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Why was I talking so much? Her nerves must have worn off on me, and I didn’t like it one bit. I cleared my throat, nodding toward the table so we could get back to business.

While Shantel led Farrah through the onboarding paperwork, I sipped my coffee and responded to emails on my phone. When they reached the part explaining her compensation, I glanced up to see her reaction.

As she read the number, she covered her mouth with her hand, but quickly removed it, a slight shake to her fingers.

Good.

She was impressed.

I always paid my people well. It made them work harder, be more loyal to the company, and ultimately... I could.

And if they ever chose to leave, they’d know they would never be able to do better anywhere else.

A call came through my cell from my brother, Tyler, and I stepped out of the room to answer it. “Everything okay?” I asked. He and his new wife recently opened a boutique apartment building for seniors, and residents had just begun moving in.

“We’re great,” Tyler said, excitement making him talk quickly. “Every room is rented as of this morning!”

“That’s great!” I said. “Can I take you and Henrietta out for drinks to celebrate?”

“You have time in that busy billionaire schedule for weekday drinks?”

“I never said when. I can have Mia pencil you in my schedule in... eighteen months?”

“Ha ha,” Tyler replied. “We have a community get-to-know-you party tonight, but we can do Thursday. Want me to invite Rhett and Liv?”

“As long as Rhett doesn’t bring his woman of the week,” I muttered. Our youngest brother always had a different girl on his arm, and they weren’t all fun to talk to for an hour, possibly more.

“Siblings only, got it.”

“I’ll have Mia set it up,” I said. “Talk to you then.”

We hung up, and I went back into the conference room in time to see Shantel packing up her bag and laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, going back to my coffee.

Shantel smiled, seeming happier than usual. “Farrah has a good sense of humor. I like her.”

I nodded, not cracking a smile myself. The success of Griffen Industries had changed a lot of things. Once you have money, you never know who’s being real with you and who’s looking to get ahead. Now that I had so much to lose, I needed to be more careful with my words because anything I said could be twisted and put on the news the very next day. But if my employees got along, all the better.

Shantel snapped the clasps on her briefcase and then picked up a croissant from the small pile Mia provided.

Mia gave Farrah a smile. “Want a pastry before Shantel and I get back to the office?”

Reaching for one, Farrah said, “It’s better than the crusts of a Nutella strawberry sandwich.”

Shantel laughed again. “How old are your kids?”

Love shined in Farrah’s eyes as she said, “Fourteen, eight, and five. Two boys and a girl.”

“I have one of each,” Shantel said. “Twins.”

Farrah kissed three fingers and held them up.

I had no idea what strange ritual they were doing, but Shantel did it back, laughing. Farrah already had Mia and Shantel wrapped around her finger. Much better than the last interior designer who had permanent stink eye. I had to let him go because everyonehatedworking with him, including the suppliers who were constantly pushing back delivery dates. He barely managed to complete the pool area in six months.

Mia confirmed my appointments for me and then said goodbye, shooting Farrah a thumbs-up she thought I didn’t notice.

I noticed everything. Including the corner of a tag peeking from Farrah’s sleeve.