Hero Duty (9 page)

‘Indeed,’ Joe said noncommittally.

Jessica turned and saw him studying, not the painting, but Brodie.

Brodie was watching her.

She stood, no longer comfortable sitting beneath the painting of her dad. ‘I have the papers you were chasing, Joe.’

He flicked a dismissive hand. ‘Vera will see that they go where they’re needed.’

If he wasn’t here for the papers…

‘Good morning, Joe. Jessica.’ Derek sauntered in.

Her stepbrother was an arrogant pig. He completely ignored Brodie and Vera. Maybe he was stupid as well as arrogant. It was the first time Jessica had thought that, but really? Who overlooked personalities like Brodie and Vera?

Joe looked down at his feet, and a suspicion of a smile dented the corners of his mouth.

So he thought Derek was stupid, too.

No, not stupid. Derek was smart enough in his way. Maybe blinded by his own ego.

She glanced up at her dad’s picture.

‘Jessica, dinner tonight will be family only. Mum has been trying to reach you, but you’ve made things difficult for her. If you had any decency you’d know that this is not the time to stage a drama and move out of home.’

And now he was chastising her as if she were a teenager again. It was a role her family had slotted her into, and since it worked for them, they’d kept her in it.

She bit down the harsh words that choked her. There had been no legal reason for her to leave the family home. She owned it. Her lawyers would have expensively overseen Portia and Derek’s eviction — they’d have been happier doing that than setting up the trust to administer the household’s expenses.

Vera gathered up the stack of folders, shook her head at Brodie’s offer of assistance and walked out. She gave Joe the sort of admonishing look that said he, too, should leave the family to their private affairs.

Joe ignored it.

Then again, with the door open, Vera would also be able to hear every word.

In this situation, with a billion-dollar corporation involved, no family matter was private. If Jessica allowed Derek to bully her, then the odds would go up that he’d finagle his way into her dad’s role as chairman.

It was up to her to send a clear message. That was why she’d travelled all the way to Jardin Bay, to recruit Brodie. She had to stand her ground.

‘Derek, since you’re running errands for Portia — ’ Her stepbrother sucked in his breath hard. Joe stared at her, eyes beginning to gleam. Brodie showed no reaction.

Then again, him simply standing there, between Derek and her, gave her courage. She pressed her hip into the side of the desk, bracing herself. ‘— please inform Portia that Brodie will be coming to dinner tonight.’

‘No.’ Sharp and definite from Derek, with a glare in Brodie’s direction.

‘Will Anabel be there?’ Jessica gripped the edge of the desk.

‘Anabel is my fiancée. Hired muscle eats in the kitchen.’

Rage shivered over her skin. She no longer needed the desk to stand upright. ‘Apologise.’

Strange how she could accept insults directed at her. She could even believe she deserved them. But Brodie was not going to be demeaned.

‘Truth hurt, sis?’ Derek sneered. ‘No boyfriend, no partner. You have to pay a man to breathe your air. You will not bring a bodyguard to my house.’

Her eyes widened, then narrowed. She saw the moment when Derek realised he’d shown his hand too blatantly. Forget all the stuff he’d said about her attractiveness, or lack thereof. ‘It’s my house.’

‘Well, I have things to do.’ Joe’s cheerful voice cut the tension. ‘I would think you have, as well, Derek. And I know Jessica does.’

‘I do?’ She was shaking, shocked at her own courage in challenging her stepbrother. Shocked, too, at how confident Derek was that what was hers, was his. Joe’s sudden sports-coach peppiness baffled her.

He smiled, and somehow the CEO’s smile resembled a predator showing its teeth. ‘Running Numbat keeps a person busy, and you have your own academic career. Indeed, that’s something we need to talk about. After this weekend, hmm?’

Sheer force of personality seemed to propel Derek out with him.

‘What just happened?’ She stared at Brodie.

The impassive expression on his face relaxed and he grinned at her. ‘You just told the world that you’ll fight to keep what is yours. I don’t think you need me at all, tiger.’

‘T-t-tiger?’ That was hysterically untrue.

He crossed the room and tugged her into a close, comforting hug. ‘Maybe a tiger cub, but I think Vera will give you lessons.’

‘I heard that,’ Vera said from the doorway.

Jessica leaned into Brodie. ‘I’m sorry Derek was so rude.’

‘I bet he’s sorry, too.’ Vera laughed. ‘I’ve been waiting for this day.’

Brodie’s arms tightened around her. ‘If you want to hear abuse, you should have heard what my first sergeant called me. It’s all good, Jessica. Don’t worry.’

‘Will you still come to dinner tonight?’ She held her breath. She couldn’t go alone.

‘I’d pay to go,’ Vera contributed.

Brodie looked at her. ‘Are you commentating this scene?’

‘Think of me as the voice of reason,’ Vera said, undaunted by his sergeant’s voice. ‘Believe me, nothing is going to be more satisfying than watching that precious duo encounter a Jessica who embraces her own strength.’

Jessica turned to stare at her. ‘Do you think I’m strong?’

‘You’re Mikal’s granddaughter. I know you’re strong. I just wondered if you knew it.’

Laughter rumbled in Brodie’s voice. ‘We’re working on it.’

***

Four hours later, Jessica’s brain churned like an overloaded washing machine. She held up a hand, begging for mercy. ‘Enough.’

Vera sat back in her chair. ‘I think that covers the basics.’

Jessica restrained a whimper, barely.

After the intense scene in the office, she, Brodie and Vera had decamped from Numbat’s headquarters and regrouped at a quiet restaurant Vera had recommended. Her niece ran it, successfully. The restaurant was in an old building down at The Rocks. On the downside, that meant unexpected glimpses of the sea, but that was a common problem in Sydney. The damn harbour zigzagged in everywhere. On the plus side, The Rocks had human-sized buildings and their history reminded Jessica that people had survived worse than anything she’d lived through.

The restaurant was private, with discreet service and heavenly food, and Jessica could have been happy, if only Vera didn’t seem suddenly determined to transfer all her knowledge of Numbat to Jessica. Knowledge might be power, but Jessica was awash in company, project and personnel names. Dates floated by, two millennia distant from the time of the Hittites where her mind usually dwelt. Business jargon dotted the conversation with scant pause for definitions or explanation.

Jessica pushed aside her coffee cup, shook her head decisively at the offer of a refill and scowled at Brodie. ‘Stop nodding your head and looking thoughtful as if everything Vera says makes sense to you.’

He sat beside her at the table, close enough that when they moved, their shoulders brushed. Now, he withdrew a fraction and frowned at her. ‘What? Hired muscle isn’t meant to think?’

The comment intensified her scowl. She could feel it cutting lines in her forehead. ‘I am not my stupid stepbrother. Take that back.’

‘You said it.’

‘I did not.’ She was tired, cross and feeling inadequate. ‘We’re not all strategic thinkers, like you, you know. The least you could do is pretend that you don’t understand along with me.’

‘What don’t you understand?’ Vera was bright-eyed, invigorated by her hour-long lecture, followed by the even longer question-and-answer session.

‘I don’t know what I don’t know.’ Jessica rested her head in her hands. ‘Is there anyone in Numbat who simply does their job without trying to advance their own agenda?’

‘Not at head office,’ Vera said cheerfully.

‘It’s what happens to a group that lacks a leader.’ Brodie scooted his chair back and began massaging the tight muscles at the base of Jessica’s neck.

Her incipient headache vanished under a wave of sheer physical pleasure. ‘But Numbat has Joe as CEO. He could lead armies.’

‘I’ll take your word for it.’ Brodie sounded amused.

She opened an eye that had closed in bliss. Yep, definitely amused. She twitched away from him, belatedly aware that she was leaning into his touch in a café at a business meeting. After he’d told her that there could be nothing personal between them. Anger and embarrassment had the unexpected effect of clearing her brain. ‘Two generals.’

‘Pardon?’

Jessica stared at Vera. ‘Numbat didn’t lack a leader. It had two. Dad and Joe were slogging it out for control.’

The older woman sighed and nodded. ‘Joe has the business skills Ian lacked. But Ian controlled your veto power. It muddled things.’

Jessica glanced sideways at Brodie.

‘That’s the way I see it.’ He leaned back in his chair, stretching. ‘Not so much a power vacuum as a too-even contest. It needs to end.’

‘It has. Dad’s dead.’ It sounded stark.

‘Derek has signalled that he intends to step into Ian’s shoes,’ Vera said neutrally.

Jessica sighed. ‘I know. But Joe handled him today.’

‘After you signalled that Derek didn’t own you,’ Brodie pointed out. ‘If Derek did control you…’

‘Then Numbat is trapped back in the power struggle of Dad’s years. More pressure.’ Her skin crawled at the thought of Derek controlling her or Pops’ company, but just as dismal was the thought of being trapped herself in the world of business. Although that wasn’t something she wanted to share right now with Vera, her new ally.

It had been only too clear over the last few hours that Vera revelled in the Machiavellian ploys that seethed through the corridors of Numbat.

Jessica hated her suspicions, but she had to consider Vera’s loyalty and what her ambitions were. Evidently she disliked Derek. Did that make her one of Joe’s people?

No. As confused and ugly as her feelings and grief for her dad were, he had been good at reading people. If Vera had been Joe’s spy, her dad would have gotten rid of her years ago.

Then again, his death changed the situation.

Jessica dug her fingers into her scalp.

‘Brain overload,’ Brodie diagnosed. ‘Time to shop.’

Her fingers froze. She turned her head slowly. ‘What?’

‘Everything Vera’s said. You need time to think about it. You’ve got the weekend.’

‘Which is going to be sooo peaceful.’

He grinned crookedly.

‘Brodie’s right.’ Vera gathered up her belongings. ‘I’ll see you Monday.’

‘I don’t know if I’ll have made any decisions by then,’ Jessica warned.

‘You have a meeting with Joe,’ Vera said briskly.

Jessica groaned. ‘I’d forgotten.’

‘I’ll sort out a time with his PA and text you. Till then, take care.’ She looked at Brodie. ‘And take care of her.’

He nodded and Vera departed.

‘Time to shop,’ Brodie repeated. He gripped Jessica’s elbow and hauled her up. Before she got moving, he’d paid for their meal and coffees.

‘I had it,’ she said as they walked out. ‘I think you forget which one of us has billions of dollars.’

‘Believe me, I don’t forget,’ he said grimly.

Silenced, she inhaled the mix of soft sea-air and car fumes. ‘I forget sometimes. And then, I see how people treat me and I remember.’

‘Jessica, don’t.’

‘Don’t what? Don’t want to be normal? Do you know, that’s one of the strongest arguments Derek has to convince me to hand him control? No, never mind. You were right. I need clothes for the weekend and for business. I’ll meet you back at the hotel in time to change for dinner. You take the car. I’ll nab a taxi from wherever I end up shopping.’

He hesitated.

The swarm of tourists streaming down the footpaths of The Rocks broke around him. No one pushed Brodie where he didn’t want to go.

‘All right. But don’t answer your mobile if it’s Derek or Portia.’

‘Or Joe.’ Jessica nodded, her uncertain emotions hovering between relief and pain that he took his emotional bodyguard duties so seriously. She’d bought his compassion. Hurriedly she turned away. ‘Go and do touristy things. I’ll see you at the hotel.’

At the corner, when she looked back, he still stood there watching her. Instinctively, she lifted a hand to wave good-bye.

He flicked a casual salute and strode away.

Determinedly, Jessica started planning her purchases.

Jessica refused to wear black to the memorial celebrations for her dad that Portia had planned. But she did buy black trousers, pencil skirts and jackets for office-wear. It was too practical a solution to ignore. Black went with everything.

The sales assistant at the exclusive boutique was Jessica’s age, but far more glamorous. Not glamorous enough to disguise her shock and pleasure at the number of Jessica’s purchases, though. She introduced herself as Farrah, and her excitement finally cut through Jessica’s bad mood.

Jessica put the four white silk- and cotton-shirts that she’d selected to wear with her ‘office uniform’ on the counter and turned her attention to the colourful casual-wear. She didn’t want anything too bright. The main occasions of the weekend would be tonight’s ‘family’ dinner and Saturday night’s buffet dinner for a hundred of Portia and Ian’s good friends, but there’d also be people paying their respects throughout Saturday and Sunday. Portia had made it clear that the weekend was open house.

Farrah snatched a pair of denim-coloured capris away from Jessica. ‘What are you, fifty? Short-shorts are made for you. Your legs go on forever. Something flirty and — ’

‘No. Not flirty. Elegant, unobtrusive.’

‘Boring, invisible.’

‘Exactly.’

‘Argh!’ Farrar flung her hands in the air. ‘Are these dull enough for you?’ She brought out a pair of oatmeal-pale skinny trousers.

They fit Jessica beautifully. She bought them and two soft cotton knit tops in muted sage-green, and storm-cloud blue.

Farrar studied her. ‘Your colouring could stand something more dramatic.’

‘Not this weekend.’ Jessica had no intention of competing with Portia. The new clothes were to give her the confidence of blending in with the social elite, not standing out. ‘I need two outfits for formal dinners, as well.’