Billionaire Stepbrother - Secret Lives (3 page)

Cynthia stared at the computer screen in front of her and tried to think of websites she had yet to check for available jobs. She felt afraid that pretty soon she’d have to start applying for waitressing jobs or retail. Those jobs wouldn’t even pay the rent when it came time, much less allow her to eat.

She took a deep breath and dived in looking through pages and pages of job offers and applying to everything that paid enough for her to survive. Some of the application's had questionnaires that were going to take hours and others simply asked for her resume. She decided to send out her resume first to as many places as she could find. She tried doctors’ offices, law firms, major corporations, and even marketing companies.

The number of applications with questionnaires seemed overwhelming, though, and she felt like she needed a break. She grabbed a scrunchi off her desk and pulled her hair back into its usual ponytail as she made her way to the kitchen. The fridge was practically empty other than a half-gallon of milk that she picked up and took a few sips from. One of the benefits of living alone was no one yelling at you for drinking straight out of the jug.

As things were, though, she may not be able to live alone for long. If the money situation didn't improve, she would at least get a roommate.  That wasn't a prospect she really enjoyed thinking about, though. None of her friends were in any situation to need a roommate, and she would hate to have to room with a stranger. Not at her age. That was something you did in college or shortly after, not in your thirties.

Of course, the other alternative was moving back home, to Boston. Of course her mother and Grant would take her back with open arms, but it was an even more distasteful idea than finding a roommate. She really needed to get back to her job hunt.

She was just in the middle of filling out a very long and tedious questionnaire for a job she didn't even really want when her phone rang, providing a very welcome diversion to the extreme boredom of her job hunt.

It was a number she didn’t recognize at all, which made her instantly wary that it might be Winslow again, trying to catch her off guard enough to talk to him again.

“Hello?” she answered, cautiously.  She decided before she even picked it up that at the first sound of his voice she would hang it up. She didn't even want to give him the chance to try and sweet talk her into changing her mind about him. Not that she thought she ever would, but given her current state of loneliness she was worried she might have a moment of weakness. She was tempted not to answer it at all, but she knew she was at the mercy of her job hunt and couldn't afford to miss a call from a potential prospect. Although she was beginning to worry that was simply wishful thinking.

“Is this Cynthia Millard I’m speaking to?” A harsh woman came on the line, making her even more curious.

“Yes, this is she.”

“Good, I am a secretary at Essential Steel. Do you recall sending us your resume about two weeks ago? It was for a personal assistant position.”

Cynthia perked up. “Yes, I applied there.”

“We would like you to come in tomorrow for a series of interviews with the top executives here. You’ll probably be an assistant to more than one. Do you have any availability to come in?”

Cynthia wasn’t sure what the company actually did, but she wasn’t about to turn down an interview. She'd have plenty of time between today and tomorrow to research it. “Yes, I can come in. What time would you like me to be there?”

“The interviews begin at nine a.m. sharp. Be sure to bring several copies of your resume, your availability, and know a bit about the company before you get here, please. Can you please confirm that you will be here?”

“Yes, ma’am!” The click signaling the woman hung up rang through her ear, but Cynthia didn't let the woman’s rudeness get to her. She was going to get at least one more chance at a job before her money ran out, and she wasn’t going to ruin it. She jumped up and hopped over to her computer to start researching Essential Steel.

Diesel walked into his office, feeling strange to be in a suit. He hadn’t had to wear one in a while, but he would be doing an interview which required professional attire. His own company had no idea, for the most part, that he was their boss and the owner of Essential Steel. To most of them, he was just a higher level exec and nuisance who came and went as he pleased, wearing whatever he wanted. It was perfect for him because he didn’t want his face on the company for many reasons.

For one, he wasn’t comfortable speaking for the company or having relationships with clients and employees. More importantly, though, if either of his lives figured out about the other he’d be done for. Sometimes he had nightmares about the possible headlines that would appear if the world got wind that the owner of a billion dollar company was also the president of a motorcycle gang.

He sat down at his desk, completely ignoring the three resumes that HR had left for him. There were interviews going on all day for his official personal assistant. They were getting so busy that he definitely needed one, one he could trust. But he found himself feeling nervous. A personal assistant would get very close to his double lives, could easily figure out his secret. He had to be sure to choose the right person. And he had been told that all of the people being interviewed were women, which made him even more nervous. He had never had a real relationship with a woman before. He had never been able to figure out how. Quick hookups with MC tag-alongs were his usual M.O.

Still, looking over resumes always bored him and seemed useless. He had built this company from the ground up and never gone to college, or even had a real job before this. A resume wasn't going to tell him what he needed to know about the person. He could only get that by meeting them eye to eye. Talking to them and getting a feel for their character. Especially given the secrets he held. A resume wasn't going to tell him how trustworthy the person was. Resumes were usually filled with lies and half truths anyway.

At any rate, his staff would likely weed out the completely useless ones before they even made it to him. He had chosen his mock CEO well, made him a very picky man. It was a good thing in this case.

He spent his morning going through emails and scheduling meetings, even catching up on paperwork. It was noon before he got any news about any of the interviews. One of the secretaries came in. “Mr. Cross, one of the interviewees has been sent away already. She didn’t have the experience needed for this position. The other two are finishing up their last one now. Do you want to have lunch first or interview them?”

It seemed like a silly question. It was bad enough they had gone through three hours of interviews already; why in the world would he make them wait while he took his lunch. “Of course you can send them in. I’ll do the interviews first. No need to make them stay here any longer.”

The woman gave him a curt nod, and he wondered how she’d behave if she was aware of exactly who he was. But he let it go because he knew she was efficient at her job.

He straightened his tie and checked his hair. He made sure none of his tattoos were peeking out anywhere. Then, the secretary came back in with a young woman following her. He sat down in his seat, motioning for the interviewee to sit down and slid into his chair uncomfortably. He couldn’t believe it, but the girl from the bar was now sitting across from him looking just as shocked as he was.

She still looked very familiar to him, even more today now that she wasn't dressed in such revealing clothes.  What did she say her name was?  Cynthia?  Suddenly he reached into the pile of resumes and yanked hers out.  Cynthia Millard.  Could it really be her?

"Cynthia?" he said, his mouth hanging open in shock as he studied her face.  It was her.  He could see it now.

Cynthia's face also showed surprise, but he could tell it was only the surprise of seeing him again after the other night, and in this context.  She hadn't yet put the rest of it together.

“Well, what a coincidence this is,” she stammered out, finally.  "Hello Diesel.  Sir."

He shook his head slowly, his heart pounding in his chest.  Besides knowing his secret double life already, she also knew far more about him than she realized. Was that advantageous or was it dangerous? Either way, he couldn't keep her in the dark any longer. She would figure it out eventually.

"My name isn't really Diesel," he said slowly. "That's the name I go by in the MC. Around here I'm known by my real name. A name you might recognize."

Cynthia was looking at him with a raised eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

"My name is Dante.  Dante Cross."

Cynthia looked at him blankly for a minute as her mind worked. Then her mouth fell open, just as his did.  "Dante? Really? It can't... "  He watched her face as she finally began to accept the fact that she was actually staring at her stepbrother.  They hadn't seen each other for around fifteen years.

"I... I thought you looked familiar the other night, but..."

He just nodded.  "Same here. More so when you told me your name was Cynthia, but I still didn't put it together. Maybe I just figured it was impossible. I thought you moved to Boston with my father."

"I did," she said, still staring at his face.  "I moved back."

Dante just nodded again, unsure what to say. Cynthia looked so much different than the scrawny young teenager he remembered. She'd filled out, in all the right places. Of course, he shouldn't be noticing things like that. "You look great. It's been a long time."

“I would say so,” she agreed, studying him just as intently, but also seeming unsure how to continue now.

Dante was sure she had been grilled in all the other interviews, and was probably anxious to get things moving. This development changed things, of course. The questions he'd had before, some of the doubts, all of them needed to be thrown out and considered anew. He'd have to wing it, now.

"Uh, so are you still interested in the job?"

Cynthia nodded enthusiastically.  "Of course! I looked the company up last night as I wasn't familiar with it."

“Don’t worry about that. I’m sure you're aware now that we make quality engine parts. It’s not that hard to learn. Your job has more to do with scheduling meetings and keeping a calendar, that sort of thing. Maybe some paperwork. You've done all that before, right?" He felt lame now, totally off guard but Cynthia seemed not to notice.

“Yes, I was a personal assistant for three different companies."

"Why did you change so often?"

“Well, I left the first one because the second one made me a better offer; it’s that simple. And the third company was because the second company was laying off. My boss at the second company actually helped me find the new job and everything so that I didn’t have a gap in employment. He was very kind.”

“Seems pretty straight forward." He picked up her resume for the first time and glanced at it as she spoke. "You were at your last position for about three years if I’m reading this correctly. What duties did you have to perform there?”

“I was kind of a catch all to be honest. In the beginning I was just a glorified secretary, making appointments and getting my boss coffee, but I worked up to actually meeting with clients myself. I filtered much of his call volume and meetings. I did most of the company’s paperwork and did minutes at the meetings. I interviewed a few new employees like the receptionists.”

“Pretty impressive. How many hours on average did you work?”

“Probably around fifty or fifty five if you count after hours events. I was required to attend most of those and helped with event planning, hired caterers, that sort of thing.”

He had to admit he was pretty impressed at her level of dedication, but honestly he wasn't sure what to do. This was his stepsister. Sure, he barely knew her, but still. What was he supposed to do? Was he allowed to hire her? Fuck, it was his company, he could do what he wanted. But he had to make sure that she was truly the right person for the job. He couldn't let their past relationship cloud his judgment. The position and its ramifications to his personal life were too important.

They continued the interview and although Cynthia seemed as distracted by their past as he was, she powered through it and gave him all the right answers. By the end, he was fairly sure she could handle the job, but he still felt unsure what to do. He needed time to think.

The other issue, of course, was whether he could trust her. Of course, the assumption would be that he could trust her more than any other random person, given that she was his step sister. But that fact was almost just a technicality. They had barely known each other growing up, and hadn't even seen each other since they were teenagers. A lot could change a person in that time. He needed to know something more about her. What she'd done in the last fifteen years.

He leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh as he looked at her. He smiled broadly at her bright green eyes that he remembered so well, and she smiled back. Her smile was a bit shy, her cheeks almost seeming to redden at his attention. "Tell me a bit more about what's happened to you in the last decade," he finally said.

“Well, after our family moved to Boston I was determined to find my way back, I never felt like I fit in there. I went to community college and worked my way through it to pay back my mom and... your dad.

"When I graduated I came back and got my first job as a personal assistant to a female lawyer. She had a very small practice and had only been a lawyer for a few years, so she needed a lot of help. Then, I moved on to a man who owned a plumbing and electrical business in the area. He was a very busy man since he was also a husband and father, so I worked a lot of hours with him. When he couldn’t afford me anymore he helped me find my next job as I said, which was working for a CEO at a large corporation called Vosh Industries. They manufacture airplanes and military vehicles. I haven’t had a ton of spare time, to be honest, but when I do I still like to go out and have a good time.” She definitely blushed at this, likely thinking back to their encounter the night before.

"You've stayed single all these years?" he suddenly asked. As an employer it was a completely inappropriate question, but as a stepbrother it was probably acceptable. He didn't think he asked it in either role, though. She was incredibly attractive. He hoped she thought he was just asking as a brother, though. Who knows what she would think of him if she knew what he was thinking about her.

She shrugged her shoulders.  "For the most part."  There was a pause that indicated something more, something she wasn't willing to get into.  "Nothing serious."

He just nodded.

“Well, Cynthia, I think that’s everything I need to know. I actually have one more interview, but honestly I think it would be great if you came to work here. I would love to get to know you again, and this might be a great way to do it.  Or maybe not. Honestly, I don't know.” He laughed nervously and so did she.

"I know what you mean," she agreed.

"Do you even still want to work here? What do you think?"

There was a pause, and for a moment he thought she was going to say that she didn't think it was a good idea. His heart stopped for a moment, and it felt like it took forever for her to answer.  She finally nodded, though. "Yes, I would like that very much. Getting to know you again."  Then she quickly added. "And working here, of course."

He stood up, tugging at his suit. He felt so out of place. "Great. Well, we still have to do the reference check, it's mainly for legal reasons, I don't expect any issues there, but you'll definitely be hearing from us soon."

She stood up too and they looked at each other awkwardly, unsure how to continue. He finally reached out his hand and she shook it. “It was really nice to see you again, Dante.”