Everything You Need: Everything For You Trilogy Book 1 by Orla Bailey

Jack’s lips either. I shift my gaze from them but catch myself staring instead at the strong, steady pulse beating at his throat.
    I gouge my nails into my palms hard enough to stem the direction my thoughts are headed in. I’m better than this.
    “As I understand it, Mr Keogh, when you started up your business you had neither funds nor sufficient clout to interest any advertising agency at all. My uncle took a chance on you. He gave you, shall we say, a very special deal.” I pause to let my words take effect and to snatch my next hurried breath. At least he’s listening. They’re all listening. “In short, he took you on, and if my eyes don’t deceive me, he did a pretty spectacular job of helping to put you right where you are today.” I brace myself for his second rebuttal.
    “That, Miss Caid, is entirely true.”
    I’m thrown. I’m already preparing to defend my facts rigorously but he concedes them. Will I never know where I stand with Jack Keogh? “Then what exactly did I say earlier you felt worth disputing?”
    “That Zee-Com had its business with your agency.”
    His comment skewers me to the back of his luxuriously upholstered chair. His unwavering stare dares me to contradict him but I can’t. It isn’t the agency he doesn’t want to do business with. It’s me.
    I ignore the familiar echo of rejection and try to reason with him. “The fact that the agency has recently come under new leadership changes nothing.” Except my whole premeditated, mapped-out life.
    “It changes everything.” There’s no trace of amusement on his face.
    I snap at his perception. “Only that my uncle died of a heart attack working too many long hours for uncompromising capitalists like you.”
    My outburst takes Jack by surprise. The rest simply look uncomfortable. Except for the blonde. She’s sneering.
    “Sorry. I didn’t mean that.” Damn. I’ve practically accused him of single-handedly killing Harry Caid. Hot tears of shame spark in my eyes.
    Jack curtly nods his acceptance of my apology and discredits me for saying it at the same time with his graceful forgiveness. “Accepted. I fully understand you’re grieving your recent loss.”
    Harry entrusted the helm to me and already I fail him by losing his most prestigious and lucrative client. I can handle the Zee-Com account if I’m given a chance, I know I can.
    “I may be new but I bring fresh ideas to the table. A more contemporary approach. Things that might appeal highly to your emerging markets.” I’m a straight A student. Earned my degree with honours. Came top in my year. I’m nobody’s fool. Except where my heart is concerned and that’s been firmly locked away for its own protection. “My uncle liked what he saw when you were starting out. Do you have that same vision, Mr Keogh?”
    “Are you asking me if I like what I see, when I see you, Miss Caid?”
    Oh God, I walked straight into that one. He looks like he wants to lick me all over like the sucker I am. My eyes run over everyone in embarrassment. The rest of the room appears either shifty, bemused or dubiously engaged by the hidden conversation between us. The blonde woman looks like a lightning bolt just zapped her between the eyes. Jack doesn’t seem to care what they think and I’m not sure just how much more of this torment I can take.
    I stand.
    Jack gets to his feet too, towering above me. It’s a bad move on my part. I feel diminished beside him. Awkward and inadequate.
    “Everybody out.” His command is simple. The whole room looks as surprised as I feel. I turn, first to leave. The first to obey him, even now. “Not you, Miss Caid.” His hand on my arm stops me, burns through me.
    I wheel to face him, shocked. Is he planning to punish my audacity further or is this my chance? Have I actually got through to him? If the look on other people’s faces is any indication, they certainly think I might have. Their dirty underhand deal might be slipping through their greasy