Elliot

She looks up, and her gaze makes the hair on the back of my neck rise.

"I'm flattered you're paying so much attention to me."

I hold back a growl. She smiles when she sees my expression.

"A contract like this requires my full attention," she explains, tapping the paper with the tip of her pen. "I'm not signing anything until I've reviewed all the fine print."

"You're not special enough for there to be any fine print."

She doesn't seem offended in the least by my comment, which irritates me even more. What is it with this woman? Why doesn't she fall in line like everyone else? It's as if she feeds on rainbows. I don't know what fairy-tale forest she crawled out of, but no one can be this optimistic.

"You're nothing like your grandfather described."

My hands tighten around the wooden armrests, making them creak.

"What did you just say?"

Years of practice are the only reason I manage to keep my tone flat and disinterested.

"Forget it," she says when she notices my clenched fists. "It just slipped out."

There's no forgetting a statement like that. I'm trapped: either I press her for an answer or pretend her comment didn't affect me.

"Whatever my grandfather mentioned in passing to a stranger was nothing more than idle chatter."

She lets out a little laugh but says nothing more and returns to reading. That's it? I want to know more.

"How did you end up talking to my grandfather?"

"It was fate," she replies with a shrug. "And it wasn't just one conversation. There were several."

Great. I'm betting my entire fortune on someone who believes in fate.

"And what did you talk about?"

"That's between Owen and me."

Owen? That's the second time I've heard her call him by his first name.

"He had plenty to say about you," she says with a conspiratorial smile.

My chest tightens.

"I don't think I want to know, but..."

"But at the same time, you can't help being curious," she adds, her smile widening.

When I roll my eyes, her face lights up like the damn fireworks they set off at Wondervale. It's strange. She seems genuinely interested in my company instead of simply trying to get something from me.

My skin prickles beneath her inquisitive gaze.

"Don't worry. He didn't tell me that much about you, only that out of his three grandsons, you were the dreamer. And he was very excited about you succeeding him as director one day. According to him, it's your calling. I'm sure he'd be happy to see you in his office, destroying his favorite chair."

Mira points to the armrests I'm gripping as though they're life preservers. I release them and crack my knuckles.

"Is that all?"

"Basically, yes. Sorry to disappoint you. We were pretty busy discussing other things, but I remember how highly he thought of his grandsons."

The burning in my chest intensifies tenfold. I take several deep breaths to ease the tension in my muscles.

Mira scrawls her signature at the bottom of the final page before handing the folder back to me. As I take the contract, I deliberately press my fingers against hers. The same strange sensation from earlier sparks between us and makes me pause. Startled, Mira jerks her hand away before hiding it in the folds of her dress.

Interesting. It seems our connection is real after all.

"When do I start?"

She stands and adjusts her dress. I force my gaze away from the curve of her waist and look her in the eye.

"Monday. Be here at nine sharp."

"Thank you for this opportunity. I was in shock earlier when I said no, but I'm truly grateful. I'll do everything I can not to let you down."

Color suddenly rises in her cheeks.

Her reactions to the simplest things are fascinating. What other situations would make her blush? For a brief moment, an image flashes through my mind of her crimson lips wrapped around something incredibly inappropriate.

She's one of your employees. Get a grip, damn it. The uncontrollable reaction sweeping through my body like a row of falling dominoes unsettles me. I've never been attracted to an employee. It's not my style.

What makes her different? And how do I put a stop to whatever she does to me?

Tense, I release a long sigh.

"You know where the exit is."

With that, I add her contract to the pile of paperwork for Diane. Mira picks up her backpack from the floor before turning on her heel, revealing at least fifty pins scattered across the back pocket.

Where do they all come from, and why does she carry them everywhere?

One of them catches my eye, stealing my breath. It draws my attention not because it's flashy, but because it stands out among the others. Most people wouldn't give it a second glance, but I know the symbol and what it represents all too well.

It seems appearances can be deceiving when it comes to Miss Bubbly: the understated pin is a black semicolon.

---

"How's it going?" Adrian asks, leaning toward the camera.

"My schedule is packed with meetings from nine in the morning until nine at night, but I think I finally have an idea of what needs to be done."

Thanks to Mira.

"At least one of my brothers is taking this seriously," my older brother says.

A jab aimed at Nico.

"I'm waiting for the right moment," Nico replies, his jaw tight.

"Sounds like an excuse to me," I say.

In response, he rubs his eyebrow with his middle finger. Adrian lets out an exasperated sigh.

"Elliot, let's focus on your plan first. I'll deal with Nico afterward."

"I don't need you controlling everything I do. Have a little faith in me and let me handle the situation my way. I've already proven myself."

Adrian rubs his chin thoughtfully.

"Yes, but this project is crucial. If one of us fails..."

I clench my teeth in irritation.

"We all fail," I finish. "I understood the first five times you said it. Give me the freedom I need to find a solution, will you? I'm not constantly checking whether you've found a wife who meets your unreasonable criteria."

"There are no criteria in this process because it's a contractual obligation. All I care about is finding a pragmatic, fertile woman with a face proportionate enough to be considered attractive."

"With charm like that, I bet you'll be walking down the aisle in no time," Nico comments with a broad grin.

Our older brother glares at the camera.

"Can I be your best man?" Nico continues. "Think carefully before you decide. Elliot doesn't know the first thing about planning a bachelor party. His idea of a good night is smoking cigars at your place."

"Yes, because it is," I retort.

"Think about it: Las Vegas. Buffets, strip clubs, casinos..." my brother continues, counting each item off on his fingers.

"If you're trying to convince me, you lost me at 'Las Vegas.'"

"Adrian's favorite place is within the four walls of his apartment," I add with a snicker.

"Fine. I'll compromise and bring Las Vegas to your place."

"Neither of you will be my best man. I plan to elope."

"Ha!" Nico scoffs. "You and Elliot are so boring. No wonder you get along so well. Only you would pass up the chance to throw a huge party just so you could have a small wedding."

Adrian gives us the small smile reserved for the two of us.

"You sound jealous," he says.

Suddenly, Audrey's voice comes through my older brother's microphone.

"Mr. Vale. Mr. Johnson is waiting on line one. Fair warning: he's in a foul mood."

"Is old Johnson still giving her hell?" Nico asks.

"Did he threaten you again?" Adrian asks before muting his microphone.

Whatever Audrey tells him makes the vein in his neck throb. After a minute, he shakes his head and turns his microphone back on.

"One day you'll regret making her work weekends. Audrey is spending the best years of her life looking after a grumpy old man like you," Nico says.

My older brother's jaw twitches.

"Next week," he says tersely. "Same time."

With that, he ends the call, leaving me staring at a black screen.

Instead of going home for dinner, I open Mira's electronic file. Something about the way she spoke of my grandfather has been bothering me since she left my office. I'd be an idiot to believe what she says about him, but...

My preliminary search revealed nothing interesting besides the fact that Mira has been a devoted employee of The Magic Wand since her senior-year internship.

Frustrated by the lack of findings, I decide to reread everything, from her first job interview at Wondervale to her college transcripts. I even find myself clicking on an employee proposal dated more than three years ago. At the bottom of the page, I find a virtual sticky note signed by my grandfather two months before his accident.

Schedule a meeting with Miss Damien to discuss improvements to her project.

I reread the entire document once more. Mira submitted a project proposal for Nebula Land? That's strange, considering the piece she submitted this time was highly critical of the attraction.

I open the Nebula Land presentation the creators approved two years ago to compare it with Mira's version. A man named Victor Baker submitted the same concept as hers, embellished with a few flourishes. How did they come up with such similar ideas? Were they partners? Did they have a falling-out?

My questions keep piling up, but I find nothing to satisfy my curiosity. I don't uncover any other proposals in the information I have on Mira. So she hasn't submitted anything else until this year?

Why did she stop after that first project? And who the hell is Victor Baker?