Harmony Evans - When Morning Comes

Hopefully, Felicia knew better than to mess with him. Isaac had too much stake and longevity in the company to throw it all away just because of her passive-aggressive antics.

If only he could figure out why Sterling was giving him the cold shoulder all of a sudden, then he’d be able to come clean about his kids. They meant more to him than anything in the world, and being made a partner at Paxton would secure his new family’s financial future.

He wouldn’t let anything or anyone stand in his way.

Not a bitch like Felicia.

Nor a beauty like Autumn.

Isaac felt her eyes examining his face, as if it would reveal all his secrets, so he got up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The snarl of people far below seemed to belong to another world. He always liked to remind himself that he was one of them, especially during those times he was afraid of losing everything.

“Can I ask you a question?”

Isaac turned away and faced her. “Sure, anything.”

“What do you like best about working here?”

Isaac took a few steps and leaned against an empty console.

“That’s easy,” he replied. “I get to play with other people’s money, and make a bundle of my own. What about you? What attracted to you Paxton Investment Securities?”

She folded her arms. “The reputation of the company in the industry. Plus, the fact that I love to analyze every investment to insure we are maximizing profits and shareholder value while maintaining the highest ethical standards in every transaction.”

He was surprised that her bold confidence excited him, making him stir in all the wrong places. When a woman’s strong work ethic was a major turn-on, that’s a sign that one was severely undersexed.

“You sound like Sterling,” he said with hidden admiration. “No wonder he hired you.”

Although he truly meant it as a compliment, she brushed his comment aside.

“I just try to do the right thing, in any and all situations.”

“That’s wonderful. That’s the way it should be,” he asserted. “You are reporting to Sterling, right?”

Something flashed in her eyes. “Wh-what do you mean?”

He gave her a strange look. “He’s your boss. You’re his direct report, not mine, right?”

Autumn nodded. “Yes. Sorry, I blanked out for a bit.”

Isaac was relieved. At the moment, he worked solo and that’s the way he liked it. Having to manage Autumn would be a major distraction, one he couldn’t afford to risk right now.

“It’s kind of an odd arrangement, isn’t it? That analysts report directly to the president of a firm. Especially one of this size.”

Isaac shook his head. “Not at Paxton. Sterling wants there to be a clear division between the investment bankers and the analysts. He feels it’s easier for the analysts to remain objective and impartial, in order to avoid any conflict of interest.

“Have there ever been any issues?”

Isaac clenched his jaw. While he appreciated her curiosity, she needed to know that there were some questions that were off-limits at Paxton. But it wasn’t his place to tell her that. All he was supposed to do was give her a tour of the building and that was it.

Ignoring the question, he eyed the stack of paperwork on the table. “We’d better get a move on it. You’ll want to get those forms filled out and turned in quickly. Paxton has one of the best employee benefits package in the industry, especially if you have—” He choked back his secret. “I mean, if you’re married or have a significant other.”

Not reporting a life change, namely the adoption of his children, was another rung Felicia could hang him by. But if he reported it to her, she’d run to Sterling and tell him right away, and that would be the beginning of the end of his career at Paxton.

Even though Sterling had a daughter of his own, he was well-known for being antifamily. His priorities began and ended with Paxton, and he expected his employees to have the same love and dedication for his company that he did.

Isaac was certain that if Sterling found out about his children, he could pretty much kiss the partnership goodbye.

Needless to say, he was praying his children wouldn’t get seriously ill. Although he was already very wealthy and had private insurance coverage, depending on the injury or severity of illness, he could end up in a financial bind. After growing up poor, that was something he never wanted to experience again.

Isaac pushed himself away from the table and rose. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

He strode to the door and leaned against the wall, waiting while Autumn gathered the rest of her things. Everything she did—straightening the papers, stowing her pen in her purse and then hitching it over her thin shoulder—seemed larger than normal in his eyes.

But of course it wasn’t.

It was only him, without understanding his need, trying to soak in as much detail about her as he could, as mundane as it might be. Before he had to turn her loose and go on about his business.

Although he knew he shouldn’t, he couldn’t stop his eyes from wandering all over her slender body, from tip to toe, as she walked over to him, clasping the thick wad of paperwork in her arms like an innocent schoolgirl. Her curly mane beckoned him unknowingly, her body forcing him to bite the inside of his mouth as he stiffened once again.

“Ready to go?” she asked.

Thank God she was standing an arm’s length away, because if he could have it his way that stupid paperwork would be littering the floor and she’d be wrapped in his embrace.

At just over six feet, he was taller than her, yet he knew instinctively she’d be a perfect fit.

“Yeah,” he muttered thickly, hoping she couldn’t see or hear his desire for her.

He opened the door, bowing slightly. “After you.”

She murmured her thanks, giving him a strange smile as she walked out of the room. The sultry way Autumn’s skirt clung to her backside was almost too much for one man to bear, especially on a Monday morning.

He’d just turned off the lights in the conference room when his phone rang.

“Hi, Sterling, what can I do for you?”

As he listened to his boss and the man that was almost a father figure to him, his heart raced with excitement and dread.

He ended the call and glanced quickly at Autumn. “I’m going to need to postpone the tour. Are you going to be okay?”

Her brows knit together in confusion. “What was that about?”

“I’ll explain at lunch,” he replied, shoving the phone in his pocket. “Meet me in my office at noon.”

Without waiting for Autumn’s response, he turned and jogged down the hall, feeling her eyes on his back and her smile settling in his heart.

Chapter 3

“And we’re off,” Autumn whispered under her breath as she watched Isaac round the corner.

Way to go, Sterling.

Her plan was falling together nicely. Though she was curious what her new boss had said on the phone to make Isaac invite her to lunch, it hardly mattered. She routinely left the initial minor details of a surveillance case up to the client. Experience taught her that doing so put her on the fast track to gaining her client’s trust. In the end, she did what she wanted, when she wanted to do it, whether the client liked it or not. All was forgiven when she solved a case and got the answers they wanted.

Autumn shifted the stack of papers in her hand, wishing she could toss them into the nearest trash can. She had no need for any of the Paxton benefits, the government took care of her quite nicely. Whether she had a nosebleed or a gunshot wound, she could walk, run or crawl to any hospital and get medical help. No questions asked and no payment required. Being a friend of Uncle Sam was the best insurance policy in the nation.