intelligence.
“No problem,” I said.
We turned to our mother. She took a moment to look up from her phone.
“What?” she said to Jesse. “You’re ok with this?”
“I’m ok with getting a closer look.”
She shrugged and went right back to her screen. “Then do whatever.”
“You approve the motion?” I said.
“I approve the damn motion. OK?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I popped out of my seat, clapped Jesse on the shoulder and went for the door.
“Deacon.” My mother’s voice rose.
Shit.
“Yes?” I said.
“I need you at the fundraiser this evening. There's going to be a candidate for governor there that we might support. He’s looking to meet the current CEO of Stone Holdings.”
Current CEO. My blood boiled.
“I really need to get started on the paperwork for this. It’ll be morning in a few hours in Abu Dhabi.”
“Then you should have plenty of time. I’m sure my friends won’t be wanting your charms for more than thirty minutes.”
Politicians - another group of useless people. Still, until I had control of this company, I’d have to be ok with a little irritant here and there.
“Fine. I’ll be counting the minutes though.”
My mother rapped the table. I knew exactly what was coming. “And after that, there is a rather lovely young woman who is keen on meeting you.”
“I’m not interested in dating at the moment. Give her to Jesse.”
“My plate’s full,” Jesse said.
Mother scowled at me. “She’s the daughter of Roland Tarly, the candidate for governor. It would be a major advantage to have a direct line to the governor, don’t you think? You’re always the one looking for ways to improve the business.”
It was a nice try, but she was thinking about our family name more than anything. “That’s not exactly the strategy I had in mind.”
Her eyes flashed. “I am asking you to talk to her for an evening. Somehow she has managed to avoid hearing about the filth on your fingers. There’s precious few left like that these days.”
“Listen, I'll come to your shindig, but it ends there. Thanks for the offer though.”
I strode out before another word could reach me.
The sky had turned hues of red by the time I reached my office, but my mood had settled. I’d gotten as much as I could expect. Of course, I’d done exhaustive analysis before presenting that deal, but doing it again on-site wouldn’t be a problem.
I clapped my hands and reached for the phone. Trey and I were going to get plastered before we hit that damn geriatric gala. No rules against that.
But first things first. Time to find an outside firm who could get Jesse off my ass.
I buzzed Demetri.
“Yes, sir?” he said.
“Get me a finance consulting firm,” I said. “I need an international team put together fast.”
“Which company?”
“I don’t care. The one with the hottest analysts.”
“Uh…which one is that?”
“Why do I pay you if you don’t know this sort of thing?”
He tapped furiously on his keyboard. I chuckled. The kid was so serious. I couldn’t fault him given who I was and who he was, but he should know my humor by now.
Besides, consultants weren't usually that hot. The only exception that came to mind...
The hairs rose on my arm.
“You know what?” I said. “Forget it.”
I knew just who I was going to show Jesse. And I knew just how to get face time with a sexy workaholic.
Boy did I love hitting two birds with a single stone.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Kerry
“I said hands in the air,” the man screamed at me. We stood in the middle of a concrete warehouse floor.
I didn't know this guy, but he was white, with dark hair and a leather jacket. His gun stared at me with its one wicked eye. It looked so real up close, pitch black and intimidating.
You could barely tell it was a prop for improv.
Good, it helped me stay in the moment. That’s what this was about - not dwelling on the past, not thinking, just reacting. The stress set me free.
Very slowly,
“No problem,” I said.
We turned to our mother. She took a moment to look up from her phone.
“What?” she said to Jesse. “You’re ok with this?”
“I’m ok with getting a closer look.”
She shrugged and went right back to her screen. “Then do whatever.”
“You approve the motion?” I said.
“I approve the damn motion. OK?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I popped out of my seat, clapped Jesse on the shoulder and went for the door.
“Deacon.” My mother’s voice rose.
Shit.
“Yes?” I said.
“I need you at the fundraiser this evening. There's going to be a candidate for governor there that we might support. He’s looking to meet the current CEO of Stone Holdings.”
Current CEO. My blood boiled.
“I really need to get started on the paperwork for this. It’ll be morning in a few hours in Abu Dhabi.”
“Then you should have plenty of time. I’m sure my friends won’t be wanting your charms for more than thirty minutes.”
Politicians - another group of useless people. Still, until I had control of this company, I’d have to be ok with a little irritant here and there.
“Fine. I’ll be counting the minutes though.”
My mother rapped the table. I knew exactly what was coming. “And after that, there is a rather lovely young woman who is keen on meeting you.”
“I’m not interested in dating at the moment. Give her to Jesse.”
“My plate’s full,” Jesse said.
Mother scowled at me. “She’s the daughter of Roland Tarly, the candidate for governor. It would be a major advantage to have a direct line to the governor, don’t you think? You’re always the one looking for ways to improve the business.”
It was a nice try, but she was thinking about our family name more than anything. “That’s not exactly the strategy I had in mind.”
Her eyes flashed. “I am asking you to talk to her for an evening. Somehow she has managed to avoid hearing about the filth on your fingers. There’s precious few left like that these days.”
“Listen, I'll come to your shindig, but it ends there. Thanks for the offer though.”
I strode out before another word could reach me.
The sky had turned hues of red by the time I reached my office, but my mood had settled. I’d gotten as much as I could expect. Of course, I’d done exhaustive analysis before presenting that deal, but doing it again on-site wouldn’t be a problem.
I clapped my hands and reached for the phone. Trey and I were going to get plastered before we hit that damn geriatric gala. No rules against that.
But first things first. Time to find an outside firm who could get Jesse off my ass.
I buzzed Demetri.
“Yes, sir?” he said.
“Get me a finance consulting firm,” I said. “I need an international team put together fast.”
“Which company?”
“I don’t care. The one with the hottest analysts.”
“Uh…which one is that?”
“Why do I pay you if you don’t know this sort of thing?”
He tapped furiously on his keyboard. I chuckled. The kid was so serious. I couldn’t fault him given who I was and who he was, but he should know my humor by now.
Besides, consultants weren't usually that hot. The only exception that came to mind...
The hairs rose on my arm.
“You know what?” I said. “Forget it.”
I knew just who I was going to show Jesse. And I knew just how to get face time with a sexy workaholic.
Boy did I love hitting two birds with a single stone.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Kerry
“I said hands in the air,” the man screamed at me. We stood in the middle of a concrete warehouse floor.
I didn't know this guy, but he was white, with dark hair and a leather jacket. His gun stared at me with its one wicked eye. It looked so real up close, pitch black and intimidating.
You could barely tell it was a prop for improv.
Good, it helped me stay in the moment. That’s what this was about - not dwelling on the past, not thinking, just reacting. The stress set me free.
Very slowly,
Similar Books
