Breach of Honor by Naomi Porter
5 Will
“YOU ARE NOT going to believe who I just saw in the elevator!” Jason blew through my office door without knocking and already talking gibberish.
“Hello to you too.” I remained focused on my laptop. If I didn’t get this report finished before I left for the day, dear ole dad would unleash his wrath on me.
“Guess who I saw? You’re never going to guess.” He chortled, sitting in a black leather chair in front of my desk. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, eyebrows hiked. I imagined this was what the devil would look like if he were ever excited.
“If I’ll never guess, then why don’t you just tell me?” This guessing game was a rarity, but even so, I wasn’t in the mood. Why would I want to hear about some person, probably one of the dozens of secretaries he saw? The dude had already bedded half of them. If anyone was a manwhore, it was Jason.
“What fun would that be?”
“Fun? We aren’t ten. Who did you see?” My patience was thinning. Whoever this person was had Jason excited with a childlike gleam in his eye. That in and of itself was an oddity, but a welcomed one. Jason roamed the world alone, carrying a massive chip on his shoulder, and I often felt sorry for him. Seeing him happy pleased me.
“You won’t believe it.” He leaned back in the chair smugly. “Guess.”
I drummed my fingers on my desk, irritation scratching the surface of my once-pleasant mood. “Where did you want to go for lunch?”
“You’re not even going to try to guess? Okay, have it your way.” Jason crossed his arms over his chest with a deadpan stare.
I ignored him. “I was thinking about the Cuban restaurant a couple of blocks from here.”
“Whatever.” He shrugged. “You’re paying, so you can pick.”
“How kind of you. Cuban it is. Now be quiet so I can finish this report before we leave.”
Twenty minutes later, I finished updating my client list and emailed it to my father. After last week’s disastrous meeting when he was ready to cut me loose and send me to the Mouse, my attitude changed. For some reason his words got through to me. Or maybe it was the way I’d reacted and how I’d spent the evening.
Maybe it was the blonde beauty who hadn’t belonged in that club, reminding me I didn’t belong there either.
The reason didn’t matter. Between my father, my mother, and the nameless woman, I could see it was time to grow up and be responsible.
Jason had been so quiet, I had forgotten he was there. That was unusual. I shut down my computer, slipped my cell phone in my blazer pocket, and stood from my chair.
“Ready?”
“Been ready. Let’s walk by the conference room on our way out.”
“What for?”
“Just follow me.” Jason seemed to be a man on a mission, power-walking to the conference room. He didn’t stop along the way to chat with any of his usual conquests or prospects. If I didn’t know any better, it looked as if he had a bee up his ass, driving him down the long hallway.
From the lavish meeting room, I heard my mother’s voice and laughter. That was shocking, even more than Jason’s mood. Nobody but my father and I ever made her laugh, not genuinely anyway. I looked at my Rolex, 11:38 a.m. She was in the middle of the meeting with the event planner. This day was getting weirder by the minute.
The three Swarovski chandeliers inside the room created rainbows on the wall of windows as we approached the glass double doors. I narrowed my eyes, searching the room. My heart jumped into my throat, stopping me and screaming in disbelief when I saw her.
My lady in red was sitting beside my mother, the two laughing like old friends. My father was seated at the end and watched on with a jovial grin. The two executive assistants were also smiling.
Had I entered the Twilight Zone?
Without thinking, I stormed into the room and startled them into silence. Five pairs of eyes were on me, but the ocean-blue eyes that had haunted my dreams every night over the last week rapidly blinked.
The mouth I had imagined kissing gaped slightly. She was as stunned as I was.
“William! I’m so glad you decided to join us.” My mother praised me, entirely delighted with my rude interruption. “Come and met the event planner.” She waved me over.
My eyes were locked on my secret desire, heart drumming in my chest as I circled around the table for a closer look.
“Thus far, I’m very pleased with all of Miranda’s ideas.”
Miranda…
“That’s fantastic.” I extended my hand. “Miranda, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She hesitated, completely floored by my intrusion, then shook my hand as any professional would. “It’s nice to meet you as well, William… I’m sorry, your last name please?”
Damn her voice was soft and sweet. My name on her lips weakened my legs.
“St. James. This is our son, William St. James the third,” my mother replied.
Miranda’s eyes widened as she slipped her hand out of mine, pulling her gaze away from me.
I felt the loss acutely.
“How lovely, a family-operated business.” She played with her earring, which I recalled her doing at the club too. A nervous tick perhaps. “Shall we continue?”
Just like that, Miranda redirected the interruption like a pro and was back to business. No wonder my parents appeared to like her.
“Yes, please. William, have a seat. You too, Jason.”
I cringed hearing his name. I’d forgotten he was there. “Thank you, Mrs. St. James. No introduction for me?”
The bastard. He would whine about being left out.
“Where are my manners? Miss Bradford, Jason Sayton.”
Miranda Bradford.
