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A few seconds later, Philip knocked and entered the study.“It’s done,” he said quietly.
Zach nodded at the loyal right-hand man who’d been with him longer than any friend or acquaintance.“Let’s get the usual people in to get things sorted in here.”
Philip nodded.“The extra works included?”he asked.
A dark throb started inside Zach, and he sucked in a breath at the acute hunger threatening to tear him apart.“Yes.Use the room next to the master bedroom.I want it done asap.”
“Understood.”Philip left as quietly as he’d entered.
Striding to the desk, Zach switched on his laptop and quickly located the file he sought.Scrolling through, he found the phone number and dialed.
The phone was answered after one ring.“Keely Benson,” barked the no-nonsense voice.
“Miss Benson,” he said in greeting, slightly gratified that someone was answering his calls.“It’s Zachary Savage.”
“Hey, Zach.Call me Keely.If my red-hot poker is soon to become intimately acquainted with your delectable ass, I think we should at least be on a first name basis, don’t you?”she snapped icily.
Zach’s lips twitched.She was a pit bull when it came to protecting her friend.He definitely respected that.But her loyalty wouldn’t be allowed to stand in his way.As Keely Benson was his only immediate access to Bethany, however, he was prepared to remain cordial.For now.
“Very well.I’m doing my best to make sure my ass remains poker free.”
“That’s good to know.How can I help you?”
“I need five minutes of your time, if it isn’t too much to ask?”
“Go ahead.I’m all ears.”Despite the easy rejoinder, he heard the wariness in her voice.
Zach gritted his teeth and forced himself to remain calm.His first question was met with a frostily negative response.His second request brought a marginally easier reply.By the time he made his third request, he dared to think that Keely Benson’s voice had grown considerably less chilly.
“You do recognize that there’s a mildly stalkerish quality to what you plan to do, don’t you?”
“It’s her birthday.I originally had quite different plans in mind.This contingency is all I have.”
“Fine.But I’ll be keeping an eye on you.If you so much as twitch in the wrong direction, your ass is mine.Are we clear, Savage?”
He knew the use of his surname was deliberate.He chose to let it slide.“I’d expect nothing else.And Keely?”
“Yep?”
“Given the circumstances, you may not believe this right now, but I’d rip out a vital organ before harming a single hair on her head.”
Keely remained silent for several seconds before she sighed.“Yeah, the circumstances are not swinging wildly in your favor.But I’m holding you to that promise.I’m also hoping you’ll make things right between you two.She’s been through enough.”The line went dead.
He swallowed hard and jerked away from his desk.Raking a hand through his hair, he paced to the window and back again.But no amount of pacing could put distance between him and the knowledge that Keely had just lumped him in with the other assholes who’d hurt Bethany in the past.The very idea made him sick to his stomach.
But he had hurt her.And was continuing to do so with his silence.
I’m also hoping you’ll make things right between you two.
Fuck.
Striding to his desk, he snapped up the phone again.He didn’t care that it was early Saturday morning on the West Coast.At moments like these, he appreciated having a few billion dollars attached to his name.
His lawyer answered almost immediately.And much to Zach’s satisfaction, the man was instantly alert despite the early hour.
“Where are we on the Farrah issue?”Zach bit out.
Stanley Reed cleared his throat.“I reached out like you asked.The family attorney thinks her father may agree, but her mother and brother could be a problem.Especially the brother.”