Page 79 of Claimed By The Other Brother

Jane's tone shifts immediately.

"Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine. I just... I need to talk to you. Are you free?"

"Let me check." A pause, keyboard clicking.

"Yeah, I can move some things around. Where do you want to meet?"

"That Italian place near my office? Noon?"

"I'll be there. Scarlett, are you sure you're okay?"

"I will be. I just need to talk. See you at noon."

I hang up and stare at my computer screen, unseeing.

***

The restaurant is busy when I arrive, the lunch rush in full swing. Jane is already there, seated at a corner table, two glasses of water waiting.

She stands when she sees me, pulling me into a hug.

"You look stressed. What's going on?"

We sit, and I immediately grab my water, taking a long drink to buy myself time.

"Sarah's on a work trip," Jane says.

"Philadelphia for the rest of the week. So it's just us. Now tell me what's happening."

I set my water down and take a breath.

"I got offered a job this morning."

Jane's eyes widen. "A job? Like, a new job?"

"No, an assignment. A client. Through Whitman." I pause. "It's in New York. Six-month contract. Relocation, all expenses paid, three times my normal rate."

"Holy shit." Jane leans forward. "That's amazing! Why do you look like someone died?"

"Because the client is Blackwell Media Corp."

Jane blinks. "Blackwell. As in... Miles's family?"

"As in Dax's company."

Understanding dawns on her face. "Oh."

"Yeah."

The waiter appears to take our order. We both order quickly without looking at the menu, eager to get back to the conversation.

Once he's gone, Jane leans in.

"Okay, so Dax's company wants to hire you. That's... I mean, it makes sense, right? You're good at what you do. And maybe they don't even know about the Miles connection—"

"They specifically requested me by name," I interrupt.