When she didn’t reply, I took it as a silent affirmation and gestured to one of the chairs. “Sit.”

She crossed her arms. “No, thank you. I’d rather stand.”

“Suit yourself.”

I strode past her and dropped onto my executive chair. The faint scent of vanilla tickled my nostrils. From her perfume or body lotion? I suddenly regretted my choice to move. It had been a power play, but I hadn’t counted on how her nearness would affect me.

“Are you going to call the police?” she asked, backing away a couple of steps and glancing at the door. She didn’t try to run. She must have known it was pointless.

I considered the question. The idea had a certain appeal. Ever since Tom had fired me shortly after Frank’s death, there wasn’t much I liked more than getting under his skin. He’d be distraught if his precious sister were arrested. But it would be wrong of me to make Willow pay for her brother’s actions. Yes, she’d broken the law, but she’d done it out of loyalty to her family, and I respected that. I also couldn’t help admiring her backbone in standing up to me, and her cleverness in managing to get inside my office in the first place.

“I don’t think I will,” I said finally. “But I have you on camera, and I’ll be showing your photograph to the guards at the door. If you come anywhere near here again, I’ll send the recording to the police.”

She gasped. “You’re blackmailing me?”

I hid a grin behind my hand. “I’m giving you a good reason not to break any more laws.”

Her teeth sank into her lower lip. I wanted to tell her to stop. That her flesh was too tender to abuse like that, but I kept my mouth shut.

“Fine,” she snapped, her eyes sparking with temper. “I’ll stay away. You’ve told me all I need to know anyway.”

“We’re in agreement then. I’ll escort you out of the building.”

“Don’t you trust me?” she demanded.

“Not a bit.”

To my surprise, she fell silent. Her gaze lowered to her shoes. “Look, Ronan, Lennox Securities is all we have left of Dad. I know Tom made things difficult for you after Dad’s death, but coming after the company isn’t right. Tom isn’t the only one you’d be hurting. Think of the employees.”

“If something such as a takeover were to happen, I’m sure they’d be taken care of.” Contrary to what she believed, I’d given it some thought. I’d even looked into the employees closely enough to know she held a marketing and communications position within the firm.

Her eyes shone with what I feared were tears. “Lennox Securities should be run by a Lennox.”

Please don’t cry.

I sent up a prayer to the universe. Women’s tears weren’t something I’d ever been comfortable with. Especially not when the woman in question was stunningly beautiful and more loyal to the Lennox name than her brother deserved.