CHAPTER 9 #2
Patrick blinked. “Clyde Donovan stole from Mo Williams?”
“To the tune of nearly eight million,” Jackie said.
“And he’s still alive?” Patrick whistled in amazement.
Antonio chuckled. “Right? Surprised me, too, but I guess Mo has really changed. Instead of beating his ass, he’s going the legal route. It’s not looking good for Clyde. Embezzlement charges and all.”
Patrick ran a hand through his blond hair.
“I never did like that Clyde. Mo deserves better. But…” He hesitated.
“I don’t know. Going after someone like Mo as we merge firms seems risky.
Didn’t you pitch Elite to him before, Jackie?
What if he says no again? Being rejected twice doesn’t give current or potential clients faith in us. It wouldn’t be the best look for us.”
“I did,” Jackie confirmed. “But he was in a different headspace then. Clyde was all in his head, feeding him lies about God knows what.”
Patrick leaned back in his chair, looking between the two of them. “What makes you think things will be any different now?”
Jackie had no idea, honestly. She figured she’d work her usual magic—a combination of honesty and passionate intensity—to convince Moe she could and would take care of him. She wasn’t Clyde. She was truly a fan. She just wanted to see him win.
Antonio spoke up. “Because he’ll see that we don’t have any ulterior motives. We just want the guy to win.”
Jackie’s eyes widened. Had he read her mind? “Right,” Jackie said. “AMW-Elite is much more adept at handling a client like Mo.” She glared at Antonio. “Correction, I’m adept at handling Mo as a client. I mean, some of us have law degrees and can handle the more complicated issues that could arise.”
“Here you go,” muttered Antonio under his breath.
Jackie took a deep breath. “Do you have something to say, Mr. Steele?”
“While some of us don’t have fancy Howard law degrees, some of us have been athletes who know what it’s like to get knocked down and get back up. To start from the bottom all over again. To reinvent ourselves.”
Jackie went silent as she looked at Antonio. His words struck a chord. She thought about her father. How he’d been knocked down and reinvented himself. How he’d had it all, then lost it. She cleared her throat. “I may understand that more than you know.”
They stared at each other for a beat until Patrick cleared his throat.
Jackie had almost forgotten that they were standing in the middle of his office.
“Well, you two both seem very passionate about signing Mo. Why don’t you work together?
I’m sure he’d appreciate two level-headed folks such as yourselves.
Especially you, Antonio. No offense, Jackie. ”
Jackie took all the offense. She knew she could be a bit much, but she was tired of having it thrown in her face.
“Seriously,” Patrick continued. “If you both think Mo would be a great catch for this firm, by all means, approach him. Though I suspect Jackie would have done so even without my blessing.”
Jackie smirked. “You know me so well, Patrick. But I don’t need Antonio’s assistance. I can do this on my own. I can get in touch with his assistant, hop a flight to Philly, and sit down with him.”
Antonio shook his head. “He’s not in Philly.”
“What do you mean he’s not in Philly? Miami? I know he has a beach house.” Jackie was starting to panic.
“He’s not there either, Jackie,” Antonio said.
How the hell did Antonio know that? With a blink, Jackie pressed on. “I’m sure it can’t be that difficult to find him.”
Antonio shook his head. “Are you seriously too stubborn to ask me for help?”
Jackie turned to Patrick, who was looking at her expectantly, awaiting an answer. Instead, Jackie turned and walked out of the office.
She could feel Antonio right behind her as she walked down the hall. Her assistant Calvin got up from his desk as she approached but sat back down when he saw Antonio hot on her heels.
When she heard the door close behind her, Jackie turned around. “I don’t need your help. I don’t want your help. I have connections I can reach out to. Even if Mo is in the Himalayas, I’ll find him.”
“Damn, Lucky. The idea of working together is really eating you up inside, huh?”
“What did I say about calling me that?”
“It just rolls so easily off my tongue. Like a lot of things associated with you.”
Jackie’s body stiffened as she felt her face heat. “That is…highly inappropriate, Steele.”
“My bad,” chuckled Antonio. “You just make it so fucking easy to tease you. But seriously, let me help you land Mo. It’s the least I can do for stepping on your toes these past few weeks.”
“Where is he?” asked Jackie.
“Agree that we’ll to work together to sign him. Then I’ll tell you.”
“Ugh, you infuriating giant of a man! I don’t want to work with you. Ever.”
Antonio leaned against the arm of Jackie’s sofa. “Why not?”
“You’re a liar. A masterful liar. And I’ll be damned if I work with such a dishonest person.”
Antonio swallowed. Jackie watched the muscles in his neck tense, then relax. “Jackie, listen. You’ve had this story in your head about me for ten years, and I need to set the record straight. I don’t know what you think happened that day, but—”
Just then, Jackie’s cell phone rang. It was PeeWee’s doggy daycare. They never called, given that PeeWee pretty much slept and snacked all day.
Jackie answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Hi Ms. Miles. It’s Anita from Poochie Paradise. Thank God you picked up!”
Jackie could hear worry in the woman’s voice. “What is it? What’s wrong with PeeWee?”
“Ms. Miles. You need to come quickly. I’m so sorry to tell you this, but something is seriously off with PeeWee. The on-call vet is here, and well, it’s not looking good.”
Jackie’s throat felt tight, and tears began to prick her eyes. “Okay, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. I’m going to call you again when I get to the car.” She hung up the phone. Oh God, not her baby. Not her PeeWee.
She felt as if she might pass out. Antonio was suddenly close to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Jack, what’s wrong?”
Her hands shook as she held the phone. “I…I’ve gotta go. It’s PeeWee.” Tears rolled down Jackie’s face as she reached for her jacket and purse.
When she faced Antonio again, he pulled her into his arms. She let him, melting as she inhaled his scent.
In that moment, she was thankful he hadn’t changed his cologne.
It was soothing. She took a deep breath and enjoyed the feeling of safety, nestling against his hard, broad chest. He was a little thicker in the stomach now, its softness a pleasant contrast. He pulled back, wiping a tear from her cheek.
“It’s going to be alright, Lucky. Go take care of your fur baby. ”
Jackie nodded. She was too wrecked to even fuss at him for the slipup. “Okay,” she softly replied.
With that, Jackie found the strength to release herself from the warmth and comfort of Antonio’s arms. She hurried toward the elevators, then the parking deck. In her Range Rover, she exhaled, said a prayer, and floored it all the way to Poochie Paradise.