CHAPTER FOUR

Trevor

If I’d thought Ms. Emma Brown looked good in yoga pants, the fire-red dress accenting her curves in luxury threads was enough to fry my brain cells. She was simply stunning, with her dark hair pinned up and her green eyes wide, her red-painted lips parted in disbelief.

“What are you doing here?” She asked as if she knew the answer already but didn’t want to believe it.

Something told me not a lot threw her for a loop. I couldn’t help but smirk at taking her off guard. “I’m here to see Simon Granger.”

She swallowed hard but managed to keep her cool. “And you are?”

“Trevor Newhall.”

I could see her brain working overtime, but she simply picked up the phone and buzzed Simon. “Mr. Granger, Mr. Newhall is here.”

Simon came out from behind his closed office door all smiles, and I instantly flicked my gaze between the two. Whereas Emma was beautiful, Simon matched her with his model looks. I might clean up good in a suit, but Simon appeared born to wear one. I instantly felt an unfamiliar stab of jealousy at the thought she might be involved with him. It was stupid to feel that way considering I’d only met her yesterday. But since seeing her business card announcing she worked for the Stone Group, I’d been playing out our second meeting. The last thing I wanted now was to find out she was already involved with someone else.

“Hello, Trevor, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” Simon greeted.

I took his offered hand in a firm shake and made sure I minded my manners. I might be disappointed that the sexiest woman on the planet was unavailable, but this was business. I was always professional when it came to business. “The pleasure is all mine.”

Sliding my gaze to Emma, I watched her face flush at my words. At least she wasn’t completely unaffected by me.

I followed Simon into his office, where I made small talk. For me, having a good relationship with those I worked with was integral. I was a pretty easygoing guy, but I’d heard Simon wasn’t always so personable. Time to find out. “My father tells me you’ve been in Dallas the last couple of months. Do you plan to make it permanent?”

He grinned. “If my better half has anything to say about it, then yes.”

I didn’t think there’d be a good way to ask if his better half was Emma. Thankfully, he answered the question before I could figure out a way to pry.

“Peyton grew up here, has family here, and calls it home. And my home is where she is. But this job requires a great deal of travel. That’s why I’m hoping to bring in someone else to help. Then I can still do the analysis and advise, but I won’t have to remain on-site during the entire acquisition. You indicated you don’t have any challenges with travel?”

“No challenges. The only commitment I have is to my dog. And I plan to get someone to come in for him during the week while I’m at work. I’ll find a kennel for him when I’m on trips where I can’t take him with.”

“My girlfriend has a Great Dane, so I can ask her if she has any recommendations. Where are you staying?”

I perked up as Rufus was a mastiff, and I loved big dogs in general. “I’m in corporate housing, fifteen minutes from here.”

“The complex off of Riverside?”

“That’s the one. You know it?”

“I was there for a time. And Emma is staying there now.”

I filed away the information that we were living in the same complex.

He seemed relaxed, putting me at ease. I hadn’t been sure what to expect as I’d heard rumors of Simon’s Ice Man persona as the number one guy for negotiating acquisitions for the Stone Group. But there’d only been warmth from him thus far.

“Since you already know a lot about this position and what it entails, why don’t you tell me what you think you’ll find the most challenging?”

This was an easy question for me to answer. As the guy who went on-site to buy companies, there was one thing I dreaded. “That would be having to tell people they’ve lost their jobs if an acquisition or buyout dictated such. I look forward to the business side and the opportunity to learn from you, but delivering that sort of news is not something I think I’ll ever get used to.”

He nodded. “You don’t. You simply get better at separating your emotions from it. Still, it isn’t easy. Helps to get along with the team, so you have someone to vent to. That’s why I propose we work together the next six weeks to see if it’s a mutual fit for the both of us.”

This had been the proposal from the start, which was a win-win for me. If I decided this job wasn’t for me, I’d still have had six weeks of gleaning information from the best in the business. And if it did work out, then I had a job with the Stone Group. “That sounds more than agreeable.”

“Brilliant. Let me walk you through the team, then.”

I was happy when he mentioned Emma first, explaining she was from London and then New York, like him. “Some people make the mistake of thinking she’s only my administrative assistant, but I’ll tell you she’s my greatest asset. She’s especially good with research and keeping things organized.” He appeared to hesitate but then went on. “She may take a while to warm up to you, but don’t take it personally. Of anyone on the team, she’ll be the one you spend the most time with.”

Although there was a small voice in my head which warned it wasn’t a good idea to pursue someone with whom I’d be working with, all I could focus on was the opportunity to spend time with her.

“Then there’s Tom, who is the accountant and based in New York.”

“He’s Phillip’s nephew, right?” I’d heard about the man and knew to be careful with him given his relationship to the owner of the company.

Simon gave me a tight smile as if trying not to say what he wanted to. “Yes. He is. You’ll meet him when we travel to New York City in two weeks. We work with him for all things accounting while in the middle of a possible acquisition. And Lyle comes in as the forensic auditor, but he lives in Minnesota.”

Simon went on talking about Phillip and a few of the others in New York I might be working with.

“If you’re up for it, I thought I’d walk you through the last deal to get your feet wet. Then we can head to lunch.”

***

Almost two hours later, my head was swimming. My father wasn’t kidding when he’d said Simon was the best in the business. I was learning the first rule about an acquisition was that no two were the same. I wasn’t above writing down a lot of notes. The key was to learn from him, not let my ego get in the way.

“Have I overwhelmed you yet?” Simon sat back, assessing me. We’d just gone through the last acquisition that had taken place right here in Dallas. The folder sat in front of me, and I intended to study it more later.

I chuckled and told the truth. “That obvious?”

“No. But don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s what I’m here for. Quite frankly, I want this to be as successful as you do.”

“Thanks. I’m certain once I spend some more time tonight looking at it I’ll have plenty of questions, but for now they’re still bouncing around in my head. I find this deal fascinating considering you found embezzlement. Do you know if they ever prosecuted?” Crazy to think the director of payroll and his girlfriend in HR had set up two fictitious people and paid them in order to get the money for themselves.

“They didn’t have to. He struck a plea to pay the money back. Last I heard, he moved to California. The unique part of this deal was we only had to terminate a couple employees who had a track record of poor performance. Meanwhile, a few others took early retirement.”

In other words, don’t get used to it.