He sits forward, his purpose renewed. “Claire, let’s get one thing straight. I always get what I want. And what I want is Anderson Media. I can take it now from you for a good price that will protect you. Or”—he shrugs casually—“I can wait for six months until the liquidators move in and get it for next to nothing, and you can face bankruptcy.” He steeples his hands on the table in front of him. “We both know the end is near.”
“You self-conceited prick,” I whisper.
He tilts his chin to the sky and smiles proudly. “Nice guys come last, Claire.”
My heart begins to beat faster as my anger builds.
“Think about it.” He takes out his business card and slides it across the table.
TRISTAN MILES
212-555-4946
“I know this is not how you want to sell your company. But you need to be a realist,” he continues.
I stare at him, sitting there all cold and heartless, and I feel my emotions bubbling dangerously close to the surface.
Our eyes are locked. “Take the offer, Claire. I’ll email you a figure this afternoon. You will be taken care of.”
My sanity rubber band snaps, and I sit forward. “And who will take care of my late husband’s memory, Mr. Miles?” I sneer. “Miles Media sure as hell won’t.”
He twists his lips, uncomfortable for the first time.
“Do you know anything about me and my company?”
“I do.”
“Then you’ll know that this company was my husband’s labor of love. He worked for ten years to build it up from the ground. His dream was to hand it
down to his three sons.”
His eyes hold mine.
“So . . . don’t you fucking dare”—I slam my hand on the table as my eyes fill with tears—“sit there with that smug look on your face and threaten me. Because believe me . . . Mr. Miles, whatever you’re dishing out isn’t half as bad as losing him.” I stand. “I’ve already been to hell and back, and I will not have some rich, spoiled bastard make me feel like shit.”
He rolls his lips, unimpressed.
“Don’t call me again,” I snap as I push back my chair.
“Think about it, Claire.”
“Go to hell.” I begin to storm to the door.
“She’s just having a bad day. We’ll definitely think about it,” Marley splutters in embarrassment. “Thanks for the cake—it was yummy.”
I angrily wipe the tears from my face as I run down the stairs and out the front doors. I can’t believe I was so unprofessional. Tears fill my eyes again. Oh well, at least I stood up to him, I guess.
Marley runs to keep up with me. She wisely stays silent and then looks up and down the street. “Oh, screw this, Claire—let’s not go back to work. Let’s go get drunk instead.”
Tristan
I stand at the window and stare over New York. My hands are in my suit pockets, and a strange feeling is burning a hole in my stomach.
Claire Anderson.
Beautiful, smart, and proud.
No matter how many times I’ve tried to wipe her out of my mind over the last three days since our meeting, I can’t.