Patrick ran a hand through his blond hair. “I never did like that Clyde. Mo deserves better. But…” He hesitated. “I don’t know. Going after someone like Mo as we merge firms seems risky. Didn’t you pitch Elite to him before, Jackie? What if he says no again? Being rejected twice doesn’t give current or potential clients faith in us. It wouldn’t be the best look for us.”
“I did,” Jackie confirmed. “But he was in a different headspace then. Clyde was all in his head, feeding him lies about God knows what.”
Patrick leaned back in his chair, looking between the two of them. “What makes you think things will be any different now?”
Jackie had no idea, honestly. She figured she’d work her usual magic—a combination of honesty and passionate intensity—to convince Moe she could and would take care of him. She wasn’t Clyde. She was truly a fan. She just wanted to see him win.
Antonio spoke up. “Because he’ll see that we don’t have any ulterior motives. We just want the guy to win.”
Jackie’s eyes widened. Had he read her mind? “Right,” Jackie said. “AMW-Elite is much more adept at handling a client like Mo.” She glared at Antonio. “Correction,I’madept at handling Mo as a client. I mean,some of ushave law degrees and can handle the more complicated issues that could arise.”
“Here you go,” muttered Antonio under his breath.
Jackie took a deep breath. “Do you have something to say, Mr. Steele?”
“Whilesome of usdon’t have fancy Howard law degrees,some of ushave been athletes who know what it’s like to get knocked down and get back up. To start from the bottom all over again. To reinvent ourselves.”
Jackie went silent as she looked at Antonio. His words struck a chord. She thought about her father. How he’d been knocked down and reinvented himself. How he’d had it all, then lost it. She cleared her throat. “I may understand that more than you know.”
They stared at each other for a beat until Patrick cleared his throat. Jackie had almost forgotten that they were standing in the middle of his office. “Well, you two both seem very passionate about signing Mo. Why don’t you work together? I’m sure he’d appreciate two level-headed folks such as yourselves. Especially you, Antonio. No offense, Jackie.”
Jackie took all the offense. She knew she could be a bit much, but she was tired of having it thrown in her face.
“Seriously,” Patrick continued. “If you both think Mo would be a great catch for this firm, by all means, approach him. Though I suspect Jackie would have done so even without my blessing.”
Jackie smirked. “You know me so well, Patrick. But I don’t need Antonio’s assistance. I can do this on my own. I can get in touch with his assistant, hop a flight to Philly, and sit down with him.”
Antonio shook his head. “He’s not in Philly.”
“What do you mean he’s not in Philly? Miami? I know he has a beach house.” Jackie was starting to panic.
“He’s not there either, Jackie,” Antonio said.
How the hell did Antonio know that? With a blink, Jackie pressed on. “I’m sure it can’t be that difficult to find him.”
Antonio shook his head. “Are you seriously too stubborn to ask me for help?”
Jackie turned to Patrick, who was looking at her expectantly, awaiting an answer. Instead, Jackie turned and walked out of the office.
She could feel Antonio right behind her as she walked down the hall. Her assistant Calvin got up from his desk as she approached but sat back down when he saw Antonio hot on her heels.
When she heard the door close behind her, Jackie turned around. “I don’t need your help. I don’t want your help. I have connections I can reach out to. Even if Mo is in the Himalayas, I’ll find him.”
“Damn, Lucky. The idea of working together is really eating you up inside, huh?”
“What did I say about calling me that?”
“It just rolls so easily off my tongue. Like a lot of things associated with you.”
Jackie’s body stiffened as she felt her face heat. “That is…highly inappropriate, Steele.”
“My bad,” chuckled Antonio. “You just make it so fucking easy to tease you. But seriously, let me help you land Mo. It’s the least I can do for stepping on your toes these past few weeks.”
“Where is he?” asked Jackie.
“Agree that we’ll to work together to sign him. Then I’ll tell you.”
“Ugh, you infuriating giant of a man! I don’t want to work with you. Ever.”
