Page 44 of Keeping Eveline

Yolanda didn’t bat an eyelid at his demand. “Will do. Will also get the coffee machine on in there too. Hi, Ms. Durville, good to see you again.”

“Hi, Yolanda,” Eveline said, her fingers brushing against his.

His hand tingled from the almost-touch, and he swallowed. He wanted her closer, no matter their location and how inappropriate it was. Ox shouldn’t be surprised his employee recognized Eveline.

She was good at her job and always greeted people she remembered by their name. She was as much of an asset to him as the others were. Her people skills were top notch, and he was very glad she’d answered his employment advert.

“No need. I’ll get it started when we get in there,” he said.

“Okay. By the way, your contact at the VA sent an email with prospective employees and their files. I’ve printed them out and put them on your desk. I know you like to get hard copies of those things, instead of reading them on the screen.”

Another reason he paid her the big bucks to stay. “Thanks, I’ll take them home with me and review them. This visit will be a short one.”

“Understood. I’ll get in touch with everyone. Although I think Callum is at the studio with Astrid. She started filming her new season today so he wanted to be there.”

Ox nodded. He’d forgotten Growler wouldn’t be in the office. He recalled seeing an email stating that’s where he’d be.

As much as Ox wanted Growler there to get his insight into the situation, the man’s priority was the safety of his fiancée after her run-in with the Ramirez Cartel a few months ago.

He led Eveline down the hall. Within minutes of him reaching the room, everyone else would be in there, so he had only a few seconds alone with her in the sizeable conference room. “I want you to sit on this meeting with me,” he said.

“Why?”

As annoying as it was for some people when they were constantly asked why, he didn’t mind it coming from Eveline.

“Because this concerns you and what’s happened to you. Besides, you were the one who found the information. I’ve had my team reviewing it, and I’m sure they’ll have a few questions about it. You’ll be able to answer them and help them get the answers they need.”

Eveline’s brown eyes widened in surprise, as if she’d never been asked to be involved in anything. “Thank you. I’ll help in any way I can.”

Ox couldn’t recall what job she did at Triple Z, but with the way she uncovered the duplicitous actions of her boss, her research skills were exactly what was needed in his business.

Would she consider leaving Triple Z and coming to work for Alliez?

How could he be having that idea, when less than two weeks ago, he’d been arguing with her in his office and skeptical that she was tricking him and Alliez?

Was Ox being naïve in trusting her?

No, he’d already worked through this, so having these second thoughts was pointless.

Eveline needed help and wasn’t involved in any underhanded actions in trying to discredit Alliez.

“You good, Ox?” Irish’s question had him pushing aside his inner thoughts and getting back to the reason he’d called everyone into the conference room.

“Yep. You?”

Irish gave a short nod, his gaze tracking Cass, who walked into the room with her computer.

The strain around the corner of her mouth reminded Ox that Cass had had a migraine a couple of days ago.

“Hey, Cass, how you doing?” Ox asked, repeating Irish’s sentiment, as he pulled out a chair for her to sit in.

“Good, just a little tired.” Cass smiled, her brown eyes lighting up a little.

Ox studied her for a few moments, trying to see if there were any outward signs to suggest that not everything was right with her. He couldn’t see any, then again, he wasn’t a doctor. “You need to see someone about your headaches. Promise me you’ll do that?” He said it quietly, so as not to draw any attention to their computer whizz and her health issues.

Given the fact that Irish had told him about it, and the way Angel was watching his interaction with Cass, it was likely everyone was aware so his need to be discrete may have been a waste of time. Not that Ox cared. He’d do the same with anyone on the team.

“I will. I think a lot of it is from eye strain and looking at the computer screen. I need to get a new glasses. It’s been a while since I got this pair.” Cass pointed to the black-rimmed glasses sitting atop her head.

---