AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So this all hadn’t been some plot to get close to me. She was just as shocked to see me as I was her. But how could she not have known? It was called Sinclair Law, for crying out loud.
“Seeing as you are here now, I can’t fire you. But need I remind you that just because you are my little sister's friend doesn’t mean you will have it easy. This is business, and I expect you—like all my employees—to be at the top of your game. If you can’t hack it, then you’re gone.”
Her jaw clenched in place. “I wasn’t planning on slacking off. My work is important to me too, Daniel—” she started.
“Mr. Sinclair,” I quickly corrected her. I had worked too hard and sacrificed too much. My firm is my child, my life’s work, and it will be respected. “Here I am not Daniel. I do not know you here, Selena. I am your boss and nothing more than that.”
She bit back her tongue and nodded, “Of course.”
I had expected some snarky comment back, but this would do. Her usual Selena self could not exist within these walls. I had high-profile people filtering in and out of the office, and the last thing I needed was her trying to shamelessly flirt or talk about inappropriate topics.
I had a reputation to uphold. Sinclair was not merely just my name but a brand. My father had taught me this from a very young age, and I had held that lesson close to my heart.
“Glad we’re on the same page. I’ll leave you to your breakfast, but do get back to your desk. I don’t like dawdlers.”
I didn’t wait for a response. I sipped my coffee and made my way out of the break room, leaving her alone.
I needed to have a talk with my little sister.
***
“Why didn’t you tell me that she was coming?” I told my sister over the phone, “Of all the firms in this city, she had to come to mine.”
“Okay firstly, calm down. How was I supposed to know that the place she applied to was your firm? From what you have told me, she didn’t even know that it was your firm, so cut her some slack, please.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose; this was the last thing I needed first thing on a Monday morning.
“I can’t have her here, Claire.” My sister was a huge supporter of her friends, and I knew even trying to bring this conversation up was going to result in me getting an earful. “I get that she is your friend, but this is my firm. My business. My legacy. Our family legacy.”
“She is good at what she does, Danny.” She defended her as I knew she would. “I know she was very openly flirtatious with you these past few years, but that was before you were her boss. Selena knows how to separate work from play; you don’t need to worry about her.”
She may be fully convinced of that, but I was not. I worried about Selena. She was a wild card, a firecracker—too fucking unpredictable for my liking. I had never seen her in a professional setting before, but my experience with her in a personal setting was enough to tell me who she was at her core.
Pure unbridled chaos.
My sister was an unreliable judge of character. A bleeding heart. She would support a criminal if his story moved her heartstrings enough.
“All I’m saying is give her a chance, Danny. I know how badly she needs this job, and she wouldn’t mess up this opportunity for anyone.”
I stared out at the Chicago skyline from my office window and sighed. There was nothing that I could do about it now. She had signed her contract, and it was valid for one year. Unless she did something that violated the terms of the agreement, I couldn’t fire her.
“Can you also be nice to her?”
Now, my sister was asking far too much of me.
“Nice to her? I’m not her babysitter, Claire.”
I heard some shuffling through the receiver and then the soft little squeal of my nephew. Instantly, my heart melted. I missed him so much.
“How is Sammy?” He brought a light into my life that I desperately needed when I wallowed in the darkness. “By the time I see him next, he could be running marathons.”
That was one of the downsides of me moving away. I didn’t see the kids as often as I wanted, and they changed every day. Ella was already in elementary school. It seemed like I had been changing her diaper only yesterday and helping Sebastian, my best friend, navigate school.
“He’s good. He misses his uncle, though. Say hi, baby.” More shuffling could be heard on the other end before a slew of baby talk filled my ear.
“Hey buddy, I miss you.”
The babbling became excited, and I swear he recognized my voice. “Wanna Facetime?” Claire asked. “Next time. I don’t have the time for that right now. I’m very busy you know!”
