Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“Stop being jealous,” she chides.
“No,” I say, kissing her thoroughly and making damn sure she tastes just how serious I am before I say, “See you soon, baby.”
“Good luck.”
“It’ll be fine.”
“You still haven’t told me what you’re even up to.”
“When it’s over,” I promise and climb back inside the SUV, while Adam ushers Alana inside the studio.
***
Thirty minutes later, I’m in a coffee shop sitting with Alexander, my attorney, and Special Agent Nathan Allen who’s a close friend of Blake’s. Nathan’s tall, fit and in his late thirties, with a dark goatee, and sharp green eyes. “You understand that if Blake hands me that file, there’s no turning back.”
“But he gets immunity,” Alexander interjects, “and you won’t see the file until I get that agreement from you and deem it acceptable.”
“There’s already no turning back,” I add “I know he’s done bad things. I know I was close to some of it but I had no idea the degree of evil that man is.”
“In essence,” the agent adds, “I’m handing you a billion-dollar company.”
“That will be beat up by all of this and need to be rebuilt.”
He studies me for several long beats, his keen eyes sizing me up before he says. “Why not just wait until he kicks the bucket and just take over then?”
“I couldn’t let him continue even before I knew what Blake showed me. And because now that I’ve backed him into a corner I believe he’s going to come at the woman I love and her family.”
“Because he’s fucking her mother,” he says crassly.
If he means to be off-putting, he’s barking up the wrong tree. All he’s spoken to me are the facts. “Yes,” I say. “He is. And I’m worried about her safety.”
“If we do this, I’m not sure a case could be made that it makes anyone safer, at least not at first.”
“Why do you think I hired Blake?” I counter.
He’s back to studying me, seconds ticking by before he says, “all right then. I’ll get you the agreement.”
“Within the hour,” Alexander insists, “or we’re going to get cold feet.”
Agent Allen’s lips quirk before he pushes to his feet and walks away.
Both me and Alexander watch him walk toward the door and only after he’s exited does Alexander say, “He’s going to test you and fuck with your head. You may not get that agreement before the board meeting.”
“I don’t think it matters. He’s already plotted to have them vote against me and force us to sue them all. He has no idea that’s playing right into our hands.” I push to my feet and walk toward the door. It’s time to turn the lion into the gazelle by outsmarting him.
“And so the queen claimed her throne and soon all the kings in the universe will tremble in her presence, and fear her wrath…”
I arrive at the office and claim my desk and my assistant, Naomi, is immediately in front of me, a cup of coffee in her hand. “I know you tell me not to wait on you, but today’s a big day. You deserve a little extra care.” She sets the cup in front of me. “And your mother says good luck and she wanted me to tell you to call her about Alana. She’s so happy you’re with her. She said she always liked her.”
Naomi is slender, petite, and the cute future grandma type, with short curly hair. She doesn’t remind me of my mother at all in appearance or demeanor, but she does everything in her power to remind me of my mother. “My mother thought she was beneath me.”
“She’s changed a lot, honey. You just don’t talk to her enough to see it. Go see her. Take Alana with you. You’ll both be better for it.”
I pick up the coffee and sip the dark, cream laden beverage. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“The only man as high up as you that says thank you. I’m a lucky girl to get this gig.”
“Get the hell out of my office, woman. I have to prep for the board meeting.”
Unfazed she taps her watch. “Too late. It’s in ten minutes though I know how you are. You’ll make a grand entrance a tad bit after everyone else.” She smiles and walks toward the door.
My cellphone rings with Alexander’s number. “I haven’t gotten the agreement. I don’t like how they’re fucking with us. Proceed accordingly.”
I’d think Agent Allen didn’t think the case was solid enough to move forward, but I saw the file Blake put together. It’s a brick.
I chat with Alexander a few more minutes and decide I do not want to give my father time to chat up the boardroom. That would look a little too submissive to play the game I plan to play which is anything but. I exit my office and head that way. Naomi calls after me. “Too early.”