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He didn’t want more than a quick tumble with Hailey, did he? His usual MO? But the feelings she inspired him… They needed to be explored. Desperately.
Because why else would that tender kiss irritate and agitate him when that was, supposedly, the last thing he needed?
Aidan broke into James’ thoughts with a jovial: “It’s good to have you here, shortstuff. Although, I didn’t expect it. Don’t think mom and dad did either…” His words ran off as though he were unsure whether he had the right to make it a question.
Hailey took her privacy very seriously. She hated being questioned about anything. Aidan knew that, so did James for that matter.
He’d heard the rows between mother and daughter, sister and brother, and father and daughter, when she’d ripped into the whole family at one point or another. Just because she was the baby of the family, Hailey insisted, didn’t mean they had to treat her like one.
He’d always been impressed by her gumption. But what had impressed him more was how she managed to make Aidan, an internationally renowned entrepreneur, a scientist for a mother, and her CPA of a dad, bow to her wishes.
Maybe it made sense she was in marketing, but he figured that line was wasted on her.
She should be in politics.
He could see her being the first woman to have a First Gentleman at her side.
His lips twitched at the thought as they steered Hailey through the reception. It was huge. A massive atrium with interconnecting corridors that guided any and all toward different working areas of the compound.
As they were executives, they led her past the large fountain in the middle of the hall—an idea that had certainly not been either his or Aidan’s, but an interior designer who still insisted the monstrosity of flutes and stones would calm potential investors while soothing any tension from employees entering the building—and headed for the bank of elevators at the back of the hall. It was unnecessarily impressive, he thought. Far too expansive and expensively appointed, but the board of directors had insisted that the entry way represent the Arias Corporation in a true to life manner.
It meant shit to him, but he knew how most people were. Appearances mattered the most. He’d have preferred to invest the obscene amount of money they’d wasted on that hideous fountain on research instead.
But what did he know? He was only half of the brains behind this operation.
“Mom and dad weren’t supposed to know I was here, Aidan,” Hailey said after a few seconds. It wasn’t her first time in the compound but there was a new addition to the reception—a large, curved metallic desk that glinted in the orbs of light which hung suspended from the ceiling. The orbs were stars, and the desk was shaped in a way that made one think of a shuttle in space. There were patterned seams with huge bolts running every several feet down the length.
It was the biggest hint they’d ever give that they were interested on working on interstellar transport, never mind just regular cars.
Well, that was totally underselling what they did here.
Nothing about Arias Corp was regular.
And that was just how they liked it.
“What’s with the spaceship desk?” Hailey asked as they shuffled her into the elevator, but she peered out, looking at the workstation of over six receptionists, each assigned to different parts of the compound.
Despite himself, James was pleased she’d noticed the design. “It’s a hint.”
She frowned up at him, but he was satisfied to note that her cheeks were tinged with pink as she asked, “A hint at what?”
“The next project we’re working on,” Aidan supplied helpfully, but James saw his confusion. Aidan’s gaze was dipping between him and his sister… it was the blush that did it.
Hailey wasn’t the blushing sort. It just wasn’t in her ‘bull in a china shop’ nature.
“Since when did you want to take over space?”
“Since we were contracted to,” James provided plainly. “But, unless you have security clearance, that’s about as much as we can say.”
His wink had her left eye twitching all on its own… out of irritation, though. At that moment, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he was the singular person on the planet who could annoy her so much.
It was a bittersweet accolade, that was for certain.
“When are you getting rid of the fountain?” she asked, ignoring him and his words to turn to her brother for escape.
Aidan snorted and defended their atrium. “What’s wrong with the fountain?”
“Monstrosity. Eyesore. That’s kind of how I’d sell that particular behemoth.” She scowled at her shoes. “I’ll never understand why you had it installed.”
