by Parker, Ali
"It's a start." James leaned down and pulled something out of his briefcase. "I own fifty-one percent of the shares in Zarpeth, so I was hoping I could twist your arm to recommend a private accountant that would help me with my personal affairs. I'm willing to pay top dollar."
Damon snorted. "You came all this way to try and mooch one of my staff off of me?"
"Not one of them. Your best." James extended the packet. "Here are the details of my personal assets and liabilities, as well as the offer I'm extending. I don't want to interview anyone. I just want you and Kent to help me find someone." He lifted his hand as Damon started to speak again. "I know you're not in the HR business. I get it, but you've been good to me and my firm. Give me someone that I can trust and that will do things the M&B way."
"Are you still wanting us, the firm, to do your personal taxes and investment accounting?" Damon wasn't quite sure what to make out of James' request. It wasn't too surprising, but it wasn't every day that a client showed up wanting to poach one of Damon's staff members.
"Absolutely, and the new accountant doesn't have to live in Florida or Seattle where I live throughout the year. They can stay here and work remote, maybe have an office here with you guys that I can reimburse you for?"
"Let me look at the rules of engagement before I say yes. We're still your auditing firm." Damon tapped the desk in front of him as his mind moved through who would be good for James as well as who it would be nice to get rid of. Philip's face popped into Damon's head, but it would have been for selfish, silly reasons.
The kid had a crush on Bethany or did at one time.
A knock at the door surprised him. "Come in."
Beth poked her head in and smiled. "Sorry to bother you. Linda wasn't out here, so I wasn't sure if you were alone or with a client. I'll come back later."
Beth. Bethany didn't want to work for him, and yet she wanted to be close to him, to be an extension of his company.
Damon motioned her to come closer. "No, it's fine. Come on in, Bethany. Let me introduce you to James Talling. He's the-"
"The CEO of Zarpeth. I'm aware." She gave him a cute smile and extended her hand as James stood up and turned to greet her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Talling. I enjoyed your article in Entrepreneur last year. It was brilliant."
James chuckled. "Well, that's nice to hear that someone enjoyed it. I swear I had to up my security measures. People in my generation don't like the idea of remote working arrangements and employee ownership plans. It's the way of the future, but it's going to be like pulling teeth to get some of the old guys on board."
"We just need more trendsetters like you to lead the way." Beth shook his hand, her expression soft and welcoming.
Damon studied her, falling even more in love with her. She wasn't just his woman, but could one day become his partner at the office if he played his cards right. It was a simple exchange between her and James, and yet every company initiative he'd worked up over the last five years centered around excellent customer service. She got it, without even trying.
"I like her." James glanced back and winked at Damon.
"Well, don't like her too much. I'm quite protective of her." Damon walked around his desk and pulled Bethany to his side, leaning over to kiss the side of her head. "This is my fiancée."
"What?" James put his hands on his hips. "You're marrying this scoundrel? A beautiful, intelligent, young woman like you? Brother. What is the world coming to?"
"I am, and I can't wait." Beth turned and wrapped her arms around Damon's waist, making him feel like the only man in the room. "He's brilliant, bold and everything I've wanted my whole life."
Damon chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. "Your check is in the mail."
"Well, I'll be at the ceremony. I love that Damon's found someone. He is a good man." James reached out and patted Damon's back. "Now, isn't Beth here a CPA?"
"She will be soon, but it's Bethany." Damon released her and turned to face James. "She's graduating with her master’s in a week or so."
"From UT here in Dallas?" James smiled.
"Yes, sir. It's been a long five years, but I'm almost done with my master’s." Her smile caused Damon to smile as well.
"She's got a 4.0, James. Not only is she beautiful, but brilliant as well." Damon reached over and ran his hand down the back of her hair. "And bossy as hell too."
"Hey!" She popped him in the chest and extended her hand to James again. "It's nice to meet you. Don't let him tell you any lies about me."
James shook her hand. "Something tells me that he wouldn't dare try."
Bethany gave a soft laugh and turned, walking out and leaving Damon staring after her. It was weird to feel so many things at once, especially in the middle of his office. It was the only place he was steady, secure, strong. The other parts of his life, it appeared he was that way, but it took a lot of effort to keep up the facade. At the office, he was simply himself. Beth was unraveling that.
"I like her." James patted him on the back again. "How about when she gets her CPA certificate, we talk about her being my accountant? It's not healthy for you two to work together at M&B, but maybe she can work for me and still be right down the hall from you. What do you think?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I think she would love the idea. Let's get through her graduation and the wedding and revisit it. I'll bring it up with her soon too and see what she thinks." Damon extended his hand to his old friend. "Anything else I can do for you?"
"Nope. You've done enough already. Take care of that one. She seems like a keeper." James shook Damon's hand and walked over to get his briefcase.
"She is... and let's hope that love is enough."
"Let's not hope, let's just acknowledge that it is. That's the greatest bit of wisdom I could drop on anyone." He patted Damon's shoulder. "Love is enough. Believe it."
* * *
"Boss?" Linda stuck her head into the office a little later that afternoon. "You free for a minute?"
"Of course." Damon finished typing the letter he was working on and stood up from his seat, lifting his hands in the air and stretching. "What's up?"
Linda walked in with a notepad and pen, tapping it frantically as she sat down across the desk from Damon. "You know we're having Ben's promotion party on Friday night, right?"
"Yeah. I'll be there for sure." Damon crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for Linda to trickle out the news, the issue, the whatever that had her a nervous wreck.
"Right, well, the restaurant we were going to use is closing down because of something with the owners. I'm not sure what, but do you have another place in mind? I know you wanted this to be special because it's Ben, and he's been with you for a long time."
"Hmm..." Damon walked to the windows in his office and let his eyes move out across the city. "What would Ben enjoy doing?"
"Office party instead? I could get it catered."
"No, that's so overdone." Damon reached up and pressed his hand to the glass, trying to mull through all of the events Ben had scheduled for the interns over the last few years. Some of them were simply because the interns were young and wild and enjoyed crazy team building activities, but some of them were because Ben enjoyed those activities and wanted friends to join him in doing them. "Let's reserve the top floor of Masquerade. It's a night club downtown that I know Ben enjoys. He tries to get the group to go all the time. Hell, he tries to get me to go all the time."
Linda chuckled. "I love that place too. I doubt they're going to have the top floor available, but I can check."
Damon glanced over his shoulder. "Offer them more than they’re asking for it. Make it happen for us. For Ben."
"Okay. Will do." She stood up, her shoulders straighter, her nervousness gone.
"Linda," Damon called after her as he turned to face her. "You okay? You seem a little off today."
"I don't know. There's just so much change lately. I just hope everything goes okay." She shrugged and walked to the door.
"Anything. Everything." She opened the door and turned, smiling. "It's nothing. I just hope that you're making the right decision with Beth."
"You don't think I am?" He'd never had Linda voice a concern about Beth and was a little surprised to hear she had any concerns at all.
"I think it's a good decision for you, but she's young. People change, Damon." Linda shrugged again. "I married young, and it didn't work out too well for me."
"When is the last time you went out?"
She seemed stunned by the question, but Damon didn't backtrack. Linda had never mentioned a date or a boyfriend or anything. "I don't know. Two years."
"Why?" Damon tilted his head, studying her.
"Because it didn't work the first ten times. Why would it work now?" She crossed her arms over her chest, her voice growing tight - defensive.
"Because the next guy isn't the first ten guys. Take off this afternoon and get on a dating site. By tomorrow morning you need to tell me the name of three guys you're going to have a casual date with. It's required." Damon turned back to the window, trying to hide his smile. He loved her as a friend, and she'd been beside him for the entirety of his career. She needed truth in her life. He could be that truth.
Time to give back to a few people.
"Um. Yes, sir?" Her voice was unsteady.
"Perfect. Close the door behind you." He waited until she left to grin like the tomcat he was. Everyone deserved love, even him.
Chapter 104
Bethany
There was something about James Talling that Bethany liked. He seemed almost like a warm, fatherly figure.
"What's that smile for? Looks like trouble." Ben glanced up from the large conference room table where he, Philip and Sadie were gathered around his computer.
"What?" Beth forced her smile to fade - a little. "I just met Mr. Talling. I like him."
"Should we inform Damon?" Sadie gave a shit-eating grin. "Kidding."
Bethany chuckled. "No, but if we're going to lunch and still trying to make the Accounting Controls meeting at UT this afternoon, we need to get a move on. Who's driving?"
"Damon coming with us?" Philip stood and twisted his torso as he swung his arms around.
"No, he's still talking with Mr. Talling, I believe. I'll text him where we are, but he could probably lead the meeting or discussion this afternoon." Bethany reached down and grabbed her purse. "Sadie, you coming with us?"
It was almost comical to watch the way the girl's eyes lit up when Bethany spoke directly to her. She had to have been the biggest bully in the whole damn company when Beth started as an intern. The old adage must have been true - smack the bully back and they become your best friend.
"Yeah, I think so." She stood and picked up her purse. "I'm going to dinner with a new guy tonight at six. You think we'll be done by then?"
"A new guy? Jeez. What's he, the fifth one this week?" Ben winked at her and stood, walking to the door. "I'll drive."
"Fifth one? You on a dating spree?" Bethany followed after Ben, ignoring the way Philip's eyes lingered on her. They could have so easily moved into having a relationship, but the sexy Aussie became the friend she needed instead. She still wasn't sure how he felt about her and Damon moving forward, but he was playing the supportive friend role from the side.
She was grateful. The last year had been more drama than she wanted to think about.
"Yeah." Sadie moved up beside her and brushed her thick red hair over the shoulder. The girl was beautiful and knew it. "I don't know... I'm just tired of being alone."
"I second that." Ben lifted his hand in the air. "However, I've decided to turn a new leaf."
"By doing what?" Philip moved up on Beth's other side as they stopped at the elevator.
"By being true to myself." Ben pressed the button and turned to face everyone. The tight expression he wore left Bethany a little concerned about what he was going to confess.
"Keep going..." Sadie walked into the elevator and turned to face them. "Stop leaving breadcrumbs and spit it out. You're gay, aren't you."
"Sadie. Shit." Beth rolled her eyes and walked into the elevator. "Ben isn't gay."
"Yeah, I am." Ben shrugged and joined the group. "Time to stop living a lie. I hate myself every day I get up and think, 'today I'm going to ask a woman out.'" He visibly shivered. "Gross."
Bethany laughed and reached up to clamp her hand over her mouth. "Sorry."
"Good for you, man. I'm not gay, but I'm proud of you." Philip reached out and patted Ben's back. "There's nothing worse than wearing a fucking mask all the time."
"Here. Here." Sadie waved her hand around. "I'm just going to stop dating if this guy tonight doesn't work out. I keep thinking the next one is going to be the one, but it's just not happening."
"Can I be honest?" Philip spoke up, his eyes on Sadie.
"Oh hell," Ben muttered and pressed his hand to his face. "This is never good."
Bethany crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the wall behind her, waiting for the show to start. Philip was a ballsy guy, and Sadie was a firecracker.
"Yes. Please do." Sadie turned to face him, her expression growing tight.
"You throw yourself at guys, and where you think that they want that, in fact, they don't. Play hard to get. You're worth the chase, Sadie. Don't run after the next guy that takes you out. Let him come after you." Philip gave her a knowing look, and Bethany held her breath.
The look on Ben's face said that he was bolting the minute the door to the elevator opened.
Nothing but silence. Tense, thick, uncomfortable silence.
The door opened, and Ben jogged through. "I'll get the car. Meet you guys out front."
"Me too." Bethany moved out of the elevator, ready to jog after Ben.
"No. You stay here with me." Sadie reached out and gripped her wrist, pulling her to a stop. "And tell me the truth. Do I throw myself at guys?"
Fuck. Bethany gave Philip a 'really, right now' look and forced herself to face Sadie. The girl didn't have many people in her life from what Bethany came to know over the last year. And of the people she did have in her life, rarely would anyone confront her or tell her the truth. She was too mean for that shit.
"Did you throw yourself at Philip?" Bethany asked, keeping her expression welcoming, her voice soft.
"Yes," Philip responded as Sadie responded, "No!"
"Right." Bethany let out a quick sigh. "Let's wait outside for Ben."
"I didn't throw myself at you, you big, ugly oaf. You were the one that wanted to sex it up in Ben's office. Not me." Sadie's voice was a little loud.
"Did you think this would go well?" Bethany glanced over at Philip, who looked sick all of a sudden.
"Yes. I still do." Philip reached out and grabbed Sadie's hand, pulling her closer to them. "Stop screaming and act your age. I'm trying to help you because I care about you. You can't throw yourself on the bed for any stiff dick that shows up. You hate yourself because of that shit. Don't act like you don't."
Her eyes filled with tears. "I have to go."
"Sadie." Bethany reached out and pulled the girl to her, hugging her and giving Philip the biggest 'go to hell look' she could muster. "It's fine. Philip is just jealous. He's interested in you, and you giving attention to every guy in the world is pissing him off. He's lashing out."
Sadie pulled back and glanced over at Philip as she wiped at her eyes.
Bethany was simply trying to throw Philip under the bus, even though there was no way in hell Philip had feelings for the wild redhead that had most of them rolling their eyes at the office.
"You do?" Sadie's voice softened, her expression changing from anger to neediness.
Oh hell. Bethany started to answer to save Sadie from really thinking that Philip had any feelings for her.
"Yeah. I do." Philip glanced over and stuck his tongue out at Bethany. "I'm tired of you looking everywhere else. I'm
right fucking here."
Bethany stood in stock. Philip had been after her seven months ago.
Seven months.
That was plenty of time to move on and find someone else to fall for. But Sadie?
"Wow. I'm so sorry." Sadie shook her head. "I didn't-"
"I know you didn't." Philip reached out and grabbed Sadie's hand, turning his face toward Bethany. "We'll catch up with you and Ben later. We need to figure this out."
Bethany didn't get a chance to answer as Philip half-dragged Sadie back toward the elevator. Were they sleeping together?
"Didn't see that coming," Bethany mumbled and walked toward the door, numb. She pushed the door open and walked toward Ben, who was waiting in his car out front. Opening the door, she paused to glance behind her. "Weird."
"What happened? Did they blow up at each other?" Ben asked as Bethany got in the car.
"Yeah, but they care about each other." Beth closed the door and buckled up. "How weird is that?"
"Not that weird at all. You haven't been around lately. They've been sleeping together for the last four months, more of a ‘friends with benefits’ type thing from what Philip said." Ben pulled out into downtown traffic. "They need to work it out. Sex without commitment always has consequences."
"I couldn't agree more." Bethany settled into the comfort of her seat and turned her face toward Ben. He was a little overweight and not too terribly attractive, but he had a great heart, and he would find someone to love before too long. "Hey."
"Yeah?" He glanced over at her, his cheeks pink.
"Thanks for sharing your news with us. I think it's great that you're going to start being more the man you know you are." She reached over and squeezed his arm. "I think you'll find someone in no time."
"Right, but if I find someone before the wedding, do you think Damon would flip his shit if I-"
"What? No, not at all. You're one of his groomsmen, Ben. He's planning a party for your promotion for Friday. He cares about you, no matter what choice you make. That's your business." She smiled and dropped her hands into her lap. "I'm still in shock that Sadie and Philip are... were..."