Protecting the Heiress. Martha Kennerson

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       Chapter 1

      Francine Blake walked past the midlevel cubicles and glass office doors, smiling and speaking to everyone she passed.

      “Morning, Francine. Great job last night. I know it was supposed to be work, but I had a blast covering security for the mayor’s party,” Jay said, giving her a wide smile.

      It had been the first time that Francine had worked with the junior agent. She returned his smile. “Thanks, you did a great job, too.”

      Francine Blake was a partner in her family’s twenty-five-year-old multibillion-dollar international security firm and private detective agency based in Houston, Texas, which specialized in both corporate and personal matters for elite clientele. Francine, a security specialist who also had a degree in forensic science, had joined the firm five years earlier as a field agent and within the past year had taken over as its chief executive officer—responsible for the sales and administrative aspects of the organization—after her father’s retirement, into which his family had forced him after a major health scare.

      “I emailed the detailed summary report of last night’s activities out to everyone, and I included all the pictures.” Jay started walking toward the elevators.

      “Wait, you attached all the pictures?” she asked with a slight hitch in her voice.

      “Yeah, why?” he replied as he pushed the down button on the elevator.

      “No reason. Have a nice day and stay safe out there,” Francine said as she watched Jay enter the elevator.

      Francine sighed and gave her head a slow shake. It had been quite a while since the twenty-eight-year-old had to play a role in the field in such a dynamic fashion and while she’d had a blast doing it, she didn’t relish the grief she knew was coming: having to explain her actions to her father, Meeks and other board members who still didn’t completely trust her judgment. While Francine had always secretly lusted after her extremely handsome business partner Meeks Montgomery and his beautiful body, their close connection prevented them from exploring anything beyond a friendship. She turned and continued on toward the conference room, only to be stopped again. This time, it was one of their office researchers.

      “Dang, girl, I saw the pictures from last night’s party. You wore the heck out of that dress,” the pretty young researcher said, giving Francine a half smile and a raised eyebrow.

      “It was work,” Francine protested.

      “Whatever, looked like a party to me. Anyway, where did you get that dress, and did it come in any other colors?” she asked.

      Francine ignored her question. “Who else saw the pictures?” she asked, unable to hide the surprise in her voice. In that moment, she could feel Meeks, standing nearby, staring at her. Their connection was like a heat-seeking missile whenever they were in the same room. A fact that wasn’t hard to miss. Francine cut her gaze to the cubicle where Meeks and his assistant Jeremy stood, clearly listening to their conversation.

      The young researcher tilted her head and frowned. “We all did, and I have to say, if you ever decide to give up this CEO gig, I know a high-end modeling agency I could hook you up with,” she said as she walked off laughing.

      “Great, just great,” Francine murmured to herself as she walked past the cubicle where all the guys were congregating. She ignored Meeks’s smug look, but before she could make it across the threshold of the conference room, she was handed a cup of espresso and a manila folder by a pretty but obviously nervous blonde she’d never seen before.

      “Here’s your espresso with extra milk just like you like it, and the client information you requested, Ms. Blake.”

      Francine was about to introduce herself when she heard another voice behind her. “Cine, I think that’s meant for me. Thanks, Kelly,” Farrah said, walking toward her sister.

      Francine turned to greet her, only to be taken aback by what she saw. Farrah was dressed in the same company uniform that Francine was wearing—black cargo pants, a black fitted T-shirt with the company’s red-and-black logo and combat boots, except that her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. It was like looking into a mirror—almost. The Blake triplets were near identical except for their eye color. However, it had been a long time since she and Farrah had actually dressed alike.

      Francine rolled her eyes skyward in acknowledgment of the confusion. “Farrah, what’s with the outfit?”

      “What are you talking about?” she questioned, looking down at herself.

      “What am I talking about? You’re dressed like one of our agents instead of a lawyer—the head of our legal department. I thought you had an appointment at the courthouse today,” Francine said, gesturing to her sister’s outfit. “And we both know you can’t go to court dressed СКАЧАТЬ