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*****
She had buried herself in work as soon as she returned, trying to ignore that she had received a call confirming the requested meeting. If he thinks that she is just going to give up and go away, then he has another guess coming, she fumed as she worked on the expense report for Jerry.
She was in the middle of a phone call when her cell phone rang. Recognizing the name, she cut off the call and answered it.
"Ms. Pennant?"
"This is she."
"Mr. Manchester has agreed to meet you at the office at six-thirty sharp. Please don't be late."
The woman hung up before she could say anything else.
"Well, fine." She muttered. "I have the meeting, and that was all I needed. An in." Pressing the intercom, she asked Mariel to come in.
"Have you finished the report?"
"Yes. Would you like me to print it out?"
Delores nodded, scrambling to think of what else she would need. "I am going to be meeting with Deacon Manchester."
Mariel looked at her sharply. "He has condescended to meet with you?"
Delores let out a soft laugh and felt the tension dissolving. "He has, and I am not leaving his office until he agrees to put the international book fairs back on the table. How the hell are we supposed to make him any damn profit if he cuts us off? We are not children to be given treats by being good and obeying the rules."
"Good luck with that. The man looked like he had no flexible bone in his body. And those eyes give me the creeps. Like he is staring into your very soul."
"Please, I am trying to be brave as it is."
"If anyone can do it and change his mind, it is you. I have never seen anyone braver or more determined."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence; I sincerely need it."
"I will get you those documents."
*****
He should have told Ms. Sinclair to direct the woman to the acquisition team he had sent over to streamline the publishing house.
He had told Gallagher that he had failed to see the need for the astronomical advertising budget and the expenses for the international book fairs. The man had squeaked a little, like a mouse, but had folded like a game of cards.
Deacon despised the sniveling owner of the publishing house and his inability to stand up for anything. Now he was stuck waiting for his six-thirty when he could be going to the restaurant to meet with several friends.
He would listen to what she had to say and send her on her way. Her willfulness and lack of fear at the meeting had impressed him slightly. He hoped that she did not expect him to bend over and change his mind.
"Mr. Manchester, will you need me for the meeting with Ms. Pennant?"
"No." He shook his head. "It will not be a long meeting."
"What about your reservation at Takahashi's? Would you like me to push back the seven p.m. to seven-thirty?"
"No need for that. Thank you, that will be all."
With a slight nod, the woman retreated and closed the doors behind her. Reaching for the contract he had been perusing, he made several changes to the first and second paragraphs before his intercom sounded.
A glance at his watch showed that it was precisely six thirty. Pressing the buzzer, he instructed the guard to send her up before returning to the document.
"Come in." He called out at the discreet knock on the door. "Have a seat." he waved a hand near the chairs in front of the desk without looking up.
