He hissed again. “It’s an art.”
Softly, I said, “This isn’t the way to get at them.” The foreman always won. No matter our complaints. Our broken spirits. He won.
Just then, the office door opened. Jonah stomped in followed by Klonis. He held up his phone to Malin, who moved toward him. “Not enough. Not liquid, anyway. My lawyers and advisors can see numerous investments. You’ll have to get a loan against those and that could take a month.”
Malin lifted his chin. “He’s coming with me today.”
Jonah laughed. “Fifty cents is not enough of a down payment.”
Malin repeated. “He’ll come with me.”
“You’re in no position to command a thing and if you don’t leave, I’ll call the authorities to trespass you from here forever.”
I watched the two alphas argue like it was some distant play. None of this made sense. It wasn’t really me they were fighting over and I wanted to curl up in a ball and make it all go away.
I stomped my foot. “What if I say I don’t want to go?”
Everyone turned to look at me. And then I saw Jonah’s true colors. How he had his eye set on that money. One way or another. And then there was Malin, dangling it like a carrot withthe threat of snatching it away if he didn’t get his way if he didn’t get to buy me today.
Klonis rushed toward me, hand out. He grasped my shoulder and spun me. “How dare you speak in that way to the foreman.”
Malin’s gaze grew entirely black. “Get your hands off him now. It’s not going to be an issue. I only need to make one call.”
Everyone stared at him.
“You lie,” Jonah said with a chuckle.
Malin held up his phone. “One call.”
“You have fifteen minutes before I call the cops.”
Malin glowered. “I need privacy.”
Jonah sneered. “Klonis, let him use the conference room.” Then he yelled after them as they left, “Fifteen minutes!”
When the door closed, Jonah came around the couch to face me. “What in the hell did you do to that guy?”
I couldn’t believe all of this had anything to do with me.
All I could do was shrug.
13
Malin
The phone number had never been blocked. I always had it with me even though I never intended to use it.
As soon as Klonis closed the door, I brought up the contact. And stared at it as if paralyzed. I shook off my hesitation. I couldn’t afford to waste time with my grudges, my blame. My hate. No, that was wrong. I was furious but I didn’t hate him.
I took two deep breaths, gritted my teeth and pressed call. The ringer went off twice before it stopped.
"Malin?"
"Dad.” And suddenly my mouth went dry. I couldn’t speak.
“Malin. Uh, hello. Hello! Are you all right?”
“I need eight million. Eight million three hundred eighty-two thousand, four hundred and eighty-seven dollars to be exact. I’ll pay you back with interest. I swear. As soon as I liquidate some of my investments.”
