Page 2 of Hartley

“I’m not asking you to babysit her,” he growled. “I need you to keep her safe.”

“I get that, but there will come a point where she asks my opinion or needs help with something I’m ill-equipped to take care of. Then what?”

“She has us.”

“She does, but what if she needs more? There are a lot of men here. To the point I’m usually the only woman in the building unless Irene is working. From the sound of it, Ava spent her entire life with her mom. Being around this many men might not be comfortable for her. She’s going to be upsetand scared. I’m not exactly the type people want to hug. But I know someone who is.”

Jordan dropped his head back. “Another I’ll need to do a background check on?”

“Yes, but I can vouch for her skills and how she’s a lot more loving than me.”

“Who?”

Kayli grinned. “My sister.”

“You have a sister?” I asked. I bet Vail knew. He was better at making friends and learning about the people who worked for Jordan. I’d been buried in work and hadn’t had the time to get to know them. Now I felt like shit. Like Jordan needed to bring more women into his organization, I needed to be better about speaking to those who worked for him.

“You’re going to love her, Hartley. She’s like me but nicer.”

“She’ll want to do this?” Jordan asked.

Kayli shrugged. “I’ll stop by her place and see what she says. Last I heard, she was in between jobs.”

“No boyfriend to worry about?”

“Uh, no. The last idiot tried to tell her what to do all the time. She dumped his ass and has been single since. There are no connections for you to worry about with her. If she takes the job, she can be here when you need her.”

“Why hasn’t she worked for Jordan before?” I asked. If she was as skilled as Kayli, it had me wondering why she didn’t follow Kayli when she came to work for Jordan.

“She hates him,” Kayli said matter-of-factly.

Facing Jordan, I asked, “And you want her to work for you?”

“I don’t need her to like me. I need her to protect Ava. Do you think all my employees like me?”

Kayli started laughing. “Oh, the stories I could tell you.”She peered over her shoulder. “Reghan, do you remember that one financial guy who stopped by a couple of years ago? He thought he was so important and ran his mouth the whole way up the elevator with us, until he got in front of Jordan and became the sweetest man ever.”

Reghan chuckled. “He really hated you, sir, but acted like he loved you.”

“Yet he still works for me because he’s damn good at his job and I pay him well,” Jordan stated. “He won’t leave. The money he earns won’t be easily made at another company.”

“And you have meetings with him here, even though he despises you?” I asked.

“No, he isn’t allowed to step foot in this building ever again. He knows his place, and it’s not in my fucking presence. I haven’t seen him face-to-face since.”

“Ah, a freeze out.” I’d been on the receiving end of that once from Jordan. So had Vail. It ended with Jordan driving Vail home and me leaving as well. It didn’t last long. Then again, Jordan wanted us. He clearly didn’t like the man who worked for him.

Jordan’s arm tightened around my waist as he nuzzled his nose along my neck. “Stop, Hart.” Jordan Altair Sr., mind reader extraordinaire.

“If we’re through, I’ll visit my sister and keep you posted,” Kayli said.

Jordan dismissed her. “Thank you, Kayli.”

“You’re welcome, sir.”

Kayli departed, leaving me with Jordan and Reghan. Since we weren’t sure when Vail would be back, I climbed from Jordan’s lap, not wanting Ava’s first time meeting us to be Jordan and I making out. Lana had already taken care of whatshe had to with Vail. Ava would be here soon. She needed a home, and I was going to help provide that for her.

I stood and went back to my laptop, looking once more for items needed for Ava. As I was browsing online, the elevator dinged again. This time, Irene stepped out.

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