The Truth

I raise a brow sharply, and Ricky whistles. “Oh, Uncle Daniel, I would’ve thought you’d know better than to tell a woman something like that. Am I gonna have to give you lessons in relationships? I’m basically a pro with Miranda now . . .”

Daniel inhales deeply, cutting off Ricky’s not-so-humble brag. Daniel looks from Ricky to me. “You’re right, Ricky. Tiffany, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like it sounded.”

“Whoa . . . mark this on the calendar,” Billy whispers. “He apologized. That must be some penis flytrap magic working there.”

Daniel glances at Billy, who shuts up.

Billy’s vulgar joke doesn’t set me off like Paul’s did last night. Their intentions are completely different, and Daniel and I are in a different place now. So instead of ripping Billy a new one, I open and close my jaw, clacking my teeth together like a carnivorous plant might. He flinches and I grin.

“Guys,” Daniel says, rubbing at his temple. “This meeting is going to be difficult. We’re basically juggling dynamite here, taking away not only a payday they’re expecting but calling them on conspiracy when I don’t know if they even know they’re part of one. This is serious. I don’t expect it to be dangerous, but I don’t like even the chance of putting you at risk, Tiffany.”

“Then why’d you invite me in?

“You deserve it,” Daniel says simply. “And because I knew you’d want to see this thing through firsthand.”

His logic and decision-making process become totally clear, and I smile. He’s respecting me by inviting me in for this while still keeping to the corporate structure where I shouldn’t be within ten steps of this room right now.

“I’ll be a mime,” I promise him, zipping my lips and tucking the invisible key in my cleavage before settling into a chair at the far end of the room, setting my laptop up on a small table in the corner. In seconds, I look the very model of a modern executive assistant, right down to my hair pulled back in a bun and my chest pushed forward, but not too forward.

That last part’s just for me.

“What about us, Uncle Daniel? Aren’t you worried about us getting hurt with all the formidable danger these two assholes are strutting in with?” Billy teases, flexing his biceps.

Ricky grins, making his pecs pop and dance.

Daniel’s brow lifts sharply, a cold-eyed glare coming from his baby blues and directed at Ricky and Billy, who’ve at least managed to take their assigned seats. “That’s right, Boss. Use that,” Ricky tells Daniel, and I realize what they’re doing.

It’s not childish annoyance in the face of something serious, it’s love by aggravation. They know Daniel needs to feel something other than worry about me. He needs anger, annoyance, and even a bit of fury swirled in to be hard-assed for the next few minutes of this meeting. I think they’ve used this tactic on him before.

Daniel nods his appreciation, and I watch as the mantle of responsibility settles onto his shoulders. His chest squares up, his shoulders strong and ready to accept the weight of the world. His face goes granite-like, and he sits in the head chair. Reaching over, he pushes a button on the big speakerphone setup that’s in the middle.

“Mark, I’ve got a few questions about the TRE contract. Can you bring the team to conference room one now?” Before Mark can reply, Daniel hangs up, telling Ricky and Billy, “Legal and HR will be here any second.”

As if he conjured them or just has the Force, there’s a sharp knock on the door. Ricky gets up to open it, and Mr. Yuri, a representative from HR, and Ms. Maloney from Legal file in and take seats at the end of the table closer to me, greeting Daniel as they do so.

“Thank you for joining us,” Daniel says, his voice all business. “I wish it were under better circumstances.”

“Of course, Mr. Stryker. I already confirmed with Ms. Maloney that everything is in order in terms of the violation of the employment contract, and Fox is totally in the clear.”

Ms. Maloney simply nods, which I guess is all she needs to do. Meanwhile, I type quickly at my laptop, taking notes on the attendees, and prepare to begin as soon as Daniel gets started.

I don’t take meeting notes often, but I’m not out of practice, and I know that the room will be recorded as well. Daniel doesn’t mess around with that sort of stuff.

Another knock sounds on the door, and Daniel calls out, “Come in.”

The door opens, and Mark, Brandon, and Shaun enter. Mark and Brandon look quietly confident, almost cocky, while Shaun looks like he’s about to shit bricks. No wonder Daniel kept having strange feelings as he was evaluating the now nonexistent TRE deal.

But based on the looks on Mark and Brandon’s faces, they don’t know the deal’s off yet.