Beyond Ruin by Crystal Cierlak Page B

envelope down beside Natalie's computer.
    ...Accounts receivable to handle. She could find a million tasks for work that needed to be completed; anything to keep her mind off of the man with the familiar blue-green eyes.
    "Thank you," Natalie replied with a smile. She partially closed the lid of her laptop before turning her attention to Audra, who was helping herself to an adjacent seat. "So did Frankie really fire Brighton or was that an exaggeration?"
    "Oh no, she actually fired them. It was prompted by her father but she delivered the words in a way that would make Donald Trump proud."
    "It all seems a bit impetuous if you ask me," Natalie offered. "It wasn't too long ago James was reminding me of the longstanding relationship Fitson had with Brighton." In fact as she recalled it, it was because of that longstanding relationship that she and James reached an impasse when it came to deciding how she should handle her employment knowing Brighton had a policy against dating clients. James suggested she quit. Natalie suggested he find another agency. In the end Brighton found out anyway and she lost her job. Maybe Brighton was the biggest loser in their relationship after all?
    "That relationship was tenuous at best once you left Brighton, and you know it," Audra countered. "It was never going to be the same without you there. The minute you were off of our account I was scouting a new agency to represent us. That's why when you open that envelope you'll find more than just the retainer for The Golden Palm in there."
    Natalie's hands backed away from the envelope as though it were emitting radiation. Fitson Entertainment Groupe had several properties throughout the country, including one of Las Vegas' most exclusive luxury hotels. There was no way the retainer inside the envelope contained any amount with less than seven or eight figures. Suddenly her lungs were wanting for air.
    "What's going on?" Joe interrupted. He sat down next to Natalie and eyed Audra with a knowing but suspicious smile.
    "Congratulations, Joe," Audra smiled back. "You've got yourself a new client."
    "We were just discussing The Golden Palm this morning at our staff meeting. Nothing too revealing until our staff signs non-disclosures, of course," he clarified with an absentminded wave of his hand.
    "They don't want to just hire us for The Golden Palm , Joe," Natalie said softly, her eyes stuck on the multi-million dollar envelope. "They want to hire us for Fitson."
    In her peripheral vision she saw Joe's jaw go slack. He recovered quickly with a clearing of this throat, but could only just barely contain the wide smile that she knew would otherwise spread across his entire face.
    "That's fantastic !" he declared. "We're so honored for the opportunity. Thank you."
    A pit formed in Natalie's chest. "We don't have enough people to handle an account the size of Fitson."
    "We're hiring more interns," Joe interjected.
    Natalie shook her head. She was agog at Joe's lack of appreciation for the tremendous undertaking having Fitson Entertainment Groupe as a client would be.
    "Whose idea was this?" she asked Audra.
    "Mine," replied James, who was suddenly present in the moment. He took a seat at the other end of the table opposite Natalie, his stony blue-green eyes absolute with certainty. "With Audra's support."
    Natalie caught Quinn's eye from across the room. She gave a quick nod and reached out for Frankie's hand.
    "Why don't Lorelai and I take Frankie on a tour of the rest of the building?" she asked brightly. "There's a pool and a dog park on the roof!"
    "Dad, is it okay?" Frankie asked, her voice full of excitement and hope.
    "Of course," James answered. “Just be sure to stay with Quinn at all times, okay?"
    "We'll find Shane along the way. Have you met Shane yet? He's a character." Quinn expertly ushered Lorelai and Frankie out of the condo with a quickness Natalie admired.
    Then it was just the four of them: Joe and Audra at each side, James directly in