Page 19 of Breadwinner
“Precisely.” Nell’s tone was even, as if discussing the weather. “I don’t do half measures, Sarah. You come into my world, and I expect you to be all in—no reservations.”
A silence fell again as she watched Sarah’s mind work. Sarah’s voice was low but clear when she asked, “And what if I wanted something different?”
Nell could hear her own amusement as she replied, “Then you would have said something, remember? Rule number one: you have a voice. Use it.” Her voice was smooth, almost teasing, with the slightest inflection suggesting she took delight in this game of verbal chess.
Sarah took another sip from her martini. “I suppose,” she said carefully, “if I had desired something else, I’d have said so by now.” Her tone was deliberate, matching Nell’s cadence perfectly.
Nell’s smile deepened as she leaned back, satisfied with the exchange. “Good,” she murmured, her voice dropping even lower, “because I trust a woman who knows what she wants, and I trust you to have your decision by the end of the week.”
A statement. An invitation with power behind it. And Nell thoroughly enjoyed the way it left Sarah momentarily speechless, a rare occurrence that only deepened her satisfaction.
FIVE
SARAH
RULE #1: YOU HAVE A VOICE. USE IT.
Sarah Gallagher did not give up control. Not easily. Not ever.
Her entire life had been built on the foundation of command—of knowing every angle before she stepped into a room, of ensuring she was never caught unprepared. She had argued in front of federal judges and had turned entire depositions on their heads with a single question. She had made billion-dollar contracts hinge on a single phrase buried so deep in the fine print that no one but her had noticed.
She did not hesitate. She did not falter. She did notlose.
So why wasn’t she saying no to Nell’s offer?
The invitation hung openly between them, not challenging her directly, just there. But Sarah knew she wouldn’t be giving Nell an answer tonight. The lawyer in her needed time to make her sweat a little bit. It was the last bit of command she still held on to, and Nell seemed to be fully aware of it.
She waited for Nell’s next move, which appeared to be silence as she simply waited for Sarah’s mind to stop spinning, and somehow, that was worse. Because silence—controlledsilence—was its own kind of power. A power she had wielded often but rarely had used against her.
And, in return, I get you.Nell’s words ricocheted around her brain. What exactly did that mean?She gets me?
Nell was watching her closely with steel-blue eyes that sent a shiver down her spine in the best way.
Nell wants me.
Sarah’s grip tightened slightly around the stem of her glass before she lifted it to her lips, taking a drawn-out sip of her martini. It was crisp and clean with a little bite, exactly how she liked it. Exactly how Nell had known she would.
Her glass caught the low glow of the overhead fixtures as she set it down with deliberate care, her fingers resting idly along the rim. There was no rush in her movements, no excess energy wasted. Every action was exact, as if time itself bent to her pace.
Nell exhaled. Tilted her head slightly, still not offering any additional words. Why would she? She wanted Sarah to be the one to break first, and Sarah knew that.
“You’re going to have to be more specific,” Sarah said, raising her eyebrow just enough to make it a challenge. “What exactly do you mean by ‘I get you’?”
“Ever a lawyer seeking clarity in the terms, aren’t you?” Nell answered, the slight lilt to her words let Sarah know that Nell wasn’t upset she had asked for more. “It can mean a lot of things. We can hash out specifics if you choose to accept my proposal.”
Well, that wasn’t an answer, but Sarah wasn’t surprised. She was skilled at extracting information from people. She’d have to try a different angle.
“How about an example?” she offered.
Across the table, a slow grin unfurled across Nell’s refined features. She sat up straighter, that ever-composed posture sharpening with interest. Sarah could see the flash of excitement, subtle but unmistakable.
She didn’t know why she was holding her breath. Nerves? Unlikely. Excitement? Probably. Anticipation? Definitely.
Then, with all the ease of a passing suggestion, Nell said:
“Put your hands flat on the table.”
Sarah blinked once. The words were effortless. Spoken in the same way someone might ask for the time. But they were a test. She had played enough power games to recognize one when she saw it, and she saw the trap before she stepped into it.