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Jules had studied the woman almost as much as she had studied Asher Drake. Once the president and CEO of a large tech company she had started, Turner held years of experience in the private sector before she threw her hat in the ring to run for her first political office. She’d served as a state representative for two terms and had been a senator for one so far. Her chances looked good for reelection in another landslide.
She was single, had no children, and apparently no real family. When asked once how she could identify with people with children when she had none of her own, she’d said she had given all of that up so others could have what she didn’t. Those words became an unofficial campaign slogan and had ended up making her a household name. The dedicated public servant who lived only to serve others had somehow played well and was believed by the masses.
Ridiculously ironic words for a woman who was directly responsible for destroying Asher Drake’s family.
“Well?” Turner snapped.
“Well, what?”
“What have you learned?”
Jules and Kate had worked hard to create just the right kind of amoral mercenary in Jessie Diamond. Kate had used her expertise in creating a new identity and a rock-soli
d backstory. A dishonorable discharge from the military, gun for hire on occasion, and a slight gambling problem made for the perfect cover. With almost no ethics and a need for a constant flow of cash, Jessie Diamond was the type of woman who would do just about anything for the right price.
While Jules had prepped herself on the backstory, making sure she knew Jessie’s life as if she’d lived every moment of it, Kate had used her contacts to spread the word, oh-so-subtly, that Jessie Diamond was good at squirreling out information others couldn’t and that she had few limits on just how low she would go.
Even though they’d cultivated Diamond’s reputation as a woman who worked fast and efficiently to get the job done, the senator expecting results this soon was beyond ridiculous. Turner knew that. So was this more of her power games or something else?
“Nothing yet.”
“But you’ve been with him for several days. Even went away with him somewhere. Surely my name came up.”
Seriously? The woman’s ego knew no bounds.
“No, your name didn’t come up. I just started working there. Mentioning you would definitely make Drake suspicious. It’s going to take some time.”
“How much time? I’m paying you for results, not a good time.”
Grinding her teeth to stop the words stuck in her throat, Jules reminded herself what she was working toward and why. Losing her cool now would ruin everything. She could not, however, let this woman believe she was at her beck and call. Hard-hitting Jessie Diamond was no pushover.
“If I’m going to do my job, I need full autonomy.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I won’t be contacting you until I have intel to report. And do not contact me again. Ever.”
“I am paying your salary, young woman. I do not appreciate your attitude.”
“Then find someone else to do the job.”
Jules didn’t dare show an ounce of weakness. Her ground wasn’t as shaky as it could be. The senator would find it difficult to get someone else to infiltrate OZ. Even if Turner fired her, Jules would continue at OZ. Still, for this part of her plan to work, she needed to have Turner’s ear. And she needed to make damn sure no one else tried to infiltrate OZ.
For several silent moments, it was a staring contest between two very stubborn women. Finally, a sparkle of appreciation gleamed in Turner’s eyes. “I respect a person who can stand up to me. Not many can. Don’t disappoint me.”
Jules gave a brief nod. “I’ll let you know as soon as I have something.”
Before Turner could respond, Jules was out the door. If she had to stay one more moment in the woman’s insufferable presence, she would not be responsible for the consequences.
Now she needed to fly back home, get her car, and head to Montana. She had a job to do. One way or the other, Turner would pay for what she had done to Asher Drake. No matter what it took, Jules would make sure of that.
Frowning, Nora stared at the door through which Jessie Diamond had just exited. There was something about the young woman she didn’t quite trust. The girl had certainly stood her ground, which Nora admired, but there was something…
Ms. Diamond had the kind of reputation that Nora admired. She was known as one who got the job done, kept her mouth shut and her wits about her, and didn’t let pesky ethics or a conscience get in her way. Those kinds of people were Nora’s favorite kind.
She reassured herself that Diamond could do the job for which she’d been hired. Once she was through with him, Asher Drake wouldn’t know what hit him.
Drake blamed her for what happened in Colombia. She had honestly thought all those men died. It had been a messy, ill-thought-out plan, and she wanted nothing more than to put that day behind her.
