“Should I pour?” She indicated the coffee service sitting before them.
Jonas’s brow arched. “If you like.”
He sat back as she poured the coffee and handed him then Mercury a cup before she took her own, balanced it on the delicate china saucer and sat back.
Lifting the cup by its handle, she inhaled first, her brain sparking in anticipation before she sipped cautiously. It was really hard to find good coffee.
She was pleased to discover this brew was some of the best. Her lashes almost fluttered in ecstasy.
Jonas chuckled. “You like your coffee,” he commented as he drank his own, staring back at her with those odd silver eyes of his.
“I adore my coffee.” She took another sip, then relaxed further against the couch and glanced between him and Mercury.
She had arrived the day before and been taken to the cabin Dane had rented for her. It sat on the edge of Sanctuary, but not within the boundary of the compound itself.
Nearly a half mile from the cabin, a secured perimeter had been set up. She knew most of the equipment was designed to be fenceless. Both Vanderale Industries as well as Seth Lawrence’s various companies had contributed to the security of Sanctuary.
Lions roamed the Sanctuary side of the border, and Breeds patrolled it tirelessly. She had heard the lions roar the night before, obviously patrolling the perimeter despite the cold temperatures that had descended over the mountain.
It was only the first of October and already temperatures were dipping into the freezing zone. She could feel that cold clear to her bones.
“I understand Vanderale’s concerns, Miss Rodriquez…”
“Oh please, call me Ria.” She smiled back at him blandly. “There’s no need to stand on ceremony. After all, I do know your family quite well.”
His expression went blank, but his silver eyes flared with sudden animosity.
“I very much doubt that,” he growled.
She blinked back at him. “But I do. Your father and your brother looked after me after the death of my mother. They’ve been quite kind.”
His eyes narrowed as she literally rubbed his nose in the fact that he couldn’t exactly treat her like an employee. And he certainly didn’t seem to accept the fact of his parentage very well. Unlike Callan, Jonas’s mother hadn’t been Leo’s mate. Only Leo’s sperm and another scientist’s egg were used in his creation.
Mercury shifted dangerously in the chair beside him, his gaze turning on Jonas, the amber darkening before he glanced back at Ria.
“Ria.” Jonas smiled back at her with heavy mockery. “As I’m certain you know, I’ve investigated you just as well as Dane,” he growled the name, “has investigated Sanctuary and all its inhabitants. The Vanderales didn’t adopt you. And you aren’t a treasured daughter.”
Ria set the cup back on the table, folded her hands in her lap and stared back at him placidly. He wasn’t telling her something she wasn’t already aware of.
“Mr. Wyatt, I never hinted at any such thing. I said I know your family quite well. I’ve worked for Leo and Dane since I was eighteen years old, as you know. They paid for my education, and before that they paid for my upbringing.” She leaned forward just enough to let him know she wasn’t intimidated by his heavy stare. “Never doubt, I am a cherished friend of the Vanderale family, and as such, my loyalty to the family, the company and the job I’m sent to do is above reproach. I have been sent to catalog, categorize and, in essence, determine whether or not Sanctuary is secure enough to continue to receive all the handy little toys we make certain Sanctuary gets to play with first. Do not doubt that my opinion carries weight. And do not doubt that my job is secure, no matter the protests you make. Now,” she sat back against the couch, “shall we do this in a civilized fashion or do I get to listen to you growl and snarl and flash those wickedly sharp canines in my direction, as your brother does, when he’s unreasonably upset?”
Jonas growled.
“Jonas.” Mercury leaned forward, almost protectively.
Ria kept her gaze on the dangerously shifting colors in Jonas’s eyes as Mercury drew his attention.
“What?” Jonas asked carefully.
“If you break any more furniture in this office,” Ria looked around the room, speaking before Mercury could, “then Callan may begin limiting you on your office account. I was going over the office supply records just last week. It appears that in six months this office was refurbished with two different walnut coffee tables, as well as a very sturdy metal one. You’ve lost three secretaries in one year, and the glass in your apartment has been replaced twice. You have quite a temper, don’t you, sir?”
“Or something.” His smile was tight.
Ria waited for the truth as he stared her down. She knew the truth. The windows in his apartment were due to several attempts on his life. The metal coffee table had taken an uncontained blast from an explosive that had slipped past their security, a highly advanced explosive. The two wooden tables had most likely been temper, though.
Finally, she allowed her gaze to flicker, as though she understood his alpha position. He hadn’t researched her enough. She didn’t even bow down to Dane.
“Very well.” She breathed in deeply. “I truly don’t wish to antagonize you. But it’s best that we know up front why I’m here. It’s my job to determine if the funds Sanctuary receives should continue, be raised, reduced or halted all together. It’s your job to make certain I have complete access to all your files involving any purchases, payments, contracts or outside services provided by Sanctuary in both electronic and hard-copy form. I’d like to get to work tomorrow if you don’t mind.”
She bent, picked up her coffee and sipped at it as she crossed her knees and waited.
He was obviously restraining his snarl, while Mercury was watching her with a flash of amusement in his eyes.
Jonas, unfortunately, was too much like Dane. Unfortunately for him, because Ria had learned how to deal with Dane years before. She received bling in the form of jewels from around the world in payment for allowing him to manipulate her. And he did so manipulate her.
She smiled back at Jonas. “I’m really a very nice person. Plenty of coffee helps.”
Mercury snorted. Jonas glared back at her.
“Dane Vanderale is behind this, isn’t he?” He lifted his lip in a sneer. “That’s why the Leo is suddenly so interested in how his money is being spent.”
Ria frowned. “The Leo cannot be manipulated, Mr. Wyatt. Once you get to know him, you’ll learn that.” Perhaps the hard way, just as Dane often did.
Jonas was suspicious, though, and that did not bode well for Dane. Or for her. Leo wouldn’t fire her, but boy, would he make sure she’d wish he’d done something so humane as simply firing her.
Leo knew her. He knew how to guilt her. And he could use it with shocking strength.
“What exactly do you need?” Jonas asked her from between clenched teeth.
“As I stated, hard-copy and/or electronic-copy information regarding purchases, contracts, sales or negotiations concerning those. The only things I don’t require on individual Breeds are lab files or sensitive mission reports. Anything concerning the business of Sanctuary should be made available to me.”
“And this will take you how long?” he snapped out.
Regret shimmered inside her, because she knew she was close to antagonizing him, perhaps making an enemy of him. And he did remind her so much of Dane. She was very fond of Dane, even if he was a manipulating, calculating coldhearted male for convincing her to come here.
The Leo was going to kill them both, but the danger Sanctuary faced terrified her. She looked from Jonas to Mercury and let her demeanor soften marginally.