Page 55 of Open To Negotiation

“She’s good. Don’t fuck it up.” Asher seemed to emphasize his words, his accent deepening.

“I have no intention of letting her go,” Theo replied after a moment.

They didn’t say anything else, or at least I couldn’t be sure, since I lost the battle to sleep.

I woke up in the morning confident that their quiet conversation hadn’t been a dream.

15

Theo

“What you’re proposing in no way ensures a return on our investment,” Oli said through a tight jaw. Oli, Will, Jaxson, and I had been in this meeting for more than an hour and it was no closer to being over.

“It’s a longer-term proposition, yes, but it will add to your brand,” Malcom Kenny said for the third time. It seemed to be his favorite line. His company wanted to open an exclusive members only club with a golf course, restaurant, and a lounge area for people to spend their time.

Oli was here for the money. Will was responsible for the contracts, and Jaxson was here to provide opinions on the security of a place like this considering they wanted to target the rich and famous. Calgary had oil and gas money that had people willing to spend. Plus, film and TV crews were through here often enough to attract stars.

Asher and Noah would normally be here too, but we only had all of us when the business plan was solid and we were likely to move forward. This one had too much risk.

“You’re simply not putting in enough funds.” I tried to hide my irritation as I tapped a finger on the desk in an impatient beat and looked down at my phone.

Again.

After Quinn had fallen asleep in my lap on Saturday, I’d covered her in my sweater and the boys and I sat out there until after one. While the guys all claimed rooms, I had carried her up to my bed and had another fantastic sleep with her in my arms.

Reluctantly, on my side, we had breakfast with everyone and then I’d driven her home at her request. I would have kept her if I thought I could have convinced her but there was this set look of determination in her eyes that I knew meant arguing was pointless. Which was shocking to me considering how little I normally conceded or backed down in my life.

I couldn’t help myself and we had another lingering kiss at her door. I pulled away and Quinn had looked dizzy, that made me feel good. Maybe she was at least a little bit affected by me, because I sure as hell was affected by her.

Since then, I’d tried to see her again, but she was a busy woman, hard to track down. I got the feeling that she was partially trying to act busier than she was. Not because she was playing a game but because she didn’t want to seem too eager, didn’t want to be too invested in us.

Well, I was fucking tired of that. I wanted her invested, I wanted every minute of free time she had. Hell, I even wanted the times she wasn’t free, even if it meant just working in the same place.

Because I was fucking invested.

It was Thursday and she hadn’t texted or called me back since just after lunch yesterday and it was driving me fucking mad. I was distracted. She hadn’t said anything in the group chat earlier either, which she had been a regular contributor in since we added her.

Thankfully we had our first official marketing meeting in two hours so she wouldn’t have a choice then.

How was a guy supposed to ask a girl on an official date when she wouldn’t even call you back?

“Knight?” Oli’s voice cut through my pondering. I looked up from my phone to see everyone’s eyes on me.

“I agree.” I stood up and buttoned my suit jacket. “There is nothing more to discuss here.” I pressed the intercom button. “Shelly. Please come show Mr. Kenny out.” Oli rolled his eyes behind Malcom’s back. I hid my smirk knowing I’d been right.

I hadn’t heard a single word they were saying before calling on me, but we’d all worked together long enough that we could read each other like a book. It was the tone of Oli’s voice. He was looking for me to end this pointless meeting. We all shook hands with a discouraged Malcom and then sat back in our chairs once the door closed behind him.

“You’re distracted,” Jaxson said, pointing his finger at me.

“I think it’s because someone has been suspiciously quiet in our text thread. Did you piss her off?” Oli asked.

I didn’t want to answer him, I didn’t think I had but I couldn’t be sure. Women were a damn mystery, especially when you liked them. I'm not sure I'd ever felt this way, so I wasn’t exactly sure what I was doing.

“It was a good idea,” Will commented, looking down at the proposal.

“A good idea but a shit plan of execution,” I replied, flipping my phone over on the desk so I would stop staring at it.

“He’s got a gleam in his eye.” Jaxson was watching me closely. “Someone is planning.”