She picked up a power suit in beige with black heels and a bag to match. One thing she’d learned from her mother was how to put herself together. Fashion had been her mother’s life. As the managing editor of a fashion magazine for years, she’d always looked her best and ensured Parker did as well. Though Parker had her own sense of style, she’d pulled a lot from her mom and created unique looks that worked for her.
Portfolio in hand, she marched through the doors of Tristar Security, received a visitor’s pass, and headed up to the top level.
The receptionist on the top floor guided her to a conference room.
“Mr. Wade will be with you shortly,” she said and closed the blinds that looked out into the hallway. Then she opened the ones that showed the skyline outside the building. “Would you like a drink? Water? Coffee?”
“No, thank you. I’m okay.”
Parker sat there, taking deep breaths and then stood to glance out the wall of glass. The city below seemed so peaceful and quiet. She glanced at the park in the distance, the trees lush and the lake so calm. There was a little canoe on the water moving slowly across the lake.
The door opened and she inhaled, plastered a smile on her face and turned to the shock of her life.
Chapter Eight
Parker’s smile fell from her face. “You!”
“Hello, Parker,” Ryan said as he shut the door behind him, hitting the lock.
“What are you doing here?” She gasped and shook her head. “Don’t tell me you’re R. Wade?”
He nodded, his gaze serious on her face. “I am.”
“Get the fuck out of here.” She rushed to the table and grabbed her bag, portfolio and turned to leave. He was right there. Right in front of her. Only millimeters separated them.
“Why are you rushing to go?”
She gaped and growled. “You know very well this is some stupid sham meeting you set up. I don’t know what your intentions are, but if you think we’re going to hook up again, just because we’re both here, you’re fucking crazy.”
He grabbed her shoulders and held her still. “Was it really so bad to spend that time with me at the wedding?”
She stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Dude, it was one night. Get over yourself.”
He loomed over her, making her step back until she was flush against the conference table. “It was more than that and you know it.”
She glared at him, her temper rising with every word he spoke. “Was it, Ryan? I don’t know. It seems to me like all we did was fuck and move on with our lives.”
His features darkened. “I know you don’t mean that. You know it was more than sex.”
“Fuck you,” she said and pushed past him. “I came here for a job interview. Since this is clearly not a job interview, I’m leaving.”
“Stop,” he said as she reached the door. “It is a job interview.”
Her heart raced and her emotions were in complete turmoil. The last thing she’d expected was to see him now. Not after that display of affection between him and the gorgeous redhead. “Is it? Or is this some sick way of you playing with me? Dangling a job in front of me just to get me to come here?”
His lips pressed into a tight line and his eyes flashed. “It is a real job interview.”
She didn’t leave, but she didn’t move toward him. “Go on.”
“We are having trouble with some of our younger pride members and I thought I could use your expertise.”
She raised her brows. What a line of bullshit. Then she thought about what her father would say about her not being able to control her grandfather’s company—a bigger line of bullshit. Then he’d say he had hired someone else so she could go on a date with a nice man he knew. Then what would she do? She needed this job.
“I’ll stay and listen to what you have to say about this position. That’s all. I don’t want to hear anything about what happened,” she let out a breath, “that night. Understand?”
He gave a sharp nod. Her stomach churned so much, she swore she’d start vomiting at any second, but she’d been raised to display zero discomfort in front of others.
She marched around him and put her stuff down two seats away from where he stood. Her gaze never left his. “Tell me about this pride.”
He stood staring at her for a moment and she raised her brows, silently daring him to sit and speak to her about the job and nothing else.
He pulled the chair back and sat. She noticed he’d changed his suit since lunch. Her mind immediately conjured thoughts of him having sex with the other woman and then changing his clothes. Fucking hell. Why was her brain on a quest to make her insane?
“Tristar Security has been my sole focus for several years. Growing it and having it become a worldwide company has dominated my time. That means I had zero time to check on the pride. My uncle, the pride’s leader, had apparently let it go. His leadership was barely there, and the younger tigers have made it their job to forget our most basic rule. Take care of our elders.”
She nodded. “Where’s your uncle now?”
“He’s dead.” He sat back on his chair and sighed. “Ben is the rightful heir and pride leader by bloodline,” he said.
She sucked in a breath. “Ben? Jade’s son Ben?”
“Yes. Ben’s birth mother was Eaton’s daughter. But Ben made it clear he’s not interested and he’s happy with his family. Now, the role falls on my shoulders. As I said, I’ve been out of touch with the pride. So when I checked on everything, things had taken a drastic turn.
“The younger tigers are being verbally and physically abusive of the elders.” He inhaled hard and shook his head. “It pains me to say this, but they’ve lost their way. I need to help them learn to care for their elders once again. To remember why they are important to us, or the pride will not survive.”
She frowned and opened her portfolio and took notes. “The world right now is seeing a spike in the younger generations losing that connection and respect with their elders.” She glanced at him. “When I was in Asia, one of the things I appreciated most was seeing the respect for older generations by the young. But it seems it’s been lost in the west.”
“I won’t allow it to destroy the pride,” he told her firmly. “Every one of the members work hard to ensure their offspring are taken care of. For those same offspring to go on and disrespect their parents and grandparents is disgusting.”
She nodded. “I agree.”
“I need an intervention on a large scale. I don’t know what to do.”
She pressed her lips together. “I can come up with some ideas. It would mean that they’d have to spend time together, doing things with these elders. You’d need to separate them into small groups to work different projects, but it would mean they got in touch with history. Maybe remember why these people are so special to their pride and their families.”
He nodded quickly. “That’s what we need. I’m open to whatever you have in mind.”
“You’ll need to take part as well,” she told him. “You’re their new leader. They need to see you are actively doing this as well. Lead by example.”