BAD INTENTIONS (BAD #1)

CHAPTER 9

XANDER

I meet Sebastian at the headquarters after I take a shower and get dressed. I barely arrive on time and I head straight to the track after leaving Brianna in my office. I ask my secretary to keep an eye on her so hopefully she can stay out of trouble for a couple minutes while Sebastian and I show Derek Collins one of our cars. At least I know she can't throw a party in my office.

I choose one of my personal favorite models and drive up on the track where Sebastian is waiting with Derek and his wife. I get out of the car and walk up to them.

"Derek, Savannah, this is my oldest brother, Xander," Sebastian says then he looks at me. "Xander, this is Derek and his wife, Savannah."

I nod at them as I take off my sunglasses. I shake Derek's hand and then his wife's. "It's a pleasure. Thank you both for coming."

Derek puts his arm around his wife's waist as he grins. "I'm loyal to my Teslas, but I'm willing to make an exception," he says jokingly.

He's a charming guy. I don't really follow Hollywood since I stepped away from the big screen years ago, but even I have heard about the famous Derek Collins. Everyone was talking about his wedding before my parents' car crash. I can see why he gets along with my brother so well right away.

I chuckle. "I promise you won't regret it." I turn to look at the platinum car. "So? What do you think?"

He follows me to the car and I use my best salesman skills to sell it to him while his wife waits with Sebastian and her bodyguard.

I don't care about this company just because of the family name but because I truly believe in what we do. I will admit that when my father told us that he wanted to go into this business, I didn't think he was serious. He was an actor, a Hollywood star and while he did know how to run a business, what did he know about making electric cars? And then he told us Mateo was going to be a part of it and it made more sense. Mateo is an engineer. He has built a lot of companies from scratch and sold them once they were worth money. That's how he has made a living until now that he's a part of the company. Needless to say, we're lucky to have Mateo especially now that Dad is gone.

"That went well," I say to Sebastian after Derek leaves in the car with his wife. "Let me know when he gets you in contact with this Ryker Roberts. I think it would help a lot to sponsor a race car driver."

Sebastian nods. "I will. Where did you leave Bri?"

"In my office," I say as we walk back inside the building. "Hopefully she didn't decide to throw a party in there."

Sebastian chuckles. "That's a bit dramatic."

I sigh. "At this point, nothing is dramatic with her behavior lately."

We get on the elevator and I turn to look at my brother.

"Does the name Caroline ring any bells?"

I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me to ask him. Maybe because I know he probably doesn't know her.

Sebastian looks at me and frowns. "Caroline? Nope. Why? Who is she?"

"She has been living in our parents' house for the past four months," I say as the elevator stops. The doors open and we walk out and start heading to my office.

"Wait, what?"

"Yeah," I say. "Apparently, Mom had been leasing the house to her and she never told us."

"Are you sure this Caroline isn't lying?"

"Yes, I'm sure. I checked Mom's bank account. Plus, it explained why the house already had utilities."