“I may be getting old, Felicia, but I’m still aware of everything that goes on, and goes wrong, in my company.”
Yikes! Autumn thought, quickly planning her escape before she became embroiled in a father-daughter battle.
She stood up and put her coat on. “If you don’t need anything else, I’ve got to get home and pack.”
Sterling walked around his desk. “I appreciate everything you’ve done,” he said, extending his hand.
Autumn nearly winced at his strong grip. “No problem at all.”
“When are you leaving town?”
“I fly out late tomorrow evening for another case.”
Sterling looked impressed. “The government must keep you pretty busy.”
“There are plenty of greedy people out there.”
Sterling laughed, unaware that her comment was directed toward him.
“Anyway, please feel free to call me if you need anything further,” Autumn continued.
She turned to Felicia. “I believe I may have left one of my favorite scarves in my office. Under the circumstances, I don’t think it’s wise that I go and get it myself.”
Sterling’s face had a sober expression as he turned to his daughter. “Go check on Isaac and make sure he doesn’t take his laptop with him. There’s obviously a lot of data on there we don’t want him to have access to for now.”
He walked back to his desk and sat down. “Felicia will locate your scarf and mail it to you. Thanks again and good luck.”
Autumn nodded and walked out of the room, heading in the opposite direction of her former office, for the stairwell. If Isaac was still here, she didn’t want to risk running into him at the elevators. She was almost there when she felt a hand grasp her arm.
Before she even turned around, she knew who it was.
“Thanks for not ratting me out in front of my father.”
Autumn shrugged. “He’s the one paying the bill.”
Felicia laughed softly. “Yes. Thank goodness.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll be sure to take good care of Isaac. He’ll need someone to turn to now. Someone other than you.”
“There’s nothing between us, Felicia.”
She raised a brow. “Oh no? Well, in that case, I trust you won’t have a problem with me satisfying his needs on something other than some old desk.”
Autumn felt her cheeks get hot with embarrassment.
“That’s right, Autumn. I did a little spying of my own.”
“You’re sick,” she spit out.
Felicia looked thoughtful. “Perhaps, but then again, I’m not the one who has to screw people to get information out of them.”
Autumn turned her back, pulled open the door and started her way down the steps, irked that Felicia was right. Dishonesty was at the root of her undercover work. She’d lost count of all the nights she’d lain awake contemplating the irony.
Still, she loved what she did and couldn’t fathom doing anything else, regardless of the duplicitous things she needed to do or say in order to get the job done.
Deep in her heart, though, she knew there was nothing false about her love for Isaac, her need to be close to him, but now there was nothing she could do to tell him the truth.
Like her true identity, she had to hide her feelings for Isaac to protect him, as well as herself.
* * *
Felicia stood at the door, frowning as she listened to Autumn’s heels clanging down the metal stairwell. She was glad that Autumn was out of the way, but she didn’t appreciate being played for a fool.
Neither would Isaac once he learned the truth.
She turned and set off for Isaac’s office. Autumn was sneaky, conniving and now totally unable to defend herself. Felicia knew this was the right time to re-approach Isaac to lend her support.
When she arrived, Isaac was just locking his office.
“Did you leave your laptop in there?”
“I’m not even going to justify that question with a response.”
She ignored his glare and held out her left hand. “I’ll take those.”
He dropped the keys into her cupped palm. “This is all a sham, Felicia.”
She flashed an innocent smile and leaned one shoulder against the wall. “Even if that’s true, and I’m not saying that it is, you’re not the only one at Paxton who has been deceived.”
“I highly doubt that,” he retorted.
“We’ve both been played by the same woman.”
His face contorted. “Who? What do you mean?”
“You’ll never guess,” Felicia said with a drawn-out smile, enjoying the discomfort in Isaac’s eyes. “Autumn Hilliard. She’s a private detective, not an investment analyst, as you and I both originally thought.”
“What kind of craziness are you peddling now, Felicia.”
“It’s true. My father hired her to investigate you. She’s a fraud.” Felicia shrugged, keeping her eyes pinned on his. “I guess that’s one thing you both had in common.”
His eyes widened in shock and he looked over at Autumn’s office. “You’re wrong!”
Felicia put her hand on her chest and adopted a solemn tone. “I wish I was. I feel horrible. I mean, if word gets out that I allowed a private investigator to be hired, even if it was by my father, the other departments at Paxton will lose trust in my abilities as a human resources professional.”
Isaac shot her another glare. “It’s always about you, isn’t it?”
Felicia laughed and tossed her blond hair. “You’re very astute.” She stepped toward Isaac and ran a finger down the lapel of his coat. “But I’m more than happy to make this about you...and me.”
“Cut it out, Felicia.”
He pushed her hand away and her stomach clenched in anger.
“You know, you really should be nicer to me. After all, I didn’t tell Sterling about your little tête-à-tête with Autumn in her office. In case you forgot, we have strict rules here at Paxton about public displays of affection.”
“That didn’t stop you, did it?”
She laughed again and wrapped her arms around his neck. “When I see something I want, I always get it.”
He twisted away, breaking her hold. “I said, cut it out. I don’t want you,” he retorted in a disgusted tone. “I want—”
Isaac looked again at Autumn’s closed door and Felicia enjoyed the pained expression on his face.
“What you want, Isaac...is a lie. Don’t you see that?”
She felt vaguely satisfied when he didn’t say another word and instead walked away.
He’ll be back. I’ll make sure of it.
There was nothing better than betrayal to cause a man to flee...right into another woman’s arms.
Chapter 15
Isaac rubbed his eyes and yawned as he waited for his children in the kitchen. A cup of coffee, long since gone cold, was the only remnant of a sleepless night. Normally, he would have made an attempt at cooking breakfast, but not this morning when all he wished he could do was to talk to Autumn.
She hadn’t responded to texts or phone calls, and when he knocked on her door last night, she didn’t answer. To add to his frustration, the doorman wouldn’t say if she’d returned to or left the building.
The woman he loved, and who he thought perhaps loved him, seemed to have disappeared into thin air. She was as elusive as the feelings they once shared.
Isaac leaned over the table and stared into the coffee cup, as if it would give him an answer to his biggest question.
He was innocent. Why would she investigate a sham?
All he wanted from her now was an explanation, and maybe a little help in clearing his name.
Isaac lifted his head and checked the time on the microwave. “Kids! Hu
rry up or you’re going to be late for school,” he said in a halfhearted yell.
Deshauna sauntered in, touching her hair to make sure her style was still intact. She hoisted her backpack over her shoulder and eyed the table. “I don’t want cereal again this morning. Can I have some money to grab a bagel on my way to school?”
Isaac nodded. “There’s a ten-dollar bill on my dresser. Don’t spend it all at once.”
“Thanks, Dad,” she called back, already halfway to his room. “I’ll see you later.”
“Wait a minute. Aren’t you going to wait for your brother?”
But his question fell on deaf ears because a moment later, he heard the door slam.
Isaac sighed. As much as he wanted Devon and Deshauna to stick together as before, the pair had become much more independent since the adoption. That was a wonderful thing, but it also meant that he had to worry more about them. New York City had a lot of tempting people, places and things for teenagers, and not all of it was good.
Devon ran into the room, jolting Isaac out of his thoughts.
“Hey, Dad.” He stopped just before he got to the table. “Why are you still in your pajamas?”
He was glad at least one of his children had noticed that he wasn’t in his normal attire for a Tuesday morning.
“I’m not feeling well this morning, son.”
Devon glanced outside and shrugged. “Oh. I thought it was because we had a snow day.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, bud, but snow days are pretty rare in NYC.”
“I know, Dad, but I can still hope, can’t I?”
Devon sat down and poured some cereal into a bowl. He was the only kid Isaac knew who ate cereal without milk.
“So what’s wrong, Dad?”
His son’s earnest tone made him thankful once again that he decided to adopt. Isaac rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “Well. Something that I thought would work out...didn’t, so I guess I’m feeling a little down this morning.”
He didn’t bother mentioning the fact that, for the time being, he also no longer had a job.
“You know what, Dad? Before you adopted us, I was ready to give up.” He finished munching on some cereal and swallowed before continuing.
“We’d been waiting so long for someone. But the evening before we all first met, I told myself that I wasn’t going to quit hoping. And as soon as I started believing that in my heart, everything fell into place.”
Devon looked around the room, as if he couldn’t believe his good fortune. The brightness of his smile could have powered a small city.
“It works, Dad. You should try it!”
Isaac glanced around, but all he saw was expensive cabinetry and appliances he barely knew how to use.
He grinned wide, even though he didn’t feel like it.
“That’s great advice, Devon.”
“When I grow up, I want to be a good guy. Just like you.”
Isaac felt the corners of his eyes smart, which happened whenever he felt like crying, but he held them back.
He reached over and patted his son’s head. “Thanks, bud. I have no doubt you will.”
Isaac leaned back and rubbed away the emotion from his eyes. “Better get going before you’re late for school.”
Devon nodded and jumped out of his chair. With a final wave goodbye, he ran down the hall and out the door.
Isaac slumped in his chair. He needed a fresh cup of coffee badly, but he didn’t feel like making any; nor did he feel like getting dressed to go out and buy one.
A few minutes past nine, his phone rang. His heart raced as he reached for it and then fell in disappointment. It was Sterling.
“Good morning, Isaac. How are you?” Sterling bellowed.
“I’ve had better days,” Isaac muttered, holding his phone away from his ear.
“I was wondering if you had lunch plans,” Sterling continued, not missing a beat.
“Well, I was going to catch up on my favorite soap opera, but I just learned it was canceled three years ago, so I’m free,” Isaac replied.
“Wonderful.” Sterling gave him the name of a restaurant on the Upper East Side. “I’ll see you at noon.”
“What’s this all about?” Isaac cut in, but Sterling had already ended the call. He stared at the phone for a second, wondering if he should call his lawyer, before sliding the device across the table in disgust.
Yesterday around this time, Sterling was busy accusing him of one of the worst crimes in business. Now twenty-four hours later he was inviting him to lunch?
Isaac rubbed the bridge of his nose trying to erase the memory of the compliment his son Devon had given him earlier. It was untrue and one that he didn’t deserve. Would a good guy let the best job and the best woman he ever had in his life slip away?
With a resigned sigh, Isaac got up and walked down the hall to the bathroom for a shower. He might feel like a bum, but he didn’t have to look like one.
* * *
Three hours later, Isaac and Sterling sat in a booth at Rudy’s, an upscale sports bar and restaurant at 90th and York. The room was crowded with people trying to escape the workday grind if only for an hour, wishing it were three. Many were drinking beer.
Isaac looked around at the wide-screen televisions and neon liquor signs. “I didn’t know you were into sports, Sterling.”
“I’m not,” Sterling huffed. “I had a meeting in the area and with what I want to discuss with you, it’s important that we have some privacy.”
Isaac met his eyes. “Well, if it’s anything like what we discussed yesterday, perhaps I should start drinking now.”
He lifted his hand to call over a waiter.
But when the man arrived, Sterling beat him to the punch.
“We’ll have two club sodas with lime and two chicken Caesar salads.”
“Good thing I like salad,” Isaac muttered as the waiter walked away. “So if you won’t let me drink or order my own food, why don’t you tell me why we’re here?”
Sterling loosened his tie and looked uncomfortable. He cleared his throat. “For an apology.”
A sudden roar of laughter erupted from the next table over.
“Excuse me,” Isaac said. “I don’t think I heard correctly.”
Sterling cleared his throat again and leaned against the table. “I’m here for an apology.” He held up a hand. “Not yours, mine.”
“I don’t understand,” Isaac replied.
“The document that Autumn found is a fake.”
“That’s what I was trying to tell you yesterday,” Isaac retorted in an exasperated tone.
“But what you don’t know is that I planted it.”
“You did? Why?”
“I was trying to help my daughter. I knew it was her that was running an internal smear campaign against you.”
“I’m not surprised,” Isaac said. “She was constantly trying to throw me under the bus.”
“Even worse, a few weeks ago she gave me some trumped-up documents, similar to the one that Autumn found, to prove you were guilty of securities fraud,” Sterling continued. “I knew when I hired you ten years ago that you were above reproach, and I still believe that so I brought Autumn on board to prove us both right, and in the meantime, I hoped that Felicia would realize what she’d done.”
Isaac sat back in his chair, incredulous at what he was hearing. “So you try to help Felicia by ruining me? That doesn’t make any sense, Sterling.”
“I know,” he admitted. “But I had hoped that she would confess to everything yesterday. That’s why I invited her to the meeting. When she didn’t, I had to go through with the charade of dismissal.”
“Charade?” Isaac swallowed hard. “Does that mean I have my old job back?”
Sterling nodded. “If you’ll accept my apology, that is.”
Isaac knit his brows. “There’s always a catch with you, isn’t there?”
Sterling chuckled and waited to speak until the waiter had set down their beverages.
“Then let me sweeten the deal. There’s a little thing called a partnership at the end of this rainbow. Does that make accepting my humble apology more palatable?”
Isaac stirred the ice cubes in his glass of club soda with a straw, buying time. Sterling’s offer seemed genuine, but with everything the man had just told him, he still wasn’t sure.
“Do you think I’m ready for the responsibility of a partner?”
Sterling nodded. “You’ve been ready for months, Isaac. You’re the best investment analyst on staff. You’ve got the keenest eye for the moneymaker stocks and clients love you. What more could I ask for?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe a son-in-law for Felicia,” Isaac replied with a shrug.
Sterling nearly choked. “What?”
“Your daughter has the hots for me, and I’m not interested. If I come back, I need you to tell her to lay off.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he assured, sounding relieved. “I fired her this morning.”
Isaac tipped his chair back, almost hitting someone at the opposite table. “You fired your own daughter, why?”
“Because somewhere along the way, I failed her, which was likely the reason she tried to destroy you. If I don’t get her some help now, I could be next.”
Isaac blew out a breath. Being offered a partnership at Paxton, the firm he’d given so much of his time and talents to, was a dream come true. All his sacrifices would pay off. But he had some confessing to do of his own.
“You know, a part of me almost understands why you felt you had to give Felicia every chance to make things right because I’m a dad, too. I adopted two teenagers about six months ago. Their names are Devon and Deshauna.”
Isaac paused a beat and waited for Sterling’s reaction.
“I know.”
Isaac folded his arms. “How?”
“I make it a point to know everything about my employees, even some things they are trying to hide. That’s why I knew you couldn’t be deceitful. Anybody that could give up his freedom to become a father to two teenagers is a man I know I can trust.”
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