“But you’re working for Uncle Max.”
“Actually he just tells me what to do and I do it.”
“I didn’t know you knew anything about contracts or construction.”
She laughed. “Nope but I do about coffee and laundry. He’s starting me off slow. I’m sure before you know it, I’ll be—”
“Bullshit. That’s not what you’re there for. You’re capable of so much more. I’ll call him and set him straight.”
“Dad, please don’t. I’m a grown woman and I know how to handle myself. Besides, I don’t mind having an easy job. It pays the same without any stress.”
“You always look on the bright side. Don’t let them change you,” he said firmly.
“Never, Dad. I’ll always be your sweet pea. But I have to go or I won’t have time to eat. I love you,” she said, holding back her tears.
“I love you too.”
She ended the call before she broke down. Rosslyn had wanted to ask how her mother was doing, but since her father didn’t put her on the phone, it meant she was having a rough day. When you lived with someone long enough, you picked up on what was not said very easily. It was breaking her heart not to be home helping. Without her there, her father had to do it all on his own.
I’m sorry, Dad. I wish there was another way.Hopefully she could earn enough money in a few months to really make a difference.
“Miss, is everything okay?” the waitress asked.
Rosslyn wiped her tear-streaked face and nodded. “Thank you. Do you think I could get this to go?” She had lost her appetite.
“Of course.” She took the cheesecake away and returned it in a takeout container.
She paid her bill and started toward the door, unfortunately someone was blocking her way intentionally. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to pass.”
“How is it I’ve never see you before and now I see you everywhere?”
It was a thought that crossed her mind as well. It made sense that she’d see him in a five-star restaurant, but this was a burger joint, one she could afford. What was he doing there? If he worked for Lawson Steel, maybe he lived on a budget as well, and the other guy he’d been with was his boss. She didn’t have a detective’s mind, which is probably why her uncle didn’t give her a research job. But she had to know, so Rosslyn asked, “Should I be concerned that you’re following me?” There was a small part of her that was serious. She was naïve to some of the things that took place in the city. She hoped to keep it that way too.
He laughed. “Stalking is not my thing.”
It almost slipped past her lips. What is? That would open a longer conversation than she wanted to have with him. Yesterday she’d gotten out of there without Max knowing they spoke. But this was a popular place and anyone from Grayson Corp could be there. She didn’t need someone ratting her out over something purely innocent.
If she was back home and a man as attractive as this guy wanted to chat up a storm with her, she’d have gotten all weak in the knees. Although he looked spectacular in a suit and tux, she couldn’t help but wonder what he’d look like in a pair of jeans. She liked a guy who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty with some hard physical work.
She was getting herself all steamed up thinking of him swinging an axe, chopping wood for the fireplace. The only thing he probably lifts is weights at the gym. “In that case, then you won’t mind stepping out of my way,” Rosslyn said.
He stepped aside slightly and said, “We didn’t get a chance to introduce ourselves last night.”
“And still no time today.” It was a tight squeeze and she turned her back to him as she brushed past him. Even through all those damn clothes, she could feel how fit he was. She didn’t want to think about him at all, but evidently, he wasn’t so easy to forget. You’re not only a distraction, but a risk I can’t afford to take. She wasn’t here to date or anything else for that matter. Rosslyn needed to keep her mind where it belonged: keeping Uncle Max happy so she continued to get paid.
As she made her way through the busy street, she knew she better pick up the pace. If she rushed, she’d make it back to the office and never even have been missed. Mostly because I’m not really needed.
Rosslyn couldn’t help but look over her shoulder. With how persistent he was, she wouldn’t have been surprised to see him following her. She knew she should tell Max about this, but really, she didn’t owe him anything. At least nothing she wasn’t being paid for.
And that’s what you get when you don’t even want to admit to anyone that we’re related.
Charles walked over to the table she had just left. He noticed the receipt out in the open. Everything in him said don’t do it. But he wasn’t out to snag her credit card number, just her name. There were other ways of obtaining the same information, but this was the easiest.
Picking up the paper he scanned it quickly. R. Clark. That wasn’t much to go on and really, it was possible it wasn’t even her card. If he wanted to know who she was, all he needed to do was backtrack people both he and Maxwell had spoken to last night. Surely one of those people would remember her name. If Maxwell had the decency to introduce her. He wasn’t banking on that one.
Charles put the receipt back on the table and walked over to grab his takeout order. Once again that woman was distracting him from more important things. The only thing she offered was something he wasn’t interested in. But somehow that didn’t stop him from thinking about her.
For a woman in her position, he’d have thought she’d be more . . . free with her time to talk. He could’ve been a potential client. But she couldn’t seem to get away from him fast enough. Charles didn’t consider himself a stud, but women usually found him easy on the eyes. So what was her problem? Had Maxwell hired her to be exclusive?