Of course, I could.
Absolutely.
How hard could it be?
It wouldn't be long before I found out.
ChapterFifteen
NASH
Sitting across the negotiating table from Parker's brothers wasn't exactly like being in front of a firing squad, but it was close. The housekeeper, a tall woman with strawberry curls and sharp, suspicious eyes, had led me through the main hall of Heartstone Manor and back to Griffen's expansive, wood-paneled office.
Heartstone Manor wasn't what I'd expected. I knew about the house and its history, knew that it was one of the only Gilded Age mansions still in private hands, and the only one of its size that had never been opened to the public. From what I could find out about Prentice Sawyer's will, it never would be.
It was as grand as I'd expected, with soaring ceilings, ornate woodwork, and sparkling chandeliers. But most of the artwork was missing and the silk wallpaper was faded. Some of the rooms we passed on the way to Griffen's office were bare of furniture. Weird. Parker had alluded to her father behaving oddly in the last few years of his life. Was this part of it? Impossible to know at this point.
I'd entered Griffen's office to find him coming around from behind his desk, hand extended. A friendly overture, but his eyes were as sharp and suspicious as the housekeeper's had been. While it might make this negotiation harder, I was glad. Someone should be sharp and suspicious on Parker's behalf.
I wasn't worried for myself. I was going to get what I wanted from the Sawyers. There was no room for failure. The stakes were far too high.
For the first time, my goals had nothing to do with business. That Sawyer Enterprises was looking for an investment in emerging tech just as I had an eye out for investors was pure coincidence. If they turned out to be the right fit for my new company, all the better. But I wasn't here for the company.
My new venture was the culmination of all my years of work, the endgame for all of my professional aspirations. I'd never have another idea like this, and never one so perfectly timed to the market. And still, all of that came in second place to Parker.
I was going to get my foot in the door at Heartstone Manor. I had to. If my new tech was the way in, so be it. That didn't mean I wasn't going to negotiate the hell out of this. If I had to choose, I'd choose Parker. I didn't see any reason I couldn't have both.
Griffen gestured to an armchair in front of his desk. I took it, nodding as he sat, joined by a woman on his left. A man I guessed was one of his brothers was on his right. The other Sawyer stood and extended his hand.
"Royal Sawyer. Nice to meet you."
I shook, nodded again, and transferred my gaze to the woman. Hope Sawyer, if my guess was correct. She stood, and taking in the curve of her stomach, I knew I was right. Her hand was deceptively strong in mine. After introducing herself, she met her husband's eyes for a quick flash before she spoke.
"It's good to have you here, Nash. We're looking forward to discussing your tech, and how we can benefit each other, but it would be foolish to ignore our personal connection."
Her words surprised me. Not just that she'd taken the lead in the meeting, but that she'd pushed business to the side at the start. I'd heard the Sawyers were ruthless in business. Prentice Sawyer had a brutal reputation, and in the brief time he'd been at the helm, Griffen had become known as a fierce negotiator.
Eyeing Hope, I could guess where some of that came from. Some of the people I talked to said she was merely his assistant, but a few had noted that Hope was just as savvy as her husband. Royal was new to Sawyer Enterprises, and still an unknown, but I couldn't imagine Griffen and Hope would have let him into the family business if he hadn't had something to bring to the table.
In response to Hope, I said, "It can be complicated when business and family intersect."
She inclined her head in agreement. "Sometimes it's good, more often it brings trouble. Your company seems to be exactly the investment we're looking for, but Parker's happiness is our highest priority."
"And have you talked to Parker about this?" I asked.
Hope had me off balance. I hadn't expected them to come out of the gate telling me business was a secondary concern. Had they asked Parker about me? Had she told them she didn't want me here? A long moment of queasy uncertainty kept my mouth shut. I waited for Hope's response.
She shared another look with Griffen before he said, "We did talk to Parker."
That was all. I couldn't remember the last time I'd struggled for composure. I wasn't going to ask what Parker had said. Griffen's eyes met mine, his gaze curious, calculating. The best I could manage was calm and collected. In all my arrogance, it hadn't occurred to me that Parker might not want to see me.
For a split second, a vision of Parker as I'd last seen her filled my mind. Moonlight hair spread across my pillow, her golden and green eyes closed in sleep, a satisfied smile still curving her lips. I hadn't needed proof that we belonged together, but now I had it.
That night had been magic. Not just her body moving with mine, the bright and brilliant pleasure of her touching me, her cries as she came apart in my arms. No, all of it was magic. Cooking together, laughing over dinner, that unexpected kiss. I wanted more. I couldn't believe Parker didn't feel the same way.
What did she say?It was possibly the most important question of my life, but I wasn't going to ask. Griffen made me wait. Finally, after tossing a glance at the ceiling, silently asking someone up there for patience, Hope took pity on me.
"She said her problems are with your brother, not you, and she'd never want to stand in the way of us working together."
