AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hire her,” Andy said simply. “You don’t have an assistant yet. I’ve heard about how she wowed the V.I.P.s in London. Hire her as your assistant or a marketing consultant for Winterwyne or whatever title you want to give her. Get her on the payroll, retroactive to your trip to London, and your mother doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”
“Damn, Andy. That’s brilliant.”
“That’s why you pay me the big bucks. Send it through to H.R. and I’ll drop down there at lunchtime to make sure they understand she was on board a week ago and we’re just tidying up the paperwork.”
“I’ll do it now.”
“Good, because accounting just emailed to confirm that they’ve transferred the retainer to Stark, so you are not going to be able to hide it from the board. That rottweiler, tiger, shark hybrid doesn’t come cheap.”
“Understood,” Sutter said simply. “Thank you for everything, Andy.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” Andy replied. He was silent for a moment, then he continued, “I know the first week on the job will be hectic as you get your bearings. More so now with this madness. But we should make time to get together. I have some things for you. Stuff my dad left with me when he retired. And I have some thoughts about how things are going.”
A prickle ran down Sutter’s spine, bringing him fully alert. Lawyers like Andy didn’t use the word “things” multiple times in one breath. Andy was specific, detail-oriented, precise. “Thoughts you don’t want to share over the phone?”
“Mmm. Let’s carve out a few hours before next weekend.”
“Agreed. Just send me the best times for you and I’ll make time.”
“Good. And Sutter? Best we do this out of the office. Might be a good opportunity to get you registered with the Beta Theta Pi club. They have a nice bar and good private rooms.”
Sutter chuffed a small laugh. “Already done. That was my third stop when I got to the city. I should have my membership I.D. and key fob by Tuesday, so let’s say Wednesday to be safe.”
Andy grunted his approval. “Good to have another brother in the office.”
“It certainly is,” Sutter agreed. “Call me if anything changes.”
“I will,” Andy promised before hanging up.
Sutter bent over to stretch out his aching back. Sleeping in the Hamilton Justice Center’s chairs was not something he’d recommend to anyone. He propped his elbows on his knees and thought through his conversation with Andy.
He knew he’d need allies at Whitley James and Winterwyne. Heir or not, groomed all his life for the position or not, Sutter knew there were going to be those who would resent and even try to sabotage his takeover. Sutter also knew some of the staff were loyal to Gray; they’d try to protect the CEO and counteract his fall from grace.
Even in these circumstances, with worry about what was happening to his Little chewing through his gut, Sutter felt warm with relief at finding his first ally.
Chapter 17
“Miss Fay,” the police officer called as he opened the door to her holding cell. “Your attorney is here to see you.”
I don’t have an attorney.
The words slid along her ragged, swollen tongue, but Saoirse kept them trapped behind her lips. She hadn’t said anything to any of the police officers since they’d brought her to the police station, still wrapped in the Rawhide Ranch blanket, stinking and fouled, and made her sit in a cell for hours before offering her a change of clothes. She hadn’t been booked, or whatever it was called. No mug shots or fingerprints. She hadn’t been brought in handcuffs, just marched along by the bruising grip of the police officer who had shown up at the Ranch to take her in while the police chief argued with Derek. She wasn’t given a prisoner’s uniform, just a thin, plain blue shirt and pants that looked like medical scrubs. They hadn’t offered her a shower, just provided a pack of wet wipes to clean herself up. Nor was there any food or water in the cell, although after more than twelve hours without water, she was beginning to wonder what would happen to her if she tried drinking the water out of the cell’s small, seatless toilet.
Saoirse couldn’t remember being so humiliated, or so angry, in her life.
The red-haired, burly police officer who unlocked her cell took her arm, his thick fingers landing unerringly on the bruises his colleague had left behind. Saoirse flinched. She was still sore all over from the seizure. A sleepless night lying on the cell’s thin mattress hadn’t improved her condition. She felt battered beyond anything that had happened to her at M Street or Blunts.
The officer marched her down a hallway and into a small room with a table and four chairs. Instead of some stranger, she recognized the man who rose from behind the table and held out her hand to Saoirse. She’d never officially met him but had seen him around the Ranch.
“Jared Stark, Miss Fay. I’m pleased to finally meet you, though I’m sorry it has to be under these conditions.”
Saoirse shook his hand and sat down in the chair he indicated.
“If my client hasn’t received medical attention yet, I’d like that arranged while I’m interviewing her,” Jared said sharply to the police officer. “And she needs water and her medicine if she hasn’t already had it today.” He quirked his eyebrow at her in a silent question.
Saoirse shook her head to indicate that she hadn’t been given either. She also hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast yesterday and was beginning to get low-blood-sugar shakes.
“That medicine’s in evidence,” the police officer said. “She’ll need to arrange to have more brought to the station.”
