by Autumn Reed
Draco
Book Two of The Stardust Series
By Autumn Reed and Julia Clarke
Copyright © 2016 by Autumn Reed and Julia Clarke. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the authors, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
www.autumnandjulia.squarespace.com
Contents
Business Mode
Introductions
Hot & Cold
Progress
Starry Night
Santa Cruzin’
Rumors & Rivalry
Party in Style
Spinning
Revelations
Read Between the Lines
Touchy
Downtime
Party of Five
Holding On
A Perfect Fit
Strike A Chord
Back & Forth
Firecracker
Unwanted Attention
Jazzed Up
As You Wish
Queen of Hearts
Holding Court
Guarded
The Corinthian, later that evening
Draco
Latin for dragon
Business Mode
My stomach churned as I followed Theo through downtown San Jose. As we neared the Zenith office, I persistently reminded myself that I was excited to have my first job. Yet I was a bundle of nerves, my heart pounding in anticipation. Was this how students felt on the first day of school? Homeschooled by my dad since the age of six, I really couldn’t say.
Until a few weeks ago, my life in the Sierra Nevada mountains had been extremely isolated. And most of my time since arriving, involuntarily, at Knox and Theo’s loft had been spent in Santa Cruz. Ahead of schedule for my first day, Theo grabbed a cappuccino before giving me a brief walking tour of downtown San Jose.
This was my first encounter with a large city since childhood, and I marveled at the movement, the scale, the noise. Tall buildings in various designs created a unique skyline with the mountains as their backdrop. Cars and bikes zoomed by while I attempted to avoid the people, dressed mostly in business clothes, crowding the sidewalks. And I had thought the University of California: Santa Cruz was full of people and activity; it seemed small in comparison to downtown San Jose.
I had always known there was a wider world out there beyond my reach. But seeing it now, I was only beginning to grasp how large it actually was. While I craved the tranquility of nature, I felt invigorated by the rush of the city.
The sight of Theo in his slim gray slacks and button-down shirt, complete with a herringbone vest and skinny tie, made me smile. Despite the professional feel of the ensemble, his signature style still dominated. I felt myself relax ever so slightly, reassured by his presence and the knowledge that I already had friends at the office. More than friends, really, although I wasn’t quite sure what to call them.
Liam, Knox, Ethan, Chase, Theo, and Jackson had been amazingly good to me, and even though their entrance into my life was abrupt, I was incredibly grateful for all six of them. In addition to providing me with food, clothes, and a place to stay, they constantly went out of their way to make my unique situation better, easier. The only thing missing was my dad.
It had been two weeks since my eighteenth birthday. Two weeks since our house was destroyed. Two weeks since my dad vanished, pursued by men somehow connected to the client who hired the guys to find my dad in the first place.
I had so many unanswered questions. But, for the moment, my only real option was to earn money so I could go to San Francisco and access the safe deposit box my dad had prepared in case of an emergency. Realizing that no amount of worrying about my dad’s current whereabouts would help me with my new job, I forced myself to focus on the present.
Theo smiled at me as we approached a large, multi-storied glass building. The design of the building was sleek and modern while still retaining a traditional feel. Although Theo’s smile was reassuring, the building was imposing and even a little intimidating.
He opened the enormous glass door for me, gesturing inside. “Welcome to Zenith.”
Considering my obsession with astronomy, I figured it was a good sign that my new employer was named after an astronomical term. But when we walked past an official-looking security guard in the lobby, my uncertainty increased.
What are you doing, Haley? I didn’t have any job experience or even a high school diploma, but I now had a job. While Jackson knew all of that, and it didn’t seem to phase him, I still feared that someone at Zenith would unmask me as a fraud.
As Theo and I crossed the lobby, light streamed in through the enormous windows. Since it was later in the morning, the lobby was quiet apart from background music playing over the speakers and heels clicking randomly against the tile floor. With a few large sofas and pieces of art placed throughout, it almost felt more like a modern art gallery than an office building. At the row of elevators, signs indicated the names and locations of tenants—law firms, consulting businesses, and of course, Zenith.
Riding the elevator to the fourth floor, Theo faced me and gently held my hands in his own. “Don’t worry, Haley; everyone will love you. And besides,” his eyes scanned me from head to toe, “you look fabulous.” He grinned.
I smiled sheepishly. “Thanks to you.”
After spending most of the weekend at Jackson’s uncle’s house, I hadn’t even had time to think about work clothes. Fortunately, Theo—ever prepared and always shopping—had planned ahead. He came to my room on Sunday with an array of work-appropriate attire.
I didn’t feel the part of a young working professional, but at least I looked it in my black slacks, white ruffled tank, and coral cardigan paired with matching accessories. I had even opted to wear my long, wavy hair clipped half up to look more sophisticated. Exiting the elevator on the fourth floor, I hoped it would be enough.
I took a deep breath as we walked toward the opaque door with “Zenith” etched upon it. Theo greeted the security guard by name before swiping a card to gain access. While he held the door open for me, I got my first glimpse of the Zenith office.
I was pleased to find that my fears of stained carpet in a strip mall were completely unfounded. Even with my limited knowledge of office buildings, I was impressed by the tall ceilings, seemingly endless windows, and sleek, modern furniture and art.
Theo introduced me to the receptionist before leading me to one of the conference rooms with a large table surrounded by chairs. Theo assured me that Jackson would arrive any moment, but as I watched him walk away, any sense of calm I had evaporated.
Sitting back in the plush leather office chair, I attempted to relax. I fiddled with the strap on my purse and wished I had thought to bring a book. At least then I would have something to occupy my scattered thoughts while waiting for Jackson to show up. I’d only been in the conference room for six minutes, but when every second felt more like a minute, time practically stood still.
A few people passed by, peering in at me curiously. Only a wall of glass separated me from the hall, making me feel a bit like a bird in a cage. As unsettled as Jackson tended to make
me, I mentally urged him to hurry up, because my nerves were out of control. Get it together, Haley. You can do this.
Just when I was about to hop out of my chair and start pacing, I saw the elevator doors slide open, and out stepped Jackson and Knox. As they strode toward me, I couldn’t help but take note of their differences. They both walked with a sense of purpose, but Jackson’s gait appeared effortlessly confident while Knox’s reminded me more of a studied march. Jackson seemed at ease, smiling while he spoke, but Knox looked intense as he frowned and ran a hand through his blond locks. I wondered what their conversation was about but knew better than to expect them to share.
Entering the room, Jackson placed a folder on the table and sat in the chair directly across from me. “Good morning, Haley. Welcome to Zenith.” Not surprisingly, his tone was polite but professional. After Friday’s playfulness, he was clearly back in business mode.
“Thank you. The office is lovely.”
Knox sat down next to Jackson. “Don’t get used to it. Your cubicle won’t be this fancy,” he said, eyeing the sleek furnishings.
Jackson rolled his eyes. “Ignore him. The cubicles are perfectly fine. I doubt you’ll have any complaints.”
I shook my head, “I’m sure it will be great. And, thank you once again for getting me this job. I really do appreciate it.”
“It was no problem. Would you like something to drink before we get started? This will probably take a while.”
Jackson started to pour coffee into a mug displaying the Zenith logo, but Knox interrupted. “Don’t bother. Haley is superior to us lesser mortals; she doesn’t drink coffee.”
Jackson raised one eyebrow. “Oh, so you’re one of those.” He continued pouring, “I’ll go ahead and give this to you then,” he said, looking at Knox. “We all know you’re a bear in the morning even after a couple cups of coffee.”
Knox growled as he grabbed a glass of water and plopped it down in front of me. “Here you go. Now, let’s get on with this. I don’t want to be stuck in this stupid glass box all day.”
I laughed. Clearly I wasn’t the only one who found this room disconcerting.
Jackson straightened up and opened the folder. He quickly went over the contents, then had me sign several pages that he described as general employment paperwork. He had already filled in all of my information, and I noticed that a few details were made up; I wasn’t surprised considering the circumstances.
When there was only one remaining document to go over, Jackson’s demeanor became particularly solemn. Staring at his strikingly handsome face, I got lost in his deep blue eyes for a few moments before forcing myself to snap out of it.
“Out of everything we tell you today, this is by far the most important.”
He paused, so I nodded my understanding.
“Above everything else, Zenith demands complete confidentiality from its employees. That means that anything you see, hear, or work on in any capacity stays inside this building. Furthermore, do not discuss any matters with other Zenith employees unless you are specifically assigned to work together on that particular matter.”
He passed me the document, and I glanced over it, slightly disturbed by all of the legal jargon. “This is a fairly standard non-disclosure agreement, but you should read it and let me know if you have any questions.”
After reading through the document, I could sum it up in one sentence: Other than stating that I worked at Zenith, a private security company, everything else about my job was off limits. Considering how accustomed I was to keeping things to myself, I wasn’t worried about following the rules. But, it did make me curious; why all the secrecy?
I signed the document and returned it to Jackson. He added it to his folder before leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest. “Now to the hard part of the confidentiality discussion.”
“Okay . . .” What does that mean?
“I need to ensure that you understand that just because you’re now working at Zenith doesn’t mean you will be privy to information regarding my team’s assignments. Since you spend so much time with the team outside of work, you will inevitably find out about certain details that you wouldn’t otherwise. But, the guys all know and have been reminded that they are not to share information with you about their assignments unless previously approved. I know it sounds harsh, but it has nothing to do with you personally. This is just how we operate.”
I let his words sink in. It took me a few moments; then I grasped what he was really saying. The guys always have and always would keep secrets from me. It was difficult to hear because I wanted them to trust me and accept me as one of their own. But, the truth was, I wasn’t one of them. I wasn’t a part of their team, and I wouldn’t be treated as such no matter how close I got to them. The knowledge stung, but deep down I understood. They were professionals, and they wouldn’t break the rules just for me.
Deciding I might as well pose the question while we were on topic, I asked, “I’m not disagreeing with anything you’ve said. But, why such an emphasis on secrecy? What exactly is it that you do?”
For the first time in a while, Knox jumped into the conversation. “Don’t think about it as secrecy. It’s about protecting our clients’ privacy. It doesn’t matter if we’re providing security for a diplomat, celebrity, or a sixteen-year-old with protective parents. Every client is treated equally; they are all entitled to privacy. And, our reputation for keeping things confidential is one of the reasons why Zenith is one of the most successful private security firms in the country.”
Jackson smiled, “I couldn’t have said it better myself. And to answer your question about what we do, it’s more a matter of what don’t we do. We work a lot of events—swanky parties, high-profile weddings, that sort of thing. Sometimes we work as traditional security guards for clients who are in town on a short-term basis. Really, any scenario where you can imagine private security, someone at Zenith has probably done it.”
Celebrities? I had a sudden flash of the guys providing up-close-and-personal security for Taylor Swift and her Victoria’s Secret model best friend. Why would they have any interest in me when they were used to hanging out with celebrities? I mentally smacked my palm to my head. Stop it, Haley. You’re being ridiculous.
Trying to lighten the mood a little, I said, “So what you’re telling me is that your life is basically the real-life version of The Bodyguard? Hopefully without the getting shot part, though.”
Knox chuckled while Jackson just shook his head and said, “It’s typically not that exciting, but we do get to meet interesting people.
Now that we’ve gotten that discussion out of the way, we need to talk to you about your backstory. I’ll let Knox take over since he and Theo were the ones to come up with it.”
Knox sat up and playfully stretched his arms above his head like he was getting ready for a hardcore workout. His muscles bunched beneath his fitted henley, and I had to force myself to look away when his shirt rode up enough to provide a glimpse of his taut stomach.
“Since I’ve learned from experience that deciding things for you doesn’t go over so well, let me start off by saying that this is our suggested backstory for you. We can tweak it, if necessary.” He paused as if waiting for my agreement.
“Okay.”
“I hate that you have to deceive people about your background, but you really don’t have a choice. You can’t tell people where you came from or the real reason you’re here. And, your tie to our team will undoubtedly be obvious since you will be arriving and leaving with us every day. We don’t want to hide it, so we are going to work with it.
You probably won’t be surprised to hear that out of all of us, Theo is the most popular. My brother somehow manages to meet people and make friends everywhere he goes. So our best solution is for you to say that you are friends with Theo, and he helped you get this job.
You want to be as vague as possible when answering questions, but try to have some answers figured out before you s
tart meeting people. Say that you recently moved to the area, and if prodded, you can say that we are renting you a room at our place for now.
The biggest issue is where you grew up. We don’t want to make it too far off the truth; have you ever been to Reno?”
Startled by his sudden change in subject, I straightened in my chair. “Yes, my dad has taken me a few times just for the day.”
“Okay, good. My suggestion is that you say you’re from the Reno area. It’s a big enough city that you could easily stay anonymous. Again, be vague, but you should do some research on Reno in case someone forces a more detailed conversation. Stick to your home-schooling story if schools come up, because you don’t want to chance someone looking you up in an old yearbook or something. What do you think?”
My stomach knotted. Thanks to my dad’s instructions over the years, I was practiced at evading certain questions. He always said that the best way to avoid giving away too much was to provide a general response, and then turn the question around since most people would rather talk about themselves anyway. But, I had never been in a position where I had to lie about my life. I knew that I didn’t have a choice, but the situation made me uneasy.
“I think that I am really uncomfortable having to lie to people about my background, but I know it’s necessary. And I’m fine with the backstory.”
Jackson replied, “Good. You should probably take notes about what you tell people to keep your story consistent.”
“Agreed, but where should I put the notes? I can’t exactly carry around a notebook and jot it down every time I say something new.”
Jackson’s lips tipped into a grin. “No, that’s why we have these newfangled things called smart phones.” He pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and slid it across the table to me. “Here you go.”
I peered at it curiously, recognizing it as the newest version of the iPhone. Considering all I had ever used was an old-fashioned flip phone, it looked intimidatingly sleek and high-tech. “This is for me?”
