AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Is it complete, ready to go?” Ira was practically dancing out of hisskin.
“Not quite. I have a few tweaks I need to make based on recent tests.” Malcolm fumbled nervously with the papers in hishand.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the woman peeking out through the back curtains. She appeared ready to jump in if necessary. With Ira, it would probably benecessary.
“Give me a date you think you could have it ready. I’m going to go talk to my boss. I think this might be just what we need.” He grinned, but it did nothing to improve hisappearance.
“Two or three weeks at most.” Malcolm set down the papers and stuffed his hands in hispockets.
Ira pulled out his phone and opened the calendar app. “Okay. That still gives us plenty of time to impact the campaign.” He closed his phone, passed Malcolm a card, and shook his hand so hard the older man was nearly jerked off his feet. “You’ll hear from me really soon.” Then he darted away and I knew he was going to callSterling.
I stepped over in front of Malcolm. “Mr. Wallace, you don’t knowme…”
“Actually, I know of you.” His eyes widened and he leaned forward. “You’re BlaiseDraco.”
I nodded somberly. Normally, I’d be thrilled I had the advantage of recognition when I started a negotiation. In this case, it made me feel terrible because I was about to crush this man’s dream. With just a cursory glance at his booth, his attire, and the age of his demo computer, I could tell he was hurting for money. “You can’t sell this program. And you most certainly can’t let it end up in Ira Gunther’shands.”
All the color drained from his face. “I don’t think you understand,” Malcolm choked out as his hand yanked at his collar. “I have to. I need this more than youknow.”
“This suit is roughly five years old. The brochures were whipped up on the printer at home. The computers, which are the heart of your business, are seriously outdated too.” I leaned on the table with both hands. “Of course I can see you need the money. There has to be somethingelse…”
“There’s nothing else,” he whispered. A sweat had broken out above his brow. I could see his breathing had becomelabored.
“Have a seat, Mr. Wallace.” I pointed to the metal folding chair a few feet behindhim.
Malcolm shook his head a few times, then looked toward the curtain. Already the woman had rushed to his side. She tried to steer him toward the chair, but he couldn’t seem to move his feet. I rushed behind the table to assist, but I wasn’t fast enough. He grabbed her arm as he collapsed, dragging her down on her knees withhim.
* * *
Maggie
“Daddy,”I whimpered. “Come on. Say something.” The longer he lay there unresponsive the more concerned I grew. His face had paled as he collapsed. I held his hand and glanced at his nailbeds. They were still pink. His lips weren’t blue. With no medical training, I was running out ofideas.
The man knelt down beside him and pressed two fingers to his neck. “Pulse is strong. If I had to guess, I’d say he was having a panicattack.”
“You think?” I growled at him even though I’d been so panicked when he dropped, the idea hadn’t occurred to me. Now, I was beating myself up for missing the obvious. In seconds, the fear of loss had completely crippled me, but I managed to hide it behind the usual façade. Armed with my fury I turned on the guy. “Why’d you have to go and make him all upset?” I could feel tears pricking myeyes.
“Don’t cry,” the man chided as he laid his hand on my forearm. “He’ll befine.”
“You think I’m sad?” My brow arched angrily. “You’re gonna wish I was sad,” I growled under my breath as I leaned closer to him. His touch was actually comforting, but I refused to acknowledge it. No way was I going to let him off the hook. He deserved every bit of my wrath. “Listen, jerk…” I prepared to completely go off on him and he hadn’t evenflinched.
“It’s Blaise. Blaise Draco.” He removed his hand from my arm and held it out to shake, but I ignoredhim.
“Fine. Listen, Mr.Jerk…”
Instead of acting offended, he drew back and actually smirked. “Let’s get some medical assistance over here,” he suggestedcalmly.
I frowned. The look I’d given him had mostly scared men off in the past. This one…still here. While I was baffled, at the moment I was too concerned with my father to give it more than a passing thought. “Daddy,” I began calmly, “say something or we’re going to have to take you to thehospital.”
“He should probably go anyway, just to get checked out,” the manmurmured.
“Really? That’s a great idea. Too bad we aren’t sitting on a big fat pile of money.” I turned to my father. “Come on. Getup!”
Almost on cue, my father sat. “I’m fine,” he whispered as he held his chest. His color was still off and his face was covered in tiny beads of sweat. I reached under the table for the tissue box I’d hidden underneath it. After pulling one out, I began to dab at hisface.
“I’ll pay. I feel responsible. Please…let me help,” he murmuredgently.
I sat there shaking, a combination of rage and fear. Dad really needed to be checked out and we didn’t have any way to pay for it. “Fine,” Igrumbled
