“Exactly.”
Closing his checkbook Brice asked, “What now?”
“Loyalty.”
“Why do I have a feeling we are not talking about you.”
Roger had underestimated Brice. “These results were not obtained by me alone.”
“Gia?” Brice asked. Roger nodded. “What the fuck part of no one didn’t you understand? It would be one thing if it was someone who didn’t know us. But you’re asking me to hire her when she knows this shit about my grandmother?”
“I am.” What could Brice do? Tell Gia she didn’t have a job? That didn’t seem like a wise thing to do.
“Give me one reason why I should?”
Brice was probably expecting him to threaten or blackmail him. Both were viable options. Neither would secure what was best for Gia. Roger did what he knew was best.
“Simple. You put all the reasons why in your drawer. Not because she knows, but because she’s that damn good. Every single thing you just read was information she uncovered. I verified it, but she didn’t miss the mark on one single thing.”
“This skill wasn’t on her résumé.”
“No. I’m not sure she’s aware of it. But in the right position, she’ll figure it out.”
Brice leaned back and said, “It sounds like she would fit better in your line of work than mine.”
Maybe if I hadn’t slept with her.“That’s not possible.”
He nodded. “I understand how difficult it is when someone you care about works so closely to you. Lena actually worked for me for a short time.”
“That seemed to work out. You two are married with a growing family.”
Brice laughed. “Only because I fired her. If not, I never would’ve gotten anything done.”
Roger could see that as being a problem. “I’m sure she was thrilled not to have to see your face twenty-four/seven.”
“Won’t argue with you there. I’m one lucky man. So where is this going with Gia?”
Roger had no idea. And he wasn’t about to discuss it with Brice. At least not in detail. “She’s nice.”
“Nice?” Brice cocked a brow. “I’m wondering how she’d describe you. Maybe I should ask Lena.”
“How would she know?”
“Oh, women seem to know shit we don’t. It took me a while to figure this out, but we’re usually the last to know.”
“Know what?” Roger asked.
“Everything. Meaning, you’re here, speaking on her behalf. If you think this won’t blow up in your face one day, you’re mistaken. If you’re smart, which I doubt, you’ll come clean with everything.”
That wasn’t going to happen. “There’s no reason she needs to know why she got the job.” Gia knew he opened the door, but let her believe they hired her on her own merit. That was partially true.
“There’s one.”
“What is that?” Roger asked.
“If you see yourself having a future with her.”
That was the problem. Roger couldn’t see that. Not because she wasn’t good enough, but because he wasn’t. She had shared more about herself than he had. That’s who he was. He opened up more with Gia than he ever had, but it wasn’t enough. Not to sustain a relationship. Hell, things with Gia had already gotten out of control, moved too fast. Which was unlike him. He’d mastered holding in feelings for a long time. There was no denying it; he cared deeply for her. And that’s why he knew they couldn’t be together. She deserved better than him. Someone who could give her a close loving family, and all he had was himself. And I’m not all that great of a catch to start.