“Since I’m new to the company, I’d like to learn as much as I can about the employees, and you mentioned one you disliked. I wondered if there was a reason and if we should be concerned.”
Don nodded. “I don’t like to talk about anyone, and I don’t have any proof he’s done anything wrong, but two women who worked with him suddenly quit about a year apart. They were questioned to see if there had been a problem, but they said no. I don’t believe that, but I’m not sure why they would lie.”
“It could be he threatened them,” Eli suggested as he leaned against the front of his desk and crossed his arms.
“That’s possible. A few of the partners looked into it, but the women refused to talk even months after quitting. It could be nothing. You’ll have to meet him and see what you think.”
“I think I’ll do a little digging on my own, quietly.”
“That would be great. My oldest daughter was sexually harassed at school, and it scarred her. She was never the same around men.”
“Tell me why you’re worried about Kinley.”
“Because the guy calls her to his office every day. Thankfully, he shares with a couple of other guys, but sometimes they’re not in the office when he’s asked her to go. I’m afraid he’s going to hurt her. He might already be saying inappropriate things or touching her when he’s not supposed to, and she could think it’s normal and not say anything. Her parents were really strict, and when they died, she was at an all-girl Christian college, so she’s had very little experience with men.”
At the thought of this man taking advantage of women, anger unlike any he’d felt before raced through him. “I’m going to take care of this. If I find something, I’ll tell you.”
“I’m only glad Kinley has someone really looking out for her. Her cousin is a nice guy, but his attention is always on a screen, and there’s only so much I can do.”
“I’ll ask about that. I don’t like the idea of her being left alone. Actually, any woman alone with the man if he’s a danger to them.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you decided to stay.”
“Hey, Don. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”
Don waved and walked out.
Eli made his way to Travis’s office and knocked.
“Come in.”
Eli opened the door. “Hey, Travis, do you have a minute?”
Travis waved him in. “Always. What’s up?”
Eli caught sight of someone bundled up in a light-pink blanket lying on the sofa. All he could see way long, light-blonde hair wrapped in pink.
Travis tipped his head toward it. “That’s my Nia.”
“She sleeps here?”
Travis chuckled. “Only when I don’t let her get a lot of sleep the night before.”
Fuck, that sounded so damn good.
“Does she spend a lot of time here?”
“Yes. I prefer she be with me as much as possible. Sometimes, she’ll stay home or go out with friends, but I have security, and Mrs. Willis is at the house to take care of her and make her use our driver, Stan. He’s also a retired Navy SEAL, so he doubles as a bodyguard.”
“You’re very protective.”
Travis glanced at the woman. “Hell, yeah. She’s my most prized possession.”
Eli caught the mischievous look in the other man’s eyes. “Why are you smiling?”
“Because she always gets mad and explains that things are possessions, not people. It usually ends up with her bare ass over my lap, and then a frantic bout of sex.”
Eli chuckled. “You’re a lucky man.”
Travis nodded. “Yeah, I am. Now, what’s the problem?”
“Don in payroll came and talked to me about Foster in Research.”
“Yeah, that fucker is up to something. We lost two great women, and I know it’s because of him, but I just can’t prove it. I investigated it myself. They wouldn’t talk about it.”
“Would you mind if I looked into it?”
“No, not at all. Why are you so interested? You didn’t know the women.”
“It’s just that Foster is calling Kinley to his office every day.”
Travis straightened abruptly. “Has that fucker touched her?”
“I don’t know yet.”