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I roll my eyes. “What am I supposed to tell him?”
“I trust you to figure that out yourself.” He frowns. “I’m entering the race late, but well-prepared, and well-financed. And I have…well, information on the incumbent…”
I stiffen, the smile dropping quickly from my face as I feel my shoulders curl inward, cocooning myself.
“Governor Hall is going to fall out of favor. We just need to be perfect on our end so that when he does, we’re the best second option for the voters. Now,” he says sternly, with authority, “we’ll begin your briefings?—”
“Let’s talk money.”
Gabriel huffs. “Straight to the point.”
“This is a business arrangement.”
He nods. “True. You’ll be paid four million?—”
“Five.”
Obviously, this has been on my mind. I know the deal is for four million. But four is not five, and five is what gets the Yakuza off my and Dad’s ass.
Gabriel levels a hard look at me. “Excuse me?”
“I want five million.”
“That’s a shame, because it’s four.”
I smile, shaking my head. “Four is for the bubblehead socialite who turns out to have a nasty cocaine habit. Four is for some movie starlet who won’t stop fucking her personal trainer after the wedding. Four is what you pay to come close in but not win the election.”
I pause, trying not to tremble at the frankly livid look on his face.
“I hope you don’t play poker, Mr. Black.”
“I hope you don’t either,” he snaps. “Given the smugness on your face right now.”
I swallow, smiling weakly at him. “My price is five.”
“That isn’t happening. I’m already offering you four million for me to essentially do you the favor of a lifetime, Fumi.”
My brows lift. “How so?”
“You’re a talented young attorney who’s about to marry a New York gubernatorial candidate who has a very good chance of winning. Do you have any idea what this will do for your career?”
“I know what it’ll do for your career. And I know it’ll cost five million. Take it or leave it, Mr. Black.”
Gabriel’s lips curl dangerously. “Are you sure you want to play this game with me?”
“Is that a threat as my boss?”
“No, it’s a threat as the man you really only know as your boss.”
That’s what you think.
The reality is no, I’m not so sure I do want to play this game with him. But I also don’t really have a choice. So I pretend I’m in court, facing down a jury who’s all but begging to get in my corner in the most important case of my career.
“Well?” I smile at him. “Do we have a deal or not, Mr. Black?—”
I gasp sharply as he surges into me like a beast going in for the kill. I jolt, my throat clamping shut as I hit the wall behind me and Gabriel looms over me with something feral in his eyes.
“Well?” I choke.
