A Deal With Mr Kane

A New Face

“You work for me now so you are mine to protect.”

Those damn words followed me out of Sebastian's office and all the way down to my own. It was ridiculous that out of everything he had said during the meeting, that was the sentence my brain decided to cling to, replaying it over and over while a stupid smile appeared on my face.

By the time I got to my office, the intercom buzzed, catching me off guard.

"Your official introduction will be at 1 pm in the conference room. Get ready." Was all he said. There was no form of warmth in his voice.

I crash into my seat, finally coming to my senses. Sebastian wasn't saying things like that because he cared about me.

I was so stupid to even think that.

He was saying them because he was my boss, because Kane Capital had a reputation to protect, and because the success of the Torres Resorts deal currently depended on me and my seductive skills.

At least, that was what I kept telling myself as I dropped into my chair and opened the Torres Resorts file again.

The explanation made perfect sense.

Unfortunately, it didn't stop the strange flutter in my chest.

"You're being ridiculous," I muttered to myself as I stared at a page without actually reading a single word on it. The man had barely acknowledged my existence outside of work-related matters, and somehow I was overanalyzing one protective statement like a teenager with her first crush.

The thought alone made me groan.

I spent the next hour trying to look productive, but there was only so much pretending I could do. I'd already studied the Torres Resorts file. I'd already briefed Sebastian. My desk was organized, my emails had been checked, and no tasks were waiting for me. For someone who had spent four years desperately searching for a proper office job, I was discovering that having nothing to do was a special kind of torture.

My eyes drifted toward the clock for what felt like the hundredth time before returning to the computer screen in front of me. It was only past ten. If I stayed like this for another hour, I might just pass out.

After another ten minutes had passed with absolutely nothing happening, I pushed myself away from the desk and stood up with a sigh.

There had to be something useful I could be doing.

I didn't come here to just sit in a fancy office with no real work to do and leave once the day was over. I wouldn't be able to spend my paycheck with a clear conscience.

"Francis," I muttered, standing to my feet.

He had to do something about this. Unfortunately for him, he was the only person I was close to in this whole building, so it was either he gave me real work to do or he spent the rest of the day with me.

Feeling slightly better now that I had a mission, I grabbed my phone and left my office.

The confidence lasted exactly five minutes.

I stopped in the middle of a hallway and looked around, realizing I had absolutely no idea where Francis's office was. Every corridor in Kane Capital looked the same. There were glass walls everywhere, expensive furniture, and employees walking around looking like they belonged here while I felt like someone who had accidentally wandered into the building.

"Fantastic," I muttered as I turned another corner. "I've been here half a day and I'm already lost."

I tried remembering the route Francis had taken earlier, but that turned out to be completely useless. The more I walked, the more convinced I became that this building had been deliberately designed to confuse people.

After another wrong turn, I spotted an office door that was partially open and decided it was finally time to ask for help.

I knocked lightly before pushing the door open.

The office inside was larger than mine but nowhere near the size of Sebastian's. Behind the desk sat a man who immediately looked up when I entered, and for a second, I completely forgot why I was there.

No fault of mine because why on earth was a man who belonged on the cover of a magazine sitting behind a desk?

After being here for a few hours, I was convinced Kane Capital only employed extremely beautiful people.

Sebastian Kane, Francis, and the man before me were good examples.

Sure, none of them looked as good as Sebastian but I was taking away points from his rating because of how he had treated me.

I return my attention to the fine specimen before me. Dark hair, sharp jawline, strong biceps, and veiny hands that looked strong enough too--

"Snap out of it, Sia," I warn myself that it is time to leave. Thankfully, he was on a call, so he didn't see me.

Shit.

He did.

Before I have the chance to escape, our eyes meet and amusement flashes in his gaze. I mouth a quick 'sorry', already backing out of the room.

Before I could leave, he raised one hand.

I froze.

He pointed toward a chair and motioned for me to wait.

Confused, I glanced behind me to make sure there wasn't another person standing there. When I realized he was actually talking to me, I pointed at myself.

He nodded. A minute later, he ended the call and set his phone aside before leaning back in his chair.

"I'm not sure I've seen you around before," he said with an easy smile, showing off his perfect dentition. "Which means one of two things. Either I've suddenly become very unobservant or you're new."

I laughed despite how nervous I felt and stepped fully into the office. "Definitely the second one. Today is actually my first day."

His eyebrows rose immediately. "Your first day?" he repeated. "That explains it."

I nodded. "I was actually looking for Francis's office, but somewhere along the way I got completely lost."

That made him laugh. "Don't worry. Almost everyone gets lost in their first week. This is a very large building. Large and complicated."

"First week?" I asked, my lips parting. "That's not encouraging."

His smile widened then he leaned in like he was about to leak a top secret. "If it helps, I still occasionally get lost and I've worked here for years."

I stared at him. "Now you're definitely lying."

"Fine. Only a little." He shrugged and I couldn't help but laugh.

The calmness in his voice immediately put me at ease. He stood behind his desk and stretched out his hand. "Nathaniel Graham. Head of the audit team."