Chapter 1
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Present Day...
“I’m going across the street for coffee before we open,” Emma Cooper informed her new boss from his office doorway. “Would you like something?”
Jake McQueen glanced up from his desk and shook his head. “I’m good. But thanks for the offer.”
“Of course.” She started to leave.
“Emma, wait.”
Turning, she faced the formidable man. “Yes?”
“You’re doing a great job. I just thought you should know that.”
“Oh.” She smiled. “Thank you.”
Jake stood and came around to the front of his desk. “I know this position came up suddenly, but we’re very lucky to have you filling in for Gracie while she’s on bedrest. With your clean background, your security clearance went through easily, which is a huge bonus. You’ve caught on well, are great with our current and potential clients...members of both the Alpha and Bravo teams have even made comments about what a good fit you are for a job like this. And before you ask, it has nothing to do with you being Coop’s sister.”
Sean “Coop” Cooper was Emma’s older brother. He was a former Ranger who joined the black ops security company a few years ago when he got out of the Army. He was also the person who’d told her about the temporary opening to begin with.
But it was good to know everyone thought she was holding her own and not curtailing off her brother’s position.
Everyone at R.I.S.C. had been super nice and helpful since she’d started here two weeks ago. Gracie Carter, the company’s regular office manager and wife to one of the guys on Bravo Team, had been put on bed rest by her OBGYN.
At twenty-four weeks pregnant, Gracie was still pretty far from her due date. But the sweet woman had recently been diagnosed with preeclampsia, so the doctor wanted to be on the safe side.
Emma had spent an afternoon with her so Gracie could show her the ropes. After that, it was pretty much baptism by fire. Like with most things she tackled in life, Emma had jumped in with both feet running.
“I really like it here.” She smiled at Jake before teasing, “It’s too bad you don’t needtwooffice managers.”
Okay, so that last comment had been half-tease, half-truth. Since the time she’d grown old enough to work, Emma had tried all sorts of jobs. Waitressing, cooking and baking, bartending...
It wasn’t that she didn’t have a good work ethic. Quite the opposite, actually. She put her heart and soul into whatever she was doing at the time she was doing it.
The problem was, she still had yet to find a job she could see herself in long-term. One that gave her a true sense of satisfaction and belonging.
Until now.
An office job was never something she saw herself doing. But one like this, with this boss helping to make sure a kick-ass security team like her brother’s had what they needed...this wasn’t your typical secretary position.
Sure, she answered phones and made copies, but she also did other things.Importantthings.
Because Jake had crazy-impressive connections, he was able to expedite her security clearance. This allowed her to receive and send communications about the teams’ ops to various government agencies.
How cool was that?