nothing like that.”
Gabrielle preferred to stand while Andrew appeared to be making himself quite comfortable in her quarters. “Well, then, what is it?” What would bring Andrew Jackson all the way from Marietta to her hotel room at night uninvited?
“You may not be aware, but James has developed a drinking problem and a gambling habit.”
Gabrielle folded her arms across her chest as she digested the information. For some reason, she wasn’t surprised. Her father had always wanted more. A better house, a better job, more money, nicer clothes. It wasn’t a stretch for her to imagine he thought he could win it at a casino table.
“He’s racked up quite a debt,” Andrew continued, watching Gabrielle carefully. She didn’t bat an eyelash and appeared unaffected by the information he’d just given her. Perhaps he’d underestimated how far she would go to protect her family.
“What’s it to you?” Gabrielle asked.
“To me?” Andrew asked. “I would imagine it would mean something to you since he’s in debt to the wrong sort.”
“And what do you mean by wrong sort?”
“The Goretti family,” Andrew answered swiftly. “You may not have heard of them, but they are the sort who don’t mind breaking a few ribs, if you get my drift.”
“I do. But if the ‘wrong sort’—” Gabrielle used her hands to make quotation marks “—are looking for money, they are barking up the wrong tree. I live within my means.”
Andrew raised a brow. “You don’t sugarcoat your words, young lady, so let me get straight to the point. I would be willing to pay your father’s debt, if you do something for me in return.”
“Of course.” Gabrielle laughed shrilly as understanding dawned on her. “You wouldn’t help him altruistically.”
They had come to the crux of why Andrew Jackson was there in the first place. He wanted something from her. What? She wasn’t sure. She couldn’t fathom what she could possibly offer him that was worthwhile. She had some money in savings for a rainy day, but that was about it. “What do you want, Mr. Jackson?”
A crooked smile spread across Andrew’s face. “I hear you’ve accepted a position with Adams Cosmetics. And that could be beneficial to me.”
Gabrielle frowned and several lines formed across her forehead. “I don’t understand. How so?”
Andrew couldn’t believe how naive Gabrielle was. He would have to spell it out. “You could supply me with information.”
“What kind of information?”
“Oh, you know…” He paused. “Their latest research, marketing and, of course, any upcoming products.” Andrew searched her face to ensure she was getting exactly what was on the table.
“You want me to commit corporate espionage?” Gabrielle couldn’t believe her ears.
“I wouldn’t call it that,” Andrew said. “I would say one hand is washing another. You give me information to help boost Jax Cosmetics and help level the playing field. In return, I save your father from a terrible fate at the hands of some mob henchmen.”
Gabrielle swallowed hard. There was a reason she had never quite trusted Andrew Jackson even as a child, and now she knew why. He was the devil incarnate.
“I think you should go, Mr. Jackson.” Gabrielle had heard enough and walked toward the door.
Slowly, Andrew rose to his feet, buttoned his suit jacket. He walked toward her and when he reached her, he glared down at her. “Listen, little girl, your father is in a bind.”
Gabrielle hated his condescending word usage, but couldn’t help replying much too petulantly to her liking, “My father is a grown man. He made his bed and he’ll have to lie in it.”
“So you would leave your father hanging in the wind?” Andrew asked. When she didn’t answer right away, Andrew knew there was still hope he could get her to do his bidding. “Why don’t you take a little time to think about it?” He opened the door to her suite. “I’ll be back in touch.”
Seconds later, the door closed behind him, and Gabrielle breathed a sigh of relief. What the hell had just happened? Had Andrew Jackson really just asked her to risk her job, her freedom and commit corporate espionage to save a father who in the past decade hadn’t shown an ounce of interest in her?
* * *
“Morning,” Shane said unenthusiastically at the breakfast table the next morning. It was a beautiful day, and their butler had set up a table out on the terrace so they could enjoy the fresh air.
“Hello, grumpy,” Courtney said as she poured granola over her fruit yogurt. She’d just enjoyed a leisurely dip in the pool and was famished.
“I’m not in the mood for you today, Courtney.” He’d slept fitfully the night before, barely getting a few hours of sleep, and now he was irritable. He reached for the carafe of coffee and poured a cup. He drank it black, uncharacteristically.
“Okay, okay.” Courtney held up her hands. “I will leave you alone.” She ran her fingers through her damp hair.
“What has got you in a bad mood?” his mother asked, sipping her coffee. It wasn’t like her son to be so snippy with his sister.
“No reason.” Shane lowered his head, adding some eggs and bacon to his plate from a nearby platter.
“Are you sure about that?” Elizabeth looked at her son suspiciously. She could read him and knew when he was hiding something. “How did it go with your new employee yesterday? You weren’t at dinner last night, so I couldn’t ask you how it went.”
“It went fine.” Shane dug his fork into his eggs and ate a generous amount.
“You could have fooled me,” Courtney returned. “I ran into her in the hall and she looked positively flustered.”
“Puh-lease,” Shane responded, taking a bite of bacon. “Gabrielle Burton can hold her own. She gave as good as she got.”
“But you were professional?” his mother countered.
“Of course, Mom. Courtney here even took her out for lunch on her first day.”
“That was kind of you,” their mother replied, turning to her daughter. “Is she as bad as Shane says?”
“No,” Courtney said, glaring at Shane. “She’s a lovely woman, though she could use a little fixing up. I told her I would help her.”
“So she’s your new pet project?” Shane inquired, raising an eyebrow. “I believe you have better and more important things to do with your time at Adams Cosmetics than fix up some straightlaced prude.”
“Shane!” Elizabeth was flabbergasted at her son’s response.
“See, I told you, Mama.” Courtney pointed at Shane. “He has it out for her. He wants her to fail.” For some reason, she felt as if she had to fight for Gabby, maybe because she was the only woman who’d ever gotten under her brother’s skin.
“I do not have it out for her,” Shane replied testily. “Nothing I’ve said isn’t the truth. You know as well as I do that Gabrielle Burton could stand to loosen up a bit.”
“But there’s no reason to be mean,” their mother admonished. “That is no way to treat a lady. I’m warning you, Shane. I better not hear that you’ve mistreated the young woman.”
Shane rolled his eyes at his younger sister. He didn’t appreciate a scolding by his mother. He was a grown man, after all. “If you’ll excuse me.” He scooted back from the table, nearly knocking his chair over. “I wouldn’t want to burden you with my presence.” He walked off the terrace and headed toward the