I understand what we’re going for here. This is a powerplay. Ric thinks he has all the advantages, but he has absolutely no idea. A narcissist wants to be in control. The moment he sees that Dagen not only cancelled the contract, but he also is working with me, Ric will lose his mind. I can’t wait to see it.
At two-thirty, I prepare myself. At three, I’m heading to the elevator. Normally, I’d have been early, but Dagen assured me it’s best to arrive a minute late. I won’t be walking into the room until I get the signal from Dagen, that way we get the full dramatic effect with my entrance. Despite knowing all this, I’m shaking by the time I reach the top floor and exit the elevator.
“The meeting has started, Ms. Hutcherson,” Dagen’s secretary, says as I step out of the elevator. “He’s going to buzz me when it’s your turn to come in.”
I nod and take a deep breath. “Thank you, Cynthia.”
She nods in understanding. If there’s anyone who knows what’s going on, it’s her. She’ll have gotten the information on this meeting, and Dagen would have told her his reasoning. Of everyone in this building, Cynthia is the only other one with as high of security clearance as Dagen. The woman might as well be a secret agent.
I stand there for what feels like an hour, but can only be five minutes. My feet are starting to pinch in my stilettos until I shift my weight, making the other side ache just the same.
The intercom buzzes and Cynthia looks up at me. “You’re on, girl. Go get ‘em.”
I nod, take a deep breath, and step toward the solid wood doors.
Twenty-Five
Dagen
My office is just as pristine and organized as I like it, with the small memorable knickknacks on the shelf and my files and papers all stacked in order. My desk is clear of any valuable information, save for a single folder with the words “Aria Tech” emblazoned across the top of it. There’s also a little red x marked on it as well, signifying that Fox Industries has broken the working relationship with them. Despite that, I sit at my desk, my eyes on the man in front of me, my hands in front of my chin as I watch him.
“Mr. Fox, breaking this contract now does neither one of us any good, and you’ll be missing out on the program of your dreams,” he says, trying to stay professional despite the barely concealed anger in his eyes. “If you’ll just sign this contract, we can continue our working relationship and pretend this never happened.”
“Why would I want to do that?” I ask.
He squirms in his seat. “Why would you not? We’re the number one tech company this side of the Mississippi. Breaking this contract with us will be your downfall.”
I sit back, my eyes on him. “See, that’s where you’re wrong, Ricardo,” I say. His eyes narrow at my use of his name instead of offering any formal title. It’s not like it’s the first time, but he no doubt hears the disdain in my voice. Before, I didn’t like Ric just because of his personality. It was clear to me in the beginning that Ric was an asshole, but now that I know just how terrible he is, how he treated his own wife, my disdain for him has grown. This man doesn’t deserve an ounce of respect. He certainly doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as Ava. But this one time, I’ll allow it, if only to give Ava a bit of justice.
“I don’t understand,” Ric says, his eyes hard on me. “The contract cannot be broken?—”
“Any contract can be broken, as you well know,” I say, shaking my head. “Your tech is inferior to what we’re replacing it with. You couldn’t even show me how the program worked, so we found someone who could. The contract is cut. There’s nothing further to discuss.”
“Bullshit!” Ric snarls and then seems to remember that it won’t earn him any favors. He schools his features. “Aria Tech is far from inferior, Fox. Who is it you think to replace us with? If you break the contract now, you’ll get no part in the new program. When you come begging, we won’t accept the contract again.”
Lie. If I so much as snapped my fingers, Aria Tech would absolutely accept any contract I brought to them. Ric is all hot air, thinking he has me over a barrel, but that isn’t what this is about.
“You want this contract, Ric?” I ask.
“Of course, I do. It would benefit both of us,” he says eagerly.
I tip my chin down, my face smoothing into a mask. “Then beg.”
I know he won’t do it. But the surprise and offense on his face are worth the words. He opens his mouth and closes it, clearly shocked.
“How dare you?” he guffaws when he finally finds his words. “Aria Tech is the best in the industry right now?—”
My laughter cuts him off. “You’re a decent salesman, Ric. I’ll give you that. But that is all you are.” I slide the folder across the desk. “The contract is severed and will not be reinstated.”
“I deserve to know why!” Ric growls. “I deserve?—”
“You deserve nothing,” I spit, cutting him off. “But I’m a generous man.” More like a conniving one. This is going to please me a lot more than it’s going to help Ava. A selfish part of me wants her to find her strength. Another part of me wants to be that strength, but that’s unimportant. “A little bird told me that the program you were trying to sell me was stolen.”
Ric is a great salesman, but he’s not fast enough to hide his surprise in his eyes. “That’s preposterous! Aria Tech would never?—”
“Oh, I know your company didn’t steal the program, Ric. That would be problematic and an offense that would get them blackballed by all major corporations. Besides, I know your boss, Henry. He has a strict moral code I’ve always envied. No, I’m not saying they did it.” I stand. “I’m saying you did it.”
“Who told you this?” he demands. “They’re liars. I’ve never once stolen?—”
