“What?” he snapped.
She closed her eyes briefly again.
“And there are no other options? What if we discuss terms with the Chambers Foundation to see what we can do about changing them?”
“You can try…” she murmured, though she’d gotten to know Noah well enough over the last couple of weeks. He played hardball and so did his wife. They weren’t going to bend on this one. Everything they did was for the people they cared about and if there was even one person on the crew of this construction company that meant something to them, they’d only dig in their heels harder.
“When are you scheduled to meet in person with them again?”
“In two weeks.”
He scrubbed at his jaw, his eyes growing distant as he contemplated her answer. Then he shifted his focus to her once more. “I’m going to need you to add myself and Chaz to the list of people sitting in on that meeting.”
Kat’s jaw tightened and her fingers dug into her palms as she fisted them tightly in her lap. Still, she forced her voice to remain calm and collected despite knowing exactly what this was about. Her father didn’t trust her to seal the deal. “Oh?” she asked quietly. “Is there a reason you’d like to sit in with them?”
His eyes narrowed and she fought the urge to shrink back into her chair. She had every right to be here. She might be his daughter, but she was good at what she did. Kat could give him a grocery list of everything she’d tried to get this project started sooner. She’d considered every option both legal and in the grey area. Nothing was going to help them push this project to start sooner.
When her father finally spoke, his words sent a cold chill down her spine. “I need to see you in action. I want to make sure you’re representing this company in the best way possible.” Not only did he not trust her, he was implying that Chaz would be better suited. It felt like her heart was fracturing just a little.
“And Chaz?” she questioned. “Why does he need to be present?”
“He’s in the running for the promotion,” he said it like it was obvious. “I’d like him to see you in action.”
She bit back a snort. Yeah right. Her father would likely drill Chaz after the fact to ask him how he would handle the groupdifferently. Her heartrate ticked up. This didn’t seem fair. Why was her father so willing to dangle this carrot in front of her only to allow his supposed favorite to do a sneak attack from behind and snatch it away from her?
She clutched her hands together tightly. “In that case, I’ll inform your secretaries of the schedule change.” Kat didn’t allow herself to focus on his face. She didn’t want to see the triumph he probably sported from simply winning this little conversation.
Everyone knew she was too similar to her father. They butted heads more often than not, but at least they kept it behind closed doors. She’d never be caught dead having an argument in front of clients or other business partners. Her father had earned his place as the head of this company, and she wouldn’t be the one to make anyone question it.
Still, it was moments like this one where she had to pick her battles. And that was why she headed off to her office with her tail between her legs.
Maybe Noah and Jane would be willing to speak to Leo. If he could manage to keep his mouth shut for the duration of the meeting, then she just might come out of it unscathed.
CHAPTER FOUR
“You have gotto be kidding me,” Leo groaned.
“Just get in the limo, Leo.” Noah’s voice was strained, like he was overworked and tired. He probably was. Over the summer, he’d had to take several weekend trips all over the country for different galas. He’d be at the ranch one day and then gone the next only to return. The fact that he wasn’t completely jet lagged begged the question of what sort of supplements he used to stay awake.
Leo folded his arms. “I was completely okay with this trip until you told me that the she-devil requested specifically that I keep my mouth shut. Why was it that Reese didn’t have to come to this meeting, again?”
Jane gave him a flat look. “First of all, we had to bribe you with a steak dinner. You were hardly accommodating for this trip. Secondly, Reese was the perfect gentleman and answered all the basics. From this point forward, all we need is you because all we’re working on is the build.”
“But the contractors aren’t even started yet.”
Noah dragged a hand down his face, leaving little red lines everywhere. They’d fade before their limo reached the city, but it showed just how aggravated Noah had become on the plane ride over. “All Kat said was that the owner of the company and an associate would be sitting in on this meeting. She didn’t want an outburst like last time. She said it would reflect poorly on her and the CEO by proxy.”
“How do you figure that,” Leo muttered.
“Leo,” Jane snapped, “get in the dang car and ask your questions while we’re on the road. I’m not going to be late to this meeting.”
He hesitated. Jane wasn’t the problem. Neither was Noah. And this equine therapy project was going to help a whole lot of people. But that woman?
That woman!
Kat Jerris was the problem. Disrespectful and conceited. That’s what she was. She sat in her tall tower staring down at the peasants and pretending that she was better than them when she knew nothing of the real word.
Noah’s sigh brought him back to the present and he rolled his eyes as he climbed inside.
