“It can be. But if I keep learning, keep developing my skills, I think I can be really good at it. It’s challenging and interesting, and I think we can make money at it. But it’s more than a job to me, Robin. It’s something I really want to do. What do you say? Are you willing to try it?”
Robin grinned. “I’ve been itching to take on more responsibility. To tell you the truth, I don’t see where I have much to lose. You’re the person taking all the risk.”
Kate smiled. “I guess I am.” She thought about Jason and the risk she had taken in loving him. It hadn’t worked out, and the pain of losing him still made her ache inside, but she treasured every day she had spent with him. If she had it all to do over, she would do it again.
“That’s something I discovered about myself,” she said. “I’m willing to take a risk.”
She wished Jason had been.
In a strange way, she felt sorry for him.
Jase sat at his desk at The Max. The investigation business was brisk, Ryker on a murder case, Wolfe working undercover for some big corporation, Bran working a personal security detail for some Hollywood movie star.
Everyone was busy but him. He hadn’t been able to motivate himself since he’d ended his relationship with Kate. Instead of looking ahead, setting new goals, getting things done, all he thought about was Kate.
Had he actually believed he’d be over her by now? He had foolishly believed time and distance would numb his feelings for her. Instead, he missed her more every day.
He looked up as Harper and Chase walked through the front door, laughing and holding hands, felt a pang at how happy they looked. He knew Harper had been in contact with Kate. They were working on the black-tie charity benefit that would donate a portion of its proceedings to New Hope Rehab.
It was all Jase could do not to ask about her, find out what Kate was doing. Make sure she was okay. Did she miss him? Or was she already over him and seeing someone else?
The thought made his stomach burn. In the end, he stayed at his desk. If he asked about Kate, it would only make him feel worse. He reminded himself he was doing the right thing.
By now, Kate would probably agree.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
“Gallagher and Company Consulting.” At the front desk, Laura Delgado adjusted the phone earbud in her ear. “Please hold while I see if Ms. Murdock is available.” She pressed the intercom button. “Robin, you’ve got a call from Victor Markum, VP of Briton, Inc. Are you available to take the call?”
Kate sat next to Robin in her office, where they were working on their expansion plans.
“It’s Victor Markum,” Robin said to her excitedly. “It’s such a big firm I didn’t really think he’d call.”
Kate gripped Robin’s arm. “We need to talk. It’s important. You have to call him back.”
“Are you sure, Kate? This could make us a lot of money.”
“She’ll have to call him back, Laura,” Kate said through the intercom. She turned to Robin. “I’m going to tell you something but it can’t leave this office.”
“Of course.”
“The FBI is investigating Briton, Inc. The company has big-time criminal connections. So far the Bureau hasn’t been able to get the evidence they need. This might be a way we can help.”
“You aren’t serious.”
“Think about it, Robin. Why would a corporation of that size choose a company as small as we are? Because we have a first-rate reputation, and they think they can control what we write in our report.”
Robin sat back dejectedly. “I was afraid it was too good to be true.”
“I’ll call Markum back. If it looks like this could be a way to get inside information, I’ll call the FBI.” When Robin nodded, Kate hurried into her office and closed the door. She returned Markum’s phone call and prayed he hadn’t already contacted another company.
Victor took the call.
“Mr. Markum, this is Kathryn Gallagher at Gallagher and Company Consulting. I’m returning your earlier phone call. What can we do for you?”
“I spoke to Ms. Murdock at an earlier date about our intention to take Briton public. We’d like someone to take a professional look at the business, make management recommendations, that kind of thing. It would just be our main office there in Dallas, of course. But we’d like you to give us a written report, something we can use as we move forward.”
“We can do that. I can oversee the project myself.”
