An Ulterior Motive

‘What did you say?’ Austyn looked up from his plate. ‘What do you mean, “I decided to help her?”’ ‘Um, with her job application, of course,’ Elsie blurted. ‘Young Madam sent her resume to the M Group yesterday, but she didn’t get a call. She waited the whole day. You should’ve seen the look on her face. She was crushed.’ A dark shadow flitted across Austyn’s face. ‘She wanted me to give her a position at the M Group?’ ‘Oh, that’s not it,’ Elsie shook her head. ‘She didn’t know the M Group belongs to the McCarthy family when she sent in the resume. I was the one who told her. I also advised her to come to you. If you could put in a good word for her, she stands a much better chance of getting in.’ Austyn snorted. He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. So that was why she acted so strange last night. Waiting for him at the door. Fetching slippers. Fawning over him at dinner. And seducing him in his study, a place that, up to that point, was used for work. She dug a trap with her