“I like her. She won’t back down if she disagrees, so expect to butt heads. Why not interview several?”
“I trust Seth and I havegotto get someone on board. Francesco needs to start production. Without my loan, the project stalls.”
“You’ll know how to proceed after her presentation.”
As Colton stashed the receipt in his wallet, his phone buzzed with a text from Taylor. “They’re pulling out of the garage,” Colton said and stood. “I’ll say goodbye to Brigit.”
Dez headed for the door while Colton set off toward her table. The closer he got, the more heat flamed his chest. After a whisper from Kathryn, Brigit shot him the same disdainful look she’d given him in Seth’s office. He was adept at reading women, but not this one. In as much as he didn’t want to hire her because he found her so fucking irresistible, he needed the best. Settling for second was never an option.
Pinning her with his gaze, he extended his hand. She rose and stared into his eyes. So pretty, even with the attitude. Instead of shaking his hand, she cocked a brow. Brigit Farnay seemed to enjoy being difficult. Women heaped positive feedback on him—grins, giggles, fluttering eyelashes, pink cheeks—but not this one.You’re one hot handful.
Just as he started lowering his hand, she slid hers in. The zing from their connection landed smack in his balls and he squeezed her hand tighter. Though she relaxed her glare, she tugged her hand away, leaving his stone cold. Then a hint of a smile played around one side of her sexy mouth.She doesn’t detest me as much as she wants me to believe.
Time to go. A seemingly harmless conversation could easily undo everything he’d just accomplished. After tossing her a nod, he made his way through the noisy bar. With his hand on the door, he glanced back. Had to see her one more time.
She hadn’t moved. Even across the crowded room, he would have singled her out. With a sly smile, she raised her hand and shot him the middle finger.
She’s toying with me.Flashing a smile, he exited Sullivan’s and laughed out loud as he slipped into the backseat of his silver Bentley.
Chad eased the vehicle forward in the bumper-to-bumper Friday night traffic. “I could walk faster than this.”
“I love Georgetown.” Taylor stared out the passenger window. “Wall-to-wall people.”
Colton shifted his gaze to the packed sidewalk. Brigit had called him out at her office. Surprising since he rarely encountered pushback. When he did, he’d approach the challenge differently, even more determined to win. His need for control harked back to childhood, where he’d had none. Not only terrified of his abusive father, he was often targeted by school bullies. Whenever possible, his twin brother had protected him. After Cain’s death, a timid and desperate Colton had adopted his brother’s favorite saying.You’re not the boss of me.Over the decades, those words had shaped and guided him.
Clenching his teeth, Colton lifted his phone from the inside breast pocket of his suit. He hated thinking about his childhood. “Chad, did you get the results of Brigit’s background check?” He loosened his tie and unfastened the top button of his dress shirt.
“I emailed it to you. There’s nothing.” Chad turned down a side street.
“What do you mean,nothing?”
“She has no known relatives and, other than college transcripts, I can’t find anything prior to her five years at Porter, Gabriel and Sethfield.” Chad looped back around onto M Street, toward Key Bridge. “It’s like she didn’t exist. No family, no childhood. Nothing.”
Taylor turned around, eyeing Colton and Dez in the backseat. “Oooh, a mystery lady.”
Colton huffed. “Everyone has a past.”
“Not this woman,” said Chad.
“Whatdidyou find?” Colton asked.
“She’s won numerous company awards and accolades. The clients I spoke with love her and she’s got a shitload of them. Free time is spent volunteering at a D.C. women’s shelter. And she’s helping fund a college savings plan for a high school senior.”
Thumbing through email, Colton opened the attachment. “I’ve got it. The student is a Monica Hall.”
“Shaniqua Hall is Porter, Gabriel and Sethfield’s receptionist,” said Dez. “Her daughter, perhaps.”
He scanned the document for prior arrests, lawsuits, and education. “Brigit graduated summa cum laude from Wharton. That’s impressive.”
“She’s well qualified,” Dez said.
“No pets, but she feeds treats to the neighbor’s cat before work.” Chad headed over Key Bridge into Virginia. “I did my own investigating.”
“Do I want to know how you found that out?” Colton asked.
“Speaking as your attorney, no, you don’t,” Dez said.
“Tell me you’re not hacking,” Colton said.
