Table For Two: Barrington Billionaire's Series: Book Two (6 page)

Surprisingly, she was there but, unfortunately, she wasn’t alone. “What the fuck are you still doing here, Bennett?” Dean wasn’t sure why he was so pissed right now, but it seemed Kenzi wasn’t the only one he had to worry about.

“Just keeping her occupied while you handled business,” Bennett said to Dean as he got up from the seat next to Zoey.

Dean looked at Zoey then back at Bennett and gave him a warning look. “Just remember what you’re paid to do and nothing more.”

Bennett laughed. “Enjoy your lunch. I hope to see you again, Zoey.”

Oh, how he wanted to deck him. Bennett may have served in the Marine Corp and had training that only a few have, but when it came to his family, no one fucks with them without paying the price.

When Bennett was out of earshot, Zoey went up to Dean and gave him a hug. “I can see you haven’t lost any of your people skills. He was only being nice to me.”

People like us are never nice without a motive.
“And I’m just watching out for you.”

She gave him a kiss on the cheek, and they headed to lunch.
Sweet innocent Zoey. Don’t make me have to hire someone to keep an eye on you. And it sure as hell isn’t going to be Bennett Stone.

“H
ello. Is anyone here?” An unfamiliar voice echoed from down the hall into Tessa’s office.

She wasn’t expecting anyone today.
Zoey can’t be here again can she?
Having Zoey yesterday was helpful, but she still felt so foolish for not recognizing one of the Hendersons. Granted their father didn’t have family portraits hanging around like most family-owned businesses. But first she didn’t know who Dean was and then Zoey. If she wanted to be successful at her job, she better google the rest of the family in case they showed up one by one.

Tessa went to greet whoever had ventured into the HR hole. When she saw who was calling out, she stopped dead in her tracks. Unlike yesterday, the woman in the hall was not dressed to impress.
Maybe for a date.

“May I help you?” Tessa asked and was hoping she did not introduce herself as another Henderson.

“I’m here for an interview.”

Tessa knew she was burned out from what seemed like an endless amount of work lately, but she was pretty sure the interview was scheduled for yesterday. Could they have sent someone else today without notifying her?
Not likely.

“I was not aware I had an appointment today,” Tessa stated.

“Yeah, well it was supposed to be yesterday but I was giving a lecture on . . . well the topic isn’t important, but I really wanted this job so I thought better late than never.”

If she didn’t look serious, Tessa would’ve dropped to the floor laughing. It was the lamest excuse anyone had ever given. Maybe she was judging her too harshly.
Honesty is hard to come by.
“What’s your name?”

Her smile could light up a room. “Lexi Chambers.”

“Lexi, do you have any experience in Human Resources?”

She grinned and replied, “Most definitely. Anything you need, I’m your girl.”

Tessa wasn’t so sure, but Lexi presented herself with confidence.
Maybe a bit of that could rub off on me.
“And what other work experience do you have besides HR?” Tessa somehow knew Lexi’s answer wasn’t going to be a standard response from any interview book she’d ever read.

“You name it. I am a professional speaker. If you need someone to get up in front of a crowd and talk for a few hours, just call me. The topic doesn’t matter either.” Lexi had a look of pride on her face as she spoke. “Of course, I don’t come cheap. I won’t take a gig for anything less than three hundred dollars. Just in case you would like me to handle your employee orientations for you.”

I think you might scare the staff, because you’re kind of scaring me.
But there was something she liked about Lexi. It was time to stop hiring who she thought Dean Henderson would approve. He didn’t approve of anyone. What was the worst thing that could happen? Dean could say something to Lexi, and Tessa guessed that Lexi would tell him off and be fired on the spot. Of course, she would love to be the fly on the wall when Lexi did lay in on him. If anything, it would be entertaining.

“When would you be available to start?”

“I could start today as long as you don’t mind me taking a little bit longer lunch. Prior commitment with my sister Willa that I can’t get out of. Wouldn’t be the first time I left her sitting in a restaurant waiting for me, but when we spoke this morning, she warned me it was going to be my last.” Lexi laughed.

Wow. She is high energy and not on the quiet side. I only hope she can shut up long enough to actually process something.
There was only one way to find out. Give her a chance. Tessa didn’t like to judge a book by its cover. She only hoped she didn’t regret what she was about to say. “Okay then. Consider yourself hired on a temporary basis. If all works out maybe, and I stress maybe, there will be a full-time permanent position for you.” Tessa wanted to dangle a carrot in front of her. She didn’t have time to continue training new people to do the job and she couldn’t continue trying to do it all herself either.

“That sounds like a plan I can handle. I never seem to be at one place too long. Not that I have an issue with commitment or anything, but I guess I get bored easily. You know, sitting looking at a computer all day, not talking to anyone. I mean really, I would need to triple my caffeine intake just to make it to noon.”

Any more caffeine and you probably won’t ever be able to sit still.
Tessa decided not to show her the coffee station as she showed her around the building.

“I suggest sticking to our floor as much as possible. The executives prefer their privacy on the top floor and get a bit testy if disturbed.”
Or should I say the one and only one left does.

“Bet they’re crotchety old guys too. Don’t worry, I will stay as far away as I can. I can’t stand being around dry and boring people anyway. Life is too short.”

Tessa had to agree, but the one in charge was anything but old and boring. Hot and sexy would be a better description. She still hadn’t been able to shake off the kiss from the other day. How could a man so damn strong and powerful kiss her so gently that she felt the tingling all the way to her toes?
Whatever it is, I can’t let it happen again. If I do, I’m not sure I will be able to stop.

She felt herself blush slightly. Tessa was a grown woman, trying to show Lexi around, and here she was getting all hot and bothered thinking of the boss. How was it that the one in charge of HR was the one who should be written up for improper behavior with her superior?

Once they were back in the HR department, she set Lexi up at the same desk she had Zoey use the day before. The one difference was Lexi pulled out her iPhone and put on her earphones. Thankfully there wasn’t anyone else in the department to hear her singing along with the music.

Tessa shook her head and went back to her office where she hoped to accomplish something before the day was done.

That wish vanished as the phone rang.
And my day just keeps getting better.

“Tessa, I need to see you in my office now,” Dean demanded. She had been avoiding him ever since their lunch date. After his phone call with Dax yesterday he knew he had to loop her back in and get a feel for what was going on. She had been too quiet. That couldn’t be a good sign. He wasn’t sure what he was going to use as the excuse to get her in front of him, but he would figure it out when he saw her. Tessa was very talented at her little game of loyalty to Poly-Shyn. He was going to make her regret the day she decided to team up with Dax.
You picked the wrong person, Tessa. I don’t fall for anyone, under any circumstances.

Dean understood how a man like Dax Marshall thought; it wasn’t much different from him. There was no doubt in his mind Dax was going to continue to try to acquire Poly-Shyn. One phone call with some threats never would have stopped Dean, so why would it stop Dax? If anything, a good fight only made him want to keep the company even more. Maybe that made him a sick bastard, but he never found weakness in anything or anyone appealing.
If it isn’t worth fighting for, then it’s not worth having.

Those were words he had heard his father say when he was young. It was how he had run his business right up until he died. It didn’t make him a well-loved man, not even liked if you asked around, but it made him feared and powerful. Two things one needed to be in business. Respect didn’t equate to success and money.

He looked at the file Bennett had given him on Dax. Any other time, he might actually ask him to meet for a drink, and they could talk acquisitions. Right now they both needed to stay on top of their game. If it wasn’t for the one thing that he knew could distract Dax, he might encourage a meeting. But there was no way he would let his friend Kenzi end up with a bastard like Dax.
If her family hates me, they sure as hell aren’t gonna welcome Dax with open arms. The last thing Kenzi needs is more pain in her life.

Dean couldn’t help but wonder what the relationship was between Dax and Tessa. Was she just the hired hand sent to infiltrate the company and gather intel, or was it something more? Even the thought of Tessa with Dax made his blood boil.

Tessa meant nothing more to him than an afternoon distraction. Her lips tasted sweeter than anything he had ever tasted, and she made him want to pull her into his arms and take her right on his desk, but that didn’t change anything. It was just a sexual attraction. He would have her once, then it would be out of his system like every other woman he had been with.

“You wanted me?” Tessa said from the doorway.

More than I fucking should. I’m going to make you beg me to give it to you.
“Come in and sit.”

He noticed she wasn’t carrying herself quite so confidently this morning. Had Dax already called her and told her things weren’t going as easily as they had first thought?
Oh, I hope so. This will make it all the more interesting to watch you squirm.

Tessa took her seat and asked, “How is your secretary working out?”

Dean wished he had a complaint, but he had none. Brittney-Lynn was young, but she had a good head on her shoulders. For now, she still had the job. If something changed, he had no problem dismissing her as he had the rest.

“That is not why I asked you here. Yesterday was a very interesting day, wouldn’t you say?” Dean asked and watched her reaction closely. Although she tried to maintain her composure, he noticed her bottom lip tremble slightly.
Oh yeah. I got you now.

“I can explain. It’s not what you think. This was purely an accident. I mean, I was desperate and when opportunity knocks, you just take it sometimes without thinking. But I promise I won’t make such a mistake again.”

“And why should I believe you?” Dean asked harshly as he leaned forward with his arms resting on his desk.

“Why would I lie?”

Dean peered at her. “I question a lot of things you do. Lying is just one of them.”

Tessa shot up from her seat. “Excuse me? I may be your employee, but I will not sit here and be spoken to like that.”

He got up from his seat as well and came around the table to face her. Looking down at her, he said, “Tessa, consider yourself lucky you’re a woman. A man wouldn’t be standing right now.”

Tessa’s bottom lip trembled as she spoke. “I had no idea she was your sister. Why would I? If you don’t believe me, then fire me like you do everyone else, and you can run this damn company by yourself for all I care.”

Sister? What the hell is she talking about?
“What does Zoey have to do with this?” Tessa looked puzzled by his question so he said, “I didn’t know you knew my sister.”

“I don’t . . . I mean, I didn’t . . . well, I really still don’t.”

“Make up your mind, woman,” Dean said angrily.

“When the elevator opened I thought she was the new temp coming in for an interview for the HR data entry position.”

Dean arched a brow. “You thought she was here for a job? Did she look like she was?”

Tessa shrugged her shoulders. “No, and that surprised me a bit, but I was in desperate need of help so there was a lot I overlooked.”

“So you want me to believe that you interviewed her and still couldn’t tell?”

“I never really did an interview. Her timing was perfect. I kind of just put her to work all morning, entering information in the HR database. Besides, you can’t put all the blame on me. She never said anything to me either. I would have expected her to come to work this morning if I hadn’t eventually found out the hard way.”

Dean couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Zoey never said anything about being put to work. As far as he had known she had just shown up, not been there for hours.
Why would she help Tessa with paperwork and never say who she was?

“How did you figure out she wasn’t just another member of the staff?”

This was the first time he saw Tessa relax slightly. “When we encountered Bennett Stone in the elevator, it was mentioned then. He was, should I say, not the most pleasant or friendliest man. I was concerned as to what his intentions were regarding you. I’m not sure if you have noticed, but you don’t make a lot of friends with some of your choices.”

Dean nodded. He really didn’t care what others thought of him, and if someone was coming up to his office because they had a beef with him, he had no issue settling it himself. The last thing he wanted or needed was a woman fighting his battles for him. She would only get hurt because things normally got ugly when they started to go bad.