Dark Ties (Made Men 9)

“No. You would only have to report your findings via the Internet, my assistant, or myself.”

Haley placed another checkmark in the plus column, which was leaning heavily in Mr. Beck’s direction. There had to be a catch somewhere, though.

“I will work for you and give you the loyalty you require on two conditions.” Much as she loved Nadia and Moonbeam, she wasn’t just going to walk into the deal blindly without an escape clause.

Desmond Beck’s charming façade turned irritated. “The amount of money I’m about to give you and Moonbeam isn’t enough?”

She took her time responding. Beck was going to a lot of trouble to have her work for him. Like a brand-new car, her worth would diminish as soon as she was driven off the lot. Employers always forgot the true values of their employees as time went by.

“The amount of money you’re willing to spend is extremely generous,” Haley agreed forthright, meeting his eyes confidently for the first time. She might be a wuss in everyday situations, but where her work was concerned, she was a ballbuster.

“The stipulations I want aren’t about money. I get one freebie where I won’t have to explain why I won’t be able to do the job at my discretion. Also, and I can’t emphasis this enough, my loyalty will not involve me doing anything illegal. I work at my own speed, and I won’t be rushed to fit any time limit you may want to impose. If you’re okay with those stipulations, then yes, I accept your offer of employment.”

Desmond placed the folder within her reach.

Taking it within her hand, Haley belatedly wished she had talked to Nadia before making the deal. The amount of the check that Mr. Beck removed from his jacket left no doubt she had made the right choice.

Nadia would get drunk off her ass, and she was practically a teetotaler. Hell, she might even join a celebratory drink this time. The money would be life-changing for so many of the youths who depended on Moonbeam. Nadia wouldn’t care that she had to hand her loyalty over to Desmond Beck; she would have accepted Beck’s job offer herself if it had been reversed.

Moonbeam had been Nadia’s baby to start with. Now, with Mr. Beck’s money, she could play fairy godmother.

Haley placed all the paperwork and the check inside her briefcase before snapping it closed.

Desmond moved to sit down behind the desk in front of the enormous windows. “Lucas will be in touch with you to get all the necessary work-related forms filled out.”

Giving him a nod, Haley headed for the door, practically walking on air. Nadia wasn’t going to believe what she was bringing back. She was even going to stop at a liquor store and buy a bottle of champagne. She could just see Nadia’s face—

“Haley.”

Absentmindedly looking toward Desmond Beck, she didn’t miss the steely-eyed look he gave her. She wasn’t perturbed at the change in his behavior. In all actuality, it was what she expected from him. He had gotten what he had wanted from her, so there was no need for the amenable façade any longer.

“Loyalty means different things to many people. Don’t deposit the check unless you’re willing to live up to my expectations.”

Haley gave him a nod in understanding before she continued toward the door, her mind already on the numbers to make the new shelter a reality before their contract with the old one ran out.

Closing the door behind her, she had to contain herself from skipping to the elevators. The only thing stopping her was that she didn’t want to appear unprofessional in front of Mr. Beck’s assistant.

I did it! I did it! Whoopie!

Her self-congratulations only lasted until the elevator opened and she instead made for the stairs exit. She wasn’t about to get eaten alive by the doors before the check was deposited.

Making a mental note to charge Mr. Beck hazard pay if she ever had to work in this building, she trekked down the steps.

Passing the receptionist desk as she left, she noticed the woman who had given her the badge was no longer behind the counter. Haley bit her lip. Did she really want to know?

Berating herself, she got in line. Five minutes later, Haley left the building, her euphoric happiness dimmed by what she had discovered. The woman had been fired. Unsurprised, she left the building. Desmond Beck had proven her theory that rich men were assholes.

Three

Three Years Later…

Haley tallied another column of numbers as she sipped the lukewarm coffee. Finishing the section on the computer she had been working on, she stood to stretch. Flexing the tendons in her neck, she caught sight of the clock on the wall and promised herself another thirty minutes to finish before calling it a night.

She was about to return to her desk when she heard the connecting door attached to Desmond Beck’s office open. Living up to his word, he had arranged for her working space to be closed off from other employees unless she ventured out. During the three years she had worked for him, she had been sent to various locations. Currently, she was at her least favorite location, where her workspace was fitted snuggly between Lucas’s office and his.