hips. “You know, you seem like a smart guy.”

  The glimpse of her navel through the bottom half of her knitted sweater drew his attention, but he forced his gaze up. “You should lock your door.”

  “You should wait for an invitation.”

  “I don’t have all day.”

  “Then go away.”

  “Not until you hear me out.”

  “Better clear your schedule.” She stalked past him, jabbed a finger to turn off the stereo, and exited via the sliding doors in the back.

  He followed her onto the patio, reminding himself to keep his cool and get through this apology…and the obvious groveling she intended for him to do. He needed her to take the job so he could get the hell out of there before he did something foolish. He needed her for her design.

  She faced him with her green eyes blazing.

  He wanted her for her.

  “You,” she said, “are a lying son-of-a-bitch.”

  She certainly knew how to start a conversation. Maybe she’d met his mom and knew what she was talking about?

  “You,” he replied, “are right.”

  She open
ed her mouth again, then closed it with a frown. Hah. She hadn’t expected that.

  “Don’t agree with me.”

  “Okay, I won’t.”

  Her lips pressed together as she crossed her arms and stared him down with that defiant look on her face.

  Where the hell to start?

  Marley tapped an impatient finger against her arm as Justin stared at her. The man’s presence was too damn disturbing. He was too good-looking, and his arms around her had felt entirely too wonderful. She hung onto her resentment by a mere thread.

  “I’m here to offer you a job.”

  That was as unexpected as him agreeing with her a moment ago. She eyed him with suspicion. “Why? You afraid I’m going to sue?”

  He smiled without humor. “You have more respect for yourself than that.”

  He was right. How could he know that about her? “Why would you give me my job back?”

  “I didn’t say ‘job back’, I said ‘a job’.”

  Hmm, this sounded interesting. “I won’t work for you again. I don’t trust you.”

  He looked at her for a long moment before turning his attention to the city in the valley below. “My reasons for doing what I did had nothing to do with you,” he said quietly.

  She huffed in disbelief. “You fired me. Exactly how do you figure?”

  He shook his head. “I’m talking about lying about who I was. Isn’t that the issue here?”

  “That’s only half of it, Justin. And why did you lie, anyway? Why not just be upfront about what you were doing instead of the underhanded spying?”

  At first she didn’t think he’d answer. Then she heard him blow out a breath. “It’s complicated.”

  “In other words, you don’t want to tell me.”

  He cast her a glance. “Not really.”

  Marley uncrossed her arms. “You told me not to feel bad about the mistake. You said it could’ve happened to anyone. Now I’m supposed to trust a job offer without knowing if one day you’ll decide to just up and fire me again? I don’t think so.”

  Her thread of resentment strengthened to a thick string as she started back inside. He hadn’t even come close to apologizing, much less explained himself.