Flash by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

and public relations would challenge any CEO,” she said through her teeth. “To say nothing of coordinating vendors and suppliers. And then there is the artistic and design side of the business.”
    He shrugged. “I’ll take your word for it. But even if what you say is true, your background, extensive though it may be, is in a somewhat different field than my own. To put it bluntly, I’ve had a lot of direct experience with high-tech firms. You haven’t.”
    Her eyes were no longer cool. They were cold. “Let’s get to the bottom line here.”
    â€œFine by me.”
    â€œUncle Rollie fully intended that Glow shoulddescend down through the Chantry family. He left as large an interest in it as possible to me because he wanted me to take care of it for the sake of the present and future generations.”
    â€œI understand. Rollie was always very clear about his plans for Glow. I realize that he thought of it as a Chantry family asset.”
    â€œExactly.” She brightened. “My uncle never intended that you would take over Glow. He planned to pay you back and get you out of the picture.”
    â€œThat’s the funny thing about life, isn’t it? It often doesn’t turn out the way you plan it.” He sat back slowly. “I don’t want to argue about this.”
    â€œReally?” She shoved her glasses back on her nose and gave him another steely smile. “You seem to be doing a very good job of it.”
    â€œI realize your chief concern is that I will sell or merge Glow. I give you my word that I have no intention of doing either.”
    â€œYour word?” she repeated in a very neutral voice.
    â€œYes. Ask around, Ms. Chantry. Anyone who has ever done business with me will tell you that my word is my bond.”
    She was silent for a long moment.
    â€œI don’t have a lot of options here, do I?” she asked eventually.
    He shrugged. “You could fight me every inch of the way, but I don’t advise it.”
    â€œFight you?” She looked briefly interested.
    He smiled faintly. “If you take a strong, vocal stand against me, you could probably stir up some trouble at Glow, especially among your relatives and longtimeemployees. But if you force my hand in that way, I will probably end up firing the very people you’re supposed to protect.”
    She studied him with her assessing eyes. “You play hardball, Mr. Sloan.”
    â€œOnly when I’m pushed into a corner.”
    â€œI’m the one in the corner.
    He did not dispute that. It was true. He was betting that she was a savvy enough businesswoman to realize that she had been outmaneuvered, at least for the moment.
    She fixed him with a cool, warning look. “I want to be kept in the loop. I don’t care how small the issue, I want to know about it. I own forty-nine percent of Glow, and I have a right to know what is going on at all times.”
    Jasper recognized a tactical retreat when he saw one. He relaxed slightly. He had won.
    â€œAs far as it’s practical to do so, I’ll keep you informed.”
    â€œI have a responsibility to the company.”
    â€œI understand.”
    â€œDo you?” She held his gaze. “There were eight Chantrys in my parents’ generation. Uncle Rollie was the oldest. Seven of his brothers, sisters, and cousins, including my father, worked full-time for Glow for years. They have all retired on Glow pensions, and they depend on them.”
    â€œI’m aware of that.”
    Olivia did not pause. “At one time or another, nearly all of the kids in the family, including myself, had summer jobs at Glow.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œSome of my cousins, Bolivar, for example, plan to work for Glow when they graduate from college. In addition, there are a great many people employed at Glow who have been there for many, many years. Loyal, hardworking people. I don’t want them