Chapter Five
Ayden
I left the door open hoping that Autumn would stop by on her way in to see Jace. The last few days I had the door open as I was carting sorted boxes out of the home office. I carried some to the basement, stored the party supplies in the large kitchen pantry, and sent some of the NFL swag to charity. Slowly the dark hardwood floors, built in bookshelves, and wide antique desk emerged. It felt good to clear the space, and it lessened my guilt at staying in Jace's mansion.
He refused to accept my rent money so my first order of business at the clean desk was to figure out how to make deposits into his home account. Autumn introduced me to a banker to take care of my Vegas winnings and together we set up automatic rent payments.
I was glad everything was on the books. Now I had good, solid things to report to my parole officer.
"Wow, I had almost forgotten the room looked like this," Autumn said. She knocked belatedly on the open door and smiled.
"Come on in," I offered. I stood up from the desk and lead the way to the kitchenette. "I'm just figuring out this whole French press coffee thing. I need someone with a, um, more sophisticated palate to tell me if I'm doing it right."
She sipped the cup I handed to her and nodded. "Tastes great to me. Are you looking for an apartment?"
I had the laptop open on the short counter. Two tabs were open, one showing a French press instructional video, and the other listing local apartments for rent.
"Yes. I want to make my own start and really build up what is mine. It’s hard to do that here when Jace blurs all the lines with his generosity," I said.
"It’s nice to hear someone else complain about Jace’s generosity. Usually it’s just me telling him to rein it in, and I feel like a monster," Autumn said.
"I really can't imagine anyone thinking you're a monster," I replied.
Autumn was wearing a sheath dress in chocolate brown that matched her eyes. An open lace cardigan, brown snakeskin heels, and a tiny, delicate pearl necklace completed the outfit. Her golden blonde hair was loose and hung in a smooth curtain down her back.
"Thanks, you don't look so bad yourself." Her cheeks took on a rosy light.
I wanted to touch those rosy cheeks, brush a finger across her pink petal lips, but my cell phone rang. I had to pat every pocket in my suit before I realized it was on the counter behind the French press.
"This stupid thing. Hi, Jace. Yes. I'm all ready to go. In a navy blue suit and white shirt. No, no tie. What? Come on, that's not work. Yes, fine. I'll be there in a minute," I said.
Autumn smiled. "Let me guess. He wants you to change into your swimming suit and meet him by the pool." She put down her coffee cup and headed to the door. "Time for work?"
I offered her my arm and she took it. "I gotta say, I like the commute."
"How can you two look like a magazine spread for Forbes when it is this nice out?" Jace asked. He was basking in the sun on a cushy lounge chair.
"You hired me to work for you, and I just can't call that work," I said.
"I should order you to do it." Jace tipped his sunglasses off and glared at me. "It’s only been five days since you got out. Why can't you relax and take a little vacation?"
"My parole officer gave me a list, and I'm going to check every single thing off," I said. "There's no way I'm going back in."
"Stop acting as if you were actually a criminal. You took the fall for something that wasn't even yours. Now at least have a screwdriver and enjoy yourself," Jace said.
I could feel Autumn's eyes studying me. She had no idea why I had gone to prison. I moved to the bar cart just to escape her scrutiny. My prison time was a large part of my life, and I wanted to be accepted for it, not forgiven for it.
"So, tell me how work is going for you anyway," Jace said. "I hear the home office is looking better than it has in a decade. And my assistant here let me know about these mysterious deposits into my housing account."
"Rent. There's nothing mysterious about paying rent," I said.
"You’re impossible, man," Jace groaned. "And speaking of impossible, how's working with David?"
"He's, ah. . .we just haven't figured it out yet. David is, um, particular." I took a long sip of my screwdriver and handed one to Jace.
"I think the word you are looking for is irritating. A lot of people find him irritating," Jace said. "He's always reminded me of a bug. Buzzing around all impressed with himself. He doesn't make it easy for anyone, me included."
"Then why do you keep him on?" I wondered.
"Loyalty. David's been with me for years, longer than Autumn."
"Speak of the devil," Autumn said. She nodded towards the terrace outside the home office.
David waved me over, flapping back his suit coat, and putting his hands on his hips. His foot tapped the flagging stones as I walked towards the house to meet him.
I liked Jace's analogy of David as a bug. I would not let him get to me. There was nothing he could do that I could not shoo off. I had to stop in the door and chant that like a mantra when I saw David sitting at the desk with his feet up.
"Oh, I wasn't sure if you were going to pretend to work today or not," David sneered.
"I'm ready. What do you need me to do?" I asked.
"That's the problem. What am I supposed to do to keep you busy? I'm fresh out of crayons and coloring books," David said. He dropped his feet to the floor and sat up.
"I'd like to get started on some projections," I said. "That way I can see which businesses are going to yield a return, which need developing, and which ones need to be reevaluated."
"Do you really think I'm just going to hand all that information over to you? This is the real world, and you have to earn your place in order to do any real business."
My hands were on both armrests and my nose an inch from David's. "Between the two of us, I'm the one that knows what the real world is like. You've been in the insulated bubble of your boss’s money. Counting someone else's pennies isn't real work, so you can get over yourself and get out of my way."
"Ayden? David? Everything alright?" Autumn called from the door.
David gave me a greasy smile before he slithered out of the desk chair and greeted her. "Everything's fine. I just think Jace's new pet needs to go to obedience school."
I ground my teeth and said nothing. Autumn submitted to a kiss on the cheek from David but moved away as quickly as she could.
"Jace has asked me to cancel his appointments today. He is entertaining by the pool," Autumn said. "Here's the mail. Can you scan it and file it on the computer? Then send me an email with the bill amounts, and I will make an invoice for the banker."
"He doesn't know how to do any of that." David tried to grab the mail from Autumn's hand. "Just let me take care of it."
"You and I have to brief Jace on the meetings he will miss today. We need to prepare to go as his proxies," Autumn said. She dodged David and handed me the mail.
He grabbed the ends of the envelopes and hung on. I held tight and let him struggle. Over his shoulder, I could see Autumn frowning at David's odd behavior. It was more than just petty selfishness. She gave him one more considering look and disappeared out the door.
I pulled the envelopes free and stepped back. David moved to follow me then pulled himself together. "I'm just going to have to redo it all when I get back," he said.
"It'll be fine, David. You know I have a business degree. I think I can handle sorting the mail," I said. "Speaking of the mail, I've seen these contractors listed before, and I meant to ask you about them."
"You have no idea what is going on and that question just proves it," David said. He crossed his arms, but his eyes stayed riveted to the mail.
"I haven't seen their company name or the attached property in any of the portfolios. Is it a new deal?" I asked.
"It’s none of your business, that's what it is," David snapped. He lunged for the mail in my hand again.
I held it up high over his head, an easy stretch for me. "It is my business now, and you are going to have to accept that fact."
"You wouldn't know the first thing about running Knight Holdings," David said.
"You're right, so maybe you can enlighten me. Tell me, David, what exactly is it that you do for Jace?" I asked.
David put his hands on his hips again. He spoke slowly and clearly. "I manage Jace's money. There is a large incoming cash flow, and I am the one that separates it out to Jace's different expense accounts and business ventures. It is up to my discretion which businesses receive more capital, and I also pay all of Jace's impressive bills. I even paid for the limo and plane that brought you here fresh from federal prison."
"So you can explain to me exactly who these contractors are, and why these invoices seem so high?" I asked.
"I don't have time to explain things to you. This is exactly why I told Jace you wouldn't work out. Not only are you belligerent and hard to work with, but also you are also slow to learn. Haven't you heard anything I told you? I'm in charge of Jace's money, and he has authorized me to spend it at my discretion," David said.
I took a step forward. David did not move so he had to crane his neck up to see my face. "Now I want you to hear me. I understand that I have to work with you and in your world that means for you. What you need to hear and understand is that outside of work, Jace is my best friend. In that capacity, I am going to watch you."
"Watch me? What is wrong with you?" David squeaked. He refused to move, and we stood toe to toe.
I leaned down over him. "I know you're hiding something. I've seen that weasel look on men's faces before. You better clean house, David, because if I catch you doing anything you shouldn't be, there will be hell to pay."
"Don't take your ignorance out on me," David said. He stepped back and tugged his shiny suit coat down. "I've seen your type too. You bully people to hide the fact that you have no idea what you are doing."
I wondered at his brave tone, but then I saw Autumn standing in the doorway. David was free to berate me with a witness present. He ran a hand over his thinning hair, and I saw that it shook.
I hated for Autumn to see me as a bully. She probably thought I was some testosterone twisted man who could only express himself with his fists. The thought kept me rooted to the floor even as David jabbed a finger in my chest.
"Next time you step out of line, I will make sure you never work in Vegas again," David said. "Autumn, you'll be my witness."
"Actually, David, I was hoping you'd answer the question." Autumn pinned him with a sharp look.
We both swung to face her. How long had she been in the doorway?
"I don't recognize those contractors either," Autumn said. She crossed her arms and did not get out of David's way. We had him cornered.
* * * * *
"And here I thought the party would be by the pool," Jace said. He strolled into the home office in flip-flops. "What's going on, party people?"
"We were just discussing Ayden's responsibilities. Can you please tell him he is not in charge of invoicing," David said. "I think it’s time we created an actual job description for your VP of Business Development because he seems to get confused easily."
Autumn caught my eye, and I heard her silent question loud and clear.
"David, for the last time, I can scan and file the mail on the computer. Go ahead and go to your meeting. I'll take care of these," I said.
Autumn nodded. We would talk about the strange invoices later on our own. There was no use interrupting Jace's pleasant morning until we had done a little more digging.
"See? You should appreciate the help, David. He's not trying to take your job. He's trying to help you. Speaking of help," Jace turned to Autumn, "did you cancel my meetings?"
David jumped in before Autumn could speak. "You have a new contract signing tonight. You can't cancel."
Autumn looked at Jace. "I didn't know about that meeting so I guess it’s still on?"
"David set it up so David can handle it. I've got plans by the pool and hopefully dinner for two tonight," Jace said. He rubbed his hands together.
I could not help but smile as I remembered the new woman who’s name I had heard at least one hundred times in the last few hours. Jace had just met her and it was fun to see him so thunderstruck. "Patrice? You're making your moves, huh?"
Jace laughed. "I like to keep it simple. An easy pool party for her and her friends. Then if it goes well, it ends with candlelight dinner, just her and I."
"I hate to interrupt this locker room talk," David snapped, "but you cannot miss this meeting tonight."
"I'll go as his proxy," I offered. "You know I can handle more than scanning and sorting mail. You trust me to read your new business partners, don't you?"
"Ayden is the best judge of character," Jace agreed. "I think it’s a great idea. See, David, he's gonna earn his keep."
David crossed his arms across his chest. "I appreciate that you have a new love interest and congratulations. But if you want to cancel this meeting tonight, then you have to deliver the message yourself."
There was an awkward pause as Jace digested his business manager's rude tone. "I'd like Ayden to be able to do his job. A new contract sounds like business development to me. Autumn? How about you and I sit down and hammer out a job description for Ayden before the ladies arrive?"
"No problem," Autumn said.
Jace turned to David. "I'd like Ayden to go to the meeting tonight as my proxy."
The matter should have been settled. It shouldn't have been a discussion at all. Still, David kept his arms crossed tight and refused to back down. There was a sheen of sweat under his receding hairline, but he faced Jace anyway.
"You know as well as I do that the Mertz brothers are very private businessmen. They won't appreciate being faced with someone new at this crucial juncture. Plus, we all know they will not like this deal being left in the hands of an ex-con fresh out of federal prison," David said.
I clenched my fists in my pockets. "He's right, Jace. I'm not hiding my status, but I don't want it to screw anything up for you. I'm sorry if I let you down."
"Christ. What a mess. Fine, David, I'll go to your damn meeting but by tomorrow, we are going to have Ayden's job description and duties all hammered out. There will be no more little catfights like this. Do you hear me?" Jace asked.
He marched out the office door and David chased after him. I immediately ripped open the mail and began studying the invoices. Autumn appeared at my shoulder. The smell of her honeyed hair distracted me, and I held the paper uselessly in front of me.
"I'm glad you said something to David."
I turned to face her as she stepped in front of me, and we collided against the corner of the desk. I caught Autumn before she stumbled. Her hands on my shoulders and my arm around her waist was enough to stop time. I held her suspended and could think of nothing business like or rational.
She looked up and I heard a small sigh escape her pink petal lips. It pulled me in like a magnet and before I could stop myself our mouths were less than an inch apart. Her chocolate brown eyes were half-closed and her sweet lips slightly parted. Then she blinked wildly and pulled back.
"Maybe David's just jealous," Autumn said. She stepped back and adjusted her open lace cardigan. "You and Jace have been spending a lot of time together."
"If you call watching him party at the club spending time together," I said. I leaned against the desk and tried to slow my pulse from sprint to normal.
"As if you're bored at the club. I've seen the flocks of women around you. Making up for lost time?" she queried.
I liked the worried lilt of her casual comment. "I'm not much for flings. And it seems like Jace might be giving up that habit too. This Patrice is really something special."
"You're kidding, right?" Autumn asked. "I don't mean to be rude or play up any stereotypes, but I would think you'd be happy with flocks of women. No one would blame you."
"And no one that really knows me would expect me to be happy with a bunch of casual encounters," I said. "I'm still getting my life together. I lost a lot of time, and I'm not going to lose any more doing things that aren't exactly what I want."
"What do you want?" Autumn took a step back towards me.
"I want someone smart, caring, and not intimidated by anything. I want a woman who is confident, put together, and not willing to settle," I said.
"That's a tall order. Where are you going to find a woman like that?"
I stood up and looked at her until a rosy hue warmed her cheeks. Then I caught her hand and tugged her closer to me. As I leaned against the desk, her only choice was to step closer between my stretched out legs or trip and fall against me. Having Autumn close was more than I could handle.
The temperature in the room sky-rocketed, and her cheeks blazed by the time she finally pulled her hand free and stepped back. Autumn cleared her throat with a delicate cough. "I have to get to a meeting."
I opened my mouth to protest, but my cell phone started ringing. It was Jace calling from the pool. Then he sent half a dozen picture messages featuring lovely women in tiny bikinis. I swore out loud when I looked up from the messages and saw that Autumn was gone.
"Take off that suit coat and that frown, my friend," Jace called. "Patrice has plenty of friends that can cheer you up."
"Does she know anyone that can explain to me why women refuse to accept what they really want?" I wondered out loud.
Patrice threw an arm around Jace's shoulder and laughed loudly. "I like him. You two are the perfect pair." She kissed Jace's cheek and left to greet more of her friends as they arrived.
"I'm telling you, Ayden, I feel like the air is different," Jace said. "It’s harder to breathe when she's gone, but when she's near she takes my breath away. Is that crazy?"
"Not at all." I thought about my breathless encounter with Autumn.
"Oh, man, I know that face," Jace said. "Know what makes a good woman come around? Seeing you with someone else."
Jace spent the rest of the afternoon introducing me to all of Patrice's friends. They ranged from gorgeous to beautiful and sassy to sweet. It was a great way to spend the day but even so, I had no trouble tearing myself away and returning to the home office.
I had work to do, and all I could think about was showing Autumn the man I could really be.