She withdraws from me slightly, curling her shoulders into herself as she gazes up at me. An array of emotions flickers through her eyes as we stare at one another, and I pray with everything I have that I’ve left enough of a good impression on her that she will trust me. There just isn’t enough time for me to sit her down and explain everything.
“Please,” I beg. “Just… trust me.”
Her lips press into a fine line and then twist, then she slowly shakes her head and my gut flips as I expect her rejection to come.
“Fine,” she bites out, surprising me. “Just this once. And if you’re screwing me then everything I just said, know that I mean it with every ounce of my heart.”
“I believe you.” Calliope’s shown me her heart. She will do everything and anything to protect her family, and I don’t doubt she’ll have my balls in a chokehold if I ever work against her. If only she could see that I’m doing everything I can to help her.
My grip slackens as she finally steps away from me and crosses her arms over her chest. “So, what now? Why can’t you tell me the truth right now?”
A jingle immediately rises up from my pocket and I pull out my phone. “This is why. Calliope, you should go home.”
“You’re sending me away?”
“It’s about to get crazy here and I don’t want you to get caught up in it, so yes, go home. I’ll call you.”
“Why don’t I believe that?” she mutters under her breath, but just loud enough for me to hear.
“Is this you trusting me?”
Her eyes narrow. “Fine. I’m going home, but only because I already called my friend to come and get me. Not because you told me to.”
“Of course.” My phone continues to ring in my hand and Calliope gives it one last disdainful look and walks right out of my office. I press answer.
“Buster, tell me you have good news.”
“Y’know, when we plan a takeover, there’s usually a bigger window than twenty-four hours,” Buster sighs. “You’re driving me to an early grave, you know that? You’re gonna have to look my kids in the eye and tell them why I died, why you worked me into the ground and patted me on the back as I fell into my grave.”
“You… you don’t have any kids.” I snort.
“Not yet, I don’t. I’m a man of many talents, Elijah. I could have kids out there already.”
“Like you’d ever walk away from someone like that.”
“Dude, I have this cool, suave, uncaring rep I gotta uphold.”
“Does that rep help me right now?”
“Sure it does! I got your lawyers working overtime and the only reason they ain’t dragged you back here and shoved you in front of the board is because of me.”
“What did you do?”
“Honestly?”
“Uh…” I lean back against my desk. “Will this honesty make me an accomplice?”
“Nah. I just used Imogen’s tactic against her. Cornered her father and swore to rain hell down on him and her for her lies, your arrest, the trauma it caused you, etcetera, and y’know, I guess she has a history of doing things like this because as soon as I mentioned her ex, David? Her father rolled over like a fat sow.”
“Holy shit.”
“So with his magic and the board’s trust, I think we can do this. And my friend should be with you soon.”
“Thanks, Buster. I know this is kind of insane.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Buster groans loudly. “Okay, gotta go.”
Just as I end the call, my heart jumps into my throat as my office door flies open and Jimmy storms in. “You bastard!”
