His Needs:Billionaire(18)

"Patrick. Why don't you stand up and introduce yourself, and tell the  team what's going on so that they understand fully the shit storm that  your team is pulling them into."

A dark-haired Hispanic guy stood up and smoothed his shirt as his hands shook.

"Right. I'm Patrick. I'm the manager on this engagement, and as with a  lot of large manufacturing clients, we're having some series issues with  inventory. In our firm, and every firm really, the interns and new  staff work the inventory counts. Ours was done incorrectly, and yet we  didn't catch it during our review process. After investigation of the  situation it doesn't seem that we were dealing with collusion or fraud,  but it's a very sticky place to be right now." He slipped his hands into  his pockets. "Most of the team was pulled apart and you guys are the  new members that are hopefully going to help us pull this ship back on  course."

Damon spoke up. "Patrick is the only one from the team that isn't  looking for a job, and that's because he wasn't involved. Don't mess  this up. We're under the closing arguments for a government audit. It's  ugly, and you need to be on your toes. Period."         

     



 

"How about we introduce ourselves, boss? Would that be all right?" Ben spoke up from across the table, and Damon nodded.

"Yes. Do that." He moved back to the door and opened it. "I'll be in the  office at the end of the hall if you have what I would consider an  emergency."

The smile on the blond across from Bethany was almost sickeningly sweet.  They had more than a friendship from what she could gather. The way the  woman watched Damon left her with very little question over it. If they  hadn't been together, then the woman wanted to and was left wanting. A  whole host of emotions danced around inside Bethany's stomach as  everyone went around the room. Finally it was the blond's turn.

She stood and pressed her hands to the table. To say she was in shape  and made for the suit that fit her snuggly would have been an  understatement. She was like a softer version of Erica, but something  was off.

"I'm Delilah. I'm the newbie out of all of us, I do believe." A chuckle  resounded along the members at the table. "I'm the Senior Manager on the  job, so you won't see too much of me, but I'm here if you need  anything. I have six years of experience in audit from one of the big  four accounting firms and am happy to be here now. My desk is in Damon's  office for this weekend, so make sure if you need something, that it's  worthy of interrupting him. Setting up an appointment with me might be  the best way to do things, and use your chain of command. I should be  hearing from Patrick as your manager more than anyone else. That's all.  Thanks!"

After a few more introductions, Bethany made hers and Patrick dismissed  the team to grab coffee, take a bathroom break and meet down the hall in  their workroom for the weekend.

Philip moved up behind her as they walked out into the hall.

"I'm seriously in shock that Damon would allow me to be on the same team  with you." Philip laughed and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Me too. Maybe he didn't find out until this morning." She shrugged. "Or  maybe he doesn't care. I've never been anything but faithful, so  there's no reason to question me."

There was no way in hell she was going to discuss her disintegrating  relationship with the one guy that would be waving his 'next-in-line'  ticket to date her. That would have been a tragedy waiting to happen.  She had to be on guard over whatever was happening between her and  Damon, otherwise, they would keep pushing at each other until one of  them walked away.

It was the last thing in the world she wanted, but he seemed to feel differently.

"That's a good thing. Either way, I'm glad to be back." Philip smiled and nodded toward the coffee stand. "Want something?"

"Yeah, but I'll wait. I see you cut your hair." She pushed at his shoulder and laughed as he shook his head.

"Don't start with that. I'm still a little salty over it." He turned to  go into the coffee bar as Bethany walked toward Damon's office. There  was no way she was starting the day without first talking to him for a  few minutes about the night before. There had to be a way to let him  know just how hurt her feelings were without starting a fight.

She rubbed the empty spot on her hand where her ring should have sat and  couldn't help but think through how fucked up it was that she couldn't  share the good news with people. He had to lay the foundation?

"Then lay it," she grumbled and lifted her hand to knock on his door.  The feminine voice beside her stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Hi Bethany. Something I can do for you?"

She turned to face Delilah. There was no reason not to give the girl a  chance at a solid work relationship, and seeing that she was the Senior  Manager on the job, she would be the one writing Bethany's annual  review.

"I was just stopping by to talk with Damon for a minute."

"Mr. Bryant?" She lifted her eyebrow as if to question Bethany's casual reference to Damon.

Heat bubbled up from the center of Bethany's stomach and coated her  chest and neck in warmth. She couldn't exactly spout out that she was  part of the family, one of Kent's kids now. That would fuck things up  for them when they told everyone that she was Damon's fiancé. There was  no way she could use that either.

"Yes, Mr. Bryant."

"Right, well, one of my jobs is to protect Mr. Bryant's time, so maybe I  can help you instead." She tilted her head to the side, and the kind  look she had plastered to her face in the conference room moments ago  was all but gone.

"I don't think so, but thanks." Bethany turned and reached for the door.

"And why not? Something I should know?" The woman was persistent.

"No. I just-"

"Bethany. I'm Patrick. Damon's told me so much about you. Says you're  Kent's new protégé and might put him out of a job." He chuckled and  extended his hand. "There a reason we're having a pow-wow around Damon's  door?"         

     



 

"Mr. Bryant?" Bethany asked cheekily and glanced over at Delilah, disliking the woman already.

"No, we just call him Damon. His father is Mr. Bryant. He'll tell you that." Patrick laughed as the door behind Bethany opened.

"Is there a reason why you guys are having a meeting out in the hall by  my damn office? All I can hear is the three of you," Damon barked softly  as anger brushed across his handsome face.

Bethany smiled at Patrick. "That's my cue to leave. Nice to meet you."

"Sorry, Damon. The girl wanted to talk with you for a minute, and I just  asked what she needed." Delilah's voice followed her down the hall as  she made a beeline to the bathroom and walked in, plopping down in a  stall and pressing her hands to her face.

"What the hell is happening?"





Chapter 15

Damon





Bethany walked into the bathroom, her shoulders rolled in slightly. She was hurt. Fuck.

Of course she went to the one place I can't get to her.

Did she not remember him holding her the night before as he apologized  for their long evening apart? He was stressed. Did she not get stressed  and pull back from all of humanity until she figured things out? Surely  she did. Why wasn't he granted the right to just be who he was instead  of who she expected him to be? That change would come over time, but  fuck, it wasn't instantaneous.

Damon waved his hand to silence Patrick and Delilah and moved back,  letting the woman into his office. Having to share his space with anyone  but Bethany, even workspace sounded like hell on earth. As long as  Delilah could remain professional and keep the chattiness to a minimum,  they would be all right.

"Sorry about all of that." Christa's sister walked in and laid her briefcase on her desk. "Is she-"

"None of your business." He walked to his desk and sat down. "I'm not  discussing anything other than business with anyone today. I have a ton  to do, so if you're in here with me, you're quiet and busy. Got it?"

"Absolutely." She nodded and turned her back toward him.

He half expected her to start crying or throw a fit, but she didn't.  Like a mature adult with their feelings tucked deep into their chest  instead of sitting on their shoulders, she sat down and got her ass in  gear.

Amazing. Why can't Beth do that?

It had to be because they were dating. Engaged. Getting married.

He ran his fingers through his hair and tried to get through a few more  e-mails as concern swept through him. She needed to work for another  firm. There was no way they were going to be effective working together  and sleeping in the same bed. A lot of people pulled it off, but a whole  lot more didn't. She wouldn't be able to pull herself beyond the  relationship they shared to be professional in the office. Ben had done a  good job of keeping their friendship on the side while at work, but  that was no comparison to what him and Bethany were looking at.