"If the company holds out long enough."
"It will."
"If you are so convinced, why do you want to sell it so badly?"
I lean back in my chair, forcing a smirk on my face. Desperation is never a good tactic. "I don't have companies of this type in my portfolio. It's a much better fit for your portfolio. Or Ogden's."
Gordon's face whitens, which is exactly the reaction I wanted. Hence, why I brought his biggest competitor into the discussion. Not that he made me any offer, but bluffing can go a long way in negotiations. I know this talk won't be any shorter for it. Damn it, I need to get to Jessica somehow. She's wild and impulsive, two things I've come to love about her. But if she doesn't hear from me for two days, I can bet the worthless assets of this company she'll draw some hasty conclusions. I hurt her, and that was the last thing I wanted. I don’t know if I can fix things between us, but I want the chance to explain... before she comes to the same conclusion I did: that I don’t deserve her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jessica
No word from Parker. For two long, lousy days. As I stand in front of the mirror on Friday evening, putting on makeup, Dani enters the bathroom wearing one of the few party outfits I brought from California. I'm wearing one, too.
"We both look gorgeous," I say, and Dani smiles. She quickly accepted the dress I offered, which is definitely take-me-home-with-you length. I can tell we're on the same page. We need this tonight. Reckless fun. Consequences be damned. We're both wearing tight, black dresses and almost ridiculously high heels.
"I called a cab. It should be here in ten minutes," Dani says.
"Perfect."
After Dani goes out, I put another layer of foundation under my eyes. But there's not much I can do about the puffiness. Well, there is. Stop crying. I did quite a lot of that last night. Even now, I can feel tears forming behind my eyelids. God damn it. I'll ruin half an hour of work if I start crying now. The tears gather at the outer corners of my eyes and I wipe them gently with my fingers, making them vanish without doing any damage to my makeup.
My cell phone starts ringing just as I leave the bathroom. It's Helen. Again. She's called me plenty of times, but I haven't picked up. There are two possible scenarios how our discussion could go, and I don't like either of them. Either she knows Parker dumped me, and I don't need a pity party, or she doesn't know Parker dumped me, and I'm in no mood to update her. I'll leave the unpleasant task to Parker.
Answer your Goddamn phone, woman, Helen texts me.
I chuckle and decide to call her after all.
"I was ready to call Scotland Yard, you know," she says. “Why the hell didn't you answer your phone? Trying to avoid anyone related to Parker?"
So she does know.
"I'm not in the mood for a pity party, Helen," I warn. "I'm a big girl, I've been dumped before."
"Oh dear, Parker told me you might say that."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"He wasn't trying to send you a breakup message through his silence. Or through me. He's been stuck in meetings for the last two days. Still is. I don't think he'll get away for another two hours."
I roll my eyes. "I find it hard to believe he couldn't find a minute to text me."
"I believe he was under the impression he'd need more than a minute to explain everything."
My heart begins to beat at lightning quick speed, hope springing inside of me.
"I suppose so," I say.
"Where are you now?"
"Um . . . home, but Dani and I are leaving for Soho in about two minutes."
"Preparing for a wild night out, huh?"
My cheeks warm up. "Well—”
"Perfectly acceptable behavior for someone who thought she’d been dumped.”