“What are you up to?” I ask him.
“Nothing.”
“This is me you’re talking to. Not only do I live with two of the most devious, ruthless men on the planet, I know you way too well to believe your innocent expression. Tell me what’s up…and how I can help.” I grin.
He sighs. “Fine. But only because I know you’ll understand. This is dome-of-silence shit here.”
We both take privacy and confidences very seriously. “Of course.”
“Isabella is Douglas Shay’s daughter.”
My eyes pop. “Your former business partner who made off with all your money? That asshole?”
“And forced me to shut down before I declared bankruptcy a decade ago? Yes. Now his daughter needs a job—and she came begging me.”
“Does she know you despise her father?”
He shrugs. “We haven’t spoken since she was thirteen. But the way she’s acting, I doubt it.”
“And you’re still insisting on hiring her?” Despite the fact HR thinks she’s not qualified.
I can only think of one reason why.
“Oh, yeah.” Nathan looks pleased with himself.
My jaw drops, along with my voice. “The office isn’t really the place for your vendetta.”
He raises a brow at me, arms crossed over his chest, reminding me that, despite looking evolved and professional in his gray suit, he’s a former special ops marine. When it comes to being subversive, determination and know-how are never a problem.
Isabella Shay doesn’t stand a chance.
“I’ll teach Bella everything she needs to know to thrive at Force. Inside a few months, she’ll be damn good at her job. I will ride her ass until she is.”
That’s probably true, but… “Why do I get the feeling that’s not the only reason you’ll ride her ass?”
A smile plays at his mouth. “Her father disappeared with every cent we’d earned years ago. She is the key to finding both him and my millions. Until I get it, I’m entitled to my pound of her flesh.”
And I’ve heard Nathan’s reputation via office gossip. He’ll have Bella Shay on her knees and begging in no time. I almost feel sorry for the woman. Then again, he’d never actually hurt her. She’ll gain valuable corporate skills from one of the best and a stint at a major financial organization that will look stellar on her résumé while she’s making great money. Bella will hardly be suffering—especially if Nathan heaps orgasms on her.
“If you haven’t seen her in a decade, she must be—”
“Fresh out of college.” He grins like he knows this payback will be both easy and sweet as hell.
I frown. “That makes her…what? Eighteen years younger than you?”
Nathan shrugs. “It makes her an adult—and fair game. Besides, your husbands are fourteen years your senior, right?”
He’s not wrong. Honestly, I don’t often see Nathan’s ruthless side, but when I do…watch out, world.
“Stop giving me the judgmental side-eye,” he drawls. “I’ve waited a long time for answers and retribution. Besides, she’s always free to turn down the job.”
His acidic smile says he knows that’s basically impossible, just like the likelihood that he’ll leave her alone now that she’s landed on his radar.
I shake my head. “Be careful, my friend.”
“Always am. But I’m hardly in danger from a spoiled twenty-three-year-old.”
Probably not, but someday, some woman will topple his restless heart. If that someone was Bella, it would be delicious irony. “We’ll see.”