I moved to my laptop, easing down into the chair, drumming my fingers on the wooden surface. Thoughts of Vanessa were never far from my mind. Maybe that’s why before I realized what I was doing, I’d navigated to the Perfect Pairing website, immediately flipping through the pictures taken of various events.
She really did have a good thing going with her company. With every picture I found with her in it, my cock became more uncomfortable.
I shifted to the original marketing trailer I’d watched, enjoying it all over again. Perhaps even more. To my delight, I noticed a second trailer had recently been added.
I guess what Vanessa had told me was correct. Her business was booming. The video was even more powerful than the first one and for some reason, watching it had prompted me to take some notes. I might be considered a ruthless bastard, but I was good at what I did. Maybe she wouldn’t mind a few pointers.
Maybe I was out of my freaking mind, but I couldn’t help myself. She’d ‘schooled’ me on my business. All was fair in love and war. Right?
Sometime later, a bang against my front door jarred my senses. What the hell?
With a quick glance at my watch, I realized I stood a chance of being late to the meeting. An hour and a half had passed. How the fuck had that happened?
Well, shit. Still, Lopez could also wait. Before I had a chance to stroll toward the door, another hard pound on the door assaulted my senses. Whoever was behind the door better have a damn good reason why I was being interrupted.
As soon as I threw open the door, Michael pushed his way inside.
“Where in the fuck have you been?” His entire face was pinched.
“Busy. I’m headed to the meeting now. Why aren’t you there?”
“Why didn’t you answer your phone yesterday or last night?”
“Because I was busy. I told you.”
He slapped his hand on his face and threw his head back. “Then you don’t know.”
“Know what?”
“That Lopez signed with Blair Development.”
“What the fuck?” Every muscle in my body tensed. “That’s not possible.”
“Evidently it is.”
I had no idea what to think. “Lopez called you.”
“Hell, no. He held a press conference. Late yesterday. Why the fuck do you think I was calling you?”
Exhaling, I looked away. “What the fuck happened?”
“I think I know why. You haven’t paid any attention to the news. Have you?”
“I never do. Why?”
He pulled out his phone, shaking his head while cursing under his breath. “I heard it on the radio and found this when I was sitting at a traffic light on the way over. Take a look. I don’t know when this was filmed.”
It took me a few seconds to realize what I was looking at. “Fuck. It’s live. This goddamn thing is live.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“No. I need to get to Vanessa. She can’t handle this. Not with what’s happened with her brother.” I immediately headed back to the door.
“Wait. There’s still a chance to recoup the contract, but you need to come with me to Lopez’s hotel. I think we can make an offer he can’t refuse.”
“I need to get to Vanessa. You don’t understand.”
“What if she planned this and has been working with her father all along? You need to ask yourself that question. Did she lie to you?”
