When it’s apparent I’m not going to get anything done, I call Jeffrey to come and pick me up, deciding to call Keeley on the way.
After settling in the back seat, my finger hovers over her name, contemplating driving over there instead, when my phone starts ringing.
“Daniel, is everything okay?”
My chief operating officer sighs loudly, and I preemptively close my eyes, preparing for the bad news undoubtedly coming my way. “We’re being shut down for unsafe practices on the Chamberland site. We have to stop work until the New York City Department of Buildings has conducted a full investigation.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. In my twenty years of business, we have never even come close to a violation, let alone unsafe practices. Do you know who reported us? Have you spoken to Lyle?”
Lyle’s our project manager on the Chamberland project and our most trustworthy employee. There is no way he’d let that happen.
“We don’t know. But Lyle’s taking the blame. He said he hired two new staff recently and caught them having secret talks on a few occasions, despite claiming they didn’t know each other. The only reason he’s not convinced it was them is because they turned up for work this morning.”
Alarm bells ring in my mind, and I pray that I’m wrong. “When did he hire them?”
Daniel falls silent for a beat before cursing under his breath. “A few days before the fire at the Toddville site.”
“Fuuck. Not that I ever questioned it, but this isn’t Lyle’s fault. It’s mine. I’m on my way.”
“You don’t have to come here. I didn’t call you for that.”
“I know you didn’t. I have to put a stop to this.”
“How?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
After ending the call, I stare out the window, trying to remain calm while inside I’m fuming. Unsafe work practices? Bull-fucking-shit. I hate to think it, but Camilla may have been right. We’re being targeting by the fucking Mikklesons. It has to be.
The second Jeffrey pulls up to the curb by my building, I’m out of the car, waving him off when he steps out to open my door, beating him to it. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes; can you please wait? I need to get to the airport fast.”
“Of course. I’ll be here.”
I thank him as I run inside, and I’ve just made it to the lobby when Easton steps out of the elevator, his eyes wide when he spots me.
Just what I need.
I force a grin as he walks closer, silently cursing the world for putting him in my path.
“Easton.” I nod when he reaches me, hoping he’ll nod back and be on his way. We have to talk. I know that. This isn’t the best way to begin our new life as official in-laws, but as Paige said, today is not the day. He’s still processing, and I’m so worked up I’m likely to say something I regret, and that’s not helpful for anyone.
“I didn’t plan on running into you. But since you’re here…” He trails off and I almost groan.
“We have to clear the air, I know. For Paige and Keeley’s sake, but?—”
“No buts,” Easton cuts me off, and I pause momentarily before pleading my case.
“I’m not trying to get out of this, I just?—”
“Have you thought about how a future with Keeley would look?” He talks over me again and I suck in a breath, remaining calm. A less patient man might have told him to stop being a dick. Not me though. Because I can’t deny that he makes a valid point, and I appreciate the fact that he’s looking after his sister.
“Yes, I’ve thought about it. A lot. The thing is…Keeley and I aren’t officially together, Easton. We’re?—”
“So, you’ve spoken about kids and marriage?” This time when he interrupts me, I pause for an entirely different reason, feeling nauseous as he throws my biggest concern back in my face. “She’s thirty-three. She has her whole fucking life ahead of her.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? Do you seriously think that I’d fuck around with your sister, my daughter’s best friend, my colleaguewithoutthinking about the consequences?”
“She’s not your colleague. You’re her boss. How’s that going to look? Half the football team was there last night.”
