Babysitting a Billionaire 3 : Taking Control(53)

She'd thought the promotion was everything she wanted, but in fact it would be a combination of all the parts of the job she hated. Administration, paperwork, getting friendly with clients. It was the hands-on work she loved. Designing security systems, training the operatives, field work. She'd die of boredom stuck in an office all day.

All the same, she'd never found it easy to admit she was wrong. Even to herself.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door and pushed it open. Jake was seated on the sofa, drinking coffee, working on his laptop.

"Can we talk?" she said.

He gestured to the seat opposite. "What is it?"

She settled herself, then jumped up, crossed to the coffee, poured one, and came back. After taking a sip, she exhaled. "I think you should give the job to Gary."

Jake put his cup down and studied her. "Why?"

"Because I don't want to be nice. I've tried it, and it really doesn't suit me."

His lips twitched. Then he shrugged. "Okay."

"Okay?" She frowned. "Hey, boss, this is the moment you're supposed to try and dissuade me. Tell me the firm needs me. That I'm better than Gary … "




 

 

"You are. But actually, I think you're making the right decision."

"You do."

"You could do the job, but you'd come to hate it in the end. And you're bright enough to realize that."

"Aw, thanks."

"So what will you do?"

"Hey, I worked out what I don't want. Could you give me a little time to sort out the hard stuff?"

He nodded. "You'll get there. Just remember what you are. It will help you decide."

"And what am I?"

He grinned. "A fucking badass."

 …

The bouncer was a man named Pete. The same man who had guarded his room after the shooting. Declan had known him most of his life. Pete did a double take as he opened the door and then nodded as Declan walked passed, his two bodyguards close behind him.

"Are they all here?" he asked.

"Yeah," Pete said. "They're in your old man's office. Just waiting for you to start the celebrations."

Declan walked through the club. It was only eight and still quiet. That wouldn't last for long. He didn't bother knocking on the office door, just pushed it open. Leaving his guards outside the door, he stepped inside.

His dad sat behind the big desk, feet resting on the polished wood, legs crossed at the ankles, arms behind his head. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Declan, but didn't make any comment.

There were four other people in the room, the whole family together. He didn't think he'd seen his father and mother in the same room for at least five years. They dealt much better together when there was an ocean between them. There was also his sister and brother, and Penny, his ex-fiancé, who was eying him up as though he'd metamorphosed into something dangerous.

They'd never been what you would consider a functioning family unit. But he loved them. Even his bastard of a father. Even if he didn't like him much right now-and that was a total understatement.

"Looking good, Bro," Logan drawled, a grin curling his lips.

Logan had been his role model for tonight. A few years older than Declan, he'd been born before the urge to be respectable had overtaken Rory and he'd never really embraced the whole legitimate thing. But Declan knew he was a good man, even if he looked a total hard case in black leather pants and a T-shirt, the short sleeves revealing the black ink of tattoos snaking down his arms. Declan's own arm tingled at the sight.

His sister, Tamara, was the opposite, looking every inch the successful corporate lawyer she was. She was two years younger and very ambitious. She been hassling him for more responsibility. He was about to make her very happy. 

He took off his dark glasses and shoved them in his pocket, wincing a little at the bright light. "Stand up," he said to his dad.

Rory frowned but slowly rose to his feet. Declan closed the distance between them. "Tell me," he said. "Did you really have a heart attack last year, or was it just part of the plot to get me over here and sort out my pitiful existence?"

He pursed his lips. "My heart's fine."

"Good." He drew back his fist and punched his father in the nose.

He heard the satisfying crunch of bone and Rory crashed to the floor.

Declan looked around the room, waiting for someone to step forward, but no one moved. Logan was still grinning, his sister looked uninterested, his mother was smiling.

"I have wanted to do that so many times," she murmured. Then she stepped toward him and patted his arm. "Do you two need to talk alone?"

Declan shook his head. "No. I can say what I have to say in front of you."