The Billionaire Wins the Game(11)

Wow, Tom was thinking, this guy has it bad. If I want to keep my job, I’d better let him know I’m not interested. “Um, Mr. Anderson, Amy and I are just friends. She’s really, really, not my type, if you know what I mean. So, you don’t have to worry about inter office dating or anything with us.” He figured Lucas was a smart guy and would put two and two together.

There was a short pause on the end of the line and then a more pleasant sounding Lucas spoke again. “Well, that’s good. I don’t like dating between my employees, but I still need that address.” He still spoke with authority, although not quite as cold.

Lucas wasn’t happy having to repeat himself. He was still miffed she’d run from his vehicle the night before. He didn’t like to be ignored and no one had ever been so repulsed by his presence they’d felt the need to run away from him, and now he had two employee’s who didn’t seem to want to give him what he needed. He was trying not throttle them both.

“The thing is, I don’t have the address. I pick her up and drop her off at the bus stop nearest her place. She refuses to let me take her to the actual house. I don’t like doing it that way but she always calls me when she’s inside and at least I get her as close as possible.” Tom wasn’t happy about the arrangement, but Amy was strong willed and he took what little bit she was willing to give him.

On the other end of the line Lucas was barely keeping his temper in check. He’d figured out she’d lied to him about where she was living. That had been easy enough. He’d simply called the management company of the apartments and asked them if she lived there.

They told him she wasn’t currently a resident but at the beginning of the week she’d put in an application for one of their apartments. They had a unit coming available in three weeks and she’d reserved it. Her being new to the workforce had been a negative but they’d spoken to his father earlier in the week and since Joseph backed her up, they were thrilled to have her for a tenant.

“Look, Mr. Anderson, I really have to get going. I know she’s in a really crappy place right now but I’m going to offer her a place to stay for a few weeks until she gets her new apartment. She told me she just finished up with college and got hired to your company and was excited to have her first nice place,” Tom spoke quickly before Lucas was able to cut him off.

“Thank you, Tom. I appreciate the information. I’ll speak with Ms. Harper personally.” He hung up the phone without bothering to say goodbye.

Tom was forgotten about the second the phone touched its receiver. All he was thinking was he’d be finding her that day. After about an hour of speaking to various people, Lucas had the information he wanted. He’d grown up with money, but had been taught from a young age not to use it against people. But there were times when having money made life simpler and being able to gain information that was needed was one of those times.

He was uneasy as he neared her house. The neighborhood wasn’t somewhere he’d hang out in comfortably in the daytime and never at night. By the time he saw the actual place she was living in, he was appalled and beyond angry. What was she doing there? How could she so casually risk her own safety? He wouldn’t wish his worst enemy in the house, or the neighborhood, she was residing in. When he saw places like the home she was staying at, it was a humbling experience for him and he knew he needed to make more time for his volunteer work, because there were so many people who needed help. It was easy to forget about those things when they were out of sight, but not when it was right in front of his face.

He’d been doing volunteer work since he was a young boy, as had his brothers. The busier he got in his day to day life, the easier it was for him to forget about people in need, but as he looked upon the sad excuse for a house, he made a vow he’d make the time no matter what else was going on in his life.

Lucas carefully walked up the steps, afraid he was going to fall through the rotten porch at any moment. The door looked no better and he would’ve been grateful to have some Lysol on him after placing his hands anywhere near it. He reluctantly raised his fist and knocked loudly so he could be heard above the screeching of animals, which seemed to be coming from every direction.





Chapter Three





After about five minutes the door was answered by a man reeking of alcohol and wearing nothing but a pair of dirty boxer shorts. “Hey dude, you sure don’t look like the pizza boy. Did I win something?” the man blubbered.

“I’m looking for Amy Harper please,” Lucas said with disgust.