A means to end a family debt.
And she was going to pay it whatever it took. Even if it meant losing her soul and body in the process.
Three
Sawyer
Penny knocked on the door. “Annette phoned from the lobby. Are you expecting someone named Lily Francini? Apparently, she’s downstairs.”
Sawyer looked up from his laptop. “Francini?” He pressed his lips together. He didn’t know she would be here so quickly. “Yes. I am expecting her. We are,” he corrected. “Send her up and let Jack know that we have a meeting together.”
“I will take care of it. Not a problem.” She smiled.
“Good. Tell him we can meet in here.” He slammed the screen shut and pushed back from his desk. “Clear my schedule for the next hour at least.”
“Anything else?” she asked.
“We don’t want to be disturbed.” He eyed her with a dark stare.
“Understood, sir.” She closed the double doors behind her.
Sawyer leaned in his seat. This wasn’t the arrangement he wanted, but he didn’t see what options there were. He had always been logical and pragmatic in his approach to business deals. This one made him color outside the lines more than he ever had before. He didn’t want to admit it made him uneasy.
Five minutes later his business partner waltzed into office, cocky and arrogant as usual.
“You mind telling me what the fuck this is all about? Who is this girl and why is she here?” Jack Rivers’s voice was deep and boisterous as he slammed the door behind him.
Sawyer walked around to the front of his desk. Jack was already busy pouring a drink. Bourbon straight.
He didn’t have much time to talk Jack into this. It was rare he made a decision like this without him, but it had happened late last night. Jack had gotten in from an east coast tech conference.
“How was L.A.?” he asked.
Jack rolled his eyes. “I ate sushi, fucked an actress, and made us a five-million dollar acquisition. Ok I guess.” He shrugged.
“Glad you enjoyed yourself.” Sawyer leaned on the edge of the couch.
“I was hungover as hell after the wedding,” he admitted.
“Me too. Still can’t believe Ben got married. That bastard shocked everyone on Saturday by actually going through with it.”
Jack laughed. “He’s not exactly the husband type, but I guess Rachel will figure that out eventually.”
“Penny returned our tuxes for us.”
“Damn it. I forgot about that before I flew out to L.A.”
Sawyer shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. That’s taken care of. No more weddings for us for a while. We’re done with the penguin suits. Ben’s on his honeymoon.” He paused. “Listen. I need you to hear me out for a minute.”
“Sure. Anything brother.” Jack grinned.
“Remember Jill Banks?” Sawyer prodded.
“Of course. She left six months ago. Advertising hasn’t been the same since. That department is a revolving door. We can’t keep anyone in there. I don’t have any idea why.”
“Well, while you were gone I found her replacement.”
“I was gone for two days. You work quickly.”