“We don’t need to be involved in the deal you make here to get some of them off the hook for what they were pressured into or reduced sentences to clear their records and not lose all of your security at once,” Tracey said, gesturing between those with the Shaws and councils. “Also, we are not willing to take the ban off the Shaw family.”
“Then why are you here?” Bernice snapped, Bryan looking ready to ask the same.
“Because we are willing to help so it doesn’t blow up so big that it could implicate Bevin and Clare who now both work for us,” Tracey said slowly as if they were idiots for not having figured that out. Then she shook off her thoughts and focused on Jean. “We’re willing to hiresomeof the family of your guards in tight spots. Temporarily.”
Jean studied her. “You’ll hire the clean ones and allow them to have Familiar Treasures on their resume to get the stink off of them being associated with the Shaw family has given them.”
“Basically, yes,” Tracey accepted. “As long as the Shaw family keeps working towards cleaning up their… Everything and you’re on the path you promised. I won’t let this company take any kind of hit because daughter followed after father.” She hurried on when Jean’s eyes filled with anger. “I hope you won’t. I’m just making our position clear.”
“From an owner who won’t even show up when the most powerful top-tier family comes to a meeting,” Bernice grumbled.
“If you bite your tongue any harder, I’ll even smell the blood when not a vampire, poppet,” Councilman Oliveria teased me.He shot Bernice a look when she opened her mouth. “Try me, Bernice. Please, I’d love to give you a good tongue lashing on Henry’s behalf.”
“Hear, hear,” Mrs. Oliveria purred.
She wisely shut it, surprising all of us Shaw children. Wow.
“I will gladly accept, and it won’t be public knowledge,” Jean said before focusing on me. “Though the troublesome aunts and uncles are—”
“And some cousins,” Bryan drawled.
“Yes, cannot ever forget them and the very extended family,” Jean agreed with a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Are circling to—”
“We’ve heard,” Clare assured her, chuckling when I gave her a confused look. “Fine,I’veheard, and you said you didn’t have a single moment to spare for stupid without listening to what they wanted.”
I blinked at her for longer than what was polite. “They want me to combine the Millen and Shaw familiesagainwith me bringing the new wealth the Millen family has that they don’t really know the extent of with the promise of taking over Jean’s position, and in reality I would be their puppet complete with whoever’s hand up my ass.”
I shrugged when several people failed in covering laughs. Councilman Reid spit out his drink in fabulously bad timing.
I almost wished he’d hit Bryan. He was close enough, but he had the good manners to turn in time.
Damn.
“Your phone started buzzing all of the time after Jasmine’s press conference. Yes, I know what they want.” I winked at one of Taylor’s guys. “They can sod off and find another wanker to try and pull a penny drop on.”
“You don’t get any more running coaching from her if you’re going to teach her all the bad British everything,” Taylor told his guy, giving him a death look.
“Sod off,” I mumbled under my breath, several with us chuckling. At least he seemed to realize that I wanted to break the tension like Emma was teaching me during conflict.
It was better than puking in the bushes.
“The other problem is we don’t know what they’ve done wrong,” Jean admitted to the councilmen. “It wasn’t as if Father told me, the lowly daughter. Bevin probably knows more having been trapped in that house.” She shot me a quick glance. “That wasn’t an accusation.”
“No, you wouldn’t be petty with us sitting here,” Councilman Oliveria accepted.
Meaning she would when they weren’t. Dayumn.
I also wasn’t the only one who caught what he meant.
“You would need someone like Ira to go first and lead by example,” I told Jean, shrugging yet again when several people gave me a range of looks. “He’s yourheadof security. Lead by example and you would still trust him at your side. That sends a strong message you’re trying to clean up the past—the right way but with understanding—and move on.”
Shockingly—and to not just me—it was Bernice who spoke first.
“You’re right, and that is the best move given the situation,” she admitted before turning to Jean and dismissing me.
“We will excuse ourselves from the rest of this then,” Tracey told Jean and the others. “We don’t need to be here for it. I’ll get you a list of the available jobs we’re open to hiring for. Don’t promise the moon because we’re not letting the families of your people be managers or in charge of sensitive information.”
“No, but you pay well and are fair and that’s what they’ll focus on,” Jean accepted, hearing Tracey on what she wassaying. She turned and met my gaze. “Thank you. I have a present for you as well that I believe you will appreciate, but it’s best that you are surprised about. All of you.”
