Page 15 of Tamed

Of course, the fact that the Hamiltons hadn’t moved before now would hurt her. Then again, maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. Maybe that would stop her from rushing headlong into contact with them.

“I have no idea,” I said. “Though it might have something to do with you being on the verge of being named Ten’s official successor at Fox Tech.”

A rebellious light glittered in her eyes. “That's what all this security bullshit’s about then? You and Dad wanting to stop them from contacting me?”

It was clear she didn’t see the danger, and of course she wouldn’t. Because it wasn’t only the power and the wealth of the Hamiltons that were the issue, but also the fame. A long-lost Hamilton turning up out of the blue would hit the headlines in a major way and it wouldn’t be only the media who’d be interested. Ten and I had made enemies in our climb out of the streets and that already made her a target. If her origins as a Hamilton became known then she’d become an even bigger target, the number of enemies doubling overnight.

Our enemies were known, we could handle them. But enemies of the Hamiltons? Of which a number would be random opportunists thinking to make a quick buck? Yeah, that could make things even more difficult for her.

But Isabel wouldn’t think of that. All she saw was a chance to find out about the missing piece in her life: her mother.

“Yes.” I kept my voice hard. “That’s exactly what we want.”

“And what about me? What about what I want?”

“You don’t know what you want.” I didn’t bother sugarcoating this either because it was only the truth. “You’re only fucking twenty-three.”

Her cheeks were now flushed, her whole body almost vibrating with the force of her fury. She’d clenched her fingers so tight that her knuckles were white. “I’m not a child, Caleb. Stop treating me like one.”

“Then start acting like a goddamn adult and listen to me.”

Her full mouth compressed into a hard line, but she said nothing.

“Do you have any idea how many enemies a family like the Hamiltons have?” I went on. “Or of how big the target will be on your back once it hits the media that a long-lost Hamilton has been found? You’re the grand-daughter of Charlotte Hamilton, the matriarch, and there’ll be people who’ll see you as an opportunity to—”

“I get it,” she interrupted for the third time. “That horse is well and truly dead, fuck’s sake. But there has to be some other way that doesn’t consist of denying me information about my mom and confining me to my room for the rest of my natural life.”

I eyed her. She looked about ready to blow and who could blame her? It wasn’t every day you found out that you were related to one of the most powerful families in the country. Then being told the security measures that were already suffocating you were only going to increase? Yeah, I’d have been fucking pissed too.

However, there was no other way. Her safety was too important and neither Ten nor I were going to compromise on that. If the Hamiltons got hold of her and it all hit the headlines…Who knew who could come crawling out of the woodwork? And if that happened, no matter what Ten said about not wanting a war, the three of us would bring one if it came to that. We’d bring down this entire fucking city if need be.

“Sit down, Isabel.” I tried to make it a request rather than an order, since pushing her into losing her temper, while spectacular, would not make my life any easier and I had shit to do this afternoon. I didn’t want to spend the entire day arguing with her about her safety.

It was clear that the last thing she wanted to do was sit, but at that moment, there was a knock on my office door. “Come,” I said, and the door opened, a harried looking member of the cleaning staff rushing in.

It might have been an interruption, but at least it broke the tension. As the woman started doing what she could for the stain on my carpet, Isabel, after standing stiffly by the windows for a minute or so, finally came over to the chair in front of my desk and sat down.

“Thank you, Kayla,” I said as the cleaner finished up. “Can you ask Sally to bring us some tea on your way out?”

She nodded and left, closing the door behind her.

A silence fell.

Isabel gazed fixedly at her hands twisted in her lap.

“Perhaps the tea was a mistake,” I said. “Am I going to get a cup in my face?”

“What? And ruin your precious carpet?”

“You’ve already ruined it. Surely a little bit of tea won’t make that much difference?”

Isabel’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “It might to your suit,” she said.

“I’m sure my suit can handle it.”

“I bet. You probably have a hundred just like it in your closet.” She didn’t look at me. “You’re like…Stepford CEO or something. CEO bot.”

“No, that’s your father.”