“Thank you, Trent.You are the one who has quite clearly taken on far too much work for one person.You should have asked.I would have gotten you the help you need.”
Trent was about to argue but Ash held up a hand.“Upfront and honest, remember?When you need help, you tell me.”
Slowly, Trent nodded.
“Do I need to ask Mr.Braithwaite to come back?Is there more training he can offer that might help you?”
“No.I think he taught me everything I was capable of learning.”
“Well, I haven’t seen a lot of money going out to pay laborers for the repairs you’ve been reporting.”He paused, closing his eyes with a sigh.“Tell me you haven’t been doing it all yourself.”
Trent didn’t say anything.He had been doing it all himself.Regardless of what Ash said, Trent did owe him.More than he could ever work off.
“That ends today.”Ash shook his head.“I hate to even ask for something else from you, but right now, I need your help.Let’s go over to the Den.There are others that need to be a part of this conversation, and this office is too small for that.”
Trent had never been in The Raven’s Den when it was actually a gaming hell.When he’d visited for Ash’s wedding it had been completely transformed into a large reception hall.
“Come on over tonight, after Maggie’s in bed, so you can see it in all its glory.It’s quite an experience.”Trent had never really seen this side of Ash’s life.He was more relaxed here than he’d been at Woodburn.More at home.
“I can’t wait to see it.”
“I don’t know if you’ve met these two yet.Michael is one of my partners, and Allister heads up our security.”
“We have met, but Mr.Allister wasn’t working for you then.”Trent shook both of their hands.He still had no idea what he was here for.At least it didn’t appear he was about to be sacked.
“Brandy?”Ash asked as he walked to the bar.
“Yes, please.”Hopefully a drink would calm his nerves.
They all settled around the table before Ash spoke again.“I know you’re curious about why I requested your presence here, so I’ll just get right to it.Allister’s sister, Samantha, is in our care.She’s been through an incredibly difficult few years and isn’t acclimating very well here.In truth, she needs more help than we can offer her.I’d like to send her up to Woodburn Hall.”
“And what is it that makes you believe I’m qualified for that?Is she a child?”
“No,” Allister said, shaking his head.“She’s definitely not a child.”
“But I don’t know anything about women, Ash.I can’t— I can’t—” He downed half of his brandy, unable to complete whatever that sentence should be.
“This is where Maggie comes in,” Ash explained.“She’s going to be our secret weapon.I think she might be just what Samantha needs.”
His fear was instantly extinguished by his protectiveness.“I don’t like the sound of that, Ash.”
Ash’s lips pressed into a thin line.“You don’t actually think I would do something that might put her in danger, do you?”
Of course he wouldn’t.Ash would do anything to keep her safe.Trent shook his head.“I’m sorry.”
“Samantha isn’t dangerous,” Michael said.“She’s just scared and lost.She doesn’t know who she is or what she wants.”
“My sister was a victim of that fraudulent marriage scheme.”Allister swirled his glass.“She endured five years of unimaginable abuse.”
“But how can I possibly help her?”
“Woodburn is somewhere she can just be,” Ash said.“She won’t have any expectations and can simply work through her grief however she needs to.And I know I can trust you to not take advantage of her vulnerability.”
“Of course I wouldn’t.”
“You do need to be warned, though.”Michael’s features were serious.“She sometimes tries to show gratitude in ways that are not appropriate.”
“Cover your ears, Allister.”
