Catia (Starkis Family #6) Read Online Free Page A

want her, you tell her,” Wendy said, standing.
    “Excuse me?” I asked, tipping my swivel chair forward. I gave Wendy a long leash, but if she wasn’t careful, she was going to hang herself with it. “I thought hiring and firing people was your job. Since you hired her, you can damn well fire her.”
    Wendy glared at me as she paused at the door. “Fine, I’ll just invite her in and let you watch me fire her.”
    “Goddammit, Wendy,” I said, slamming my hand on the desk. “Just get her in here. Go back to your office. I’ll deal with Catia.”
    As Wendy tried to hide her triumphant smile, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. I didn’t know why I was nervous. If anyone should have been on edge, it was Catia.
    I swallowed convulsively when I looked up and saw Catia standing in my doorway. She was wearing a tight black suit with a short skirt and blazer covering what appeared to be a shimmery black tank. In what universe was that appropriate office attire, especially for a woman working on construction sites? If she ever wore that to a job, half the guys would stroke out.
    I glanced down to see her four-inch spiked heels and muttered, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
    “Hi, Chase,” she said, dipping her head. Her long dark hair fell forward, partially covering her face, and I realized she was more nervous than I’d ever seen her. Apparently Miss Calm, Cool, and Collected was worried about getting tossed out on her perfect little derriere.
    Just thinking about how perfect her body was, how it aligned with mine as though we had been made for each other, made me shift in my seat, trying to find a more comfortable spot. “Come in.” I gestured to the chair across from mine. “And close the door behind you.”
    She did as I asked, setting her huge designer purse in the seat next to her before crossing her bare legs. “I guess you’re wondering what I’m up to, huh?”
    “In deference to your sister and brother, I’m trying really hard to keep my temper in check, but you better start talking. Tell me how the hell you wormed your way into my company and why you thought that would be a good idea.” I’d deal with her house purchase later, when I figured out what her angle was.
    Her gaze met mine and held as she lifted her chin. “You know I’m good at what I do. You should be happy to have me on board.”
    She was one of the best project managers I’d ever worked with. Any company in the city would have been happy to have her, which begged the question, why mine? “That’s not the point, and you know it. Why are you here? I thought you were so happy living in Chicago. That is why you went back, isn’t it?”
    “I went back because I was confused about a lot of things. Being there helped me gain the clarity I needed.”
    I wanted to know what the hell that meant, but I was determined to stay focused on my work, and I suspected she’d had revelations of a personal nature. Like a child, I wanted to tell her,“Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me.”“Why not go to work with your siblings?”
    Looking thoughtful, she asked, “What is it they say about working with family? It’s never a good idea.”
    I rolled my eyes when she reminded me how obtuse she could be. “You worked together for years with no problem.”
    “That was different. We were working for my father, so there was no power struggle. Their business is already established now. I’d be walking in as an outsider, trying to usurp authority. I’m not sure it would sit well with their crews.”
    “I don’t believe you,” I said, lacing my hands on the desk as I leaned forward. I’d always found the direct approach to work best with Catia, and since I wasn’t in the mood to consider her feelings, direct she would get. I’d promised I wouldn’t let this interview get personal, but it was difficult to avoid when every question swimming through my head revolved around us, not the job she’d been hired to do.