THIRTY-FOUR
IN A GROUP WITH JULIUS, Tripp, and Jenna, Brogan’s attention zeroed in on his woman when she walked through the ballroom doors on Gault’s arm again. What was wrong with this picture? That was one question that didn’t need to be asked twice and one he hoped would never need to be asked again.
“She said what?” Brogan asked, unable to understand what his mentor was trying to explain.
“We bumped into Gia in the hallway upstairs,” Julius said again, glancing at the perplexed Tripp.
His friend’s confusion was nothing to his own. Could be Tripp didn’t get why Julius’s rationale was difficult to understand. From his perspective, he’d never heard anything so ludicrous. If it wasn’t so insane, he may be impressed with the ruthlessness of his woman’s untenable strategy.
“Yeah. I got that part,” Brogan said. “You were talking, Gault texted her and she left you in the elevator. I heard that.” He pointed toward Gia and Gault schmoozing on the opposite side of the room. “And now they’re standing across there. Tell me again why I can’t go speak to her.”
“Gault’s into her,” Tripp said. “A little sickening, I know, but he likes her. I doubt he thinks anything will happen between them. He’s a sleaze, but not that kind of sleaze.
” No because if he was that kind of sleaze even Tripp would be between them right now.
Guy was a Breckenridge after all. “He’s an old guy who likes the attention of beautiful younger women, not like it’s unusual. ”
“To optimize our chances,” Julius said, “for the next few days, Gia thinks you shouldn’t spend too much time together. Until Gault makes his decision.”
“Which she may be able to influence,” Brogan said.
The others nodded, perhaps encouraged that he understood. Acknowledging clarity didn’t equal acceptance.
“She suggested dinner on Tuesday,” Julius said. “It’s a smart plan. Talk things out back home. When things have settled. Without her family in the room.”
“You’ve got yourself a clever cookie, Bro,” Tripp said. “Gault will be distracted, could be feeling a little guilty that he’s stolen the attention of your ex, and—I’ve been spending too much time with Rox Out.”
“Wait,” Brogan said and held up a hand to silence them before another word could be uttered. “I’m sorry, I’m still not getting this.”
“Your bid is the best; you’re the right choice.
Gia reviewed everything, every proposal,” Tripp said, talking slow.
Hard copies had been submitted on arrival, though they wouldn’t get the chance to sell them until the in-person pitches tomorrow.
“She’s honest, some might say biased, but she’s a good girl, she’s not screwing the guy over. Tomorrow, we’ll—”
“Gia wants SG to win this,” Brogan said, focusing on Julius because his mentor should be apologizing for considering this a viable avenue for victory.
“To ensure that happens, she wants us, that’s her and I, to pretend we’re at odds, so she can flirt it up with the guy whose company I’m trying to acquire?
She thinks it will put us at a corporate advantage? ”
“Yes,” Julius said. “Yes, that’s it exactly.”
“She wants me to keep my distance until I win the contract,” he asked the nodding Tripp. “So I can’t go near Gia, or be alone with her, until Gault announces the successful party?”
“Yeah,” Tripp said. “That so complicated?”
“My girl wants me to prioritize corporate ambition above our relationship,” Brogan said. “She wants me to protect the company interests at all costs?”
No fucking way. Julius was smarter than to think he’d accept this. Had he fallen and cracked his skull? And Tripp? What the fuck? Was there some kind of mass chemical intoxication going on?
Julius’s tone, thankfully, proved there was at least some awareness of his aversion.
“It’s only a few days, Brogan,” the older man said carefully. “Three at most.”
His head bobbed slowly. “Protect the corporation,” he muttered.
“And here I thought Dad had been dead ten years.” Tipping his head back, he appealed to the heavens, though his father more likely went in the other direction.
“You sent me a real company girl, Stefan.” He looked Julius dead in the eye.
“Trouble is, I always think I know best.”
“Brogan,” Julius warned.
Sweeping a finger around the group, he indicated them all. “You three with me.”
One member was missing from their posse. Remedying that wouldn’t take long. Setting Gia in his sights, she was his goal.
“What are you going to do?” Tripp asked, following on as he’d been instructed. “She’ll be mad if you go over there.”
Especially given her father and brother had just joined her and Gault.
“No doubt,” Brogan said, not dissuaded.
He didn’t even care about the people forced out of his way. Gia was laughing when he broke into their group, startling everyone.
Others were ignored to give Gault favor.
“Brogan,” Gault said, ever jolly. “Nice of you to join us.”
The man’s mood didn’t break his determination. “Mr. Gault, I have a lot of respect for you and what you’ve done in your corner of the market. You worked hard and practice a fairness not often seen.”
“Uh, thank you. The pitches aren’t until tomorrow.” Gault laughed. “Starting early?”
“Mister…” Gia murmured, a thread of fear in her voice.
Yeah, she’d figured it out, too late. Honestly, it was insulting. What did she expect? There was a stern talking to in her future.
“Spurn Global won’t be making a pitch,” he said, a ripple of surprise cascaded around the group. Gia’s eyes burned into him. “We’re formally withdrawing from consideration.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Gault said. “Your proposal was impressive. Julius, you support this decision?”
“Mr. Spurn calls the shots,” Julius said. “If he says SG won’t be making a pitch, then SG won’t be making a pitch.”
In his peripheral vision, Gia’s fingers slid away from Gault’s arm.
“The Spurn delegation will vacate their rooms this evening,” Brogan said and offered Gault his hand. “I would like to thank you for your hospitality and apologize if you feel we’ve wasted your time.”
“Not at all,” Gault said, shaking his hand.
“Guess he couldn’t stand up to the competition,” Bram said, snickering.
That guy didn’t know when to quit. Even now while Brogan was magnanimous and Gault gracious, Bram Sear couldn’t keep his need to be smug in check.
Staring at Sear Junior, his mind’s eye couldn’t erase the image of his fist in the guy’s face. The first delicate touch of Gia’s fingertip on the inside of his middle finger got his attention. It was quickly joined by the others. Her fingers slid down, threading between his, linking them together.
A smile flirted with the corner of her mouth.
“Bram,” she said. “You’re a prick. Everett’s going to see through your plan to dismantle his life’s work in the name of making a quick profit.
Yes, I did read your proposal and understand it’s dishonest and deceptive.
” While her brother stuttered, she turned to him. “Mister, I need a ride home.”
Shit, subduing his pride wasn’t easy. “It would be my pleasure.”
She kissed Gault’s cheek then whispered something in his ear.
The older man laughed and picked up her free hand to kiss her knuckles. “You are nothing but light, my beautiful joy.”
Gia smiled at Gault but squeezed his hand, conveying she was ready to go. After nodding again to Gault, Brogan led his posse from the room, his woman at his side where she belonged.