LITMIR.BIZ

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“I don’t need you,” Shane replied. “This lab has been working perfectly fine without you.”

       “Mr. Graham didn’t think so.”

       “Because Mr. Graham isn’t familiar with how the Adamses do business. We are a small family company.”

       “That’s now a subsidiary of a major conglomerate like Graham International,” Gabrielle said. “You’re going to have to let go of the reins, Shane, if you want Adams Cosmetics to expand.”

       “How insightful of you, Gabby,” Shane said, calling her by the nickname she hated. “Why don’t you go check in with HR on the third floor and complete your paperwork and be back here in, say, an hour?”

       “All right.” Gabrielle gave Shane a halfhearted smile even though she’d rather strangle him. He was really only dismissing her because he hadn’t liked what she had to say. “I’ll see you shortly.”

       The paperwork wouldn’t take Gabrielle long, but it would give Shane time to regain his composure. He wasn’t used to having someone question what he was doing or what he was working on, and he didn’t like it one bit. When he’d come up with a revolutionary skin-care cream seven years ago, Kayla had pretty much handed him the reins of the laboratory, and he’d never looked back. Some may have thought his sister crazy for handing over the laboratory to a twenty-five-year-old straight out of his apprenticeship, but Shane had had a vision even then, and he’d let no one deter him. So he certainly didn’t appreciate Ethan bringing an outsider into his domain.

       He didn’t know what it was about Gabrielle that irked him so. Was it her perfectly coiffed hair? Or was it her smooth complexion free of makeup that bothered him? Or the fact that she dressed in black, browns and grays? Did the woman even own an item of color? Or perhaps it was the fact that she was the only woman on the planet who seemed immune to him.

       In school, Gabrielle Burton had steered clear of him, which had only intrigued him more and made him curious to get under that layer of cool reserve. He’d watched her date Preston, a pretentious yuppie with a moneyed background who was clearly a boring dud. Yet, she’d acted as if he was the catch of the century, when in fact the relationship hadn’t lasted much longer than a few months. Perhaps she liked stuck-up men who wouldn’t know fun if it was staring them in the face.

       Either way, Shane was not too happy about her presence, which is why he left his lab to go to Kayla’s office. He had a bone to pick with his traitorous sister.

       “Hi, Myra.” He smiled at Kayla’s assistant before heading straight into his sister’s office.

       Kayla was on the phone, but she waved him inside. Shane plopped down in the plush chair in front of her desk and glared at her.

       Several minutes later, Kayla hung up the line. “So did you come in here to give me hell?”

       “As you knew I would,” Shane returned. “How could you not have given me a heads-up on what you and Ethan were discussing? I’m your brother, for Christ’s sake!”

       “Shane…” Kayla sighed. She knew her brother would be upset, but she’d hoped that once he’d had time to cool down he’d see the rationale behind their decision.

       “Don’t ‘Shane’ me,” he responded, jumping to his feet. “You knew I wouldn’t be behind this—” he pointed to his sister “—so you and your hubby blindsided me. And I don’t appreciate it.”

       Kayla took offense to Shane’s tone. She knew the family still didn’t completely trust Ethan, but she wouldn’t abide Shane bad-mouthing the father of her child. “We did what was best for this company, and you might do well to remember that.”

       Shane’s eyes narrowed. “Are you pulling rank on me?” Although Kayla was president of Adams Cosmetics, he was vice president and they’d always shared the same vision of what was right, until now.

       “Of course not.” Kayla sighed wearily and rubbed her belly. “But even you must see the logic.”

       “I see my territory being intruded upon by an outsider.”

       “Ah, now we get down to the heart of the matter,” Kayla said. “It’s not that we brought on some help. It’s who we hired.”

       “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

       Kayla smiled at her brother’s outright lie. He wouldn’t be in her office right now if Gabrielle Burton hadn’t rubbed him the wrong way. “What did she do?”

       “She had the nerve to tell me what note to add into my fragrance. Can you believe that?” Shane asked.

       Kayla chuckled. “She is there to help you.”

       “I don’t need her help. I have been making fragrances long before she got here.”

       “But haven’t you said something is missing?”

       Shane narrowed his eyes. “Don’t use my words against me, Kay.”

       Kayla rose from her chair and walked over to her brother and gave him a punch in the shoulder. “Then don’t be a Neanderthal. Let the woman help you. That’s what we hired her to do.”

      * * *

       Gabrielle was on her way back from HR, with her head still focused on the mountain of paperwork she had to complete, when she bumped into someone coming out of the elevator. The papers in her hand went flying through the air and onto the floor.

       “I’m so sorry,” Gabrielle gushed as she bent down to pick up the papers. She glanced up to find a statuesque beauty staring down at her in what was no doubt a white designer pantsuit. Gabrielle had seen some gorgeous models in Paris, but this woman was different. She was nearly six feet tall with a short, sleek bob and arresting green eyes. Even though her makeup was immaculate, she didn’t need it. She was stunning already.

       “No worries, I was texting,” Courtney said. “And you know what they say, you shouldn’t walk and text.” She bent down to help Gabrielle gather the papers strewn across the floor.

       Courtney rose and handed the pile to the woman, who appeared a little bit frazzled. And what the heck was with the ponytail and drab pantsuit she was wearing? Didn’t she realize what industry they were in? “By the way, my name is Courtney. Courtney Adams.”

       “Adams,” Gabrielle said, staring back at her. “You wouldn’t be any relation to Shane Adams, would you?”

       Courtney smiled broadly. “Yes, he’s my brother.”

       Gabrielle’s mouth formed an O. She extended her hand. “Great to meet you. My name is Gabrielle Burton.”

       Courtney’s eyes widened. “Ah, so you’re Gabrielle Burton.” She accepted the handshake.

       “I see my reputation has preceded me.”

       “Something like that,” Courtney said and laughed. “Where you off to?”

       “Back to the lab,” Gabrielle said, pressing the elevator call button, “where I’m sure your brother is waiting for me and ready to give me the riot act. HR took a little longer than expected.”

       “Is Shane giving you a hard time?”

       Gabrielle gulped. She hadn’t meant to speak so openly. Although she wasn’t working directly with Courtney, she had done her research and knew she sat on the board of directors and was spokeswoman for the company. “No…uh…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

       “Don’t backpedal now,” Courtney responded. “I respect a woman who can speak her mind, and I know Shane wasn’t too happy to add you to his staff.”

       The elevator arrived at that exact moment, and Courtney joined Gabrielle on the way down to the lab.

       “Good. Because I know Mr. Adams isn’t happy to have me here, but I promise I will do the job to the best of my ability.”

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