“I’m not up to anything.” I roll my eyes. “I believe that this company has good business potential. It’s one of the top three companies producing luxury yachts on this side of the world. Thalvyn is a top-tier brand.”
“It was a top-tier brand before Braxton got his claws into it,” Jake corrects me with emphasis. “Now, it’s just... Even I wouldn’t buy a Thalvyn yacht now.”
“I thought you hated boating.” I glance at him with raised eyebrows.
Jake shrugs with characteristic nonchalance. “Tomayto, tomahto. Brand’s reputation has turned to shit.”
“True, but it can still be salvaged. My name being attached to the brand will help. Operations need to be tweaked a little. With new management and a CEO that has a solid reputation, clientswill return. I may even be able to renegotiate better contracts with them.”
“So whythiscompany?” Jake persists with the tenacity of a bloodhound. “I know you’ve been eyeing this company for a while now.”
“No particular reason. It just fell into my lap,” I say casually, though my fingers unconsciously touch the pocket containing Natalie’s resume. “And I like a good challenge.”
Jake smiles, that same smile that always has his opponents shivering in courtrooms. “You lying piece of shit.”
My lips twitch despite myself. “Take your delusions elsewhere, Jake. I have work to do.”
But my twin brother is like a dog with a bone when he senses weakness. “This wouldn’t happen to have something to do with the contract you had me write up, does it?”
When I don’t answer him, he sneers gleefully like he’s just won a major case. “Oh, it does. You know, I did find it strange how you had me write that contract up, leaving the name and position empty.”
“Maybe I thought it wasn’t any of your business?” I narrow my eyes at him dangerously.
Jake has a look on his face that makes me distinctly wary. “Maybe, but I bet if I ask Clarice, she’ll tell me who the contract was for.”
Before I can stop him, he’s heading to the door, calling out in a sing-song voice that makes my blood pressure spike. “Clarice!”
He opens the door of my office just as I growl in a warning tone that would make lesser men flee. “Jake!”
“Clarice, that contract I sent you three months ago. Who was it for?”
Before I can tell my assistant to keep her mouth shut, she replies with helpful efficiency, “Miss Thorne from HR.”
Jake goes completely still, his entire body freezing like he’s been struck by lightning.
“Excuse me?”
“Shut the damn door, Jake!” I snap with barely contained fury.
“Mr. Wilder?” Clarice sounds uncertain, and I hear her chair scrape as if she’s getting up.
“Get us two coffees, Clarice,” I tell her, my brother closing the door slowly. He leans against it once it’s closed, his expression shifting from confusion to alarm.
“Did I hear that correctly? Did she say Thorne?”
“Like I said, Jake, it’s none of your business.” My jaw tightens with warning.
“Oh, fuck that.” It’s my brother’s turn to sound infuriated, his lawyer instincts kicking into high gear. “What are you doing getting involved with a Thorne? Isn’t it bad enough that you got screwed over once before?”
“This has nothing to do with Lucas.”
“Yeah, because you’re so goddamn honest with m—Wait.” My brother cuts himself off abruptly, his sharp mind putting pieces together. “Clarice said Miss Thorne. Lucas had a sister. Don’t tell me you’re trying to screw him over using her?”
Seeing the shock on Jake’s face has me gnashing my teeth in frustration. “This has absolutely nothing to do with Lucas. Natalie isn’t an extension of her brother.”
“Natalie? So I’m right?” Jake goes slack-jawed before stumbling over to sit down in the visitor chair like his legs won’t support him. “What are you doing, Ethan? Lucas Thorne is a business rival, and you two hate each other. What are you doing messing around with his sister?”
“I’m not messing around with her.” I glare at Jake with growing irritation. “She and I have a past.”
