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“You’re finally here.” She pulls Presley in for a bear hug. “I was so worried when you texted me to say that you missed your first flight. I should have known that grinch of a boss of yours would try and keep you from coming home.”
“Mom,” Presley warns.
“What? I mean it—the man is a tyrant. No reasonable person would make you come into the office at six a.m. every morning just so you can make him coffee before his first meeting. And then, as if that isn’t enough, he makes you work fourteen-hour days, including Saturdays. You’re a beautiful young woman living in the city and you deserve to live a life outside that office.”
I have to suppress a scoff, failing to see the problem, considering Presley agreed to my terms before she was hired.
The firm’s diverse portfolio includes several overseas clients, making early morning calls a necessity. Presley’s an essential member of my team, and I want her on every client call. She’s not only there to take notes; more often than not, she catches things other members of my team miss.
Plus, it doesn’t hurt that she makes the best damn cup of coffee I’ve ever had. When she first started, I told her that I took my coffee black, but that didn’t stop her from adding a splash of whichever specialty creamer was in season. I’ve never admitted it to her, but I’ve secretly grown to look forward to it.
“I’ve never met her boss, but from everything she’s told me, he sounds like a goddamn nightmare.” I can’t stop myself from interjecting.
Presley spins around, staring daggers at me. A look of surprise passes her mom’s face when she notices that I’m standing behind her daughter.
“Sweetheart, you didn’t tell me you were bringing someone home.”
“It was a last-minute decision,” Presley grits out.
“I’m Jack. It’s nice to meet you.” I omit my last name just in case she would recognize it, considering her reaction to the mention of Presley’s grinch of a boss.
“I’m Johanna,” she replies. “And you are—”
“Presley’s boyfriend.” The lie falls effortlessly from my lips.
I like the sound of that.
Presley’s jaw drops, her eyes widening in disbelief.
“Aren’t you a little old to be dating a twenty-three-year-old?” The question comes from a guy who looks close to my age, stepping out of the house to hug Presley.
He’s dressed in slacks, a white button-up, and a cobalt tie loosened around his neck. I’m assuming he just got back from a late night at the office which is something we have in common if he makes a habit of it like I do.
“Jack’s thirty-two, the same age as you,” Presley informs him.
“Which makes him far too old to be dating my baby sister.”
“I’m Dylan Stafford.” He extends his hand, giving me a firm handshake. “Mess with my sister”—he nods toward Presley—“and you’ll be dealing with me and my brothers,” he says in a threatening tone. “And just so we’re clear, I don’t make idle threats.”
“I don’t plan to—wait… Stafford… Maine… Brothers…” I mumble as the pieces fall into place. “You and your brothers manage Stafford Holdings.”
“Yeah, we took over when our dad retired last year,” Dylan replies. “Harrison is the CEO, Cash runs the operations side of the business, and I’m the CFO. And before you ask, yes, our parents did in fact name us after their favorite musicians.” He smiles fondly at Johanna. “How do you know who we are?”
“Uh, I have a friend back in New York who’s worked with your team before.” It’s not a total lie. I just don’t mention that I’ve also done business with several subsidiaries of Stafford Holdings in the past. “Presley, why didn’t you tell me your family owned the largest real estate firm in the country?”
I might be a billionaire, but my net worth pales in comparison to the Staffords. They have business holdings in every major city in the US, including hotels, office buildings, apartment complexes, and retail space. Their grandfather founded the company decades ago, and they’ve been expanding their business portfolio ever since.
I’m surprised I’ve never met the Stafford brothers in person, considering we run in the same circle. They have an office in New York City, but I wouldn’t put it past Presley to have been making sure our paths didn’t cross.
“I didn’t want to be judged for who my family was.” She shrugs. “I’d prefer to be known for my own accomplishments.”
We have that in common. Although my parents forced me to venture out on my own whereas Presley chose to. I admire her gumption, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that she didn’t tell me who her family was.
It’s not like you asked.
I’ve never felt the need to get to know my employees. I pay them well to do their jobs, and before Presley came along, I didn’t have an interest in any of their lives outside of work.
“Why don’t we go inside where it’s warm?” Johanna suggests.
