I nodded. That much was true. Except there was one thing I already knew. Something Jackson hadn’t factored in.
Jo hadn’t started off with any intentions towards me. I’d approachedherin Clover’s. I was the one who hadn’t been able to stay away. Otherwise, our paths wouldn’t have even crossed. She hadn’t been there to meet me, and she would have finished her drink and left if I hadn’t offered to buy her another one.
I was the one who’d taken her back to my home. I hadn’t needed to do that. She’d wanted one casual night and didn’t even know who I was. I’d introduced her tomylife.
And then I’d shown up at her office when I’d thought she’d been hurt, when her voicemail had left me with so much rage that I was happy to rampage through the city, tearing wolves apart until I’d destroyed every single person who could possibly have attempted to harm her.
It was more than just rage, though. I’d thought she needed me. I’d needed her to need me. I wanted to protect her, and my wolf wanted to protect her. I didn’t even care that she was mad at me, not really.
I’d just wanted to know that she was okay. I’d wanted to make her feel okay.
“Time will tell,” Jackson said when I didn’t reply. “Maybe that’s all we can know.”
I nodded again. He was right. As much as I’d pursued her at the beginning, people’s motives can change. Only time would reveal Jo’s intentions, and either way, I could be on my guard, and ready.
17
JOSEPHINE
Charmaine dropped another manilla folder into the new filing cabinet that had been delivered this morning.
“Some order at last,” she announced. Then her face fell. “Oh, sorry…I didn’t mean…”
“It’s okay.” I smiled, trying to reassure her. “I know my dad wasn’t the most organized man around.” I looked at the piles of paperwork still in the office. “And it’s not exactly like he tried to hide it, right?”
She chuckled. “No, he didn’t. And his brand of chaos certainly didn’t affect his business mind. It just feels…I just feel better for knowing where everything is.”
“Jo likes that, too.” Wes shuffled another pile of papers. “She likes order and structure and knowing what’s going on.”
“Speaking of what’s going on, has anyone found anything useful?” I didn’t want to spend too much time comparing me to my dad. It still hurt that I was here, doing this without him. It wasn’t how it should have been.
“Nope.” Charmaine shook her head. “Everything looks…squeaky-clean, actually. Nothing out of place, no unexpected names or figures.”
Wes nodded. “I’m seeing the same. Everything adds up, and all the right cross references seem to be in place. We have paper trails.”
We all stopped what we were doing and looked up at a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called, but response was unnecessary.
Parker was already poking his head through the door. “Hello, hello!” His greeting rang with forced joviality. “Look at all three of you holed up in here! He paused. “And looking mighty busy.” He stepped farther inside my office. “Can I offer any help? Maybe we can work through things quicker with an extra pair of hands.”
I started to shake my head, but Charmaine spoke.
“We’re just getting Jo up to speed with the company’s current clients.” Then she lowered her voice to a dramatic conspiratorial whisper. “But between you and me, I think she’s just being a slave driver about tidying up. Escape while you can!”
Parker chuckled, but it still sounded forced. “All filing and no play makes Jo a dull girl. Look, I’m happy to take over on this task so you don’t have to do it. I’m sure you have much more important things to do anyway, right?” He nodded like he expected me to agree automatically with him. “That way, you’ll be freed up to simply sign the items your father used to sign and you can direct your other energies elsewhere. This stuff has got to be…boring. Ladies lunch, right?” His benevolent smile was slimy.
Hmm. I waited a moment, letting the silence become uncomfortable before I spoke. “Perhaps I’ve given you an incorrect impression,” I said when Parker had started to fidget. “I needed a moment to properly honor my father, but I didn’t expect you to assume that I’m unable to do any aspect of this job. I’m young, but that doesn’t mean I’m not able to run Gold Moon. I know there’s a lot more to this role than just being a signature when one’s required, and you should probably also be aware…” I paused.
He should already have known, but the reminder wouldn’t hurt.
“…that I’ve been doing the year-end financial accounting for my father for years. I’ve been a second set of eyes on the financial records and ensured that taxes are filed and paid on time. It’s possible that I already know more than you expect.” I watched him for a beat longer before returning my attention to the file in my hand. “And if you ever do order lunch, mine’s a BLT, hold the pickle.”
I didn’t really need him to reply. Just to know that I was already more involved with the company than he seemed to assume.
He cleared his throat and I glanced back in time to note his shrug. “Sorry.” Probably no one had ever sounded less sorry about anything in their life. “I wasn’t aware of you taking care of the company’s filing responsibilities. My apologies, if they are due.”
I matched his shrug. I didn’t give a fuck what he was previously aware of. He knew now.