As I stood on the beach looking out over the water, I saw Bennett approaching. I was a little underdressed for a job interview, but he was supposed to call me to schedule something. And I hoped it wouldn’t take place on the beach.
“I’m glad you made it. How was your flight?” Bennett asked.
I shrug. “Private luxury jet. Not my usual mode of transportation.” I had not issue with Bennett’s success. It just wasn’t the lifestyle I usually lived. It was usually a military transport plane flying me from one place to the next, and none of them had leather seats, widescreen TVs, and a stocked bar.
“It’s practical. At least with the amount of flying we do. It also illuminates questions of what we’re carrying. Many times, I will transport my men from one location to the next, as well as supplies required,” Bennett stated.
I understood what he meant. Bennett had a team of veterans, each with very specialized skills, who required certain equipment in order to do their jobs. That’s the type of team I wanted to be on. “Are you ready to talk business?”
Bennett nodded. “Let’s skip the interview. I’m thinking you could start work right away.”
“That’s what I was hoping to hear.”
“Good. I need you to keep your eyes open while you’re here. We have a guest who seems concerned about a man looking around here, and potentially intimidating one of our staff members.”
What the fuck? I am a babysitter. Dammit.
“It’s a guest that noticed it? Not your employees?” He probably assumed I was speaking about the New Hope employees. I actually meant Bennett’s team. But as I looked around earlier, I hadn’t seen anyone who would’ve fit the build to be on a specialized team like that. Maybe they’re not here.
Bennett shook his head. “Tabiq is different. Even though they work for New Hope, and they have for several years, I’m not sure they trust us.”
“You mean the Hendersons? Or are you referring to Americans?” I asked.
“Both,” he said. “This country has been through hell. And it’s like the Tabiqian people are always waiting for it to return and with a vengeance. No matter what we say or do, I don’t think they will ever fully believe it’s over, at least not for many years. Or maybe several generations.”
That was no surprise to me. I’d heard about things that happened in this country. If even half the rumors were true, the women and the people here weren’t just suppressed, but exploited too. “Then why the hell did the Hendersons build a resort here?” They weren’t known for...being kind.
“I wish I could discuss that with you. If you take this job, I think you’ll begin to understand.”
“Can’t or won’t tell me?” I asked.
“Some things are not mine to disclose. My in-laws’ personal life would be one of them,” Bennett stated.
It really shouldn’t matter what the hell the Hendersons do. Their reputation is questionable in itself. I couldn’t picture the Tabiqian people or anyone else ever trusting them. I knew I didn’t. But I wasn’t going to be working for them. At least not directly. Right now, I wanted to hear more about this so-called threat at the resort. “So, what did this guy do that has a guest concerned?”
“From what she said, the man was watching one of the employees. I honestly don’t have any more information than that.”
That doesn’t seem like anything to be concerned about. Like Bennett had said, I’m not familiar with things at New Hope, never mind in Tabiq as a whole. For now, I’d need to trust Bennett’s judgment and not my own, at least where business was concerned. “Do you want me to talk to your employee or would you like me to question your guest first?”
“I already spoke to Miss Wellington.”
Trying to bite back my sarcastic tone I asked, “And she seemed to be…normal?” It was a rude thing to ask or even think, but it was a legitimate question. I don’t need to be in hotel security to know that there are some real flakes in this world.
Bennett chuckled. “For an attorney, surprisingly so.”
That’s the worst kind of flake.
I’ve never had to deal with them personally, but my kid brother Joe couldn’t seem to keep his nose clean. I told him he should join the military and they would straighten his ass out, but even they didn’t want him. He liked to drink too much, party too hard, and fight everyone over nothing. I spent many hours trying to mentor him. But Joe always thought I believed I was better than everyone else because I was a Marine. That wasn’t the case. I’m proud of being a Marine, but all I wanted to do is help my brother better himself. Sadly, I couldn’t. Even the attorneys my parents hired couldn’t keep him out of jail. In the end, Joe broke my parents’ hearts, and they almost lost everything trying to defend him.
I wasn’t even sure what kind of attorney this woman was, but they all left a bad taste in my mouth. They took the money whether they won or lost, and that never sat well with me. If I didn’t do my job well, people could die. No room for error. I wasn’t so sure they cared what the outcome was. And I sure as hell didn’t make the money they did. God, I hate attorneys.
But this wasn’t about me. I needed to focus on the person Bennett was talking about. I can picture her now. Looking around the beach, I scanned for anyone who might fit the lawyer mold. There was an older woman sitting under an umbrella reading some thick novel. Her expression said she was not enjoying what she was reading but didn’t put the book down, either. It had to be her. Hell, she even looked like a Wellington. Something about the name struck me as stuffy, cold, and unapproachable with no sex appeal, and this woman definitely fit the bill. “I’ll start by speaking to her.” Not that I’m looking forward to it. “Maybe she has something more to add than what she told you.”
“Good. I told her I wanted her to meet with someone from my security team. She’s in room 312.”
Raising a brow, I said, “You were confident I’d take the job?” My eyes still were focused on the woman reading on the beach.
Bennett replied, “You flew all the way here from Boston. I assumed that meant you wanted the job. If you need to think about it, I can always send someone else to talk to Miss Wellington.”
I knew this was a fucking test. If I refused, I knew Bennett wouldn’t give me a job. I wasn’t sure I really wanted it, but it beat the hell out of sitting around back in Boston. “Consider this a trial. No guarantee how long I’ll stay.” I knew I didn’t sound grateful for this opportunity, but I was being honest. Bennett knew it, too. It was a change from what I was used to. But Bennett had been in the Marine Corps, too. He had to know that the transition wasn’t easy. We were given a mission and as a team we worked toward its goals. This was nothing like that.
“Don’t worry, James, I won’t have you sign a contract. This is based on mutual trust. When this doesn’t work for either of us, we part ways. No hard feelings.”
That worked for me. The only thing I’d ever committed fully to was the Marine Corps. I wouldn’t even make a commitment to a woman, as they did not generally fit the lifestyle I wanted. Right now, I had to figure out what I wanted going forward. And it sure as fuck isn’t easy letting go of the past.