Merry With a Scrooge (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

4. Laney

Laney

Half a day and I already know I won’t survive working for Vail if I can’t stop my stupid heart from fluttering every time I look at him.

Or hear him.

Or think about him.

I thought my teenage infatuation for the man had long since died an easy death.

Apparently, it went into hibernation instead.

And now it’s wide awake.

And hungry.

And today he’s been at his worst.

Any attraction I still harbored should have died in the face of his behavior.

He’s been angry and raging and an absolute prick stomping around his office yelling orders as the rest of us scramble to right all the things Ms. Dara Milton wrecked on her way out the door.

Even if he has a right to feel the way he does, he doesn’t have the right to treat us badly. He should be directing it solely at Ms. Milton’s feet.

From the information I’ve gathered so far, she’s been seeking her revenge on Vail since last Wednesday when it appears she discovered her contract would not be extended.

Which confuses the hell out of me because she’s employed by a temp agency not QVE.

It’s it in her job description to work somewhere for a predetermined amount of time then leave?

“What have you got?”

The growling bark from behind makes me jolt, but I school my face to show no fear before I turn to face the man-beast who’s finally ventured out of his office.

“The guys from IT and I have rolled back the system to her start date. My plan is to compare everything as it stands from that date until now. I’m recording everything she messed with as I go. We can narrow a lot of it down to what was accessed through her computer.”

“Good.”

“Not so fast. As I pointed out to IT, she could have gotten into any system or file she had access to from someone else’s terminal. Security is running through video footage of her movements and will ping any possible point she might have done that.”

Vail eyes me like I’ve got a second head, and it takes everything I have not to squirm under his scrutiny. “Okay. What about my calendar? Is that back up?”

“Yes. I’ve already gone through that. You should be able to function without a problem. There might be a meeting or two in the future that is missing but I’ve scanned the recent files you’ve been working on, and I don’t see anything obvious that she might have not entered at all before she wiped it completely.”

“Hmm…” He scrubs a broad hand over his chin. “Has the agency returned my call?”

“No.” I hold up a hand to stop his next words and tap my ear bud. “I’m calling them every thirty minutes. Either they’ll get sick of me and put me through to the manager or I’ll inform them of our pending legal action.”

His dark brows hike up his face to disappear beneath his hair.

With a small smile, I say, “I spoke with the company legal department earlier and they got back to me just a minute ago. The contract QVE signed with the employment agency covers this kind of thing.”

“Not just the woman’s contract?”

“No. Both are liable.”

“Good. Good work. I’ll be in my office if the agency manager gets on the phone. I’m not available to anyone else.”

“Chad will be up in twenty minutes with a report on this morning’s incident and where it’s at with the police department,” I remind him.

“Yeah, okay. Send him straight in when he gets here.” His chest rises and falls with a deep breath. “ Fuck. Will this day ever end.”

I don’t get a chance to reply before he disappears into his office with a slam of the door.

“Sorry to throw you in the deep end like this.”

I turn to find Dennis coming down the hall. “No problem. To be honest, it’s great to be busy.”

“Here’s that other paperwork I need you to fill out. No rush getting it back to me. I’ve already contacted payroll to change your start date.”

“Thanks.” I smile up at him. “Any luck getting through to the employment agency manager?”

“No. I think my calls are being screened now.”

“I was worried about that too. I’ll try once more and leave another message warning them they have until the end of today to return either my call or yours. If they don’t our lawyers will start proceedings to claim compensation for the damages done.”

“Legal got back to you?”

“Yes. We’re within our right to sue both the agency and Ms. Milton.”

“He’s going to want to sue Ms. Milton regardless.”

“He should. That car is worth a fortune.”

“Yeah.” Dennis releases a heavy sigh. “I thought today was going to be an easy day. It’s why I agreed to let you come in this week.”

“Good thing I did, don’t you think?”

“Definitely. Chad said you’ve been coordinating everything like you’ve been here years.”

I shrug. “I’m good at organizing. It helps that I love it too.”

“Sanderson!”

We both face the closed door of Vail’s office.

“Get in here!”

“I told him you prefer to go by Bennett.”

I glance at Dennis. “He’s known me for years, it’ll take a while for him to get used to the name change.” I push my chair back and stand. “I better go see what the grouch wants now.”

Dennis’s face blanches. “You don’t call him that to his face, do you?” he asks in a whisper.

With a grin I say, “I most definitely do. He’s all bark no bite.”

“Er…if you say so.” He looks at the closed door when Vail yells my name a second time. “Better get in there before he comes out here.”

I have to hold in my laughter as Dennis quick-steps it back the way he came.

I’m not afraid of Vail. He might yell and swear but unlike his ex-assistant, he’d never physically hurt anyone. I have complete faith in that.

Grabbing the tablet off my desk in case I need to take notes, I open the door and step inside, yelling, “It’s Bennett,” before closing it behind me.

“What the fuck?” Vail rears back in his chair, his eyes wide, gaze locked on me.

At a more normal level I say, “The name is Bennett. Laney Bennett.”

“No, it’s not.” He crosses his arms over his chest, and I can’t stop my gaze from zeroing in on his thick forearms.

At some point this morning he’s shoved his shirtsleeves up to reveal the intricate tattoos snaking over his skin.

Making my way to the chair opposite his desk, I take a seat and lock my gaze with his. “I’ve been going by Laney Bennett since I started college. It’s what I interned under with this company for the last few years. It’s what my employment contract with this office says.”

“Why?”

Normally, I wouldn’t bother explaining myself but for the sake of keeping my job and maybe gaining some respect from someone who has known me—my family—for years, I give him the unvarnished truth.

“I love my family. But I don’t want to live under their shadow. It comes with expectations, and certain behavior from others I either don’t deserve or can’t stand.”

“Huh.” Sitting forward he rests his elbows on the desk, and it takes everything in me not to stare at his decorated arms. “Okay. So, you want to succeed on your own. I can respect that.”

“I don’t need your approval.”

He chuckles. “No, you don’t. And still as sassy as ever I see.”

“I prefer the term confident.”

“Noted.” With a flick of his wrist, he indicates the tablet in my hand. “What is that?”

Glancing down I frown. “It’s a tablet.”

“I know that, but it’s not company issued.”

“No. It’s mine. I bought it for this job.”

“You bought your own equipment to be my assistant?”

“Yes. I work on the go. I’m not always at my desk and this device allows me the freedom to do that and still access what I need.”

“Is it secure?”

“Yes. It doesn’t leave my side. And there’s nothing personal on here.”

There’s a solid minute of silence and I’m about to ask why he summoned me when he speaks again.

“My plan was to move you to work for someone else.”

Air sucks through my teeth so fast it whistles.

“Before you jump down my throat.” He holds up a hand. “Today has proven you are in the right position. Anything less than executive assistant to one of the three partners would be a waste of your talents and a disservice to you.”

I think it’s a compliment, but I can’t be sure.

“So, because I know I didn’t say it earlier. Welcome to QVE Enterprises.”

Reaching out, I take the hand he offers and do my best to ignore the spark that shoots up my arm when our palms touch.