The Tycoon's Revenge(17)

They spent the rest of the day calling people into the office for interviews. He wasn’t real pleased to find she was correct about most of the people who came in. Those she’d fought to save were smart and knew how to do their jobs. The only one he was really struggling with letting go was Henry.

At five on the dot Henry poked his head in the door. “Hey, I don’t want to interrupt but I forgot to tell you Gina wanted to invite you over this weekend for some candle party thing she’s throwing,” he said to Jasmine. She laughed her first real laugh since Derek had stepped back into her life.

“Tell her I would love to come. Can I bring anything?” she asked him.

“She also told me to tell you not to bring a thing. She made sure I enforced that since you always go out of your way to make your own parties amazing. She said it’s her turn to pamper you a bit,” he added with a smile.

“Okay I get it, tell her I can’t wait and I’ll see you both this weekend,” she responded.

“No way am I staying with all you ladies. No offense but I’m taking off for the day with the guys to do some shooting,” he said. He then turned and left the room. Derek felt a little bit stupid of his jealousy now, considering the guy was obviously married.

At least he wouldn’t have to fire him. He thought he may even wrangle an invitation to go shooting with them, just so he could swing by the house and check up on Jasmine. She stood up and gathered her Jacket.

“We aren’t done yet,” he said automatically.

“I’m done. I have something to do tonight. It’s my normal quitting time and all the other employees are leaving. There’s nothing that will not hold over until tomorrow. Fire me if you want, I don’t even care anymore,” she said with defiance. She didn’t wait for his response; she just marched out of the room.

He sat there, a little stunned and a little turned on. He wasn’t used to being defied, ever. He was both impressed and irritated. He wasn’t sure which emotion was stronger. He decided to call it a day and gathered his stuff to head out.

It wasn’t until he reached his vehicle he realized he hadn’t used protection. He couldn’t believe how stupid that had been. He never forgot to use protection, it was just one of those rules he was emphatic about. He was sure he had nothing to worry about but he’d keep an eye on her over the next few months. He guessed her job was safe for at least that long.





Chapter Five





Derek got home and found his cousin sitting in his den with a drink in his hand and a smile on his face. He was immensely pleased to see the man. They were closer than any brothers could possibly be.

“I’m going to have to talk to the doorman again about keeping the riff raff out of here,” Derek said, not meaning one word of it.

“Yeah, I know what you mean, it seems like they will let any old bum in off the street nowadays. There’s no more home security,” Drew replied.

“At least we agree,” Derek said.

“How are you doing, Cuz?” Drew asked him.

“I’m great Drew, and you?”

“Well since I found your hundred year old scotch, I’m feeling pretty good,” Drew said, with an impish smile on his face as he held up the expensive bottle, which had considerably less liquid in it.

“Okay if you’re going to drink my best stuff, then the least you can do is pour me a glass,” Derek said, as he shed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves.

“No problem. How’s the corporate take-over world treating you?” Drew asked, as he handed him the glass.

“I finally got my company,” Derek said with a genuine smile. He didn’t have to explain what that company was. Drew had grown up with him. He’d been there when Jasmine left him and he’d been there by his side as he plotted his revenge.

Drew was from the same area he was and had been just as determined to get out. It had always been him, Drew and their other cousin Ryan. Their fathers were all brothers so they shared the same last name. Ryan’s parents had died in a horrible auto accident when he was ten years old and he’d moved in with Drew, next door to Derek. The three boys had been inseparable.

They’d all left at twenty years old and made successes of their lives. They stayed in touch, as much as their work would allow and sometimes Derek really hated the distance that divided them.

“That’s beyond great Derek, how did it all happen?” Drew asked with genuine interest.

“David was a very poor business man and all I had to do was bide my time and wait him out. He finally made one too many mistakes, leaving the doors wide open for me to come in and take over. It has felt great but I thought I would somehow feel more, like some completion or something.”