“I’m sorry, Finley, but that’s the only way I’ll agree to watch Maybelle.”
A lump fills my throat. Part of me wishes I was spending Christmas with Mirna and Barb, but they have their own families—their real families. Still, they’re the closest thing to family I have, and it’s nice to know they feel the same way. Besides, I don’t anticipate needing to come home early—if I did, I wouldn’t be going. “Okay. Deal.”
“Good,” she says, and I can practically hear her dusting her hands. “Now that that’s settled, you should work out the details of your trip so Burt can get started on your contract after Barb finishes paying your retainer.”
I blush and want to bleach my brain at the same time, but she has a point. We hang up and after I take a breath to settle my nerves, I send Alex a text.
Chapter Six
December 17
Finley 8:10 pm
I’ve hired an attorney who is willing to have a contract by tomorrow night, but there’s a few things we need to iron out first. I’ve sent a spreadsheet of my wages to your email address for your review
* * *
Alex 8:13 pm
I opened your spreadsheet and was impressed at how thorough and exact you are. I realize you’re missing work to do this, so I’m more than happy to round up the 93.7 hours you’ll be missing from both jobs up to 100 hours
8:15 pm
What else do we need to iron out?
8:18
This next part is embarrassing, but I have to ask anyway
8:21
I don’t expect anything sexually, so put your mind at ease. That’s not why I’m bringing you
8:25
Thanks for the clarification. My friend Mirna will be thrilled to hear that since she’s concerned you’re working for a “Russian mafia gang” and plan to ship me overseas as a sex slave
8:26
Mafia gang?
8:26
Don’t ask
8:27
Would your friend Mirna feel better if I met her and assure her that I don’t work for the Russian “mafia gang” or any other mafia gang?
* * *
If I introduce you to Mirna, then I’ll have to introduce you to Barb and since I really want to go to Hollybrook, I don’t want to scare you off
8:28
I realize the first rule of negotiation is to never let the other side know how much you want what they have. Please delete that last text
8:29
