AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Bronte’s brows puckered. “Of course.”
“I wanted to discuss a prospect on the table.”
“I’m listening.” Her voice took on more confidence.
“I have a client who is interested in having some updated software. A program that I know you already have built.”
Bronte’s wide eyes hit Jace’s in panic. He read the questions there. Could it be the system that she planned to introduce at the upcoming show? Possibly the files her former partner stole?
“I’ve probably stunned you with what I know, Miss Burns,” The Broker continued. “I will tell you there’s very generous compensation involved.”
Black fury moved through Bronte’s eyes, flickering intermittently with the fear in them. Jace needed to calm her down quick before she said something that would ruin their chances of catching The Broker at last or would bring more threats down on her.
“How much?” Jace blurted out.
A beat of silence followed. From the next street came the whiz of tires on asphalt.
“The fiancé, I presume?” The Broker asked.
“Yes.”
“And your name?”
“You tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine.” He was ready to throw the phone on the ground and stomp it into bits. Then rush Bronte far away from this café—this city—and hide her away in the mountains of Stone Pass where no one could find her again.
Too late he realized his error in drawing attention to himself. He couldn’t help it—he felt strangely protective of the woman seated across from him.
A chuckle lilted over the phone. Bronte’s anger returned in the form of a scowl.
“Tell me what this generous compensation is,” she demanded.
“One million dollars and you continue to work for the client, building new software as she needs.”
Jace and Bronte’s stares locked. “That’s not generous,” Jace responded. “Come back with a real offer.”
“I agree with my fiancé,” Bronte spoke up with nothing but steel in her tone.
“I see. This isn’t our last conversation. Keep the phone in case I need to reach out again.”
The phone went silent.
* * * * *
Bronte’s knees were knocking and she couldn’t think straight as Jace raced her to the car and across town to her condo. She had no memory of getting to her floor or Jace unlocking the door, but suddenly Hemingway leaped at her face.
Jace snagged the cat out of the air before it struck her, then he passed him into Bronte’s arms.
“Do you like egg rolls?”
The calm, offhanded question didn’t make any sense to Bronte. She looked at Jace around the fluff in her arms. “What?”
“Egg rolls. Do you eat them? I’m going to order us dinner in.”
He ran through the arsenal of locks on the door and pulled out his phone.
“Are you checking the security app?” she asked.
“No. I have it set up to notify me if it picks up anything. What do you say about wonton soup too?”
