Hero Duty by Jenny Schwartz Page B

of Numbat to Jessica. Knowledge might be power, but Jessica was awash in company, project and personnel names. Dates floated by, two millennia distant from the time of the Hittites where her mind usually dwelt. Business jargon dotted the conversation with scant pause for definitions or explanation.
    Jessica pushed aside her coffee cup, shook her head decisively at the offer of a refill and scowled at Brodie. ‘Stop nodding your head and looking thoughtful as if everything Vera says makes sense to you.’
    He sat beside her at the table, close enough that when they moved, their shoulders brushed. Now, he withdrew a fraction and frowned at her. ‘What? Hired muscle isn’t meant to think?’
    The comment intensified her scowl. She could feel it cutting lines in her forehead. ‘I am not my stupid stepbrother. Take that back.’
    ‘You said it.’
    ‘I did not.’ She was tired, cross and feeling inadequate. ‘We’re not all strategic thinkers, like you, you know. The least you could do is pretend that you don’t understand along with me.’
    ‘What don’t you understand?’ Vera was bright-eyed, invigorated by her hour-long lecture, followed by the even longer question-and-answer session.
    ‘I don’t know what I don’t know.’ Jessica rested her head in her hands. ‘Is there anyone in Numbat who simply does their job without trying to advance their own agenda?’
    ‘Not at head office,’ Vera said cheerfully.
    ‘It’s what happens to a group that lacks a leader.’ Brodie scooted his chair back and began massaging the tight muscles at the base of Jessica’s neck.
    Her incipient headache vanished under a wave of sheer physical pleasure. ‘But Numbat has Joe as CEO. He could lead armies.’
    ‘I’ll take your word for it.’ Brodie sounded amused.
    She opened an eye that had closed in bliss. Yep, definitely amused. She twitched away from him, belatedly aware that she was leaning into his touch in a café at a business meeting. After he’d told her that there could be nothing personal between them. Anger and embarrassment had the unexpected effect of clearing her brain. ‘Two generals.’
    ‘Pardon?’
    Jessica stared at Vera. ‘Numbat didn’t lack a leader. It had two. Dad and Joe were slogging it out for control.’
    The older woman sighed and nodded. ‘Joe has the business skills Ian lacked. But Ian controlled your veto power. It muddled things.’
    Jessica glanced sideways at Brodie.
    ‘That’s the way I see it.’ He leaned back in his chair, stretching. ‘Not so much a power vacuum as a too-even contest. It needs to end.’
    ‘It has. Dad’s dead.’ It sounded stark.
    ‘Derek has signalled that he intends to step into Ian’s shoes,’ Vera said neutrally.
    Jessica sighed. ‘I know. But Joe handled him today.’
    ‘After you signalled that Derek didn’t own you,’ Brodie pointed out. ‘If Derek did control you…’
    ‘Then Numbat is trapped back in the power struggle of Dad’s years. More pressure.’ Her skin crawled at the thought of Derek controlling her or Pops’ company, but just as dismal was the thought of being trapped herself in the world of business. Although that wasn’t something she wanted to share right now with Vera, her new ally.
    It had been only too clear over the last few hours that Vera revelled in the Machiavellian ploys that seethed through the corridors of Numbat.
    Jessica hated her suspicions, but she had to consider Vera’s loyalty and what her ambitions were. Evidently she disliked Derek. Did that make her one of Joe’s people?
    No. As confused and ugly as her feelings and grief for her dad were, he had been good at reading people. If Vera had been Joe’s spy, her dad would have gotten rid of her years ago.
    Then again, his death changed the situation.
    Jessica dug her fingers into her scalp.
    ‘Brain overload,’ Brodie diagnosed. ‘Time to shop.’
    Her fingers froze. She turned her head slowly. ‘What?’
    ‘Everything Vera’s said. You need