"What did you say your aunts last name was?", Phillip asked all of a sudden, eyebrows drawn together.

He had been going through loads of your fathers old books, especially the ones about history. World wars and Vietnam but also ones that documented older wars like the French Revolution.

It made you look up from your documents.

"Why ask?", you sighed.

His lips curled, he drew circles into the inside of his cheek.

"Just curious.", he said but it was obvious that he had more than innocent intentions. "You're a Washington. But she's your moms sister so she won't be a Washington, right?"

You took a deep breath, put the pen down and leaned back in the office chair.

"My mother was a Phillis.", you said, your eyes following his every move.

With a hum he kept to the book he held in his hands.

World War 2. German offence tactics.

"So May Phillis.", he said, more to himself than to you.

"Her middle name is Claire."

"May Claire Phillis. Interesting choice."

"My mother was named Charlotte. But dad called her Charlie. Her middle name was Marien."

"CM and MC."

You shrugged.

"Sisters, bund by more than blood."

"I'm not sure if I'd ever to somethin' like that to my kids.", he closed the book to put it back into place. "Ya sure you wanna keep workin'? You should call it quits for today, suga."

With a smile, you followed his every move through the room, watched how he looked around and finally took a seat at the desk.

Casually, he let one leg rest on the other. Arms spread in both armrests, he leaned so far back he almost lay in the chair.

His eyes met yours.

Bright blue collided with exhausted (E/C). The events of the past hours were clearly visible on your face. But your eyes let him see even deeper.

Strangely enough, it made your heart skip a beat. All of a sudden you felt all warm. As if his presence made you feel safe.

It was strange but you hadn't felt this way in your own home ever since your fathers funeral.

"You didn't ask her about the cancer.", Phillip suddenly said.

"Why would I?", you asked back. "She probably didn't know either."

"Weren't they close?"

"I... I'm not sure. Papa always watched over her. Made sure she was safe and not struggling. But he did that for mom, not because he wanted to."

Understanding, he hummed and nodded.

Silence filled the room again.

But only for a moment.

You couldn't bare sitting like this with him, but hearing his voice, the accent tickling the back of your brain.

"You're asking an awful lot of questions, mister Graves.", you said with a soft smile. "You didn't strike me as the nosy type when we first met."

He had to huff. It was charming, the way he smirked when he did it, one corner of his mouth rising to reveal dimples.

"Can't I be interested in your family?", he asked back.

"What reason would you have?"

"Curiosity?", he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Amused, you shook your head.

"I doubt that."

Now he was entrapped. With a smug expression on his face, he leaned forward, elbows rested on his knees and looked you deep in the eye.

"Got me there, suga. I must say, you are quite the smart one.", he smacked his lips. "So tell me. What do you think I want to do with the information you just gave me?"

For a brief moment you eyed him.

There wasn't a hint of anything visible in his face. Just this confident shimmer in his eyes and that amused smirk of his that almost felt like mockery.

"I think you know something I don't, mister Graves.", playing along, you leaned forward to put your arms on the desk and met his gaze with determination. "And as your new boss I want you to tell me what it is."

Nothing was said. The two of you just looked at each other.

Then he lowered his gaze. A chuckle could be heard.

"I must say, I like you more than I want to admit.", as Phillip looked up at you again, goosebumps crawled over your arms. "It's true, I know something. Or I'm suspecting."

"I'm all ears.", you did a gesture to keep him talking.

"It's just...", again he let his tongue slide across the inside of his mouth to give himself some time to think. "Your aunt strikes me as a women I've met before."

"You did?"

"That's the point. I usually don't forget faces. But she had this thing about her. It was hard to tell. Maybe I'm confusing her with someone. Don't want to spread bad blood."

"I'd be happy to hear your reasoning.", you frowned. "I want to remind you she's my aunt. If anything would happen to me she'd be second in line."

All of sudden you stopped yourself. Something in the back of your head flinched.

If someone was to happen to you there wouldn't be anyone of direct relation left to take over the company. Surely your father had taken proper measures for that case.

"Actually...", Phillip reached into the pocket of his jeans to pull out a letter.

At the sight, you couldn't help but groan and roll your eyes.

"I've had it with these stupid letters!", you pressed out between clenched teeth and snatched it from his grip. "Do you know what's written in it?"

"I do.", Graves said to your surprise.

"Cut it short?"

"The first part is a contract between you and me. I'll sign back all right to you. In case you decide to take over for your old man. Second part is another written settlement. If anything happens to you the company will go to mister Riggs."

You frowned.

"Lukas?", you asked, just to double check.

He nodded.

"Yep. He'd be free to do whatever he wants with it."

"Lukas didn't want the company in the first place."

"I only ever met him once but he seemed passionate about it. He said it was his life's work."

"He pulled out years ago."

Phillip shrugged.

"That's his decision then.", he said soberly. "But no matter what, it specifically states that only you or Riggs will get the company. No matter what."