Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
“Who are you and what have you done with my boss?” he whispers.
“I’m a billionaire’s loser grandson. You’re a good employee and you deserve a stronger chief.”
Keenan’s mouth twists. “Big guy, are you okay?”
“Never better. Why?”
“Because. On a normal day when our revenue fell even a quarter point, you’d be tearing the office apart trying to figure out who was dragging. You don’t sit around with unanswered questions,” he says.
I chuckle bitterly.
“No mystery here. I know who’s behind it. Now, I just need to make his greedy ass regret ever being born. And I will, especially once I have all the time in the world to make it happen.”
He tilts his head, adjusting his glasses.
“I really hope you’re not thinking what I think you are,” he says quietly. I don’t answer and he continues. “Well, do you at least know that the delivery subcontractor seems to belong to a shell company?”
Just like I thought.
I need more poison in my veins, so I reach for the bottle as I look at him. “Another round?”
“No.” He sets the mug down on my desk.
I move to my sideboard and pour myself another shot, gathering my bombed-out thoughts. “I’m not the least bit surprised.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s exactly the sort of devious, harebrained shit-scheme Apollo Finch lives for. I know that. I’m not stupid—” I pause. Given the state my life is in, I’m not sure how accurate that is. “Well, I’m not that stupid.”
Keenan goes quiet. “Are you sure? Look, you convinced me he was dicking around when you finally found proof he had us review bombed, but this...this is a whole different ballgame.”
I throw back another shot.
“It’s an immediate red flag.”
“But it could be a tax trick. You know how some of the smaller contractors like to run things around here,” he points out.
“The whole purpose of a shell is to shelter money without having to do any work. I guarantee you, Apollo Finch knows how to manage one, and he’s probably sloppy enough for someone to notice. He was having towels and other shit swapped out in Chicago. Unless you have another explanation, he’s suspect A, B, C, and goddamned Z.”
He heaves out a sigh.
I don’t care how crazy it sounds. I’m right.
“Either way, what are we going to do about this?” He sinks down in the chair, resting his arms on his knees.
“I have a few ideas,” I say cryptically. “However, I think the first thing we should do is reassure our media contacts there will be an investigation. And not the kind that drags on for months, turning up jack shit.”
“I’ve already got Jenn on the damage control team. It’s slow going.” He looks at his arm and taps his smart watch.
“Anything else?”
He looks up at me. “At the risk of pissing you off more, we know a certain someone who’s really talented at dealing with these messes. Should I try to get her back in?”
“Knock yourself out. She won’t talk to me, and I tried with a penguin,” I growl.
He gives me a bewildered look.
Probably trying to figure out whether or not I’m absolutely shitfaced drunk.
“Boss, you’re not going to do anything stupid, are you?”
“Like what?”
“You’re never this calm on good days. I keep waiting for you to yell at me or throw something at the wall or—”
“I told you, I’m fine,” I insist.
“You keep saying that, but you don’t seem fine.”
I’m about to deny it for the thousandth time when I wonder what’s the point. Lacing my fingers, I exhale around the burning rock in my throat.
“Keenan, I’m sure I’ll regret this, but to hell with it. If a woman says you’ve given her everything but the one thing she wants, what does that mean?”
“Oh, that’s pretty straightforward. You could ask.” He smiles cheerfully.
“I tried that, dammit. She said if she had to tell me, it doesn’t matter.”
Keenan laughs. “See, this is why I like guys. So much easier.”
Why do I bother asking him for advice?
“The good news is, she’s waiting on you to figure it out. Maybe you will once we’ve put out some fires.”
“She isn’t,” I counter. “She doesn’t care what I do. She won’t talk to me.”
“Then she’s not done with you, dude. How can a guy who pulls unicorn solutions out of his butt all the time be this dense?”
I snort, narrowing my eyes. “How would you even know?”
Keenan laughs again. “My bestie on mall runs is an awesome lady, and I never missed a slumber party in middle school. Look, if she was done with you when you asked what she wanted, she would have told you. And she definitely would’ve listed all the ways you fucked up. She didn’t, did she?” He waits while I shake my head. “Yeah. So she’s still waiting on you to figure it out. She doesn’t want to have to tell you because she doesn’t want it to be meaningless or easy. You’re being put to the test, my man.”