I STARED AFTER THE girl, both irritated and amused with her attitude and her lateness. There was something about her that was captivating, a sway of her full hips as she walked that I couldn’t take my eyes off of. Violet wasn’t the sort of woman I was usually attracted to and yet I found myself appreciating that walk, her round, perfect ass, the angry look on her pretty face when she spoke to me. She was a cute girl, with roses on her cheeks, bright green eyes and pale blonde hair. Her lips had been full, pulled down in a disapproving frown. I chuckled and got up, tossing a bill on the bar, leaving without saying goodbye to the woman I’d been with. I didn’t even know her name, but she had been beautiful, somebody to pass the time with as I had a drink.

I made my way to my car, glancing toward the train station to see that Violet was still walking toward it. I sighed, starting my car, turning it around and slowly pulling up next to her. She clutched her purse, walking faster before I rolled down the window.

“I’ll give you a ride home,” I said. “Get in.”

“No,” she spat. “No. I’d rather walk. Thanks.”

“Violet—”

“I don’t even know you,” she said. “And you’re an asshole. No thanks.”

“You do know I’m your boss, right?”

“You’re not my boss,” Violet said. “You’re just a board member. You’re never even there.”

I had to laugh, though it irked me that she wouldn’t accept the ride. It was cold outside, and I didn’t like the thought of her walking home alone.  “Okay, Violet. Have a good night.”

“Yeah,” she said, walking further onto the sidewalk, away from my car. I rolled up the window and drove to the office, unable to stop worrying about Violet by herself. It was ridiculous—I didn’t even know the woman, but I did know that she was fierce and lovely, as irritating as it was.

I got to the office and parked in my spot, hurrying up to the sixth floor to Dirk’s office. I knocked when I got there and he answered it with a grin, shoving his hand out to shake mine.

“Cooper,” he said, his voice friendly, his grin too wide for his face. “It’s nice to see you. How have you been?”

“I’ve been fine,” I said to him. I had no interest in making conversation with this man, or with Patricia, who was grinning at him in a way that was equally unsettling.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” I said to them. Dirk waved me off.

“Nonsense. The party starts when you get here,” he said, chuckling. I didn’t smile at him. I knew exactly why he was being so friendly—they had done the same thing to my father when he was alive. They tried to butter him up, get him to sell his share of the business, the branch that was located in Texas. My father had warned me that they would try it with me, too, but he had also made me promise that I would never sell to them, no matter what.

“What did you need to see me for?” I asked him, trying to keep my voice patient. It was late, and I wanted to go home. In the back of my mind, the girl’s face was there, angry but adorable in her own way.

“We were wondering how you’ve been doing after your father passed, that’s all,” Dirk said, folding his hands together on the desk. I almost snorted at the total lack of sincerity in his voice.

“I’m fine,” I said to them. “With the cancer—he had been sick for years. It was not unexpected.”

“That’s true,” Dirk said. “But it hurt us all, nonetheless. There’s no doubt about that. Your father was a valuable member of this board.”

“He was,” I said to them, keeping my voice calm, though I wanted to call him out for being so transparent. The rest of the board had always hated my father for the way he ran the Texas branch, always putting his employees first, giving them benefits that were above and beyond what was required by law for full-time employees. The others had always told him he was wasting money, and the main reason my father had kept hold of his share was because he had feared that his employees might be laid off if he sold it and quit the board all together.

“Well, I’ll get to the point,” Dirk said. “As you know, we tried for years to buy your father’s share of the company. He just didn’t want to give it up.”

“My father was very loyal to this firm,” I said to them. Dirk nodded.

“We never saw you as particularly interested in the business,” Dirk said. “I must say, we were surprised when you refused to sell.”

“It was important to my father that I continue,” I said to them. Dirk gave me a smile.

“Of course, of course. You’re loyal to your father. But don’t you think that he would want you to have the freedom to pursue what you really love? He said you were an artist. What do you make?”

“I’m a painter,” I said to him through gritted teeth. I couldn’t stand the way he was talking, sucking up, trying to convince me of something I didn’t want to do. My father had told me about these power plays and how they usually went—with my father saying no and Dirk sighing, waiting until the next month or so to bring it up again.

“Wouldn’t you want time to do that?” Dirk asked. “A young man like you, plenty of money. You can spend your time creating art instead of—”

“I appreciate your concern that I’m not pursuing my passion, Mr. Porter, but I am not selling my share of the business. I want to be involved.”

Dirk didn’t say anything for a moment, but then he gave a nonchalant wave.

“That’s fine. We thought you’d say that. We have another proposal for you.”

“What’s that?” I asked warily.

“We want you to test out managing the business branch down in Texas,” Dirk said. “See how you like it there. We think you’d be a good fit.”

“I—”

“Now, I know what you’re thinkin’,” Dirk said with a grin. “You’re not going to do that job without being on the payroll. Don’t you worry. The position is open and it has your name on it. We’re talking a six-figure salary.”

I gave him a dry look.

“Great,” I said sarcastically. He beamed at me then, taking my word for agreement.

“We want to go ahead and send you in a couple of days. Think that’s long enough to get your things packed?” Dirk asked.

“Sure,” I said to him, trying to keep my voice calm and pleasant. Dirk stood up then, reaching forward to shake my hand.

“Congratulations,” he said, as if the whole thing wasn’t a ploy to get rid of me. “You got yourself a job.”

“Thanks,” I said to him, telling him and Patricia goodbye before I left the office, wondering what the hell was in store for me in Texas.

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