She laughed, the sound seeping inside him in an unexpected but not entirely unwelcome way. “I am good at what I do.”
No modesty. Blaise shouldn’t be impressed, but he was.
Again.
“Which is why I can work the way I do,” she added. “The matchmakers I recommended can help you so it won’t impact your schedule.”
Hadley Lowell was closing the door. Her tone and words told him that.
Blaise wasn’t going away that easily. “I’m positive we can work out an arrangement that's beneficial for both of us. Time-wise for me and financially for you.”
Silence filled the line.
She was probably checking her calendar. Satisfaction flowed through him. He leaned back in his chair.
“Your assistant mentioned that.”
“I’m re-mentioning it. I’m a wealthy man, Ms. Lowell. I want to hire you, but I need you to come to me. To Portland.” His arrogance was showing, but he didn’t care. “Name your price.”
Blaise had thrown down the gauntlet. The amount could be anything; he didn’t care. Winning the bet was that important to him.
“As I told Trevor, I don't travel to meet potential clients.” Her voice was more forceful. Almost…hard. “I wish you the best with your search.”
“Money—”
“Won’t change my mind. That’s all I have to say on the matter, but I would like to mention something.”
This might be the opening Blaise needed. “I’m listening.”
She inhaled as if suddenly remembering she needed to breathe. “Trevor mentioned he’s only been your assistant for a short time. Please know he did what you asked of him. This is how I work with all potential clients, no matter where they are located or their net worth.”
Blaise waited for her to say she was sorry. He deserved an apology for the way she acted.
“Is there anything else you wanted?” she asked.
“How do you stay in business?” The words came out before he could stop them. But he wasn’t sorry he’d asked the question.
She laughed again, only this time the sound irritated him. “Because I’m the best at what I do. My process may appear peculiar to you, but those willing to meet me halfway get the results they desire.”
“You don’t meet anyone halfway.”
“True.” She paused. “I’ve found if a potential client isn't willing to follow my procedures and come to me, he or she isn’t a good fit for my services.”
He flinched. “You don’t think I’d be a good fit.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“If I came to you?”
“You’re too busy, but I…” A keyboard clicked. “I have an opening tomorrow morning at nine. Someone needed to reschedule. My next opening after that is in December.”
Whoa.That was three months away.
“Could we hold the meeting online?” he asked. “I can have Trevor set up everything. All you’d need to do is log on.”
“The meeting must be in person. I can learn more about someone face-to-face.”
She was not only rigid but also inflexible. Which was what the board accused him of being.
