Emergency?
“Thank you, Red. Please close my door on your way out.” Colton pressed the speaker on his desk console and a number auto-dialed.
Should I close my door and give him privacy?Instead, Brigit sat ever so still, like a spider in its web.
“Hello, Colton,” Marjorie rasped through the speaker. Her voice sounded froggier than usual. “MobiCom extended an acquisition offer. It’s official.”
“What’s Dobb’s position?”
“Bait and switch.”
“Not surprising. What’s his spin?”
“He thinks the merger will benefit Francesco in the long run. What a load of crap. The deal he’s made with the devil will benefithim. We’ve called an emergency meeting for executives and board members this Friday.”
“They’ll reject the offer and MobiCom will move on.”
“How’s your crack wealth manager doing?”
“I’m about to find out.”
“The sooner we secure that loan, the faster we can start production. Good luck, Colton.”
The line went dead.
Not wanting to get caught eavesdropping, Brigit grabbed her report and pretended to read it.
“There she is.” Colton’s sexy timbre sent a flurry of energy skittering over her.
She lowered the analysis and their eyes met. Zing!Nope, not going there. Fly right.His massive frame filled the doorway. Wearing khakis, a blue button-down open at the collar and a navy sport coat, his relaxed swagger couldn’t hide his troubled expression. The knot between his brows was more pronounced than usual. While his emergency wasn’t her concern, his whereabouts niggled her like an annoying little Eeyore cloud.
“For you.” He offered her a cream envelope with her name handwritten in calligraphy.
She read the beautiful gold engraved invitation. A black tie event this Saturday evening hosted by Colton Mitus and Crockett Wilde. All gala proceeds would benefit a Maryland-based nonprofit war veterans’ organization. The cost? Fifteen thousand, or twenty-five thousand per couple.
“Is this my golden ticket?”
“Red booked me a room. I asked her to reserve one for you. You’ll be joining me.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Date back out?”
“I was going alone.”
“Perhaps I’m busy.” Her stomach roiled. She didn’t want to leave the compound and his invitation baffled her.
“You’ve been working nonstop since moving in,” Colton said.
“Tell me that’s not a complaint.”
As he held her gaze, he ran his fingers over his scruffy cheeks. “Let’s try this tactic. My wealth manager must attend this important business function.”
She set the invitation on her desk. “Fine. Okay. Whatever. I’ll go. It’s a worthy cause. Who can I pay for my ticket?”
“Not necessary.”
She stood. “Let’s get started.”
He started rolling a chair around her desk.
