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That didn’t mean I wanted to play my hand prematurely, though. And maybe the two of them could turn it around. I doubted it, but stranger things had happened.
“Actually, could I take a moment with my vice president?” I glanced at Jackson before looking at Jo for her agreement.
“Certainly.” She stood and stacked her paperwork. “Charmaine and I will take ten minutes to go through some of our files so we’ll both be aware of just how ridiculous your offer is.” She stalked out of the room with Charmaine close behind her.
Wesley offered us a semi-apologetic look before hurrying after them.
“What the hell has gotten into your head, man?” Jackson turned to me, his voice an urgent whisper as soon as the door closed behind all of them. “This is usually your favorite part. Youlikebeing the steamroller and telling it like it is, remember?” He paused. “Is it the chick? She’s the one from last night, right? Her scent was all over your apartment.”
I scrubbed my hand over my face and sighed. “Yep.”
He whistled low. “Look, I know I mentioned it was about time you had company, but was she really the right choice? Although…that breakfast, dude. That reallywassomething else.”
I opened my mouth to reply, then closed it again.
“Next time, just hit up one of the girls from Denny’s. Your life would be easier, trust me — and you’d still get great breakfast. Not sure they’d all leave a note, though.”
There weren’t any words. “Look, the world is a small place, and apparently Carwyn City is even smaller.” I shrugged. “I didn’t know.”
Jackson became serious, all humor gone from his face, the merits of a good breakfast apparently forgotten. He held his hands up. “Okay, I really don’t care that she came to your place, that she spent the night in your bed, that she gives good head, or can do a cute thing with her kegels. None of that matters. We’re here today on business. Last night doesn’t change our purpose. Or are you having second thoughts now?”
“Hell no.” His words galvanized me. Of course I wasn’t having second thoughts. I knew better than to let sex interfere with business. I’d learned that lesson a long fucking time ago.
Jackson’s question only made me think back to Saundra and the compromises I’d made to keep her happy. I no longer had anyone to keep happy but my pack and myself. I no longer compromised based on other people’s feelings, and that worked out well in the end.
“No,” I said. No second thoughts. “We’re here to buy Gold Moon Inc. for a fair price. Let’s get this shit done and come back tomorrow ready to investigate.”
Jackson nodded. “That’s more like it.” He patted my shoulder, although I almost expected a ringside massage.
When Jo, Charmaine, and Wesley reentered the conference room, I had only one piece of paper in front of me. The contract.
I indicated it. “All we require is your signature,” I said. “Then Gold Moon Inc. will belong to Apex Asset Management and you will have ten million dollars in your bank account that isn’t currently there. It’s a fair offer. Imagine what you can do with ten million dollars.” I waved a hand like the sky was the limit. And surely it was with such a life-changing figure?
Not everyone would have held out like this.
I almost added that she could afford a condo like mine, but now wasn’t the time for cute remarks of any sort. It was just business.
“You must be out of your mind.” Her tone was calm, but her eyes flashed with that anger I’d seen earlier. “In fact, I think we’re done here, don’t you? I don’t intend to accept your offer — not even if you increase it to something sensible.”
Any remark like that would have usually sparked my temper, but I reined it in, focusing instead on the fact that Jo was sitting in front of me. She was so close. And something protective did rise up inside me. But I pushed that down, too, and instead of saying anything further, I stood up to leave.
I gathered my paperwork together as Jackson watched, his eyes wide. We never backed down.
Only this wasn’t surrender. It was simply a tactical retreat, and it was only temporary. “I think once you start going through your books, and you see what’s going on, you’ll beg me to come back and take Gold Moon off your hands.” My voice wasn’t cold, but neither was it warm enough that it could have been mistaken for any sort of kindness.
This was business.
I glanced at Jo before Jackson and I left the room. I would absolutely be waiting to take Gold Moon Inc off her hands.
And to maybe even sweep her off her feet.
That was personal.
7
JOSEPHINE
As soon as Patrick and the other guy he’d brought along were out of sight, I slumped over the conference table.
