by Dara Girard
Joscelyn seemed genuinely surprised they were related. Did that mean she knew who Jason was? And did his connection to Tytus worry her? If so, why?
If Joscelyn was really serious about Tytus, she’d be afraid to lose him. That would be a good soft spot to exploit, but she wasn’t sure how yet. Catherine knew she had to tread carefully because if Tytus tied her to her past, everything could fall apart.
41
He had to find out more about her.
“I didn’t know you had a brother,” Joscelyn said as Tytus walked her to her car. “Why do you have different last names?”
“It was our parents’ idea. My father gave his surname to Jason and my mother gave me her surname,” he said, then fell silent.
Joscelyn sighed, annoyed. She could tell his mind was far away. “I know that look. What are you thinking?”
He shook his head. “Not sure.”
“You seemed taken by your brother’s date.” And you should be thinking about me.
“Just curious.”
“She seems very taken with him and they make a great couple, don’t you think? They look so happy together.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Yes. I don’t know much about her.”
“She seems to have an interesting history. She’s the long lost daughter of Noah Doran, the serial entrepreneur.”
“Hmm.”
“But you’re spoiling my already horrible evening.”
He stopped and stared at her. “Really?”
“Yes, I don’t like you thinking about another woman when you’re with me,” she said, trailing a finger down his shirt. “So I expect you to make it up to me.”
He wrapped his hand around hers, a slow smile spreading over his face. “It’s not like you to be jealous.”
“I can be very jealous,” she warned in a low voice. She pulled him close and kissed him. “Do you need a better reason to follow me home tonight?”
He licked his lips. “Tempting.”
She frowned sensing his hesitation. “But not tempting enough?”
He straightened, taking a step back. “Another time.”
“I won’t wait forever.”
“I don’t expect you to.” He walked to her car, then held out his hand for her keys. When she handed them to him, he opened the door and waited. “A beautiful woman like you should never go to waste.”
Joscelyn slid into the driver’s seat, frustrated that she’d ended up empty-handed again. She’d hoped to spend the evening with him. She didn’t want another man. She wanted him. But he was determined to stay out of reach. Maybe she was making it too easy for him, perhaps she needed to offer him some competition.
He’d found out more about her, but it still didn’t feel like enough. “That’s it?” he asked his assistant, Ralph Gaston, who’d offered him the report about Evelyn Williams he’d requested.
“Yes, as Joscelyn told you, she’s the long lost daughter of Noah Doran. Over the past several years she’s helped his business—”
“I don’t care about the business. I care about her…I mean, I’m interested in her,” he said quickly correcting himself. “For my brother’s sake.”
Ralph nodded. He’d worked for Tytus long enough to know that was the best response. “Of course. Your brother is still vulnerable, but she has her own money, so I don’t see her wanting to use him that way.”
True. He wasn’t really concerned about that. His brother usually chose women well. Their family had dubbed him the sensible one, which was why his prison conviction had come as such a shock. He’d begged Jason to fight the charge, but his brother hadn’t listened. It had been one of the worst years of Tytus’s life. The business was in trouble and he’d been forced to take over from his father, who’d started making erratic decisions that harmed the business, before his brain tumor was diagnosed. His grandfather had emigrated from Barbados and started a small furniture restoration business, his father had expanded the original business concept to selling home goods, and it was expected that Tytus would take over from there. He’d initially rejected the position, not wanting to feel that his destiny had been dictated without his consent. But he’d fought a losing battle.
A mountain of sugar…he remembered his dream and Epic’s interpretation. He had taken the reins with reluctance, but discovered he was better suited than he’d expected. However, it had still been a struggle to keep it afloat and then his brother was sentenced to eight years for embezzlement.
Now Jason was getting his life back and had met someone. They look so happy together. Joscelyn’s words echoed in his mind. Yes, they did look happy and he should leave things. But he couldn’t. He had to know.
“What about her life before finding her family?” he asked Ralph.
“She lived with an aunt and cared for her before her passing. She was married briefly to a man whose death left her with lots of debt. She briefly was in service for two sisters. It’s hinted that her life was hard and is rarely discussed.”
‘In service’, but no mention of her making money interpreting dreams. Was that a secret she didn’t want her new family knowing about? Maybe she’d needed the money desperately then. It was possible. “She had a harrowing journey here. It’s said they’d nearly lost her. She survived a major car accident, but her companion didn’t.”
Tytus rubbed his chin and started to smile. Now that was very interesting.
42
He’d found something he shouldn’t have.
Jason stared at the screen, his heart racing. After weeks of digging, he’d finally hit something interesting. Something that wouldn’t exonerate him, but could even the playing field. Something that had initially bothered him, but that he’d dismissed. He’d never made the connection before about telling his boss about a minor computer glitch and weeks later being charged with embezzlement. He couldn’t dismiss the possible connection now. Fortunately, he knew someone who could help him.
“I need to talk to you,” he said when he caught Joscelyn leaving her tennis club.
“I’m afraid I’m busy. You’ll have to make an appointment.”
“There’s something you need to know. I think your company may be a victim of fraud.”
She stopped. “Okay, tell me what you know.”
Moments later they sat at a private table. Jason took out a file with the Sintex logo prominently displayed and slid it across the table. “Does this look familiar? It should.”
She barely glanced at it. “Of course.”
“I think we can help each other. Your skin care company has been using Sintex for your computer security and protection. It’s possible they fleeced your business and when I noticed a small discrepancy, thinking it was just a computer error, I was charged with embezzlement.”
“You have proof?”
“No, my suspicions are still just speculative, but these charts I discovered reveal some questionable business transactions.”
“How did you get these?”
Jason just smiled.
“Right, it’s best for me not to know.” Joscelyn sighed. “But without more evidence what do you expect me to do?”
“You might know who was responsible for sending me to prison. You’re in a better position to figure out what’s going on there.”
Joscelyn looked at the file. “Why not let this alone? You’re out now.”
“With two years of my life taken and a prison record.”
“I’m not trying to be cruel, but I think you should forget those years and move on.”
He frowned, surprised by her disinterest. He’d assumed that she would feel the same outrage he felt. His brother usually dated women who cared about integrity and ethics. Maybe he hadn’t presented his information well. “But this is bigger than me. I thought you’d want to know that—”
“I’m very glad you told me about this, but it may be larger than both of us.” She sat back and crossed her legs. “Does your girlfriend know what you’ve found?”
“I haven’t
really found anything, it will still take some time to connect more dots. I thought we could do a fair exchange. You help me and I put in a good word with my brother.” He smiled. “I can be very persuasive.”
“You think he needs persuasion when it comes to me?”
“He can be…slow to move.”
“I’ll think about it and see what I can do.”
Jason felt his tension ebb. He hadn’t misjudged her. “Thanks.”
“But until I know more this must stay between us.” She put her hand on the file and lifted a questioning brow. “May I take this?”
“Of course.”
“You’re dealing with powerful people,” she said when Jason rose to leave.
“I know, but everyone has a weakness.”
43
She’d stared at him without blinking for what seemed like an age. When Joscelyn had called him into her office, her voice had given nothing away. It was only when he stepped inside and felt the chill in the air that Jack Miller knew something was wrong. He’d closed the door and walked up to her desk, waiting for her to give him instructions. Instead she just stared at him. A cold, blank stare. He didn’t dare move or take a seat, he just stood and waited, hoping the silent torture would soon end.
Finally she leaned back and clasped her hands together. “Are you coming or going?”
He took a seat. “You wanted to see me?”
“I’m furious with you right now,” she said in a low voice.
He felt chills race up his spine. It was worse than he thought.
“I discovered something disturbing.”
“What?”
“It’s in my desk drawer. Come and see.”
Had a rodent gotten in? That was odd. He approached the desk with care.
“It’s the lower top one.”
Jack pulled it open. He saw a file and froze.
“Yes, that’s it. Take it out.”
He reached for it, but before he could get it, she slammed the drawer shut, trapping his fingers.
“I’m so angry right now,” Joscelyn said in the same detached tone.
Jack fell to this knees, swallowing hard. “I’m so sorry.”
“That doesn’t help.”
Tears of pain gathered in his eyes. “I can fix this.”
She pushed the drawer even more. “Really?”
He bit his lip and nodded.
“You’re always so good to me. Why disappoint me like this?”
“I’m sorry.”
She released the drawer.
Jack opened it, then cradled his hand.
Joscelyn pulled out the folder, then tossed it on the ground next to him. “How did he get this!”
“I don’t know,” he said, his voice higher than usual.
“I thought you said you were careful, everything had been covered.”
“I thought it had been.”
“You thought wrong. I have enough I have to worry about with Edmund Cristo buying up shares of my stepfather’s company. Do you know what’s at stake?”
He could hardly think for the pain, but knew he had to. “Yes.”
“I want him taken care of, discreetly. Make sure he’s no longer a problem to me. Or the company. Understood?”
He nodded.
“Good. You may go.”
Jack scurried out of the room, enraged. Fortunately, he knew who to blame.
44
Catherine hadn’t want to attend the charity function, but her stepmother had been unable to come and begged Catherine to appear in her place. She’d asked Jason to join her, but he too had other plans. She smiled at the other guests, but felt awkward and out of place. She’d perfected her new identity in small groups, but larger groups always proved a challenge.
“I can’t have you standing here by yourself,” the hostess Lelia O’Connell said when she found Catherine alone in a corner. She’d been a runner up in the Miss America pageant in the 70s, but carried herself as if she’d won the crown and a kingdom.
“I’m having a wonderful time,” Catherine said, smiling warmly. Remember to be Evelyn.
“Liar,” Lelia said with an affectionate laugh. “You look miserable.”
“It’s just my face,” Catherine said, making an attempt at humor.
“No, let me see if I can find a suitable companion to brighten your mood.” She searched the crowd. “Oh yes, I see one. He’s perfect.” She waved him over. “Tytus.”
Catherine looked up in a panic. “Oh no, please don’t…”
But it was too late. Within seconds he stood in front of her.
“Would you mind keeping her company for a while?” Lelia said to him, missing Catherine’s thunderstruck expression.
“No,” he said in a dark, smooth voice. “I wouldn’t mind at all. We’ve met before.”
Lelia looked both surprised and pleased. “Really? When?”
His eyes sent her a private message. “I’m still trying to figure that out.”
Catherine sipped her champagne. “We met at the theater several weeks ago.”
“Yes, that’s right. The theater. I don’t know why I keep thinking we’ve met before that.”
“Because you don’t like changing your mind?”
He smiled. “You know someone did tell me that before. That change is hard for me.”
Lelia clapped her hands together delighted. “I’ll let you two catch up then,” she said before she left.
“Yes, let’s do that,” he said.
“What?”
“Catch up. What have you been doing these last several weeks?” he asked making sure to emphasis the last word.
“Working.”
“How did you and my brother meet?”
“Why don’t you ask your brother that?”
“I will, but I want to hear it first from you.”
Catherine took another sip searching the room for a reason to escape. “To make sure we keep our story straight?”
“Something like that.”
She shifted her gaze back to him. “You don’t trust me, do you?”
“No, I don’t trust myself.”
She didn’t want to dig further so decided to change the subject. “I met him in a cafeteria. I noticed him looking lost.”
“And took pity on him?”
“Something like that.”
“And now?”
“I think he’s wonderful.”
To her relief that silenced him for a long moment. But when the silence continued she hazard to look at him again. She saw him staring at the ground, his brows drawn, his jaw clenched.
She sighed. He was clearly upset, that dark, brooding energy she’d sensed before swirling around him. Just like his brother, his unhappiness tugged at her heart, but unlike Jason, his displeasure was harder to understand. Did he not like her that much because she wouldn’t confess? Why did the past have to mean so much to him? “I don’t know who you think I am, but for Jason’s sake I don’t want to be enemies.”
A sour grin touched his mouth. “Just Jason’s?”
“For some reason you dislike me—”
His eyes caught and held hers. “You know I feel the exact opposite.”
Something intense flared through her, causing her pulse to pound. Why did he always have this effect on her? Before she could come up with something to say, he snatched her champagne and finished the contents. “My brother’s been talking about introducing you to Mom and Dad. Are you ready for that?”
No. I’m not ready for any of this. I don’t even know what ‘this’ is. “That’s a discussion for us, not you.”
Tytus handed her the champagne glass, his brown gaze dark with emotion. “At last something we can agree on.”
“I think we have another ally to help us,” Jason said a week later as he and Catherine lazed on his couch after watching a comedy, a half-eaten pizza on the coffee table littered with soda cans.
“Who?”
He stroked her neck. “Let me see if it works out first
, then you’ll know. Otherwise, I’ll look like a fool.”
Catherine moved away from his touch. “No, please tell me.”
“No.”
“Even if I beg?”
“No.”
“And plead?”
He frowned. “Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No. Please.”
He shook his head.
She stared at him for a moment then tickled him. When he responded a mischievous grin spread on her face. He saw the look, jumped up and ran. And she chased him around the apartment.
“This is cruelty,” he said, darting into the kitchen, then out again.
“Just give me a hint.”
“No.”
“At least let me guess.”
He vaulted over his couch. “No.”
On the other side of the couch, Catherine wiggled her fingers as if they were a menacing object. “Then you must pay,” she said then crawled over the sofa and lunged towards him.
He held out his hand. “Okay, I’ll tell you.”
She paused, letting her hands fall. “Go on.”
“It’s—” He grabbed her, pinning her hands behind her. “Never mind.”
“You cheat!”
He lifted a sly brow. “Yes, I’m also a thief,” he said and bent his head to kiss her.
The sound of the doorbell interrupted him. He swore.
Catherine laughed. “Serves you right.”
“We’ll finish this later,” he said, releasing her. He opened the door and saw his brother.
Tytus stepped inside then halted. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had company.”
“That’s okay,” Jason said opening the door wider. “We were just torturing each other.”
Catherine sat on the edge of the couch. “Maybe we should torture him too.”
“It’s no use,” Jason said with regret. “He’s not ticklish. Just one more difference between us.”
“One of many, no doubt,” Catherine said.
Tytus shot her a look, but didn’t reply.
“Why did you come?” Jason asked him.
Tytus shoved his hands in his jeans pockets, looking uncomfortable. “It can wait.” He jerked his thumb towards the door. “I should go.”