by Ivy Nelson
“Well at least you know he’s prompt,” Austin said in his ear.
Patrick lifted an eyebrow at her as they approached the table where Tim stood. “Mr. Sutton, good to see you again, Sir,” he said, extending a trembling hand. Patrick was used to making employees nervous, but he’d hoped a dinner conversation would be less jarring than an office meeting.
“Thanks for meeting me, Tim. Sorry we kept you waiting. New York traffic,” he said with a shrug as he pulled Austin’s chair out.
“This is Austin Yates, my attorney. Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble,” he said quickly when Tim’s eyes went wide. “She’s representing me on these ridiculous charges associated with the diamond heist and heard you were part of the team that saw the diamonds into the museum. She’s got some questions if you’re willing to answer them, so I thought we could kill two birds with one stone. It could be helpful in my defense.”
Tim nodded. “Absolutely, Sir. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Yates. Not sure what help I can be, but I’ll do my best.” His voice cracked and he reached for his water glass.
Austin dug her heel into Patrick’s leg. She didn’t appreciate him throwing her under the bus that way.
“Don’t stress about my questions, Tim. There are no wrong answers, and we can talk after you and Patrick talk shop. I’ve heard a lot about this diamond production lab, and it sounds so fascinating.” She leaned forward with true interest.
Tim relaxed then and launched into a description of the diamond production process. “I’ve never seen such gorgeous diamonds. I worked in the diamond industry for years and always turned my nose up at the lab made ones, but these are top notch.”
Patrick surreptitiously reached under the table and twirled the bracelet on her wrist. The diamonds on it had been produced in his lab.
“I’ve had the pleasure of wearing a few,” she said with a sly look Patrick’s direction. “They are indeed gorgeous.”
The waiter appeared to offer them wine and appetizers. Patrick ordered several items for the table and a bottle of red to go with them. The rest of the conversation flowed easily, as Patrick quizzed Tim on how the new facility was doing. Austin interjected with questions born of curiosity, but he had a feeling she was trying to get Tim comfortable talking to her. By the time Patrick offered to buy dessert for the group, the lab tech was laughing easily with them.
“Mind if I ask my questions now?” Austin asked when the waiter left to fetch baked Alaska for the group.
“Go ahead, Miss Yates. I’ll do my best.”
“What was your role in verifying the diamonds when they arrived at the museum?”
Tim cleared his throat and took a swallow of wine. “My name was on the list provided by Mr. Sutton—Nicholas that is—of people who had been part of collecting the diamonds over the years. Someone, I think the courts or maybe the museum, selected mine and Grant Sterling’s names off the list to come and verify that the collection was there in its entirety and to sign off on the transfer of ownership. I don’t understand all the legalities, but it was part of the chain of evidence or something like that.” He shrugged and picked up his napkin, twisting it in his fingers.
Austin wrote something down on the notepad she’d pulled out. “And what did you do on the day the diamonds arrived at the museum?”
Tim laughed. “To be honest, I just kind of stood there. It all felt like a grand ceremony more than something really necessary.”
Austin nodded and kept writing. “And Mr. Sterling, did he have anything to do that day?”
Tim shook his head then paused. “Wait. He did ask me to take pictures of the diamonds before we signed all the paperwork.”
Patrick raised an eyebrow. “Do you still have those photos?”
Tim shook his head. “After I emailed them to Mr. Sterling, I deleted them. I try to save space in my phone for pictures of my little girl,” he said, a smile playing at his lips.
Austin gave the man a smile of her own and set her pen down. “Did you go into the museum vault with the diamonds at all?”
“I did. It was really nice of them to invite me on a tour. Got to see the whole back room where they process everything. It’s really high tech back there. Is this helping at all, Miss Yates?” he asked, rubbing at the back of his neck.
Austin nodded. “Absolutely, Tim. It’s giving me a clearer picture of what happened leading up to the disappearance of the diamonds.”
Tim smiled. “Well I hope you find whoever did it. I know Mr. Sutton here couldn’t have.”
Austin put her notebook away. “I happen to agree with you, Tim. We’re going to do our best to figure out who did. Would you be OK coming into my office next week for a formal deposition?”
Tim shrugged. “I can do that. You’ve got my number. Just let me know when you need me.”
When they had cleaned their dessert plates, Tim stood and said he had an early morning.
“Thanks for dinner, Mr. Sutton. Was nice to meet you, Miss Yates,” he said, extending his hand.
Patrick said goodnight and sat in the seat the man had vacated so he could look at Austin. “What did you think?”
Austin gave a shrug. “Not sure how much help he’ll be. Seems like a nice enough guy though.”
Patrick nodded. “He seemed nervous, but I think that might have been because I’m the boss.”
Austin grinned and lifted her wine glass. “I like thinking of you as the boss. So hot,” she said before taking a sip.
Patrick shook his head. She was incorrigible.
“Ready to go back to the hotel?”
Austin nodded. “Yes please.”
When Patrick had paid the check, they stood and walked from the restaurant. “I hate to leave you tomorrow. I’m going to put you on the Eastman’s New York jet on Friday. We can just meet in Colorado.”
Austin raised an eyebrow. “Eastman has a New York jet?”
Patrick laughed. “He’s got one for each of the cities he does business most in. Makes it easier to fly top level clients in style when we need to.”
Austin shook her head. “And I was excited when I started making enough to pay my student loans off early.”
Patrick grimaced. “The student loan system is fucking highway robbery. I’m proud of you for getting those off your plate though.”
Austin smiled. “I’m proud of me too. One of the few things I’m proud of in my life.”
Patrick fixed her with a stern glare. “We need to work on your self-confidence. You have a lot to be proud of. I’m going to start making you repeat affirmations to me on the phone every night.”
Austin shook her head and made a disgusted face. “Please no.”
Patrick sighed. “I don’t like seeing you so down on yourself. You’re an amazing human being, and I’m lucky to have you in my life.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m pretty lucky myself.”
Patrick snorted. “I’m looking at prison time. Not sure how lucky you are.”
Austin stuck a finger in his chest. “If I can’t be down on myself neither can you.”
Patrick chuckled and grabbed her finger, bringing it to his lips. “OK, baby girl. I’ll go along with that.”
They stepped into the waiting car and Austin snuggled close to him. “Thorley isn’t giving me any grief about leaving the way I thought he would. I’m taking two clients, other than you, with me, and I’m interviewing associates tomorrow.” Austin said in the quiet of the car.
Patrick pulled away from her enough to look into her eyes. “Have I mentioned how proud of you I am? You’re going to do so amazing.”
“I’m fucking terrified. I’m in charge in the courtroom or at a client meeting. I’ve never been the boss before.”
Patrick kissed her forehead. “Just don’t get used to it. I’ll always be the boss in the bedroom,” he said with a teasing lilt to his tone.
Austin giggled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Her giggles were interrupted by Patrick’s
ringing cell phone. He frowned and pulled it from his pocket.
“It’s Tim,” he said as he lifted it to his ear.
“Tim, what’s up?” he asked when the call connected.
“Hey, boss. I wanted to let you know I’m getting on a flight back to California first thing in the morning. My daughter is back in the hospital.”
Patrick felt his heart constrict. “I’m so sorry. Absolutely. Do you need to get on a flight tonight? I’m sure we can arrange something?”
“No. It’s fine. There isn’t a lot to do there tonight. I just wanted to let you know. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Tell Miss Yates we’ll have to arrange an interview some other time.”
Patrick assured the man it would all be OK and ended the call. When he relayed the information to Austin, she shook her head. “Poor guy. I hope you’re paying him well. Sick kids are expensive.”
“I am. I know he was in a mountain of debt just from three months without work because of all the medical bills. I wish I’d acted faster when it came to giving him a job.”
Austin squeezed his shoulder. “Don’t blame yourself. There are a lot of moving parts.”
Patrick pulled her close to him and pressed his lips to hers, trying to put his employee’s troubles out of his mind and focus on the sexy submissive in the backseat with him.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Austin stared at the resumes of eight attorneys and four paralegals she had interviewed over the course of the day. She hadn’t expected to get so many applicants when she posted the job listing. The stack in front of her were just the ones she’d liked enough to interview and didn’t include two she’d tossed as soon as they walked out the door.
Now, she weighed the pros and cons of each one. She had the budget to hire two or three associate level attorneys and at least two paralegals on top of an office manager. It would be a small operation until they started billing clients. If things went according to plan, they could expand in the first six months, and she could pay Patrick back for his investment in fast tracking her business license and some other unexpected fees.
Her man had text twice to ask her how it was going, and she hadn’t responded yet. She wanted to just sit in the quiet of her new space now that the day was winding down before she spoke to him.
James Saunders was the top candidate for office manager. He had interviewed well and seemed like someone she could work well with. How would Patrick feel about her hiring a very young, rather good-looking man to be her office manager? He often seemed like the ultimate feminist who shouldn’t care, but she knew he had a jealous streak even though he didn’t like to admit it.
Victoria Marche was a top candidate to be her first associate, but several other candidates were strong too.
She knew who she wanted to go with in her gut, but she wanted to sleep on it before she made phone calls and offered jobs.
Her phone rang. It was Patrick. She decided to put him out of his misery and answer it.
“Hey there, boss lady,” he teased. “How did the interviews go? I’ve been on pins and needles over here.”
Austin laughed. “I think they went really well. I’m overwhelmed with choices.”
“Go with your gut. Don’t overthink it. Who had good chemistry? Who looks great on paper? Who looks too good on paper?”
“I know who I want to make offers to, but I’m scared of making the wrong choice.”
Patrick chuckled. “That’s the thing about being the boss. You can decide it doesn’t work out if you hire someone and they don’t fit the company.”
He was right, but firing someone was never going to be high on her list of things she was dying to do.”
“Talk it over with me. I can look at resumes and tell you what I think.”
“You sure you don’t have to go dominate the world or something?”
“I’m really only interested in dominating you these days,” he said, his voice growing husky.
“Oh, come on. Don’t say things like that while I’m at work.”
Patrick laughed. “I’m sure I have time. Let’s hear it.”
Austin emailed him resumes with names and personal data blacked out.
At the end of her spiel and looking over the resumes he had zeroed in on Victoria and James as well.
“So, who are the lucky candidates?” he asked when she told him as much.
“Victoria Marche as my first associate hire and James Saunders as my office manager.”
“Excellent choices then. I say go with your gut. I don’t think you really needed me to tell you that.”
Austin grinned. He didn’t so much as hesitate at the mention of her hiring a male office manager.
“OK. I was going to sleep on it, but I think I’m going to hang up and make some phone calls. I’ll sit on the other associate hires for now until I’m surer of my choices.
“You’re killing it, baby girl. I can’t wait to see you on Friday and celebrate with you.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
By the end of the day, her new firm officially had an attorney, an office manager, and two paralegals who would all start on Monday. This was going to be a fun ride, and she had Patrick to thank for giving her the push she needed. On a whim, she called James Saunders back.
“James, it’s Austin Yates again. I was wondering if you were free for dinner or drinks tonight.”
“Absolutely, Miss Yates. Just tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”
Austin laughed. “I hope if you’re going to be my office manager, we can be on a first name basis. Please, call me Austin. There’s a quiet little lounge about six blocks from the office called Pouring Ribbons. Can you join me in about an hour?”
“I love that place. I think we’ll get along great, Austin. I’ll meet you there.”
Austin grinned. She was about to have her first planning session with her new office manager. It was all starting to feel more and more real.
Her phone buzzed. It was a text from Patrick.
Call me when you get home. I want to hear you come.
Austin’s heart felt like it might pound out of her chest as she responded to his message.
Yes, Sir. Might be a little while though. I’m having drinks with my new office manager.
Patrick sent a thumbs up emoji and another text.
I’ll be waiting. I don’t care how late it is.
Austin smiled and tucked the phone into her purse. The weather was mild, so she decided to walk to the bar. When she arrived, James was already waiting for her.
“Hope you don’t mind, I don’t live far from here, so I just walked over and got us a table.”
“Perfect, James. What are you drinking?”
He ordered an old fashioned since the bar was known for classic cocktails, and Austin opted for a dirty vodka martini.
When they were settled, Austin said, “I really just wanted to put a few things on your radar and talk about our work styles. I know managing an office can be hard if the business owner isn’t on the same page with you.”
James leaned back and propped a leather clad foot on his knee. “I appreciate that. I’ve been an administrative assistant and office manager of some sort since halfway through college, and I’ve worked with a variety of difficult bosses.”
Austin laughed and sipped her drink. “I will strive not to be difficult.”
“What a pleasant surprise, Miss Yates,” a deep voice said.
She looked up and a slow smile spread across her face. “Pleasant surprise indeed, Mr.… Novak.”
She barely stopped herself from calling him Master Hunter and hoped no one noticed.
“Patrick back in California?” he asked as he stood looking down at them.
Austin nodded. “This is James, my new office manager.”
Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Finally striking out on your own? Congratulations, Austin. You deserve it.”
James sat up straighter. “Wait, you’re Hunter Novak? Like of the Vegas casino Novaks?”<
br />
Hunter laughed and dropped into an empty chair at their small table. “The very same. I’ve been opening a string of nightclubs lately, so I’m in and out of New York a lot right now.”
After a few minutes of small talk, Hunter cursed. “I’m going to ask you to forgive me right now if your faces appear on the internet in some damn gossip column. I can’t go anywhere without one of them snapping pictures of me, and now, there are all these rumors that I’m sleeping with Skylar Cameron, so every gossip rag in the country wants a picture. Austin, I wouldn’t be surprised if they write a story that claims I’m cheating on her with you.”
Austin glanced around as she took a sip from her martini. She didn’t see anyone but had no reason to doubt Hunter’s word when he told her he recognized one of the slimy bastards who liked to follow him.
Austin patted his shoulder. “I’ve had press chasing me ever since I took Patrick as a client. I’m sure it will be fine. Are the rumors true about you and Skylar Cameron?” she asked with a grin.
Hunter shook his head. “Not yet anyway.”
Austin laughed as Hunter stood. “I’m sorry, I’m interrupting business. I just saw you over here and had to say hello. Congrats again on your own firm.”
“Thank you, Hunter,” she said, standing to give him a hug.
As she settled back into her chair, she saw her phone light up on the table. It was Patrick.
You didn’t tell me your new office manager was a handsome twenty-something. ;)
Austin grinned and shook her head as she typed her response.
Master Hunter is a rat. I’m pretty sure James is thirty, and he doesn’t hold a candle to you, Sir.
Patrick didn’t respond right away, and she didn’t want to leave her new employee hanging. Setting the phone aside, she lifted her martini glass and saluted him. “To new beginnings,” she said.
They spent the next couple of hours going over the rest of the plan for Monday and beyond. When she got home, there was still no word from Patrick. Trying not to worry, she curled up on her couch with the phone by her head and fell asleep waiting for him to call her back.
