“The story about how she ended up my neighbor…all that is bullshit.”
Archer studied me. “You seem heated by that.”
“I don’t like being played.”
“Played. Why do I get the feeling there is more going on with you and Harper?”
Fuck. I told him about Lupe and Dax. I didn’t want to admit to having my heart led down a dangerous path.
He tilted his head. “Do you like her?”
“I might have if she wasn’t working with Bran to steal my company. I overheard her talking to Bran about a business. A business that is in transition. That’s us, my friend.”
He sighed. “Or it could be Boss Kid.”
“What?”
He nodded. “Bran asked us to do background checks on the place.”
“That’s a business?”
“Technically, yes. It teaches at-risk children about entrepreneurship. It’s expanding, but needs an influx of cash.”
“And Bran wants it?”
“He wants it for Harper. Apparently, her one redeeming quality is her charity work, of which she spent a lot of time with this organization. It seems like it should be a non-profit but--”
“One redeeming?” I took offense at that.
Archer smirked. “I take it you know of more qualities?”
Fucker. He was baiting me to see if I liked her. God. I was getting tricked left and right.
“The point is, Bran doesn’t want Saint Security. I’m sure of it. He wants to take over Boss Kids because he thinks that will give Harper’s life purpose and direction. And, according to him, she’d be good at it. Apparently, she’s good with kids.”
I thought of how well she did with Mo. He’d taken to her much faster than he had with me.
“She won’t like him doing that,” I quipped.
“He said he was going to enlist her involvement before taking it over.”
As I re-hashed the conversation I overheard, I supposed they could have been talking about Boss Kids, but why not just say that?
“Is your only problem with Harper being related to Bran?” Archer asked.
“My problem is I think they’re working together. I’m nearly positive the cameras and bugs are from him—”
Archer shook his head. “I doubt it.”
“What?”
“If Bran was going to bug and surveille, he’d ask us.”
“Not if it was me.”
“Still. I don’t see it. Not for the purpose of hiring you to model watches. Although, if he was watching you, maybe it was to make sure you didn’t touch his sister.”
I made a face at him.