Page 110 of Blood and Trouble

I sat across the table from Scott Fitzgerald and tried to keep my face neutral. Various executives from Fitz Global surrounded us on either side of the conference room. Their proposal hadn’t exactly blown my mind, but I understood he was trying to run a business. Still, I thought he could cut the cost.

“You’ll need to come down another twenty percent,” I said, drumming my fingers on the table.

“Lonnie.” He rolled his eyes and laughed. “You’re killing me here.”

I raised a brow at the use of that nickname. I’d hated it when we were together, and I despised it now. Lycan adjusted his hips on my right while Poe cleared his throat from his spot behind me to the left.

“I understand our prior acquaintance might give you the impression that I’d accept any offer you put forth,” I started. “But I’ve seen the Fitz Global forecast. You’ve got licenses you can’t supply and contracts you can’t cover. I’ve got power and nowhere in Europe to sell it.” I set the folder down and didn’t open it. “You’re not going to get a better call than this one, Scott. Maybe a cheaper one, but they’ll have your name off the building within a year.”

He stared at me with the same look he’d once given when I told him I didn’t want to marry him, that I had my own plan for the future, one that didn’t necessarily involve him: disappointment and barely concealed rage. I clenched my jaw and dug in my heels.

“You came to me with this plan,” Scott said, keeping his voice measured. “I’ve given you the proposal. If you want a stake in Fitz, these are the terms. We’re not in a position to put all of our eggs in one basket.”

I snorted and unleashed the Vanderbilt bitch. Despite our history, I saw him the same as I saw the rest of these men in fancy suits—an obstacle I’d been trained my entire life to overcome.

“You can, if it’s a good basket,” I said, “and the merger between Vanderbilt Holdings and Royal Unlimited has strengthened our portfolio to such a point that turning down this generous offer would limit your growth. After your father retired, Fitz Global became a rusted old hatchback. Good bones, certainly, but in dire need of repair. Your Q3 revenue dropped by fourteen percent while your competitors grew. I made my offer because I see potential, not because the business is currently well-financed. Do you want our help, Scott?”

I thought back to the first time I’d seen him on this trip, to what Lycan said.

“But you’re also smarter and sharper. And if you wanted, you could have Scott Fitzgerald IV, Earl of All Douchebags, calling you Mommy, too.”

Challenge accepted. Verbal spanking delivered.

“And what help would that be, Lonnie?” He raised his eyebrows. “Do you think I didn’t know about the investigation on Vanderbilt Ranch? You’re a week out from default. You need us as much as we need you.”

I didn’t let my desperation show. Of course he’d figured that out. Anyone with a laptop and five free minutes could have researched the headlines about my family.

“I’ve already got five other partners across the continent,” I said. “Do you think I’d come to you a beggar, that I wouldn’t secure everything I needed and then some?”

Those five other companies had only agreed on the condition that I got Fitz Global as well. If I walked out of here empty-handed, I had nothing and my entire trip, everything we’d risked, would have been for nothing. But he didn’t know that, couldn’t have known that. I held my chin higher and donned my corporate armor.

“This is a conditional transaction,” I continued. “The condition being that Vanderbilt Holdings takes the controlling share. You get to keep your name on the building. You keep the chairman’s seat. Olivia keeps her title. But let’s drop the pretense. We both know what this is and what it isn’t.”

I paused to let that sink in, staring Scott down, refusing to flinch. When a few moments passed where no one said anything, I sighed softly to myself and grabbed my briefcase to stand.

“So be it. Call me if you change your mind.” I headed toward the door.

Lycan fixed his jacket and stood to follow me. Poe glowered but trailed behind us.

“Wait,” Scott said as soon as I touched the door handle.

“Uther Vanderbilt’s daughter, indeed,” said the man to Scott’s left.

Scott let out a slow, measured exhale. He glanced to his colleagues, all of them giving him pointed looks that suggested he might as well do what I asked.

“Alright, Lonnie,” he said. “We’ll do it your way.”

Pride beamed down the bond between Poe and me as I returned to the table to sit, and Lycan placed a hand on my thigh under the table.

I curled my lips into a venomous smile, trying not to gloat. “Perfect. And Liv?”

Scott almost sneered at the mention of his sister. “She’s been briefed on the particulars. She’s in favor of this arrangement.”

I doubted it, but I didn’t press further.

After everything was finalized and the draft terms of service were signed, the room cleared out. I stood to pack my things into my bag while Scott meandered to my end of the table.

“I’m glad to see you haven’t lost your ruthlessness,” he said. “It was always one of your best qualities.”