Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Julian

Pumpkin is my new secretary. The girl I kissed this morning will be working beside me every day.

I grin as the elevator door closes, but it's short-lived. If I were an ignorant fool, I would think this was all just a happy chance. I'm not a fool. When too many odd things happen, it stinks.

Regardless, I don't want to let her go.

That kiss was fire. I've never felt this way about a woman before. When it comes to dating, I'm usually the slow and cautious type. Kent had a point earlier; what we witnessed happen to my dad affected all my brothers, me included.

I was guarded and not the easiest person to be with in my last relationship. That's no excuse for what Courtney did when I was deployed. After I found out she cheated, I became hardened. If I was going to consider letting a woman into my life, she had to be exceptional. I definitely didn't plan on dating right now. With Poppy, my walls crumbled, and I wanted to rebuild them with her trapped inside. I just need to get to the bottom of what is going on.

There is an even more disturbing fact. One I didn't want to voice, but it's there, like a fly buzzing around my head. I need to make sure Poppy isn't involved with the threats made towards my dad. Sterling Defense has been targeted before; it's just the nature of the game.

What if Poppy was sent in as a spy? Women have been used before. She moved next door to me and now works for me; that gives her ample time to invade my life. Then there's her reckless friend Harper, who Poppy already admitted, dug around as if I were the villain she had to protect Poppy from.

As soon as the elevator closes and begins to lower, I turn and glare at Theo.

"I need you to look into something for me," I demand. Theo isn't a Harper; he's not a hacker who works for the NSA, but we have IT who can get dirty if needed. Theo knows everyone who works for Sterling Defense, and I'm sure he could get me the info I need in a matter of hours or days.

He raises a brow. "That's Uncle Dan's job."

I shake my head; if Uncle Dan gets wind of this, Poppy will be taken to a black site and interrogated. I saw the fear in her eyes when Harper and the movers started shouting.

"I'm asking you to keep this between us," I admit as I close my office door. "My new secretary is also my new neighbor. It can't be by chance." Fuck, speaking it out loud is like highlighting how bad this looks.

Theo leans against my desk. "I know," he replies.

I pause. "Excuse me?"

My injury begins to throb. I should have taken an Advil after my physical therapy this morning, but I was too stubborn.

Theo pushes off the desk. "I said, I know. It's exactly how I planned it," He runs his hand through his hair. "What I didn't plan was for you to want to sleep with her."

He crosses his arms and looks me dead in the eye. "I need you to stay the fuck away from Poppy, Julian."

I hesitate and inhale before I close the distance between us. It's a big office, but now it feels like a cage where two hard-headed brothers are trapped.

"Excuse me?" My arm might be in a sling, but that doesn't mean I can't kick my brother's ass.

"Listen to me. I need you to stay away from that girl," Theo points an accusing finger at me.

Why the hell is he so hostile and defensive over Poppy?

"Have you hooked up with her?" I seethe. If he has, how will I handle seeing her daily, knowing she belongs to my brother?

No. No way.

"No," His head inches back, like he's insulted over my insinuation. "Go out with Kent; he can find you another girl to fuck, but that girl is off-limits."

I ball my fist and slug him in the jaw.

"Fuck! You're the CEO now; you can't act like this," Theo grunts as he rubs his reddened skin.

"I'm your brother," I grab his shirt, "Your brother! Tell me what the fuck is going on. How do you know Poppy?"

He pushes away, leaving a good four-foot distance between us. Theo is smart and calculating; Kent would have edged forward and kept provoking me.

"Calm the fuck down, and let me explain. I owed someone a favor, and he came to collect. Poppy was that favor."

I don't like that Theo is referring to her as an object, nor do I like that someone is using my brother.

"Who?" I demand. I flex my fist and then try to adjust my shoulder. I'm getting better each week, but I'm still weak, and it's going to take weeks more of therapy to get my shoulder moving like it used to.

Theo shakes his head. "I can't tell you that. An acquaintance of mine wants me to keep an eye on her."

"Who the hell is she?" So, it's true; she's not just the girl next door.

"She's just a girl," he replies. "Really. She is. I know it seems odd, but that's what I came here to explain."

"You didn't think to tell me before she moved in?"

He crosses his arms. "I was busy. I had a deadline."

I snort. "Nice to know your priorities when it comes to family."

"Don't act like that," he barks, then walks to the small bar and pours himself a glass of whiskey, downing it in one gulp.

"This was the only way I could keep my end of the deal with him."

Who the hell is 'him'?

Theo continues, "Poppy was moving and looking for a new job. You needed a secretary, and she fit the profile. She's good at her job; I didn't set you up with a dud. There was an opening in your building, and she was looking for an apartment. I paid off her realtor to show her it and seal the deal. Everything made sense. Now, all I have to do is just check in on her occasionally."

I step back. Who the fuck are you, Theo?

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not Uncle Dan."

"You sure sound as shady," I grab the back of my neck. "You're spying on a girl, Theo. You set up her entire life so you could report on her!"

"I just needed to keep my word. She's safe and under my watch."

"You're not going to be watching her!"

"And you're not going to be fucking her," he widens his stance.

"You might be my older brother, but you sure as fuck don't sound wiser!" I shout. "You don't tell me what to do, Theo. If I want to go to Poppy and tell her everything, I will. As a matter of fact, I think I am." I march toward the door.

"Jay," Theo shouts. "Julian, sit the fuck down. I'll tell you everything, but I need you to promise me you won't tell her a thing."