Finally she felt ready to approach Kade, whose office Derek told her was in the far right corner of the floor.
She knocked on the door.
“Come in,” he called out.
She drew a deep breath and walked into the room. A tall, dark-haired, broad-shouldered man stood behind an immaculate desk, clear of papers and clutter. Unlike Derek’s which had been exactly what she’d expected of a busy business mogul.
“Hi, I’m Cassie Storms,” she said, striding over and shaking his hand across his desk.
“Kade Barnes,” he said rather formally. He gestured to an empty chair, and as she took her seat, he did the same.
She could tell by looking at him he wasn’t comfortable with this meeting, and she thought she understood. Kade had been through his own PR nightmare, and he’d had to bare his soul on national television.
Now he had to talk to another reporter, even though it wasn’t about himself. “I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. I just want some insight into Derek in college. You and Lucas knew him best then.”
Kade nodded. “We were all similar, actually. We came from environments where we didn’t fit in, and when we met each other, we just clicked. A bunch of computer nerds who wanted to break out of their shells.” He raised a shoulder, maybe in embarrassment, she couldn’t be certain. Kade didn’t show his emotions and was difficult to read.
“So you’d call Derek a nerd?” she asked with a smile. “We talked once the summer before college,” she said, going back to that easy evening with a forbidden beer in her hand. “He didn’t strike me as overly nerdy.” He hadn’t been as built as he was now, but he did have muscles from helping his dad work outside.
She bit down on her lower lip. “He was determined, even then,” she mused, recalling how ready he was to go away to school. Just like she’d been.
“Definitely determined to succeed. Derek worked to pay for the extras above and beyond his scholarship. He was intent on making his parents proud. Especially his dad. Losing him took a toll.”
“I’m sure. I know they were close.”
“Right. You two have history,” Kade said, studying her, making her feel like a specimen to be examined.
“Right.” She refused to squirm. “Back to Derek’s drive to succeed.” She redirected Kade’s focus.
“We all had that. But in those days, I think we were all less … secure in who we were. More easily used and hurt,” he said, his words aimed directly at her, as was his fiery gaze.
“Aah. You’re going there,” she said, not surprised Kade knew her shared past with Derek, because the men were as close as brothers.
“I know you were a bitch,” Kade said.
She flinched but accepted the verbal punch because it had been true. She had treated Derek badly. But she didn’t plan to sit here and be insulted by his partner.
She rose to her feet. “I respect your honesty and how you’re looking out for your friend, but did it occur to you that Derek can handle himself? Or that I might not be the same person today I was back then?”
He didn’t answer.
“I didn’t think so. It was nice to meet you. I think I’ve gotten a sense of what Derek was like and who he surrounds himself with.” She turned and started for the door.
“Cassie, wait,” he said, in a deep albeit reluctant voice.
She paused and glanced over her shoulder, hand on the doorknob. “Yes?”
“Derek’s going to fucking kill me for being rude to you,” he muttered. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m sure you know I’ve been through a rough patch lately. Someone I once trusted did his best to destroy me. It makes me wary about people coming back into someone’s life. I questioned your motives and that wasn’t fair.”
She inclined her head, appreciating his apology and honesty. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m not looking to hurt Derek. In fact, I’m not looking for anything he doesn’t want to willingly give.”
“Good to know.”
She squeezed the handle tighter. “Derek is lucky to have such a loyal friend.”
“Right now, I’m not sure he’d agree with you,” Kade said and Cassie laughed. “Our conversation will be our secret,” she promised him.
He looked at her with what she hoped was appreciation in his gaze. At the very least, she saw a change from the wariness of earlier and she was grateful. Because Kade and Derek were close. And she wanted his friends to like her.
“Okay, on to the next adversary.”
A few minutes later, she found herself sitting beside Lucas on a couch in the corner of his office. Another good-looking, dark-haired man, but this one with an easy smile on his face.
“So how’s it going?” he asked her, reinforcing her impression that he was more relaxed than Kade, more like Derek in his demeanor.
“I’m having an interesting morning,” she said, putting it mildly. “I met with Kade earlier and he’s more intense.”
Lucas burst out laughing. “Did he put you through the wringer?”
“You could say that. But I understood his reasons.”
“We’re protective of each other. We’ve been given good reason,” he said, meeting her gaze.
She nodded. “I understand. And I’ll tell you what I told Kade. I have no evil intentions toward your friend.”
“Okay then. We can go on from there. So what can I tell you about Derek?” Lucas leaned back and grinned.