Fat Cat Liar
“Sounds like it’s going to bring tons of enrichment to Long Island.”
“It’s going to be huge. The timeline is tough. Our construction side is going to have their hands full. Providing this type of manpower will require hiring workers and contractors from all over. They want this complete and functional in two years. With New York winters, we’ll have to be resourceful on how to keep on schedule.”
“You have a group of people to help with all that. Your job is the building. Have you thought of anything?”
“I have a few ideas. I’ll hand off my last project this afternoon, which will allow me to start with the foundation.”
“Do you want to have a beer with Dad after work? It sounds like you may need it.”
I hesitate a second too long, not wanting to explain why seeing my dad might be a bad idea.
“Are you worried about him being mad you banged the girl in Logistics?
I groan and drop my head. “How did you know about that?”
“Everyone knows. She’s got a big mouth. She also has dollar signs in her eyes. If I were you, I’d make sure to stay away. HR is watching closely to see how this plays out.”
“I have no intentions of being around Kyra any more than is required. All of my logistics requests will go through channels. It was a mistake.”
“Dad’s not mad. He’s disappointed but not angry.”
“Disappointment is worse.” Dad has always told Clay and me not to mix business with pleasure. And, until my misstep with Kyra, I’ve always followed that advice.
“Best way to get him over it is to buy us a beer.”
“Set it up and text me a time.”
He takes the last gulp of his coffee and tosses the empty cup in the trash as he gets up to leave. “Good luck, Lawson. You can do this.” He flicks his fingers at me before closing the door.
An email alert sounds on my computer, and I open the attachment in anticipation.
Clay is right; I’m going to need luck to land this deal. But I can’t take any chances. I’m going to have to dig deep and uncover what makes Kevin Palmer tick. The billionaire businessman is a private soul, never revealing too much about himself to the public. All my research has produced nothing but business transactions, philanthropic organizations, and endless articles on his pathway to success.
My screen fills with more business articles highlighting Palmer Enterprises. I scan so fast, I almost miss it, but a photo catches my eye.
Kevin Palmer is pictured with a cute blonde on his arm. She’s smiling for the camera, but his eyes are on her, staring proudly. The caption is brief.
‘Business tycoon, Kevin Palmer, and his daughter, Greer Palmer, attend charity event honoring fallen heroes. In this rare sighting, Mr. Palmer praised our military and thanked everyone for their sacrifices and honor.’
The picture was taken a year ago, and there is no other photo in the file.
My heart races. It’s going to take a lot more than skill and brains to win this proposal. I’m going to have to play dirty.
Greer Palmer is the key…
Chapter 3
Greer
I bolt off my sofa at the sound of a loud thump, followed by an angry rumbling. This is highly unusual because there’s not a lot of activity on my floor, especially since the tenant across the hall moved out a month ago. Quietly, I shuffle to the door and peep through the hole.
My view is distorted, but I make out a man in the hallway shaking his hand fiercely. The bill of his ball cap is low, casting a shadow over his face. He twists and uses his back to push against a large item stuck in the doorway.
I continue to watch, waiting for someone to join and help him. When no one comes after a few minutes, I assume he’s alone.
Glancing down, I know I’m not very presentable in my loose sweat pants, oversized shirt and hair in a topknot. My make-up was gone hours ago. But he looks like he could use some help, and he’s gotten past security already.
I try to smooth my hair that’s fallen loose and then open the door. “Are you okay?”