Tyler is jealous.
That just might be his very downfall.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
TYLER
I knowwhat Mitchell was doing when he told me I needed to go on a trip with him. It’s a business trip, but more importantly it’s to get me away from my final days with Sunny.
I send a text to Sunny letting her know we’re taking off, hoping it’ll be a quick turnaround. I’m sure Mitchell will try to do anything to keep me gone as long as possible. He knows Sunny’s days are being etched off rapidly. He’s trying to distract me. And he knows exactly what he is trying to distract me from.
We’re meeting with a group of men, planning a way to release them of their obligations of another company so they can partner with ours and become new board members in our California location. It’ll most likely end up in a hit.
These trips always come with surprises for me. It’s like Mitchell tries to keep me on my toes, make sure my skills stay sharp.
Sunny is leaving in just two weeks, and now I’m most likely going to have a week taken from us.
My phone buzzes in my lap as I watch the private jet start to take off. Looking at my phone, my smile widens when I read her text.
Just get home soon and safely.
I’ll try my best, Sunny.
We landed in Los Angeles within a few hours. I hate this place. From the smog to the people.
The McAllisters secured us their best rooms for the trip, as they always do. Business with them was one of our best investments yet, considering we always have a place to stay with the advantage of being able to do whatever we want during those stays. The perks of having lifelong friends in the hotel business with empires across the world.
We all traveled from around the country to be here for this meeting. They will meet with our team here. This is where these guys' other investors are located.
We’ll spend the week examining their contracts, the company, the owner. Learn his ways, learn the company ways, then take it down from the inside. It’s a simple task, and I’m ready to get it over with so I can go back home to my girl.
A couple hours later, I find myself sitting in a business office of the hotel reserved just for people like us. The room is filled with six other men. All around the same age as Mitchell except for one. He’s maybe in his forties.
They all wear expensive suits and hold expensive cigars in their hands with glasses of expensive bourbon sitting next to them.
The decanter sits in the middle of the circular table as they pass it around, talking shit about their wives, their mistresses, their children, their companies.
I never get involved. I just observe.
I don’t really drink, and I sure as shit don’t smoke. Anythingcan happen in a meeting like this. Especially in a room full of men on a power trip.
They’re all discussing avenues and ways to get the man to release them of their contracts so they can join our company.
“We could steal his bitch,” Daniel, the CEO of an insurance company chimes in.
“No,” I say coldly.
They all look at me, because it’s the first word I’ve said.
“Well, you’ve been so silent over there, Tyler. Why chime in now?” he asks, leaning back in his seat, taking a drag from his third cigar.
“We don’t involve innocent people.” I meet his stare with a lethal calm. “It’s simple, we find a loophole in your contracts, if we can’t see an out there, we force him to make one. And I’ll be glad to do it.” If it means getting me back to Boston with Sunny, then so be it.
Mitchell’s eyes pan over to me. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but I at least know it isn’t disappointment.
“I mean, if you’re offering,” Nixon, the owner of a finance firm quips.
“I just want to get this done.” I cross my arms over my chest.
