AllFreeNovel
Share Us
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 entryway 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,” Hannah 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 in 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?” Hannah 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.
Hannah 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.”
“Because he was boning the decorator at the time,” James inserted helpfully, earning him a rueful grin from Aidan.
Aidan rubbed his chin but kept quiet.
“Was Cassia worth the lay?” Hannah demanded, cocking her brow at him and smiling at her brother’s discomfort.
James answered for him, “She has to be the most expensive prostitute if she was. That horror cost us close to two hundred thousand.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “Men, even brilliant ones like you two doofuses, are so predictable sometimes.”
“You do realize you just gave me a backward compliment?” James pointed out. “My heart was all aflutter.”
“The clue’s in the word ‘backward’,” she mumbled under her breath, immediately dismissing him as she strode out of the elevator when the doors were open.
Jennifer, his PA, and Sandra, Aidan’s, stood the instant they saw them, but James frowned at both women and waved them back to their desks. They saw Hannah, nodded, then returned to
their work.
Aidan steered Hannah past the bright, white reception area to the executive level, and took her down the mirrored hall to their joint office. James knew he should leave them alone. That, for whatever reason, Hannah was here to discuss something with her brother, but leaving her wasn’t an option. He needed to know what she was doing here, because he needed to know how much time he’d have to play with.
