However, the other side of my brain flashed a warning sign that said don’t be fooled. This guy ran one of the most corrupt oil companies in the business. No amount of my green PR expertise could ever make a dent in his bad image. These guys oozed filth from their core.
My brain was waging a war in me, pulling me to think about the money again. This would give me the money I needed to pay for Poppy’s care while I took the time to start an adult day center, and boy, would that save everything. I took a deep measured breath, as if I was getting ready to jump off the high dive, because it hurt to say no to that amount of money. “I’m sorry, Mr. Tucker. I don’t think our companies are the right fit for a partnership. I wish—”
He kept his chin lifted, and his body straight like a soldier in line when he upped his offer, “Two hundred and fifty.”
Now I did choke, and one hand flew to my throat as I bobble headed my way through breathing, while my other hand floundered behind me, grasping for the edge of my desk. I needed to lean on something to avoid collapsing. “You sure know how to give a girl a heart attack, don’t you?”
“I don’t know nothin’ bout heart attacks, but that possum’s on a stump.”
“What possum?” I deadpanned, equal parts confused and stunned. There was no way I could look at this greedy, nasty, grumpy man and ever want to help him. My conscience wasn’t allowing me to say yes, but I was left asking myself at what cost did it make it okay to accept the job and say, “It’s just business?”
Helping this troll went against everything I believed in. Still, there was something else I believed in—helping my disabled sister. And that much money would help us through this tough financial season until I had the center opened. I wasn’t kidding myself with this center project. It was going to take time. All that time meant I was going to be spending thousands on sending Poppy to the lady down the street, and I didn’t have the funds to do that. At some point in the near future, I’d have to make serious lifestyle changes to continue spending that amount of money. I’d either lose my apartment, or be forced into a weekend job. Either way, I didn’t want to ditch Poppy in her time of grief. My head was spinning, weighing all the consequences of what I potentially had to lose by leaving this offer on the table. With my brows bunched together like two mis-matched socks that had been tumbled together in the dryer, I glared at him. “Why did you come to me?”
His eyes caught mine, and although I had expected them to be beady, like the most disgusting reptilian creature, they weren’t. They were soft, with natural hues of warm and cozy browns, like one of those wrinkly puppy dogs. They widened when he spoke, like he was laying down all his cards. “I’ve seen you on the news and people love you. I feel in my gut that I can trust you on this.”
A knot budded in my stomach, knowing this was a dangerous idea, but two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars . . . “You do realize this is nearly impossible?” Even though I had asked the question, it seemed more like a last-ditch effort to talk myself out of this awful idea.
“That’s why I came to you.” His voice was gruff, like when I’d heard him speak on the news, but it wasn’t unkind, making me want to believe him.
The media only presented one side of the story, and they sensationalized things to sell their stories. My job was to show the other side, and I was good at my job. He was right. If there was anyone who could help change his image, it would be me.
It was an awful lot of money at stake. What if it really could be mine? If I agreed to help him, I could change both of our lives. I could help Poppy, but there was even more to consider. This PR mess was at a global level. If I could turn it around—and get all the credit for it—that would be super-impressive to my boss. I could get a promotion—perhaps even partner—which would put me in an even better position to improve my, and Poppy’s, lives forever. It was as tempting as dark chocolate in a health food store. “So,” I started in an inquiring tone, trying one last time to see if he was genuinely being sincere. “Would you agree to do whatever I tell you to do? I can’t handle any stubbornness or pushback because it’s already almost impossible.”
His eyes were unflinching when he agreed. “Whatever it takes.”
I paced in front of him, stating my conditions as they came to me, praying this wasn’t a mistake. “We will start with a thirty-day trial period. If, for any reason, I decide that I can’t continue working the remainder of the contract, I will be able to walk away clean.”
“Deal.” His hand shot out, waiting for me to shake it again.
Instead, I walked back to my desk. “I don’t do handshakes. I need this in writing.”
He humbly lowered his hand. “Whatever you need.”
“I will have my assistant, Charlotte, draw up the contract, and get it to you by the end of the day. As for starting this project, I will need the rest of the day to research and put together a plan. I’ll be in your office first thing tomorrow morning to go over it with you.”
He held up his index finger, interjecting. “One question.”
I quirked an eyebrow and gave him my best side-angled stare. “What’s that?”
“You’re not one of those crazy girls who looks up my personal record or anything, are you?”
I didn’t flinch because I had gotten this question many times before, and I quickly confirmed, “Oh, yes. I am. I will know everything about you by the time we finish working together, but don’t worry. I’ll spin everything in your favor.”
I half-expected him to start touting back demands of his own, but he held my gaze and simply said, “Thank you.”
I hadn’t expected a moment like this, something so sincere. Most clients paired me up with their assistants and barely even spoke to me, let alone gave me any thanks. The look in his eyes told me that he was grateful. That scared me. I didn’t want him to think this would be easy. We had a lot of work to do. I stared at him without even a hint of a smile. “You won’t be thanking me after seeing what I have planned for you.”
four
Beau
Ascufflealertedme,and I glanced up to see Clover passing through my glass, office door without waiting for an invitation. It didn’t take me long to figure out she was one of those girls who said hello with her hips. I blinked, trying not to get distracted, but she was all gussied up in one of those long floral dresses, and had changed the hoop in her nose to a little diamond stud. She spoke like she was making an announcement to an auditorium filled with grade schoolers. “Day one of my thirty-day reputation resurrection plan.”
I paused, feeling both intrigued, and slightly ambushed. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“Now you do.” She plopped down on a chair in front of my desk and didn’t seem to take a breath when she went on. “I stayed up all night and watched every interview you’ve given online. You’re a mess.”
Even though I had the AC cranked, my brow started to bead with sweat at the thought of her watching all of my online interviews. It was like having all your most embarrassing moments in life suddenly exposed all at once. I tugged at my collar, trying to let in some air. “Ah, okay.”
