Fractured Lies (MAC Security 1)

“Besides,” he continued, then shrugged, “I’m desperate for the help.”

“I can start tomorrow, if you need me to?” I said, eager.

He chuckled at that, then picked up the papers that he had been looking for and held them out to me, I shuffled forward in my chair and took them from him.

“Fill those in and then I’ll take you on a tour of the place.”

I took the pen that he offered and scanned the forms feeling his eyes on me the whole time.

I left my name blank and filled out all of the other stuff first. Just basic information and references, I put down the hotel information and added Miss Maggie as another reference. She was the only other person that I could think of.

The only thing left to fill out was emergency contact information and my last name. I held the pen over the paper, ready to write it down.

When I looked up he was watching me intently. He’d recognize my surname straight away.

“Erm…” I leaned back a little, my eyes looking anywhere but at his. I traced the white ‘MAC SECURITY’ logo on his chest.

“Yeah?”

“So I err… well...you see.”

“Goddamnit, woman, spit it out.” My eyes shot to his, sure to find him pissed off at my rambling but they held laughter. I hadn’t expected that

. I blew out a breath causing the hair that had fallen over my face to fly in front of me. I pushed it away, then clutched my hands in my lap.

“I was given your number by my older brother. He was the one who told me about the job.”

“Yeah?” His eyes narrowed.

“I don’t want you to give me the job because of my brother, but I thought that you should know.”

It was ironic how I felt the need to be honest with him, yet I was lying to Max about being here and I would be every day.

“Okay, Shoot. Who’s your brother?” His fingers drummed on the desk to some imaginary beat.

I cleared my throat before answering, “Corey Anderson.”

His fingers stilled, the air in the room was sucked out at his silence. Butterflies swarmed in my stomach, I was unsure how to take him. I sucked at reading people.

Corey never told me much about his work friends, in fact I couldn’t even tell you any of their names. He said he liked to keep family and work separate, but I had a feeling that wasn’t the real reason. He had always had this irrational need to protect me.

“Corey Anderson?” he asked, his eyes were wide, his jaw slacked.

“Yes.” I nodded.

“Corey has a sister?”

“Huh?” My brows furrowed. What did he mean?

“He never told us.” He stared over my head, I didn’t think he meant to say that out loud.

“Well, he told me that his friend needed help in the office and gave me your number,” I rambled, he wasn’t listening though.

I placed the pen on the table, picked my bag up from the floor then got up out of the chair.

“Look, if it’s going to be a problem then I’ll just leave.” I spun round and made it halfway before a hand grabbed my arm. Right where Max had left bruises.

I squealed in pain. He let go of my arm as if I had burned him and stared at his hand in confusion.