“Good.” He huffed out a breath. “What kind of guy does that?”
“Apparently a pretty rich one.”
“Wow. I have to admit I wasn’t really expecting that of him. Eric Churchill, yes. But not Neil.”
Offence flared. “Why would you say that about Eric?”
“Because he doesn’t seem to be the sort of man who gives a favour without expecting something in return.”
“How can you say that after meeting him for five minutes?”
“Mmm, by the time we finished, it was closer to an hour.”
Much as she was tempted to remain offended, another part of her was desperate to know more. “What happened after I left?”
He exhaled. “He and Gwen both gave me a not-too-subtle grilling about you and what my plans were with the app.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I think they both wanted to know if I have a stake in it, and if so, what that means.”
“You do have a stake,” she said. He owned twenty percent of Woodhouse-Knightley, while she had fifty. Smaller investors rounded out the rest.
“I know. But I got the feeling that they would like me to not be so heavily involved, that they’d much rather deal with just you.”
It was a little mortifying to think that Jordan had better insights into these people after an hour than she had after weeks. “Well, too bad. I want you involved.”
“I think after tonight I want to be involved too.”
She closed her eyes, grateful for his support. Yet again. “I’m so glad you came. Thank you.”
“Of course.”
“I’ll confess that Neil was not the man I thought him. I thought he was gentle, but he obviously is a little more arrogant than first impressions suggest.”
“You don’t need to worry about him,” Jordan said. “I suspect he wants to boost his ego by attaching himself to you, an up-and-coming entrepreneur, and if you won’t play, then he’ll find someone else.”
Ouch. Was it wrong to be newly offended by this remark? Not that she wanted to be the object of Neil’s affections, but to think she could be replaced so easily felt a little humiliating.
“But this Churchill character, he’s a different type.”
“How so?”
“Elton is clumsy—anyone can see that. But Churchill is like a fox—he’s sly. And I think he is genuinely interested in the app.”
The earlier sense of trepidation faded as excitement ballooned inside. “Really?”
“Mm. But you need to stand firm about what you want it to be about. He and Gwen kept pushing for it to lose the Christian elements.”
“They kept doing so, even after I’d gone?”
“Yeah. And that’s why I think you need to be cautious in dealing with them. We don’t know why they are acting that way. So it’s important to tread carefully.”
His words dug past her offence, and she forced herself to breathe steadily. Okay, so maybe there was some wisdom in what he was saying. She’d sensed it before with the way that Gwen had always rushed invitations and appointments.
“Look, I’m trying to be wise about this, which is why I wanted you there, so thank you.”
“Of course. That’s what friends are for.”
