Linc left the women and excused himself to make some calls. The man was constantly working, Jordan thought.
In the half hour they’d been in Aurora’s new bedroom, it became clear Melly intended to treat Aurora like a daughter, and the young girl relaxed, becoming more like her normal, talkative self.
It didn’t take long for Melly to realize Aurora was sadly lacking in clothing and to take charge of the situation. She announced they were going shopping.
“Jordan, come with us please?” Aurora asked, obviously overwhelmed.
But Aurora needed to get to know Melly, and Melly hadn’t extended the invitation.
“I can’t,” she told Aurora. “I have laundry and things to catch up on at home. But you have fun! I’ll check in later, okay?”
Aurora stepped forward and pulled Jordan into an awkward pregnant hug. “You’re the best. You’ve been so good to me.”
“You make it easy.”
“I’m going to get my handbag and freshen up. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes,” Melly said, walking out of the room.
Aurora swept her arms around. “Look at this room! It’s meant for royalty!”
Taking in the queen-size bed with a gorgeous floral spread in beautiful colors, draperies on the windows and a large television on the wall, a private bathroom and walk-in closet, Jordan had to agree.
“It’s gorgeous. There’s space for a crib in here, too. Or you can put the baby in the room next door.” Jordan turned toward her. “You’re going to have to go shopping for baby supplies. But something tells me Melly is going to want to help,” Jordan said with a grin.
Aurora sat down on the plush mattress. “She’s really sweet. I think I’ll be happy here, at least until I can figure out my life.”
With a nod, Jordan joined her. She wasn’t going to pressure her now with questions she already knew Aurora had no answers to. “When Melly gets back, I’m going to go find Linc.”
“Speaking of Linc, how long have you two been together?” Aurora asked.
“What?” Jordan whipped her head toward Aurora. “We aren’t together. We’re just friends and I work for him.”
Aurora raised her eyebrows. “R-i-i-ght.”
“What? Why wouldn’t you believe me?” Jordan asked.
Aurora shrugged. “Because you two are close. I’ve been with you both for over a week now, and I see how you look at each other. How you read each other’s mind. Stuff like that.”
Dipping her head, Jordan closed her eyes and shook her head. “We’re just friends,” she insisted. “Look around you. You’re overwhelmed by this kind of wealth and they’re your family. I don’t belong as anything more than his employee and close friend.”
“That sounds stupid.” Aurora pushed herself up and stood, bracing a hand on her back, her belly protruding in front of her. “It should be about how you feel, not how much money you have. But I get what you mean. I’m not sure I fit in here, either.”
Jordan rose. “You will learn to be comfortable,” she assured Aurora. “I promise.”
“Are you ready?” Melly returned, lipstick touched up and a Chanel handbag on her arm.
“I’m ready,” Aurora said.
“You two go on. I’m going to check my messages and then go find Linc. Aurora, I’ll call you tonight.” Jordan smiled and watched them go.
Ignoring what Aurora had said about her assessment of Jordan and Linc’s relationship, Jordan pulled out her phone, surprised to see a message from a number she didn’t recognize. She hit play and discovered it was Suzanne Ashton, Kenneth Kingston’s secretary. She’d given the woman her phone number in case she remembered anything about the deal Jordan and Linc were looking into. From the urgency of the voicemail, the woman clearly wanted to talk.
Tapping on the number, Jordan waited and Suzanne picked up.
“Hello, Jordan?” Suzanne said.
“Yes, hi. Did you remember something?”
Suzanne was silent for a moment, then said, “I never forgot but I couldn’t talk in the office. I didn’t want anyone overhearing and reporting back.”
“To who? What’s going on?” Jordan asked, sitting back down on the bed.
“You know Kenneth and Wallace Franklin were close, right?” Suzanne asked of Linc’s father and the company CFO.
“Yes.”
“Well, Wallace was aware of Kenneth’s quieter deals. He helped move money and allowed him to do things Linc didn’t know about. And this current contractual situation you were asking about? The man Kenneth went into partnership with was Beckett Daniels,” Suzanne said. “I didn’t want Wallace to know I was revealing information they expected me to keep secret.”
“Thank you, Suzanne. The revelation won’t be tracked back to you. I promise. And I’m really grateful you called me.”
“Of course! Mr. Kingston, Linc, I mean, was good to me. He kept me on and made sure I didn’t lose my job after his father died.” Suzanne sniffed. “If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to call after office hours.”
“I will. And thank you again.” Jordan hung up and glanced at the ceiling, trying to put pieces together.
Beckett Daniels. Beck. She knew the name. He was a definite competitor of Linc’s in many real estate deals, and they’d gone to college together and had once been close. She’d assumed they had drifted apart. But that’s all she knew.
Grabbing her purse, she headed to find Linc and fill him in on what she’d learned.
* * *
Linc sat in the study behind the desk in the corner. Since his father had had an office on the other side of the house, his mother used this room as her sanctuary, and for some reason, he’d retreated here now when he needed to think clearly.
He could wrap his head around his father doing sneaky deals behind his back. But even with Kenneth’s illness, Linc couldn’t comprehend him risking the company, and if he had tried to do such a thing, why would Wallace have let him?
No matter who he asked so far, he’d hit a dead end. No one he’d
