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I sigh. I cannot even focus on this meeting. This Mr. Kane McKenzie keeps on droning on and on about the urgency of the deal, and I want to shout at him because my daughter’s life is a more pressing matter. However, I am representing the Pentagon here, and I have to keep my cool.
When the other man starts to reiterate the urgency of this agreement, I hold my hand up. I really cannot take this anymore. Who are these lowly assholes to tell me what should be important to me now? I don’t say it out loud, but I hope my face shows it to them.
“I understand the significance of this arms technology deal that you have mentioned several times so far in this meeting,” I start and notice how Mr. McKenzie tries to hide a frown. Mr. Smith just ducks his head. I suppose they understand now how annoying they have been. “Yet, it is not my top priority. It can’t be. I cannot concentrate on any of these business dealings until I find my daughter. And I need to find her soon. Our contract can wait.”
People don’t always understand how dangerous it is to work at the Pentagon. We hold information that, if put in the hands of the wrong individuals, can wreck the nation. It means that if someone kidnaps Myah, they might leverage her against me for powerful knowledge. I can’t just let that happen.
“If I may, General Lewis,” the only woman in the room begins, making me look at her. I may have forgotten that she was even there before she spoke.
The boys introduced her as Sloane Keeley, the head of finances. She is wearing a tight brown pencil skirt and a white blouse. Her dark hair is in a ponytail, and I detect only a bit of makeup on her face. Yet, she exudes arrogance and dominance, which I don’t really like in my women. I prefer them to be more docile.
“Why don’t you just get your men,” she puts air quotes around the last word, “to look for your daughter? You have those, don’t you? I mean, there is a whole army.”
I look at her face, and I don’t like the challenging stare in her deep, dark eyes. She meets my gaze, and I begin to notice the mischievous glint in them. The girl’s not exactly my type, yet I begin to imagine laying her on my lap and spanking her crazy. Maybe that will teach her to keep her mouth shut when she’s saying something idiosyncratic in this kind of situation.
“I take it that you don’t have any children, Ms. Keeley,” I say coolly.
She blinks and pulls her head back. “I don’t.”
I snicker. “When my daughter is involved, I don’t want any stranger to find her for me. I want to be the one to do it.” I want to add that most parents think this way, which she clearly doesn’t understand because she’s not one. But I keep it to myself.
Sloane raises an eyebrow. “I’m sure it’s no big deal. Kids do this kind of thing if they can. It’s just a show of independence.” Her tone is laced with disdain, and it is fucking making me angry.
I bite the insides of my cheek and clench my fists on my lap. I have been feeling mad at the whole situation of me losing my daughter and suddenly flying back to New York after I just left it. And this head of finance is fueling the embers of my fury. If any of my assistants ever spoke this way to me, they know what would happen to them. Yet this woman challenges me as if she has the upper hand. What can she have against me? Doesn’t she know what I can do to her?
I notice Mr. McKenzie and Smith staring at me, so I channel my calm. Ashton Smith starts to open his mouth, and once again, I hold my hand up to silence them.
“People who are personally involved in the matter know better than to question the situation. But since you are a stranger, all you need to know is that I take my daughter missing very seriously.”
I meet Sloane’s eyes again. I want her to understand that this is not her business, and she doesn’t get to say anything about it.
The only reason I even went into the McKenzie Tech office was to inform them that my assistants are already handling the paperwork for the contract. It will just take longer. But seeing how they treat my personal life, I think it is better to tell the higher-ups that their company is not worth working with. And I want these people from McKenzie, Inc. to understand that I have the power to do that.
“Initially, I planned to just let my assistants take over these business matters with your company. However, meeting you,” I direct my voice at her before I look back to her bosses, “has changed my mind. Perhaps dealing with a non-family-friendly company like McKenzie, Inc. is a mistake.” I let that sink in before I add, “I need to go now. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”
