by BWWM Club
He was also a charmer like his father. Jack had Christina wrapped around his little finger and he enjoyed using it to his advantage to the point Christina had to put her foot down and change tack when his face screwed up in a pout. Jack didn't stay upset for long when she was around.
Jack jumped down from the slide and hurried over to the sand pit, picking up a spade and beginning to fill a bucket with sand. Jane moved to Christina's side and lowered her voice.
"You'd better keep out of Nathan's way."
Christina blinked.
"Why?"
"You're distracting him."
"But I haven't done anything to distract him."
Jane snorted rudely.
"Not done anything. You're flaunting yourself in front of him and he's focusing on you instead of his work."
Christina was stumped. Jane'd had bad vibes coming off her when they first met. She made a point to keep out of the older woman's way since she didn't want to deal with them but now it was inevitable.
She looked down at her clothes. Her outfit was a tie-dye t-shirt in white and purple and washed-out jeans with old sneakers. Her hair was brushed and in a simple ponytail. She couldn't see anything remotely flamboyant.
"You call what I'm wearing flaunting myself?"
"Call it what you will but you only have to bat your eyelids and he comes running."
Christina couldn't help but laugh.
"You're deluded because that won't ever happen."
In the week since they had met, Christina had found herself in Nathan's company regularly as he spent time with his son. It was clear the pair loved each other and it warmed Christina to see the interaction between father and son. Nathan also talked to her, treating her like another human instead of an employee as he had done when they first met. She enjoyed their time together and it made her sad that she couldn't experience that for herself with her own family.
Jane's eyes narrowed. She turned and stepped close to Christina.
"Just because you're Leo's sister-in-law doesn't mean you are above the rules." She hissed. She jabbed a finger at Christina, hitting her in the chest. "You keep away from my brother. He doesn't need you."
"I don't want Nathan Gilmore."
Christina inwardly cringed. Somehow that hadn't sounded convincing. But the more time she spent with Nathan the more she began to feel things for him that were dangerous for her.
Jane snorted rudely.
"You could've fooled me."
Christina rolled her eyes.
"Even if I wasn't working for him we've only known each other a week. I base relationships on more than that."
"I know. Money."
That hit Christina like a physical blow. She stared.
"You what?"
"You're a gold-digger." Jane sneered. "You see Nathan's estate and you know how much he earns and how much he's worth. You want it all."
The thought that she was after Nathan for his money was laughable. And Christina found herself laughing at the incredulous suggestion.
"You really are deluded. I'm not interested in a man for his money. I've got my own and I'm happy as I am."
She wished she was happy but she didn't need money when she had her hard-earned salary in her account. It wasn't millions but it was enough for her.
"That's what they all say." Jane said rudely.
"Who does? All the women near Nathan? Or just the black women?"
Christina saw the slight widening of Jane's eyes and knew she had hit the mark. She stepped back and folded her arms, her body turning slightly so she showed the other woman her gun strapped to her waistband
"I know what you're trying to do. And, to be quite frank, it's just ridiculous. I'm not interested in Nathan Gilmore or your insinuations. Unlike you, I'm not juvenile."
Jane's face reddened. Her nostrils flared and her jaw tightened.
"I could bring you down for talking to me like that, Maudsley." She hissed. "I don't care if you are Leo's family."
Christina grinned.
"My godfather is the chief of police. Would you like to try that again?"
That was half-true. Her godfather had been the chief of Seattle police until his retirement two years before. And she didn't use her connection to him except on very rare occasions. The pair of them didn't like name-dropping to get out of trouble but when Christina did use it she used it for a good reason.
She watched with satisfaction Jane's mouth opening and closing in shocked amazement.
"You're bluffing."
"Try me."
She thought Jane was going to say more but the other woman's face went bright red before she swiveled on her heel and stalked off haughtily towards the back door. Christina turned away, suddenly feeling like she could breathe. There was something about Jane that had her on edge and she didn't like it.
She just hoped that Jane wasn't right in her interest with Nathan Gilmore. Much as she tried to deny it, Christina was drawn to the man, even more now than before. She didn't want his money but she wanted him.
But Christina knew what it was like to live on a dream. Eventually you came back down to Earth with a hard thump.
Chapter 4
Nathan figured that something was wrong. Throughout the day whenever he had contact with Christina, she avoided his eyes and ducked out of the room whenever possible. It seemed as if she wanted to put space between them.
He didn't know which hurt the most; the fact that their friendship seemed to have taken two big steps back or the fact she wouldn't confide in him what was wrong. Whatever it was had upset her. But Christina refused to come near him and Nathan had to resign himself to the fact that she wasn't going to tell him anything.
By the time dinner came around, he was itching to know what had Christina acting like a frightened rabbit. She sat next to Jack as normal but throughout the meal she barely said anything, only speaking when addressed and even then it was brief. She toyed with her food and fiddled with her hair, which she had put up neatly to reveal her long neck and delicate ear lobes. Nathan was in a state of discomfort throughout the meal, unable to take his eyes off her beautiful profile. His cock didn't get the message that it wasn't the best time to make an appearance.
If anyone else noticed the tension between them they didn't say anything. Leo sat on one side of him and Jane sat on the other. Leo was cordial and talking about times in high school with Clive, who sat beside him, while Jane listened with a bored expression. Josh sat beside him listening to Jack talking about his day. And Joe Hodgkiss, Leo's other bodyguard and a former Navy SEAL, sat opposite Christina. Nathan caught her sending a smile across to the good-looking redhead and felt bereft.
He wanted to see her smile sent his way. He wanted to have her that close or even closer.
That was an understatement. He wanted to be so close Christina was climbing all over him, begging him to fuck her.
But she wasn't that type of woman. She had made it very clear that she wasn't interested in his money and she didn't sleep with someone she wasn't emotionally invested in. Nathan had never come across a woman he couldn't seduce but with Christina he realized he couldn't bring himself to persuade her otherwise. He wanted her to come to him willingly, on her terms.
However the waiting was killing him. Nathan wasn't the most patient of people when it came to decisions. And he had a feeling if Christina was given a chance, she would keep as far away as she could.
By the end of dinner, Nathan was ready to climb the walls. He had tried talking to Christina but she just gave him a slight smile and looked away, almost coolly. Something had happened and he wasn't going to get any answers out of her.
So he would get the answers from another reliable source.
As they finished the main course and dessert arrived, Nathan stood.
"I have to check something in my office first. Carry on without me." He tapped Leo on the shoulder. "Come with me, Leo."
Leo followed him, a frown on his face as they entered Nathan's offic
e.
"You normally say something like that when you want a private word. What's wrong?"
"Shut the door."
Leo obeyed and leaned against the wall. Nathan rubbed his sweaty hands on his trousers. Suddenly asking about Christina made him feel like a schoolboy asking about his crush. He shook his head and focused.
"Is there something wrong with Christina? She's been out of sorts all day and won't come near me. Have I done something to upset her?"
"She hasn't said?"
"Didn't you hear me? I said she won't come near me." Nathan shrugged. "I figured since you're her boss you would know what's wrong."
Leo pursed his lips. He looked uncomfortable.
"I was going to mention it at our evening meeting later."
"What?"
"She had a confrontation with Jane earlier today."
Nathan blinked.
"With Jane? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Chris told me she could handle it and not to tell you. She didn't want you to be at odds with your family over something she was involved with."
That was Christina all over. She didn't want to cause him more problems. Nathan wished she was with them now so he could hold her. He stopped himself from leaving to find her and do just that. He closed his eyes briefly.
"What sort of confrontation was it?"
"It wasn't an all-out fight, if that's what you were thinking. Although I think it would be pretty close." Leo added with a grunt. "She called Chris a gold-digger. Accused her of seducing her way into your bed. Among other things. Racist comments, mostly."
"She did what?" Nathan couldn't believe his ears. "She had no right."
Jane was a bitch and she didn't like women being around Nathan; she saw all women as hustlers who could take them for all they were. She hadn't even liked Jack's last nanny and that girl had eyes for someone else.
"You know as well as I do that Jane has a mind of her own." Leo shook his head, his expression dark. Having known Jane as teenagers he knew what she was like but it appeared even he was stunned at her behavior. "She is protective of you, that I haven't a problem with. But Chris...she's the least likely person to jeopardize her work ethic."
Nathan didn't need to read between the lines. He knew what Leo was saying: keep your hands off Christina Maudsley. Somehow he had seen the way his friend had been eyeing up his employee and was worried she would be compromised.
If he had been anyone else, Nathan would have promised he wouldn't do that to her. But his thoughts about Christina had taken hold and solidified. He wanted her, to hell with the rules.
He focused his attention on Jane and her outrageous attitude.
"This is more than protectiveness. This is purely vindictive."
"We've encountered racism before, Nate. It's not exactly going to have us going into hysterics."
"Maybe not but I won't tolerate it from anyone." Nathan rounded his desk and plonked down into his chair. He was all business now. "Ask Jane to come in here, will you?"
Leo nodded and left. Nathan flexed his hands on the desk. If it had been a man who had made racial comments at Christina he would have hit them. If it had been any other woman they would be immediately dismissed. But this was Jane, his own sister. Admittedly, she was a pain in the ass but she was still family. However he couldn't let this slide just because they had a familial connection.
Jane had been getting away with too much lately. He had put it down to the stress of the threats made against them but if he was honest with himself this behavior went even further back than that. It had to be dealt with now or Nathan was going to do something he would regret.
It was a few minutes before Jane entered, wearing a frown as easily as she wore the little black dress she had selected for dinner.
"Nate? What's the matter?"
"Shut the door, Jane."
Jane did as she was bid and went to join Nathan at his desk. She made to walk around to his side but Nathan held up a hand, stopping her in her tracks.
"I hear you've been rude to Christina."
Jane's eyes widened. Then her eyes narrowed as her mouth curled in a sneer.
"I told her what I thought of her. Simple as that. You know I don't suffer fools gladly."
"But Christina is not a fool." After reading her impressive credentials, Nathan knew she was more capable of having brains that could eclipse his without even breaking a sweat. "And right now she's an employee. That entitles her to be treated with respect."
"Respect? Being an employee hasn't stopped her eyeing you like her favorite piece of cake."
For a moment Nathan allowed himself to flirt with the image of Christina sitting on his desk, demanding him to spread her legs and use his mouth to bring her to climax. He shook himself and glared at his sister, glad that he was sitting down and Jane couldn't see the big erection he was sporting.
"Don't be ridiculous, Jane. You're seeing things."
"I'm not." Jane said indignantly. "I know what I can see. She's got a thing for you and she's going to make the most of it if you let her."
Now that sounded like a good idea to Nathan. But he had seen Christina's resolve. She wasn't going to cross the client-employee line, no matter the temptation. It was going to take something special to make her break that rule.
He shook his head. Jane was being outrageous. And he had allowed it to go on for too long.
"What you've been saying to her and about her will not be tolerated. You know the rules. Either you apologize to Chris for your attitude or you are to clear out your desk at the company offices."
His ultimatum had the desired effect. Jane's eyes widened and she stared at him in stunned amazement.
"What? You're firing me? Your own sister?"
"Yes." Nathan closed his eyes for a moment, opening them to focus on Jane. "I love you, Jane, but you're also my employee. If you're going to be an immature little shit about someone else in my employ and not issue an apology then you can go."
"I'm not apologizing for what I said." Jane tipped her chin defiantly at him. "She's got her claws in you, I can tell. You're dancing to her tune and she's enjoying it."
"That's enough!" Nathan took a moment to quash his rising anger. "You'd better clear your desk in the morning. I'll give you a good severance pay and a worthy reference for a new job but that's it."
He didn't like having to do this but Jane had been pushing it for too long because she carried the Gilmore name. If he hadn't been able to smooth things over with everyone Jane had upset they would be virtually bankrupt after the lawsuits had been dealt with.
Jane was shaking with anger, her face flushed furiously.
"So that's it? All my years working for you and you throw them back in my face?"
"I told you it doesn't have to happen if you apologize to Christina."
"And I told you I'm not apologizing to a gold-digging tart."
Nathan stood. He really wanted to lean across and throttle his sister but held himself back.
"Then get your things out of here and at the office." He said with gritted teeth. "If you don't do that yourself within the next two days I'll get security to do it for you and it won't be with decorum. Your house is yours so I won't come after that but beyond the reference and the severance pay you'll get nothing more from me."
He had seen his sister's angry outbursts all his life, usually directed at other people. It had been eighteen years since she had directed it at him. Jane's face went even redder and she scowled at him, hands clenched at her sides.
"You're a shit, do you know that?" She snarled. "Treating your family like the scum of the earth. I'm amazed you haven't done the same thing to Josh. All because a little black monkey-girl got under your skin."
"That's enough!"
Jane jumped and cowered back from Nathan, whose sudden outburst had surprised even him. It had been a long time for him since he had lost his temper to this degree. All the anger directed at his sister was demanding to be let out but Nathan forced it
back, sagging into his chair and putting a hand over his eyes with a frustrated sigh.
"Get out of here, Jane. Go!"
He had a headache and he was tired. Nathan didn't want to deal with Jane's tantrums and disgusting name-calling any longer. He heard Jane call him a few other choice words before storming out, slamming the door behind her. But he didn't look up. Suddenly he had no energy to deal with it.
There was a slight click as the terrace doors opened and Nathan looked up to see Josh step through from outside.
"Nate."
"How long were you there for?"
"Long enough." Josh closed the doors and nodded towards the door into the hall. "She's not going to go without a fight."
"If she wants a fight she'll get one." Nathan said darkly. "Her behavior is unacceptable. I won't have it from anyone."
"Or against Christina Maudsley." Josh added slyly.
Nathan glared at him.
"Against anyone." He snapped.
"But mainly Miss Maudsley." Josh tilted his head to one side. "You really have taken a liking to her, haven't you?"
Nathan considered denying it but Josh was closer to him than Jane had ever been. There was nine years between them but Josh adored his big brother. They shared everything, including advice on women. Josh wasn't as well-versed with seduction and women as Nathan but he had a down-to-earth attitude that Nathan valued. He sighed.
"You could say that."
"I do say that." Josh's mouth twitched in a smile. "Seems like you're in competition with Leo. He seems to be very close with her."
"Leo is her brother-in-law, nothing more." Nathan tried to believe his own words but not quite succeeding. "And he knows he won't stand a chance against me."
Josh rolled his eyes.
"Oh, so arrogant still. It's a wonder Christina isn't coming for you with open arms begging to be fucked. You rein that arrogance in and you might have a chance."
"Finished?"
"For now." Josh folded his arms as he surveyed his brother. "As long as you don't see Christina as more than a fling. She deserves more. Do you think you can give that to her?"
If it had been merely a fling, Nathan wouldn't have batted an eyelid. Since Jack's mother had died in a hit-and-run accident when Jack was eighteen months old he hadn't brought himself to have anything more than a couple of one-night stands or a week's fling with different women. But Christina...she spoke of long-term. Very long-term.
