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My jaw clenches. “Are you finished? Do I get to speak now?”
“I’m finished, but there’s no point in you responding.” She leans toward me. “I know who you are, Gage. You’re a ruthless guy who always gets what he wants. I’m not going to be your lapdog making that happen.”
“Fuck, Blair.” I stab my fingers through my hair, pissed off and frustrated that she’s refusing to listen to me. Desperate in a way I never am to make someone hear me out. “You might think you know me, but I assure you that you don’t. I have never wanted to destroy Shayla. I grew up in a home with a mother who was emotionally absent. I saw what that did to my family and I never want my child to experience being cut off from hermother in any way.” I pause, trying to rein in my tendency to use cold, direct language when negotiating. “And now, knowing your history, I want you more than I did when I walked in here.”
Her eyes spark with curiosity. “Why?”
“You’ll keep me in check if I do push too far. And I now know that you won’t completely alienate Shayla, which was always my concern with hiring you.”
I watch her brain work and admit that while I’ve usually dismissed this woman because of the agitation between us, I’m now intrigued.
Finally, she says, “I’ll think about it and let you know today.”
“Within the hour.”
I receive another arched brow. “I don’t play well with that style of command, so you may want to rethink your desire to hire me.”
I stand, buttoning my suit jacket. “I want to hire you. At any cost. We’ll figure out how we work best along the way.”
At that, she rolls her eyes. “Seriously, I have no idea why Liv finds you endearing.” Her best friend, my sister-in-law, and the reason I’ve had to endure Blair in my life.
I ignore that. “I’ll loop Hayden in. He’ll keep both of us in check.”
“First of all, I haven’t said yes yet. And second, I know for a fact that Hayden won’t touch family law.”
Interesting. She seems quite confident about what my brother will and won’t do.
“He will for me,” I counter.
She turns silent, and I see her brain working again. A few moments later, she nods, decisive. “Okay, yes. Have your lawyer send me everything I need to get started and make an appointment. Make sure Hayden is with you at that appointment.” Then, gesturing at her office door, she says, “Now get out of my office. I have work to go over that you interrupted.”
I’m almost to the door when she calls after me. “Gage?”
I turn.
“Don’t make me regret this.”
The coffee shopAmelia chose is exactly what I’d expect from her. Understated but elegant and tucked away from the noise of the city. She’s already there when I arrive, laptop open, wearing jeans and an oversized white blouse. Her hair is pulled back in a neat twist that emphasizes the graceful line of her neck.
I head to her table and when she looks up and spots me, I nod toward the counter. “Coffee?”
With a shake of her head, she says, “I’ve already ordered. Thanks.”
I get the distinct impression that even if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have accepted a coffee from me.
After I place my order, I take the seat across from her, pulling out my phone to find the email Mrs. Liu sent us last night. I’m interrupted by a text from my assistant.
Lucy:
Just a heads up. Max is PISSED that you canceled on him this morning. Prepare for an incoming call from him.
Me:
I won’t be taking calls for the next hour or so.
Lucy:
Why must you make my job harder than it already is? Seriously, Gage, this meeting has been planned for A MONTH. I hope that whatever you canceled it for is worth it.