I shift slightly so I’m facing the direction I last saw them, and she laughs. “You really did come alone, didn’t you?”
“I’m a man of my word.”
“And you want to offer me money to let your daughter and wife testify against my husband and brother-in-law?”
“No, I’m offering you money to leave them alone.”
“How much?”
“Whatever it takes. Think about it. Sleep on it if you must. I need an answer by early morning.”
“Why?”
“Because I want this sorted before my daughter arrives.”
Jill stares me in the eyes, her expression inquisitive, and I offer her a rare glimpse into my softer side. “Please,” I beg, breaking our connection.
We both pause as a guy runs past us, then Jill shakes her head, waving toward her men, before her eyes meet mine once more. “Goodbye, Mr. D’Angelo. I’ll be in touch.”
“Good. And Jill, in case you need convincing and your husband hasn’t filled you in, my ex has more on your husband than she initially told the police. He’s a lost cause. But you could save yourself.”
Jill stiffens but doesn’t turn around, and without a word, she walks away.
I hold my breath, waiting until she’s gone before releasing it loudly, turning away as I bite back a smile. I have no idea if this is going to work, but she didn’t tell me to fuck off, so that has to be a good sign.
Austin’s waiting for me where he left me, a smile on his lips as I jump into the back seat. “My men said that went well. Were they right?”
“Your men? Fuck. I told her I was there alone.”
“And you were. One of my guys just so happened to be jogging past, while another was out walking his dog. Purely coincidental.”
“Right. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He chuckles low under his breath. “Where to next?”
“Home.” My shoulders sag as I turn toward the window, clutching my phone in my hand. “I need a stiff drink. And I need to talk to Keeley.”
After a shitty night’s sleep, I head into my New York office, accompanied by one of Austin’s men, and dive into work, taking my mind off the shit show going on around me.
When Daniel arrives in the early evening, after spending the day off-site, I call him into my office, ready to put a secondary plan into play. A plan that Keeley doesn’t know about. Daniel and I spoke on the phone this morning, with him checking in on my family, but I wanted to chat with him in person.
I’m taking another step back from D’Angelo Construction. A bigger one this time. And I’ve never felt better about a decision.
Daniel looks a little weary when he walks in, and I don’t blame him. We’re not completely out of the woods where the unsafe worksite investigation is concerned, but it’s definitely looking more positive than it did last week.
“I just got off the phone with our lawyer, and he thinks we’ll get the okay to start up again on the Chamberland Project at my meeting tomorrow morning.”
Daniel’s eyes light up briefly before he schools his features. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“That’s music to my ears.”
“The complaint was never going to stand. There’s no evidence to support it, except for the bullshit they fabricated.”
“You’re right. I needed your confidence.”
“You’re confident enough. You just have to trust that we’ve done the right thing so it will all work out in the end. And on that note…” I smile and Daniel matches my energy despite having no idea what’s coming.
