Page 13 of Sinful Beauty

He’s going to be working twenty feet away from me. And he’s the son of a board member. He’s the son of the founder of the company. The man from the pub could be my future boss.

A thousand hail Marys might not be enough. All the luck that skirted my family has been delivered to me in one sweeping act.

Chapter5

Tristan

“Tristan, I am warning you, stay away from the assistants. For that matter, from all employees. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, mother.”

“I’m serious.” Her right toe taps at a brisk pace, underscoring her point. “I do not want our family to be wrapped up in a scandal. Do you hear me?”

“A scandal from what exactly? Dipping my quill in the company well?”

She raises her hand, and I slide away from her with a grin I can’t contain. “That ring of yours hurts.” She’s fun to rile. I’m in my mid thirties and yet Mum can turn me into a boorish teen in under an hour.

“I saw you looking at her.”

“I would have had to close my eyes to not look at her. She sits right outside his office.”

“You know what I mean. Don’t play ignorant. You looked at her like you fancy a fuck and that will not cut it in our family’s company.”

“When did you get that mouth?”

She lets out a pained sigh and her eyelashes flutter as if she’s enduring an agonizing pain commensurate with labor. “You are not taking me seriously.”

“I promise you, I am. It might surprise you to learn that while I disagree that my dating a fellow colleague ranks as scandalous, I do very much care about our family’s reputation.” I care so much, in fact, that I am on a long-term undercover assignment. It’s tempting to take her aside and tell Mum everything. But there are many reasons I won’t. And one of those reasons is that there’s no reason to bring my mother into this. If I told her, she’d take it as a personal affront and would hunt down the person, or persons, herself. She loves this company more than anything or anyone. I might be her flesh, but this company is my favored sibling. And I will not put my mother in harm’s way.

Apparently appeased, she steps forward to open the door to her burgeoning cosmetics start-up. She raised me to be a gentleman, and I move to open it for her, but she brushes me aside, pausing in the threshold.

“People will believe nepotism is the only reason you are here. I need for you to take this seriously. If you’re ready to settle down, I can introduce you to many accomplished women who would make a magnificent partner. If you’re not ready to settle down, go do your thing. But do it outside of these walls. Understood?”

“I already said I did.” With a subtle exhale, I breathe out my frustration. It’s a wonder my father can put up with her. She can’t let anything go and she repeats herself endlessly. “Aren’t we going to lunch?”

“I don’t have time. I moved things to make the time for the Nelson meeting.”

We planned on lunch last week. I had her assistant place it on her calendar.

“Oh, don’t look so dejected. Ring your father. He’ll be available.” Her expression softens, and she adds, “I’m thrilled for you to be here, Tristan. You’re going to be a resounding success. But Tristan?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t cock this up.” The brass plated door closes behind her with a dull thud.

At this end of the lobby, I’m quite alone. I doubt many people are even aware this passageway between Lumina and my mother’s start-up exists. The door looks like an internal door, but the weight of it is that of an exterior door. My mother moved on, but she didn’t move far.

I lean against the wall and pull out my phone to tap a text to my father.

Me: Lunch?

I lean against the wall and wait. Ferdinand, a cafe I’m partial to, is nearby. I could grab a tea while I wait for a response. Find a table and read. I have a few hours to blow before I should be back for the afternoon meeting. If I go back to my office and attempt work, I might give the impression of being someone other than a spoiled trust fund kid appeasing his parents. And my gut tells me it’s better that no one has a reason to see me as a threat.

I exit the building, headed toward the cafe. My thoughts go to the dark-haired exotic beauty, and her name plate. Lucia Oliveira. I’ve seen that name before.

Ozzie, the queen of all things tech, answers on the first ring. “If it isn’t my favorite Nomad.”

“How’s the code-breaking heartbreaker?”

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