CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Tia was eyeing Nathan as she said casually, “So, you guys went on a hot date last night.”
Nathan smiled. “Your sister is an amazing woman.”
“She is. She totally is,” Tia agreed.
Nathan grinned. He liked Kerry's younger sister. The kid was smart, funny and upbeat despite her illness. She was confident and assertive and didn't bother covering up her baldness. The girl wasn't shy or self-conscious and she didn't shrink from his gaze.
Tia's questions were polite but it was clear that she wanted to know more about him. When he mentioned that he owned a security firm, she perked up and said, “You're in the security business? Well, I want to be a policewoman when I grow up!” She laughed and corrected, “I am grown up. I'm eighteen. What I meant to say was, I'm going to sign up for the police academy when I get well.”
“You'll be well really soon,” Kerry said fervently. “We're going to start your new treatment immediately.”
Tia's smile vanished as if someone had wiped it off her face. “Kerry,” she said quietly. “Give the money back.”
“What?”
“Give it back. This is blood money. I know you borrowed from a loan shark to pay for my treatment.”
“I didn't...”
“How else could you have gotten the money in such a short time? It's not a small sum. Please don't do this, Kerry,” Tia pleaded. “You'll get in trouble. I promise you I'll get well. I won't break my promise to you.”
Kerry reached for her sister, but Tia shook her hand away angrily. “No! Don't. I won't use that money, Kerry. Give it back. Our old neighbor, Jenkins, got beaten to death by loan sharks. Don't you remember? I'm not going to let you get killed, Kerry! You're crazy if you think...”
“Tia, listen to me...”
“No!” Tia yelled. “I won't...”
Nathan stood up and put a hand on Tia's shoulder to calm her down. “Tia, you misunderstood your sister. I gave Kerry the money.”
Tia rounded on him. “What? You?” she sputtered. “You gave…?”
Nathan cleared his throat. “It's a loan,” he said. “Our company approves loans to employees on a case-by-case basis.”
Tia frowned. “But Kerry isn't your employee. My sister doesn't work for you.”
“She does,” Nathan answered confidently. “She will be starting work tomorrow.”
Kerry's eyes widened a fraction but she caught on fast. “Y-yes. Nathan offered me a position at his firm, and I accepted,” she said brightly.
“You never mentioned this...” Tia narrowed her eyes at the both of them.
“I was about to tell you,” Kerry lied. Nathan saw the telltale twitch of her lips and scented the sweat on her palms. Kerry wasn't a good liar. She wasn't comfortable lying and she was both nervous and irritated.
“What will she be doing at your company?” Tia asked suspiciously. “It's a security firm, right?”
“Kerry will be my personal assistant,” Nathan answered. “I pay well but I demand a lot from my staff. Kerry is a very capable woman. I am sure she will be able to fulfill all my demands. The loan will be deducted from her salary.”
Tia chewed her bottom lip as she mulled this over. Finally she said, “So you're her new boss.”
Nathan hid a smile. He could anticipate her next question.
“Does your firm have a non-fraternization policy? Are you still going to date Kerry?” she asked in a rush.
“Tia!” Kerry admonished.
“He's a great guy, Kerry. You should date him,” Tia said earnestly. “You haven't dated a good guy in a long, long while. You guys found each other. You can always find another job. But finding love with a great guy...”
Kerry's blushed deepened as she made an incoherent sound.
“You'll still date my sister, right?” Tia asked Nathan, her large gray eyes searching his face desperately.
“As you said, how often does one find love with a great woman? I'm not letting her go, kid,” Nathan replied.
Tia smirked. “I like you. And I know my sister likes you too. But if you break Kerry's heart—” She leaned in and snarled, “I won't let you off.”